T

Tod

Audioholic
I currently have a Velodyne DPS 12, but am planning to upgrade sometime in the next couple months. My two concerns are 1) Increased precision/musicality/control/decreased distortion or whatever you'd care to call better sound, and 2) increased extension. Output is much less of an issue, since it's in a smallish room. The Velodyne puts out as much as I'll be needing.

My current choices are limited to the SVS PB13 Ultra in oak, to match my beautiful homemade speaker stands, media shelves, and B&Ws. I can't really go above that in price range easily, but does anyone know of a model that offers comparable very low frequency extension if a slightly lessened ability to break things? I totally want the SVS, but it seems like my only option and I'd at least like to pretend I had a choice. I love that pipe organ music...
 
mike c

mike c

Audioholic Warlord
with the pb13's flexibility in tuning/extension, I'd say that was your best bet in your budget.
 
R

rnatalli

Audioholic Ninja
SVS sounds like the way to go. It's a monster sub.
 
annunaki

annunaki

Moderator
The B&W does look to be a decent option. With it being ony -6db at 15hz from the fundamental, it is quite good for response. The issue would lie in what the fundamental output level was. :confused:

How large is the room in cubic feet? Or, what are the rooms dimensions?

The SVS will be hard to beat in terms of output and all out low frequency extension. It is a very accurate beast as well.
 
WmAx

WmAx

Audioholic Samurai
My current choices are limited to the SVS PB13 Ultra in oak, to match my beautiful homemade speaker stands...
Does this mean you are not opposed to building things? If so, then forget ANY commercial subwoofer design. You can build a FAR better unit for a fraction of the price via the DIY route. If you desire maximum sound quality, you should also consider building two or more subwoofers, in order to distribute LF stimulation from various points in the room to improve bass response linearity(and sound quality).

-Chris
 
GlocksRock

GlocksRock

Audioholic Spartan
I see no good reason to not get the SVS if you can afford it.
 
billy p

billy p

Audioholic Ninja
I've read on other forums about some issues regarding the pb13's amps? Then again, these may have been isolated incidents:eek:. If your leaning that way maybe some of the others here could chime in.

Regards, Billy p:)
 
T

Tod

Audioholic
DIY: Yes, I have the skills. Maybe I'll have to look into it before I buy, although I may or may not have time and money at the same moment. I will have time over Christmas break, just don't know what I can do at that point. Also I'd have to find a design that does what I want, which is low freakin bass that will modify my heart rhythm. I currently know nothing about how to do such things, but have no problem learning.

B&W: Tempting, and a tiny bit cheaper, and looks pretty/good specs. They don't have an oak finish though...Maybe my dealer has one though I can hear. I hadn't even thought about the 700 series, just assuming they'd be more.

Room: Attached picture. The HT space is about 10x10, but open to the rest of the common space in the house. Kitchen directly behind, 8' ceilings raising to almost 10 at the midway point between the HT room and the other living room area. Like I said, I've had no problems with output. Even the Velodyne will vibrate every window in the house with those dinosaur footsteps from The Great Fantasy Adventure Album.

Doubles: At the moment, there is only space for one box sub. I was thinking about the cylinders too, but there is no earthly way to put one in there with the other things that are already in place. It would have to go in the next room or something.

But then hopefully I'm buying for the future too when I can get out of this house which wasn't really built for such purposes. Thanks for the help so far!
 

Attachments

T

Tod

Audioholic
...this house which wasn't really built for such purposes.
I should mention that I have to have my projector on a cart and roll it out whenever I want to watch something. Renting sucks! :mad:
 
annunaki

annunaki

Moderator
Going with two subs and the DIY route would be my choice. Finding the right driver is the issue. A passive radiator system would be an option as well for extended, accurate low frequency extension.

What is the total budget? I can look into a few woofers that would suit the scenario quite well.

WmAx any suggestions on drivers either for extreme low tuning (20hz and lower) or for passive radiator designs??

The JL audio 13W1v2 models really well in a vented enclosure tuned to 21hz. It is a pretty linear sub to boot. It only costs $159.99 at full retail! You can get by with 500 watts rms on a pair of them and have a very impressive system.
 
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T

Tod

Audioholic
What is the total budget? I can look into a few woofers that would suit the scenario quite well.
Not exceeding the $1700 for a shipped oak SVS. The other thing is I have to write my thesis over Christmas so I can graduate and get a real job, which is why the simplicity of internet purchases may win out. DIY does sound tempting, and even if I don't do it now I may later. I'm certainly listening.
 
WmAx

WmAx

Audioholic Samurai
Not exceeding the $1700 for a shipped oak SVS. The other thing is I have to write my thesis over Christmas so I can graduate and get a real job, which is why the simplicity of internet purchases may win out. DIY does sound tempting, and even if I don't do it now I may later. I'm certainly listening.
Since simplicity is an issue. Simple. Get 3 or 4 of the Dayton RS subwoofer kits. It comes with everything you need. Just assembly the pre-made parts. 3 or 4 of these, distributed in the room, will cost the same, and have far superior sound quality to any single subwoofer of ANY price.

-Chris
 
Warpdrv

Warpdrv

Audioholic Ninja
I would say TC-Sounds for drivers, but they are now unattainable.....

Need to start thinking about size of driver and how large of a box your thinking about at that point... If a smaller box is required, then either sealed or passive radiator will be required, if box size doesn't matter, then Ported Low is easier to do.

For a low Tune that will upset your innards, a good driver right now, as high excursion drivers are at a minimum these days... you could look to Creative Sounds- SDX15 http://www.creativesound.ca/details.php?model=SDX15

In a 270L to 320L box or Sonotube(for smaller Footprint)... Now keep in mind that a 320L box is quite large... can be tuned around 14hz

You have a small area there... I would think a couple of sealed subs would be the way to go, something like this that Illka built (90L sealed)... but with a SDX15, would provide the same type of output, very good design... and he has a very nice looking box there...

I put that out there, as Im thinking the OP has asthetics in mind is his house....
 
annunaki

annunaki

Moderator
Since simplicity is an issue. Simple. Get 3 or 4 of the Dayton RS subwoofer kits. It comes with everything you need. Just assembly the pre-made parts. 3 or 4 of these, distributed in the room, will cost the same, and have far superior sound quality to any single subwoofer of ANY price.

-Chris
With an anechoic F3 of 32hz in a 4.6 cu.ft. sealed enclosure the Dayton Reference High Fidelity 15" woofers would be very impressive in such a small room.

The premade kits for the 12" version would work very well too. It has an anechoic f3 of 38hz in the kit version. This would work very well with 3-4 of them properly positoned.
 
agarwalro

agarwalro

Audioholic Ninja
With an anechoic F3 of 32hz in a 4.6 cu.ft. sealed enclosure the Dayton Reference High Fidelity 15" woofers would be very impressive in such a small room.
Is the f3 = -3dB point on the plot?
 
annunaki

annunaki

Moderator
Is the f3 = -3dB point on the plot?
Yes, that is correct.

With the notch filter using the HPS amps from dayton you can get really low f3 with either the 12" or 15" versions of the HF driver. The F3 I have for the 15" is without a notch filter!
 
G

GTHill

Audioholic
Hopefully not too much of a hijack, but does a Paradigm Servo 15 compare? I know the price is about the same. I love mine, but I haven't heard many others either.

Gene
 
T

Tod

Audioholic
With an anechoic F3 of 32hz in a 4.6 cu.ft. sealed enclosure the Dayton Reference High Fidelity 15" woofers would be very impressive in such a small room.

The premade kits for the 12" version would work very well too. It has an anechoic f3 of 38hz in the kit version. This would work very well with 3-4 of them properly positoned.

My question is though if the F3 is up at like 32 hz, even if you do have some room gain vs anechoic, do you really get a full octave plus of usable response? It just sounds weird from the numbers.

On the other hand, someone just asked me tonight to do some remodeling for them over my Christmas break. More money/less time might make me buy if it works out that way. Still not sure...

But still many thanks for the information so far.
 

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