Need an upgrade to Orb Super 8 for a big room ?

[pg13]

I have Orb Audio People's Choice system with Super 8 subwoofer. The system is in my living room (25x12x10) which opens into a kitchen (10x10x10) and a hallway. With this sub, I never really feel the bass. I can hear the explosions, etc but nowhere the effect that I had expected. The sub is placed in a room corner. Two questions:

1. Currently Super-8 volume is set to about half. Would increasing the volume help ? I noticed that if I increase the volume, I get some irritating (non-bass sounding) sounds from the sub. This is probably due to 120Hz crossover that I need for the speakers.

2. If I need a better sub, what would be a good replacement ? I dont want to spend more than $300 after I sell of Super 8 (I should be able to sell it for $300 given it is just 6 months old). Size is an issue. It should be about 15 inch cube or less. Adding another sub is not a preferred option (especially since a new Super 8 costs $400).

My listening is roughly 25% SD TV, 25% HD movies on TV, 25% music and 25% DVDs. I am not a bass junkie so I dont want bass to drown everything else but do want to get a decent home theater experience.

 

[WmAx]

2. If I need a better sub, what would be a good replacement ? I dont want to spend more than $300 after I sell of Super 8 (I should be able to sell it for $300 given it is just 6 months old). Size is an issue. It should be about 15 inch cube or less. Adding another sub is not a preferred option (especially since a new Super 8 costs $400).

So, you don't want to spend more than $300? Seriously, you need to spend more to get 'more' subwoofer unless you find a seriously good deal on a used subwoofer. The minimum retail units I would recommend start at $400-$500 from manufacturers like SVS which have measurably verified high value subwoofers. If you upped your budget to about $600, you could even put together a custom subwoofer that is substantially superior to retail products of the same cost.

-Chris

 

[rnatalli]

At $300, you could stretch to the STF-2 or pick up a Dayton from Parts Express. But I would save up till you can afford more.

 

[lsiberian]

A Dayton sub fills my room. Not like a SVS, or DIY option, but it still gets the job done. However isn't Matt34 selling a pair of Rythmicks for 300. That would be a nice deal for the price.

 

[pg13]

I think you got it wrong. The total budget is $600 ($300 + $300 from selling Super-8). Size is an issue so all of Hsu subs are out.
Moreover, I want to be sure that I will actually see an improvement. Specs-wise Super-8 is not bad (200Wrms, 400W peak power, 24Hz extension, etc). Currently, I have set the Super 8 to 60% volume so loudness is not the issue either. It is just that Super 8 sounds more like a "speaker" rather than a "subwoofer" if you know what I mean. For music, that is ok but watching HD action movies or DVDs, things are not as good as I would like.

 

[adwilk]

If you're getting "bad" sounds from the sub, then its a lacking device.. there are subs in the 600 range that are not so lacking and you WILL notice a difference for sure. How big of a sub are you willing to go with? A nice DIY option would be great for you I'm sure.. Can you go 3ft^3?

 

[AVRat]

You're looking at 4000+ cu ft so you'll need some serious subage and a little more cash to obtain it. With your size constraint, the Epik Vanquish or SVS SB12-Plus are where you should be working towards.

 

[pg13]

Thanks. So the Epic or SVS *will* be very noticeable improvement over the Super8 and it is not going to be equivalent to just turning up the super8 volume higher ?

 

[j_garcia]

I think we've all been at that "my sub isn't enough" point. It is called upgraditis . A more potent sub, amp, more substantial driver, etc... will make a difference for sure. The "bad" sound is likely due to the sub trying to reproduce tones below its capability and turning it up makes that worse. That is a pretty good size room, so I agree you are going to need to need a decent sub to fill it well. The 120Hz x-over is likely to be a problem with most subs however, as that is the point at which it easily becomes localizable. Your lower midbass is now coming from the sub instead of the speakers.

 

[AVRat]

Yes, they will play louder and deeper than that little 8!