Subwoofer Options Feedback

[TrackZ]

Hi all. I have an 18x17x11 dedicated, treated theater space (details also available here

). This is a dedicated space in a basement. So concrete under the carpet and subfloor. Concrete poured walls on the right and back sides of the room as well.

I formerly had that pair of REL S5/SHO subs. Speakers are Focal Electra LCR and Aria 906 surrounds/heights. I am actually overhauling the room though after some years.

I have already sold the REL subs and am looking for something with more scale. I also never used the room for 2 channel music, so having the high level input REL and big towers wasn't the best call. My overhaul will involve going in wall and in ceiling everywhere with Focal 1000 series (IWLCR6 x 3 up front behind a new AT 2.35:1 screen), bed surrounds going in wall with IW6 x4, and Atmos speakers going in ceiling overhead with IWC6 x 4. Also upgrading to Parasound amps and probably an Anthem AVM70.

I'm having a real hard time choosing my new subs. Going minimum 2 but options are option are open for 3 or even 4. My positions are fairly locked to certain areas.

With 2 subs I could go midpoint of front and back wall or 1/4 front right or left and opposing 1/4 rear. Or possibly 1/4 back on front right wall and 1/4 up on back left wall. With 3 subs, I could go 2 up or 2 back at 1/4 points and the other opposing mid wall. With 4 I'd probably go 1/4 points on front and back walls.

Note I have stacked corner bass traps in all four corners already so no sub would be directly in any corner and I suspect I wouldn't want to position any sub directly in front of a trap.

The other constant is that the screen bottom is like 25" or so off the floor and the new screen will mount at roughly the same height (maybe another 1.5" or so of clearance). Basically going same screen height, but in 2.35 vs. a 16:9.

I've shopped, researched, called folks, and read a ton. Looking across PSA, REL again with the HT1508, Arendal, Rythmik, Hsu, SVS, Monoprice and more. We tend to watch movies between -6 and -12db. I use the room solo or we use it a family of 4. I don't need face melting, over done head trashing extension or volume, but I want some headroom for sure.

I really like many aspects of the Arendal subs with the 1723 models. Great measurements, performance, build quality, features, and so on. The subs will be in room and visible so I want something that looks nice too, especially if there are four of them. I'm not as drawn to SVS or Monoprice and such as brands, to be honest, despite their legit performance. And I would like something nicer than vinyl subs given the overall build quality of the room and other gear. I feel like the Arendal and Focal are a great match in multiple ways.

My usage is pretty much all movies, 4k/Atmos TV shows, and video games plus some much less frequent multichannel music and concerts. Again, I thought I might use this space for some 2 channel action, but in 4 years or so I never have.

With the 1723, I can choose 1V, 1S, 2V, or 2S. For about $6k, that buys me dual 2V or quad 1S or some combo in-between. I would say I'm generally drawn the concept of sealed subs for my tastes overall. And if 2 subs boost +6db and 4 boost +12db then a quad array of 1S seems really compelling. They can be tuned with the built-in PEQ then EQ'd in front/rear pairs as dual subs with ARC on the AVM70. I'm probably not stepping up to a processor with quad sub EQ this time. Dual 2V sounds good too, but might protrude up into the screen area a couple of inches in that front center position.

If the $999 per REL HT1508 came up again on Slickdeals, that might be hard to pass up again given an expected 12db boost and quad coupling. Again, I'm drawn more to the concept of fast, tight, articulate, clean bass and that concept might be a better match for the chosen Focal 1000 speakers. But again, my usage is really home theater and gaming focused. It's a 3,000 cu. ft. room, but I think would offer really strong room coupling and boost. The Arendal vented subs seems to clearly still hit my preferences points while still being ported.

Argh! What would you do? Am I overlooking anything?

if you do check out the linked YouTube video, please check out more of the channel and sub! Thanks.

 

[NINaudio]

I'd forget the RE, they are vastly overpriced and underperforming compared to the competition. Everything else you mentioned are quite solid choices. The Arendal 1723 V's (which you seem drawn to) are really good options. As far as wanting "fast, tight, articulate, clean bass", a properly designed ported sub will do that. The only reason to go sealed is if you have space constraints, which it doesn't seem you do.

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

I'd forget the REL, they are vastly overpriced and underperforming compared to the competition. Everything else you mentioned are quite solid choices. The Arendal 1723 V's (which you seem drawn to) are really good options. As far as wanting "fast, tight, articulate, clean bass", a properly designed ported sub will do that. The only reason to go sealed is if you have space constraints, which it doesn't seem you do.

I agree totally. Sealed is for small. That’s all.

I’m actually also wondering about the corner traps. Imo they’re too small to do much in subwoofer territory. Wondering how they were spec’d and why.
Looks like 6k budget. Pretty healthy. I would go with something from Rythmik, PSA, arendal or monolith. Corner load em and pull the peaks down with a minidsp. Not sure why the aversion to known quality brands unless it’s to NOT go there and be different.
No way I’d want sealed subs in a concrete bunker, and for that I again question the bass traps usefulness here. Ime concrete is a bass trap of its own. Also yeah, the fast bass thing is something that needs to go away. Every brand in this conversation makes high quality linear subwoofers.
Plan B? A pair of devastators?

 

[TrackZ]

I'd forget the RE, they are vastly overpriced and underperforming compared to the competition. Everything else you mentioned are quite solid choices. The Arendal 1723 V's (which you seem drawn to) are really good options. As far as wanting "fast, tight, articulate, clean bass", a properly designed ported sub will do that. The only reason to go sealed is if you have space constraints, which it doesn't seem you do.

Thanks! Yeah, I do have open room. Not for anything really massive, but anything that's a 24" cube or a bit bigger is fine, which covers quite a lot of large models.

 

[TrackZ]

I agree totally. Sealed is for small. That’s all.

I’m actually also wondering about the corner traps. Imo they’re too small to do much in subwoofer territory. Wondering how they were spec’d and why.
Looks like 6k budget. Pretty healthy. I would go with something from Rythmik, PSA, arendal or monolith. Corner load em and pull the peaks down with a minidsp. Not sure why the aversion to known quality brands unless it’s to NOT go there and be different.
No way I’d want sealed subs in a concrete bunker, and for that I again question the bass traps usefulness here. Ime concrete is a bass trap of its own. Also yeah, the fast bass thing is something that needs to go away. Every brand in this conversation makes high quality linear subwoofers.
Plan B? A pair of devastators?

The Audioholics review of the 2V was so glowing, that it basically reads like the ported version doesn't really suffer from ported shortcomings and performs like the sealed model just with more extension.

All my panels are GIK. Some have range limiters and scatter plates in them. The treatment package was spec'ed working with a tech from GIK and taking their recommendations.

Nice thing about the Arendal is not needing the minidsp given the built-in EQ. And if I ever add more (assuming I start with two), it'll be available and the same on all the subs I have.

Skipping Monoprice or SVS is a little on looking for something a bit less mainstream, yeah. Not that I don't like the brands. I shop Monoprice for all kinds of stuff.

Ha, I was in a room recently with Devastators and other massive bass performance. It was pretty wild. I don't think I can really accommodate something like that in my room though.

Thanks for your thoughts!

 

[Pogre]

Skipping Monoprice or SVS is a little on looking for something a bit less mainstream, yeah. Not that I don't like the brands. I shop Monoprice for all kinds of stuff.

I think that the Monoprice Monolith series subs are about your best bang for buck option right now, but I buy based on performance and sound quality (for music, not just ht) not brand name. The Monoliths have earned the respect of many in all categories of performance.

That said, Arendal subwoofers really are top performers as well and if they're in your budget I don't think you can go wrong there. They look like true top of the line subs, but that is reflected in the price. I think build quality and measurements back that up tho.

Agree with skipping over REL. They're just way too overpriced for what they offer.