Need subwoofer advice please.

[Kissell]

I have large room approx 28’ x 32 0pen concept layout with cathedral ceiling which comprises living room dining rm and kitchen. We just remodeled and removed carpet and went hardwood now my system has no bass. Just purchased 2 sets of polk s55 and now looking for sub or subs. With this size room would i be better off with ported or sealed and would 1 sub do it or do i need 2. Was thinking maybe 2 10”. I think ported would be more efficient but i do like tight bass from a sealed sub. Been looking svs, klipsch, polk. Any advice would be appreciated. Forgot to mention this is for mainly music.

 

[ryanosaur]

First, the Sealed vs Ported is MYTH. Good modern Ported Subs perform very well in Group Delay measurements and are on equal footing with Sealed Subs.
Second, for your room size, I would definitely recommend Ported, and ideally multiple Subs, probably with larger Drivers than 10".
Not trying to blow you out of your room, but you have a lot of space, and Low Frequency Soundwaves will act on the total open-room volume.

Bassaholic Subwoofer Room Size Rating Protocol

This article outlines our test procedure in determining a subwoofers room size recommendation based on its max CEA SPL output while making room size and subwoofer distance assumptions.

www.audioholics.com

Did you place you gear in new positions?
Different than before? (Removing carpet alone is not going to change your Bass. )

This is a crude but effective way to possibly help you find better locations for Subs you may already have... or proper homes for new Subs:

Crawling for Bass - Subwoofer Placement Tips

Do the Subwoofer Crawl. It's the easiest way to find the proper placement location for your subwoofer to get the best performance and sound.

www.audioholics.com

You should avoid Klipsch and Polk Subs.

What is your Budget.

 

[Kissell]

First, the Sealed vs Ported is MYTH. Good modern Ported Subs perform very well in Group Delay measurements and are on equal footing with Sealed Subs.
Second, for your room size, I would definitely recommend Ported, and ideally multiple Subs, probably with larger Drivers than 10".
Not trying to blow you out of your room, but you have a lot of space, and Low Frequency Soundwaves will act on the total open-room volume.

Bassaholic Subwoofer Room Size Rating Protocol

This article outlines our test procedure in determining a subwoofers room size recommendation based on its max CEA SPL output while making room size and subwoofer distance assumptions.

www.audioholics.com

Did you place you gear in new positions?
Different than before? (Removing carpet alone is not going to change your Bass. )

This is a crude but effective way to possibly help you find better locations for Subs you may already have... or proper homes for new Subs:

Crawling for Bass - Subwoofer Placement Tips

Do the Subwoofer Crawl. It's the easiest way to find the proper placement location for your subwoofer to get the best performance and sound.

www.audioholics.com

You should avoid Klipsch and Polk Subs.

What is your Budget.

I would like to be at about $1000. I know thats not alot for good equipment but gonna buy new receiver or integrated amp and im not opposed to used equipment. Why stay away from klipsch and polk. Am leaning towards svs. Thanks for advice!

 

[lovinthehd]

Klipsch and Polk just generally make poorer quality subs, altho their best offerings aren't bad (currently Polk's HTS or Klipsch's SPL series), particularly if you find really good pricing. SVS would be better or others like RSL, Hsu Research, Monolith, Rythmik, Power Sound Audio, etc. Sub specialists generally provide the best performance/price. I'd go for at least a pair of 12"s if not larger. Even if you buy one good one now and save up a bit for a second....

 

[Kissell]

Klipsch and Polk just generally make poorer quality subs, altho their best offerings aren't bad (currently Polk's HTS or Klipsch's SPL series), particularly if you find really good pricing. SVS would be better or others like RSL, Hsu Research, Monolith, Rythmik, Power Sound Audio, etc. Sub specialists generally provide the best performance/price. I'd go for at least a pair of 12"s if not larger. Even if you buy one good one now and save up a bit for a second....

Those were the klipsch and polks i was looking at. Like always advertising pays off and the big names are what everybody sees. I will definitely look at others u mentioned being they r good quality. So u dont think i need to ne concerned with lower quality bass with a port?

 

[lovinthehd]

Those were the klipsch and polks i was looking at. Like always advertising pays off and the big names are what everybody sees. I will definitely look at others u mentioned being they r good quality. So u dont think i need to ne concerned with lower quality bass with a port?

Absolutely not with the better subs. Some of the old Klipsch and Polk cheap ported subs with poor response characteristics are what generally have given ported subs a bad name. There's also DIY if you've got the tools/time/finishing skills....

ps The Klipsch SPL and Polk HTS subs are ported....

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

Agreed 100%. The only advantage sealed subs have is being small. I wouldn’t buy a Klipsch, or Polk sub for any reason. Gonna sound like an echo chamber, but for my money I’d start with Rythmik, PSA, HSU, and monolith. Svs is ok, but imo dollar for dollar, the others just offer more performance. The bill of rights with free shipping and app and all that is fine, but it’s not really free and still costs everyone.

 

[Kissell]

Absolutely not with the better subs. Some of the old Klipsch and Polk cheap ported subs with poor response characteristics are what generally have given ported subs a bad name. There's also DIY if you've got the tools/time/finishing skills....

ps The Klipsch SPL and Polk HTS subs are ported....

I knew those were ported and was comparing them to sealed avs but thanks for sound advice from u guys ive got other options. Been hard trying to pick from specs on paper. Thanks again for help!

 

[lovinthehd]

I knew those were ported and was comparing them to sealed avs but thanks for sound advice from u guys ive got other options. Been hard trying to pick from specs on paper. Thanks again for help!

Might look around here for a bit too data-bass.com , good third party testing site (and a former Audioholics sub reviewer)

 

[ryanosaur]

I knew those were ported and was comparing them to sealed avs but thanks for sound advice from u guys ive got other options. Been hard trying to pick from specs on paper. Thanks again for help!

When you start looking at a majority of the good ID Sub companies, there is little difference in individual Subs.
DO NOT misunderstand, there are still differences, but...
Many of them when compared to other similar product will come down to one being a little stronger in Mid Bass vs another being a little stronger down low.
In many instances it gets to a point of choosing based on aesthetics and the connectivity/usability of the Amp, whether you require an App, etc.

One of the absolute best buys, bang-for-your-buck style, is the Hsu VTF-2.

For your room size, going with a larger Sub wouldn't be bad, but I also get cost and the other aspects as well.
Regardless, 2 of those would be a very good path...

If you want to spend more, well...

We can help with that too!

 

[vader540is]

I would like to be at about $1000. I know thats not alot for good equipment but gonna buy new receiver or integrated amp and im not opposed to used equipment. Why stay away from klipsch and polk. Am leaning towards svs. Thanks for advice!

$1000?

HSU VTF-15H MK2

Add a 2nd one when your budget permits.

 

[Pogre]

Man that's a pretty good sized room. I'd want at least a pair of 12s.

I knew those were ported and was comparing them to sealed avs but thanks for sound advice from u guys ive got other options. Been hard trying to pick from specs on paper. Thanks again for help!

Hey, just to add another voice and reassure you that the ported thing isn't true anymore with well built modern designs. HD is right about the cheaper models from companies like Polk and Klipsch helped to contribute to that reputation. The big boys who specialize in subs licked that problem a while ago.

You do have a fairly large room and I'd want at a minimum a pair of ported 12s. I have a similarly large room and went with a pair of 15s. Then I added a third sub with dual 12" drivers. A tad overkill perhaps, yes, but the pair of 15s did the job nicely without struggling.

 

[Kissell]

Man that's a pretty good sized room. I'd want at least a pair of 12s.

Hey, just to add another voice and reassure you that the ported thing isn't true anymore with well built modern designs. HD is right about the cheaper models from companies like Polk and Klipsch helped to contribute to that reputation. The big boys who specialize in subs licked that problem a while ago.

You do have a fairly large room and I'd want at a minimum a pair of ported 12s. I have a similarly large room and went with a pair of 15s. Then I added a third sub with dual 12" drivers. A tad overkill perhaps, yes, but the pair of 15s did the job nicely without struggling.

What 12”s did u go with if i may ask?

 

[Kissell]

What 12”s did u go with if i may ask?

Sorry meant 15”s. Trying to keep footprint as small as i can to keep wife happy if u know what i mean

 

[Pogre]

Sorry meant 15”s. Trying to keep footprint as small as i can to keep wife happy if u know what i mean

I got a pair of Hsu VTF-3 MK5's.

Bundles

The best value for price home theater systems and subwoofers on the market guaranteed

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The price in that link is for 2 of them, but they are getting outside what most might consider a small footprint. Hsu does make a smaller 12" model tho thats a pretty good performer.

VTF-2 MK5 Subwoofer

Introducing the VTF-2 MK5, the epitome of affordability and value in the renowned HSU lineup. This subwoofer is designed to cater to budget-conscious enthusiasts without compromising on quality or performance. Most affordable and budget-friendly subwoofer One of the smallest subwoofers so it...

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That link is for a single, but a pair of those might be enough. I'd want 15s for more effortless bass and plenty of headroom, but those would likely do pretty well also. Other companies to consider would be Monoprice's Monolith, Rhythmik, SVS and a couple more I'm not thinking of right off the top of my head.

 

[Pogre]

$1000?

HSU VTF-15H MK2

Add a 2nd one when your budget permits.

This isn't a terrible plan either and might be more waf friendly. They're an upgraded version of the ones I have. They dig a little bit deeper and the rosenut finish looks very nice on these.

VTF-15H MK2 Subwoofer

Status Update: Discontinued. The VTF-15H MK2 has been replaced by the new VTF-TN1. Please click here for more information. The VTF-15H MK2 is our flagship and highest-performing subwoofer designed for the ultimate home theater experience. With its exceptional capabilities, the VTF-15H MK2 stands...

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