Final step: a subwoofer for the dedicated stereo

[emorphien]

After upgrading speakers a year ago I've been thinking about a subwoofer. I'll be looking to blend it in with my Totems and not looking for great gobs of output. Just some stronger, deeper support in music only for the whole system.

I've been casually surfing around looking at different subwoofers. Size is a concern, the smaller the footprint the better. Also, this isn't a large room (roughly 12x12) and I'm not looking for a lot of output. I'm looking in the $300-400 range assuming I can get something competent in that price range for a small room. I'm looking for something that's more linear than it is a high SPL champion with extension as low as it can reasonably go.

So far I've looked at:
AV123 X-Sub: an interesting option but I'm not sure it'll be quite up to the performance I'd like but the price is hard to argue about
Elemental Designs: A2-250 or A3-250. I'd probably go with the A2, they seem to be identical subs with just different power ratings. I'm not terribly familiar with these guys but they seem well regarded. Like the X-sub the footprint on these isn't bad.
HSU: ? Not sure. The STF or VTF are options. Size wise the STF is preferred.
SVS: Again not sure, a lot of theirs seem to have a bit bigger foot print.

I had also looked at Totem subs (and have heard a couple) but while I love their speakers, I don't think I'd go with them for a sub as I'm sure others will perform better for the money, particularly from sub-only companies. Also saw Rel at a local store but my impression of those has always been all show no go. Both companies would also be more expensive than these other options.

Any other suggestions? Again, this is music only and my thinking is since there are more and more subs coming out in the $300-500 range I can get something that will perform very well given my needs for it. The elemental design subwoofers intrigue me.

Also, I'll be running speaker level connections since my NAD integrated amp has no pre-outs (an upgrade to that would be nice, but not high on my list as the power I have now is fine). Any drawbacks to this? I'd presume that given a good subwoofer there won't be any distortion issues in the signal passing through to the main speakers.

 

[bandphan]

After upgrading speakers a year ago I've been thinking about a subwoofer. I'll be looking to blend it in with my Totems and not looking for great gobs of output. Just some stronger, deeper support in music only for the whole system.

I've been casually surfing around looking at different subwoofers. Size is a concern, the smaller the footprint the better. Also, this isn't a large room (roughly 12x12) and I'm not looking for a lot of output. I'm looking in the $300-400 range assuming I can get something competent in that price range for a small room. I'm looking for something that's more linear than it is a high SPL champion with extension as low as it can reasonably go.

So far I've looked at:
AV123 X-Sub: an interesting option but I'm not sure it'll be quite up to the performance I'd like but the price is hard to argue about
Elemental Designs: A2-250 or A3-250. I'd probably go with the A2, they seem to be identical subs with just different power ratings. I'm not terribly familiar with these guys but they seem well regarded. Like the X-sub the footprint on these isn't bad.
HSU: ? Not sure. The STF or VTF are options. Size wise the STF is preferred.
SVS: Again not sure, a lot of theirs seem to have a bit bigger foot print.

I had also looked at Totem subs (and have heard a couple) but while I love their speakers, I don't think I'd go with them for a sub as I'm sure others will perform better for the money, particularly from sub-only companies. Also saw Rel at a local store but my impression of those has always been all show no go. Both companies would also be more expensive than these other options.

Any other suggestions? Again, this is music only and my thinking is since there are more and more subs coming out in the $300-500 range I can get something that will perform very well given my needs for it. The elemental design subwoofers intrigue me.

Also, I'll be running speaker level connections since my NAD integrated amp has no pre-outs (an upgrade to that would be nice, but not high on my list as the power I have now is fine). Any drawbacks to this? I'd presume that given a good subwoofer there won't be any distortion issues in the signal passing through to the main speakers.

Focal makes small cube subs http://www.tweakshop.com/SibandCub.html

going up from there the velo mini v or spl800 would be a good choice you can pick them up from a brick and motar store for 699-899

good luck

 

[Matt34]

May want to look at Sunfire's options. 11" cubed and you can get them with a built-in EQ.

http://www.sunfire.com/TrueSubwooferEQPR.htm

 

[j_garcia]

The Dayton 10" Titanic kit is $350 and has a relatively small footprint. Their RS1200 kit is $498, though it may not be small enough, and finally they have the brand new one that is an HSU design (old STF?) with a 12" for $389.

 

[emorphien]

As much as kits are a great deal for the performance, I don't really have time to deal with one right now so I'm intersted in looking at what's available "prebuilt."

May want to look at Sunfire's options. 11" cubed and you can get them with a built-in EQ.

http://www.sunfire.com/TrueSubwooferEQPR.htm

As far as I'm aware, none of the Sunfires fall in the price range I'm interested in investigating right now.

 

[Sheep]

SVS has the SB-12plus. A little over budget but seems to fall into the right category.

AV123 has their small sealed subs too, which is what I think you need. A ported subwoofer is going to give you performance where you won't really need it, and be much larger.

SheepStar

 

[emorphien]

SB-12Plus is a lot over my currently desired budget. It's rather large as well.

The AV123 sealed subs do not have a speaker level input as far as I can tell.

 

[furrycute]

For you budget, I recommend Yamaha subs.

Either the YST-SW225 or the larger YST-SW325 should fit your bill. You can usually find them on sale at significantly below MSRP on Amazon or on eCost.

Yamaha subs are known to be fast, musical. And they do have speaker level inputs and outputs.

 

[Sheep]

SB-12Plus is a lot over my currently desired budget. It's rather large as well.

The AV123 sealed subs do not have a speaker level input as far as I can tell.

An SB-12 is like a 14inch cube.. if that's to big, get headphones.

Furycute, where are you getting your information on the Yamaha subs? I have seen the YST-SW1500 measured and it didn't look all that great.

+/- 3 dB points: 25 Hz - 43 Hz (crossover min)

+/- 3 dB points: 26.7 Hz - 120 Hz (crossover max)

SheepStar

 

[Davemcc]

I'll throw a vote in for the STF-2, given your application. I have the STF-3 (shame they discontinued it) and it is a well-controlled, tight sounding sub, ideal for critical music listening. I would expect the STF-2 to have the same Hsu traits, despite it's smaller size. Your room isn't very big. I'm sure the STF-2 would perform nicely in that space.

 

[emorphien]

An SB-12 is like a 14inch cube.. if that's to big, get headphones.

If by a 14" cube you mean it actually has a 25x18" footprint and is 25" high. Sure then!

I'll throw a vote in for the STF-2, given your application. I have the STF-3 (shame they discontinued it) and it is a well-controlled, tight sounding sub, ideal for critical music listening. I would expect the STF-2 to have the same Hsu traits, despite it's smaller size. Your room isn't very big. I'm sure the STF-2 would perform nicely in that space.

Thanks Davemcc. That's right in the sweet spot price wise. I had a friend with the STF1 and it was impressive once positioned properly. Size wise, the STF-2 is quite good. I'll have to look at my situation and see what really fits but that will likely work fine.

It's tough to pick one without being able to hear them.




Also, perhaps I'm being a bit silly in asking, but has anyone noticed any issues running speaker level inputs? Seems kind of silly, plopping an interface in the middle of the signal path from amp to speaker. Perhaps that's just me though.

 

[Sheep]

If by a 14" cube you mean it actually has a 25x18" footprint and is 25" high. Sure then!

Good god,

SB-12.

Or,

SEALED BOX-12

Better?

SheepStar

 

[gus6464]

Now now let's calm down. But anyway this is the dimensions of the SB-12

Size: Approx. 15” deep x 14" wide x 14 " high

Only problem is that it costs 2x your budget.

 

[emorphien]

Sorry, I misread. I did not see/realize they had a new model out.

 

[gus6464]

Sorry, I misread. I did not see/realize they had a new model out.

Have you figured out a good crossover point for the Rainmakers? Sorry if it is an off topic question.

 

[emorphien]

Not yet. Are the speaker level outputs on the subs variable crossover or usually fixed? My understanding is that they're variable but I've seen references for some subs that they aren't. Something around 50-60Hz would likely work but I'm not sure what would be best.

I had played around with some test tones once and found they had output down to 35Hz which amused me. Not enough to actually be audible in music or anything.

 

[mtrycrafts]

After upgrading speakers a year ago I've been thinking about a subwoofer. I'll be looking to blend it in with my Totems and not looking for great gobs of output. Just some stronger, deeper support in music only for the whole system.
.

With that last requirement, depending on what you really mean, how deep, how strong, it may still need a good sub to get the low frequency at your desired level. That is not an easy task from a sub.

Here is one source for response capability:

http://home.comcast.net/~frank_carter/Nousaine.htm

 

[Sheep]

SB-12 Response.

It's not much over your budget if you get the Vinyl finish. 45 day in home trail with free return shipping too.

SheepStar

 

[emorphien]

With that last requirement, depending on what you really mean, how deep, how strong, it may still need a good sub to get the low frequency at your desired level. That is not an easy task from a sub.

Here is one source for response capability:

http://home.comcast.net/~frank_carter/Nousaine.htm

I don't mean very strong in an absolute sense. Just more than what I have now, and lower than what I have now. I've got enough experience with subwoofers to know that what I want is easily achieved since I'm not looking for high SPL.

I'm just not sure what's out there now, and trying to get a feel for it and see what others are using or recommend.

The SB-12 looks good too, but price wise it's more than I had in mind coming in at $700. I'm not sure I really have to spend that much to get good performance for my needs. At the same time I need to make sure I'm not off base in not looking at subwoofers that might cost more than $500. Based on reviews and everything it seemed to me like subs have come a long ways since I bought the sub I have in the home theater 5 years ago and you can get a surprisingly good sub (assuming you're not using it in a big room) in the price range I'm starting with right now.

 

[mike c]

b-stock

if a textured black SB12 appears here ... it will be 549USD

https://svsound.com/store/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_ID=12

there's a maple there now for 599