Home Office Subwoofer

[sholling]

I've had a Klipsch Promedia 5.1 hooked up to the computer in my home office for a few years. For what it is and what I paid for them they've been a pretty good gaming and music system - for computer speakers. Good enough that friends often complained that it blew away their living room systems. But for music they've always sounded a bit shrill to me and I've found myself listening less and less.

At last week's woot-off I picked up a pair Energy C-100 bookshelf speakers ($90 shipped ) and tied them into a recently displaced Pioneer VSX-1014TX receiver and find them a huge improvement. Speaker placement is angled down, 24" in front of me, 1' above (to center) and 18" apart. I may eventually add a shelf and stretch that to 30" but it's all the room I have for now.

I know that there's not much music below 55hz but I'm still temped to add a small subwoofer. Nothing special, this room is only 15x15x11h and is jam packed with desks and cabinets. Space is at a premium and I'm on a tight budget. The receiver crosses over at 50 or 80hz. My tastes run toward classic rock, jazz, newage guitar, and limited amounts of classical. There is no rap or techno in my home.

Questions: Is it worth adding a small sub or with the close placement of the mains will the sub be a distraction?

If I do add a sub for music only how would a little Velodyne VX10 crossed over at 80hz work? The fact that it's forward firing is a huge plus for this room layout.

I'm also considering a Mirage Prestige S8. It's much better looking and has great gobs more power but it almost seems like overkill for music only in this small room. It's only $100 more and I can stretch my budget that far if I need to.

Thoughts? Suggestions?

Energy C-100:
• Power rating: Up to 100W recommended amplifier power
• Impedance: 8 ohms (nominal) / 4 ohms minimum
• Tweeter: Chambered 1.0" aluminum-dome tweeter
• Woofer: 5.5" composite fiberglass cone
• Crossover: 2.6kHz
• Frequency response: 55Hz - 20kHz ±3dB
• Usable bass response: -10dB anechoic @ 50Hz
• Sensitivity: 87dB (anechoic) / 90dB (2 speakers in a typical room)
• Cabinet design: Bass reflex, rear vented

Velodyne VX-10
• Amplifier Power: 150 Watts (Dynamic), 100 Watts (RMS Power)
• Driver: 10" Forward Firing (8.2" Piston Diameter), Coated Fiber Cone with an Inverted Dust Cap, 2" Voice Coil
• 40 Oz. Magnet
• 2" Maximum Excursion
• Frequency Response: 36-120 Hz +/-3dB
• Cabinet: Bass-Reflex, Acoustically Neutral LDF, Ported Enclosure

Mirage Prestige S8
• 200 Watts Continuous Power, 800 Watts Dynamic Peak
• Systen Type: Bass Reflex With Rear Firing Port
• Voice Coil Diameter: 1.5"
• Frequency Response: 26Hz-120Hz ± 3dB
• 8" High Efficiency Fiberglass Composite Woofer
• Crossover Filter Switch (On/Off)
• Power Mode Switch (On/Auto/Off)
• Cabinet Design: High Gloss Piano Black Lacquer

 

[brendy]

The Mirage is the better of the two.It would not be overkill and it reaches about 10 hz lower.

 

[lsiberian]

I've had a Klipsch Promedia 5.1 hooked up to the computer in my home office for a few years. For what it is and what I paid for them they've been a pretty good gaming and music system - for computer speakers. Good enough that friends often complained that it blew away their living room systems. But for music they've always sounded a bit shrill to me and I've found myself listening less and less.

At last week's woot-off I picked up a pair Energy C-100 bookshelf speakers ($90 shipped ) and tied them into a recently displaced Pioneer VSX-1014TX receiver and find them a huge improvement. Speaker placement is angled down, 24" in front of me, 1' above (to center) and 18" apart. I may eventually add a shelf and stretch that to 30" but it's all the room I have for now.

I know that there's not much music below 55hz but I'm still temped to add a small subwoofer. Nothing special, this room is only 15x15x11h and is jam packed with desks and cabinets. Space is at a premium and I'm on a tight budget. The receiver crosses over at 50 or 80hz. My tastes run toward classic rock, jazz, newage guitar, and limited amounts of classical. There is no rap or techno in my home.

Questions: Is it worth adding a small sub or with the close placement of the mains will the sub be a distraction?

If I do add a sub for music only how would a little Velodyne VX10 crossed over at 80hz work? The fact that it's forward firing is a huge plus for this room layout.

I'm also considering a Mirage Prestige S8. It's much better looking and has great gobs more power but it almost seems like overkill for music only in this small room. It's only $100 more and I can stretch my budget that far if I need to.

Thoughts? Suggestions?

Energy C-100:
• Power rating: Up to 100W recommended amplifier power
• Impedance: 8 ohms (nominal) / 4 ohms minimum
• Tweeter: Chambered 1.0" aluminum-dome tweeter
• Woofer: 5.5" composite fiberglass cone
• Crossover: 2.6kHz
• Frequency response: 55Hz - 20kHz ±3dB
• Usable bass response: -10dB anechoic @ 50Hz
• Sensitivity: 87dB (anechoic) / 90dB (2 speakers in a typical room)
• Cabinet design: Bass reflex, rear vented

Velodyne VX-10
• Amplifier Power: 150 Watts (Dynamic), 100 Watts (RMS Power)
• Driver: 10" Forward Firing (8.2" Piston Diameter), Coated Fiber Cone with an Inverted Dust Cap, 2" Voice Coil
• 40 Oz. Magnet
• 2" Maximum Excursion
• Frequency Response: 36-120 Hz +/-3dB
• Cabinet: Bass-Reflex, Acoustically Neutral LDF, Ported Enclosure

Mirage Prestige S8
• 200 Watts Continuous Power, 800 Watts Dynamic Peak
• Systen Type: Bass Reflex With Rear Firing Port
• Voice Coil Diameter: 1.5"
• Frequency Response: 26Hz-120Hz ± 3dB
• 8" High Efficiency Fiberglass Composite Woofer
• Crossover Filter Switch (On/Off)
• Power Mode Switch (On/Auto/Off)
• Cabinet Design: High Gloss Piano Black Lacquer

I think you've already figured out what will work for you. Velodyne makes very good subs IMO. If you area really poor there is always Dayton.

 

[lsiberian]

The Mirage is the better of the two.It would not be overkill and it reaches about 10 hz lower.

Never heard a Mirage sub. But I wonder if that's fudging on the specs.

I think the Velodyne has a more honest spec. Plus he's using it for music. So I don't think he needs the extra 10hz.

A Dayton is another option.

 

[sholling]

Never heard a Mirage sub. But I wonder if that's fudging on the specs.

I think the Velodyne has a more honest spec. Plus he's using it for music. So I don't think he needs the extra 10hz.

A Dayton is another option.

I had originally considered the low end Daytons. The SUB-100 HT just shows 125w for the power output and it doesn't say if that is continuous or dynamic. With shipping the price for the Dayton is the same as the baby Velodyne and the Velodyne is a bit smaller. The 8" Mirage is $100 more shipped and is the smallest of the three.

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=300-633
http://www.miragespeakers.com/na-en/products/prestige-s8-overview/

 

[Matt34]

TSC ASW-8 for under $100 would be an ideal computer sub.

 

[sholling]

I drug the baby Velodyne into the office from the bedroom and gave it a try. It quickly became obvious that the VX10 doesn't have quite enough guts to work in that room. The poor little thing is straining. It's rated at up to a maximum of 2000cu ft, and the room is about 2500cu ft. It's funny I actually liked the sound of VX-10 better than the old Velodyne CHT-12 that i sold off when I bought the SVS for my family room.

It would be nice if I could afford a Hsu STF-2 for that room, I could just run over there (90 minute drive) and audition one but it's out of my price range. I'm curious about a The Speaker Company T250. Has anybody here tried one? The T250 is about the same price and power rating about the same as the Mirage Prestige S8. $250-280 delivered. What ever I get I will eventually have two because this has convinced me that I need better for my bedroom to.

Oh and even though the VX-10 was straining the addition of a sub was a big help for the Energy speakers.

 

[sholling]

I'm going to stand corrected. I spent the morning calibrating my office system and the baby Velodyne will do the job. She's at about her limit but will do the job. I'm may start a new thread about a replacement sub for my bedroom because the VX-10 is staying in my office.

Thanks for everyone's help!!!

 

[alphaiii]

Never heard a Mirage sub. But I wonder if that's fudging on the specs.

I think the Velodyne has a more honest spec. Plus he's using it for music. So I don't think he needs the extra 10hz.

A Dayton is another option.

Others have stated that the specs Mirage and Energy list for their subs are -3dB in room, best case scenario. So we're not talking anechoic response here.

That said, the Mirage Prestige/Energy ESW-V subs have been praised by owners for their tight accurate bass, even though they roll off higher than the specs suggest. They are very under-reviewed (professionally) though.

 

[alphaiii]

TSC ASW-8 for under $100 would be an ideal computer sub.

I have one of those in my bedroom, and I'm already looking to upgrade soon. They're not bad subs, and are a good deal for the money...but just not enough to meet what I'm looking for (bedroom HT and music).

I'd recommend it to anyone on a very tight budget, but if you have a couple hundred to spend, I think you can do alot better.

 

[lsiberian]

I have one of those in my bedroom, and I'm already looking to upgrade soon. They're not bad subs, and are a good deal for the money...but just not enough to meet what I'm looking for (bedroom HT and music).

I'd recommend it to anyone on a very tight budget, but if you have a couple hundred to spend, I think you can do alot better.

You can always do 2 of them.You would get much better response that way.

 

[Matt34]

You can always do 2 of them.You would get much better response that way.

Yup, I picked up two for my bedroom when they were on sale for 160ish shipped.

 

[lsiberian]

Yup, I picked up two for my bedroom when they were on sale for 160ish shipped.

A double barrel is always nicer