B&W subs?

[bound4h]

Anyone have any experience with B&W's subs?

I am eying an ASW1000 on ebay, but wanted to get some more input on their LFEs.

If anyone has any other brand/model suggestions, would love to hear. Trying to stay in the 300-400 range (would rather get it off ebay if possible).

Thanks,

Mike

 

[Adam]

Hi, Mike. I have an ASW1000. I'd be happy to answer any questions as best that I can. It was my first sub, and I swapped it out for an SVS PC13-Ultra about two years ago. While I think that the PC13-Ultra is a huge step up, the ASW1000 is a good sub - and a fair choice at $1000 less than an Ultra costs.

B&W had a bad production run on the ASW1000 model. My first unit was from that run, and it rattled. Extremely annoying. Long story short, it took two years to get it replaced (because of the dealer, not because of B&W). The first one that B&W sent to replace it was from the same bad production run, and it also rattled. The second replacement sub was from a different run and was perfect. I mention this because you might want to (a) ask about if it rattles and (b) perhaps even get the serial number of the unit and then contact B&W to see if it was part of that bad run. I might be able to find the serial number range if your interested.

 

[lsiberian]

Anyone have any experience with B&W's subs?

I am eying an ASW1000 on ebay, but wanted to get some more input on their LFEs.

If anyone has any other brand/model suggestions, would love to hear. Trying to stay in the 300-400 range (would rather get it off ebay if possible).

Thanks,

Mike

Adam is nice about. I'm blunt don't waste your money on that junk. Just get a nice SVS Pb 10 or something. It may not have the extension, but the SQ will be excellent IMO.

I'm not knocking the ASW1000, but I think your better off with SVS, Velodyne or HSU subs.

JMO others have theirs.

 

[bound4h]

Thanks for both replies. I am keeping my options open and trying to find specific models that I can research.

lsiberian, you mentioned the SVS. Would that be this one here: http://cgi.ebay.com/SVS-Subwoofer-for-sale-PB10-NSD_W0QQitemZ320364671334QQcmdZViewItemQQptZSpeakers_Subwoofers?hash=item320364671334&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2|65%3A1|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A1|293%3A1|294%3A50

Thanks.

 

[rnatalli]

HSU would be my pick.

 

[fast1]

yea same here, go for HSU

 

[lsiberian]

Thanks for both replies. I am keeping my options open and trying to find specific models that I can research.

lsiberian, you mentioned the SVS. Would that be this one here: http://cgi.ebay.com/SVS-Subwoofer-for-sale-PB10-NSD_W0QQitemZ320364671334QQcmdZViewItemQQptZSpeakers_Subwoofers?hash=item320364671334&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2|65%3A1|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A1|293%3A1|294%3A50

Thanks.

Bound research only goes so far. Performance is what matters most.

I think any of the 3 brands I mentioned are a safe bet for high quality subs. I suggest you choose the one that fits your decor and budget best. The fact is the room and placement along with settings can make or break a subs performance. Understanding how LF works will go a long way to helping you properly place a sub and treat a room. I think trying to compare the 3 brands on performance is difficult. Differences are probably subtle.

 

[bound4h]

How about the HSU STF-1 or VTF-3R?

 

[bandphan]

The B&W is a good sub with high spl in the mid bass range, for those that recommend SVS it would need to be the PB12 to reach them same performance, and then the B&W will have better distaotaion levels across the board. I might ask what your setup is?

 

[bound4h]

Thanks band,

Setup is currently in the works. Have a pair of B&W DM601 Series 3s, Denon AVR-4802, and just got the B&W Matrix HTM (center). Would like to eventually get larger monitors for the fronts and move the 601s to the rear. Just not there yet.

Would a CC serve a purpose without the rear 2 for a 5.1 setup? The reason I ask is because I am getting a sub soon, so I will def have the 2.1, but wonder if it would be dumb to hook up the center since I won't have full 5.1. Is a CC better than no CC? Orrrrr....if I hook up a CC, will the AVR think I have 5.1 and try to output the rear channels (hence losing the rear channel sound since I dont have the speakers yet)?

So, the first part is the answer to your question, the second another question.

Thanks!

 

[bandphan]

Thanks band,

Setup is currently in the works. Have a pair of B&W DM601 Series 3s, Denon AVR-4802, and just got the B&W Matrix HTM (center). Would like to eventually get larger monitors for the fronts and move the 601s to the rear. Just not there yet.

Would a CC serve a purpose without the rear 2 for a 5.1 setup? The reason I ask is because I am getting a sub soon, so I will def have the 2.1, but wonder if it would be dumb to hook up the center since I won't have full 5.1. Is a CC better than no CC? Orrrrr....if I hook up a CC, will the AVR think I have 5.1 and try to output the rear channels (hence losing the rear channel sound since I dont have the speakers yet)?

So, the first part is the answer to your question, the second another question.

Thanks!

In a 6.1 it would work just fine but not 5.1. You can pick up some inexpensive rears to handle the duty in the mean time and move them to a second zone when you move the 601s. PM Adam for the serial number range on the B&W sub to be safe if that's the route your going. It is a nice sub. You might want to check out some of the subwoofer test over at Avtalk UK and the home theatershack. Can't post the links cause I'm on the phone but google it.

 

[cwall99]

Another American-Made Brand

I'm a huge fan of B&W (I have DSM603 s3s and an LCR600 across the front), but I haven't been hugely impressed by their subs, at least the ones in my price range (not very much). In fact, when I go to the store where I got my B&Ws and ask about subs, they almost always steer me to their Klipsch subs. Not sure why. The Klipsch sound okay, but don't do much for me.

So, lately, I've noticed that Audioholics is paying a lot of attention to Elemental Designs (did I get that right), so this morning, I went to the ED website, and, apart from the obvious Viagra jokes, I was pretty impressed by what I saw there. They're a lot like SVS, but rather than Ohio, they're based in Iowa. Like SVS, they do all their design and manufacturing in the states (if that matters to you).

On paper, at least, they have a number of subs in the $300 to $400 range that appear to be pretty similar to the low end SVS subs, but, they seem about $50 to $75 cheaper AND it looks like they offer free shipping.

Granted, everyone loves SVS, and I have my eye one one, but this deal on Elemental Designs looks pretty good. You may want to give them a look.

 

[bound4h]

Thanks for the suggestion!

I checked out their website and looked at their cheapest model (my budget). The FR graph (even though it is +/-3bB from 20-100khz) looks very bumpy compared to the SVS of HSUs. Although it does cost less, I wonder how noticeable this could really be? How noticeable is just 3dB I guess is the question.

Thanks again

Mike

 

[cwall99]

Someone somewhere had a discussion of SVS vs ED (in the age of Viagra, you can only think that this is an unfortunate acronym) and were talking about the 10-inch SVS sub vs the 12-inch, 200 watt ED sub.

Both scored 83s on the CraigSubs list. I wish I had the URL to the discussion, but that sort of indicates to me that they both have pluses and minuses that sort of even out in the wash. That being the case, I have to go with saving a little cash.

Still, until things pick up around here a bit, I'm going to be saving my pennies and, as much as it pains me to say this, foregoing the new subwoofer.