Subwoofer Advice - looking for a pair on a low budget

[ParleyW]

Currently I have a Klipsch R-12SW, and an Allison Al10.

I think I'm going to sell/get rid of the R-12SW, and keep the Allison AL10 a little bit until I manage to scour the used market and find a pair of subwoofers. The Allison is rated to lower frequencies than the Klipsch, but the Klipsch is certainly prettier.

Now onto what I'm looking for: I don't want to spend more than $400 (for two!). I disagree with Gene on this, I believe stereo subwoofers are a requirement, at least for music listening. As such I want them matched. There is no way I can spend what some of y'all are on subwoofers.

To achieve this, I will have to scour the used market, and likely pull all the tricks I can (scan the nationwide craigslist and ask for shipping, and/or ask someone to buy something for me).

It's very difficult to find two subwoofers for sale, so I'm thinking of finding a good deal on one that's reasonably popular/available, and then getting a second. For example, right now there is someone selling a Pradigm PS-1000 subwoofer for like $150 (I'm not sure which version), and I could get that and then scour for a second. Unfortunately, this is a relatively rare model, and there are many versions available.

The research I've done has taken me here:

speakers, user reviews, editorial reviews, speakers deals, used speakers

speakers, user reviews, editorial reviews, speakers deals, used speakers

www.audioreview.com

Finding best of the most reviewed subwoofers. Since there are a lot of reviews, I expect these to be reasonably popular, and I might be able to find two that work. Another route is to actually build my own, which I'm more than capable of doing. Actually, I just got done with a huge woodworking project, and my next project is all Electrical work, so I have literally anything I could need for electronics work and woodworking.

Please refrain from giving me the "No such thing as budget and good". If I had a lot of money to spend on subwoofers, I wouldn't have the time to enjoy them.

The finest subs I’ve ever owned are twin RBH 1010-SEN passive subs ($350). I upgraded the woofers to RBH 10” Reference for cheap. Incredibly clean, musical and brutal power to 18Hz. I’ll use them as my final resting place. Never part with them.

 

[Pogre]

The finest subs I’ve ever owned are twin RBH 1010-SEN passive subs ($350). I upgraded the woofers to RBH 10” Reference for cheap. Incredibly clean, musical and brutal power to 18Hz. I’ll use them as my final resting place. Never part with them.

I'm a pretty big fan of RBH. I might just be buried in my SV-1212NR...

Plus my 2 Hsu VTF-3 MK5s up front and I can shake some walls!

 

[ParleyW]

I'm a pretty big fan of RBH. I might just be buried in my SV-1212NR...

View attachment 55682

Plus my 2 Hsu VTF-3 MK5s up front and I can shake some walls!

Their so much fun. One of the guys at RBH just built “Frankenstein” the sub. It’s using four of the 12” reference drivers firing towards a central chamber that has multiple 6” ports. It’s low end reaches 12 Hz at a volume that defies reason (mic tests). I’ll have to send you a pic. Amazing 12” woofer.

 

[Pogre]

Their so much fun. One of the guys at RBH just built “Frankenstein” the sub. It’s using four of the 12” reference drivers firing towards a central chamber that has multiple 6” ports. It’s low end reaches 12 Hz at a volume that defies reason (mic tests). I’ll have to send you a pic. Amazing 12” woofer.

I'm not certain, but that might be the same driver in my SV-1212NR. Audioholics did a review and pulled the driver. It's a beast. It's the one on the right.

I think the one on the left is from their "N" series.

 

[ParleyW]

I'm not certain, but that might be the same driver in my SV-1212NR. Audioholics did a review and pulled the driver. It's a beast. It's the one on the right.

View attachment 55686

I think the one on the left is from their "N" series.

Still a terrific 12” woofer. RBH still has some of the woofers in stock. But the reference doubles the output. The construction of the reference does not allow it to bottom out regardless of the power input. I’ve hit my 10” reference woofers with 1400 watts starting at 10hz. Thought the cone would launch out of the frame. Fun fun fun.