New Sub-Need Suggestions

H

hglass

Enthusiast
I'm in the market for a new sub. I have a Rel 401Q but I think its starting to die. I listen and watch movies more than music. So I'm looking for a heart thumping sub. Im willing to spend about 2K. I only have room for one sub but the room is a nice size. 16x20.:confused:
 
GlocksRock

GlocksRock

Audioholic Spartan
Check out the offerings from JL, SVS, HSU, Epik, Elemental Designs, and Paradigm just to name a few.
 
S

shadyJ

Speaker of the House
Staff member
I think one of the best deal out there for 2K is the Seaton Submersive. I don't know of any sub that can outperform it at that price point. It is regarded by many as one of the best subs available at any price.

Something else to consider is the Elemental Designs A7s-650. Just look at that frequency response chart; that is excellent performance! It is a newer design so there hasn't been as much customer feedback yet, but I just know that thing is going to be a absolute beast.

Another intriguing sub from Elemental Designs is the P7-650, which is kind of a dual-drive design. This will help mitigate room issues more than just one sub, so you will get a more even listening experience where ever you are listening from. It also has phenomenal output. This will be a SPL monster if set up correctly.

If you stretch your budget a bit, you can get a Hsu ULS-15 dual drive. It has the high output and sound quality of the Submersive along with the all the advantages that come with a multiple sub solution. This is what I have and it truly rocks.

Also, if you look around, you can get a Deftech Trinity for less than 2K. It is supposed to be able to hit 128 db at 20 Hz and 116 db at 16 Hz in a normal room. That is insane, and may be the very best non-internet direct sub out there.
 
C

cjsxv2

Audiophyte
I second the Trinity. I have and entire Paradigm Reference system and a Trinity to go with it. My friend recently bought Epiks current top sub available, the Dynasty, and I would most certainly take the Trinity over the Dynasty. My friend played an assortment of movies and music while I was there to hear the Dynasty and the most impressive thing about the sub was the amount of low frequency bass. The trinity's specs rate it down to like 10 hz or soemthing but the Dynasty beats the Trinity in the lowest of bass frequencies. However, the only stuff that goes that low are bass audio tracks that are specifically designed to go that low. Ive never seen a movie or regular music track go anywhere close to 10-15 hz, and anything above 15 hz would be where the Trinity beats the Dynasty. I would say, from hearing both subs on the same material(assorted movies and music) that the Dynasty is better for bass below 15hz, bass between 16-45 hz I would say the 2 are comparable with a slight advantage to the Trinity, and anything about 50 hz would be the Trinity hands down. So unless your gonna listen to bassotronics or some other groups hell bent on bass all day and nothing but the lowest bass I would say the Trinity would be the way to go.
 
MidnightSensi

MidnightSensi

Audioholic Samurai
I second the Trinity. I have and entire Paradigm Reference system and a Trinity to go with it. My friend recently bought Epiks current top sub available, the Dynasty, and I would most certainly take the Trinity over the Dynasty. My friend played an assortment of movies and music while I was there to hear the Dynasty and the most impressive thing about the sub was the amount of low frequency bass. The trinity's specs rate it down to like 10 hz or soemthing but the Dynasty beats the Trinity in the lowest of bass frequencies. However, the only stuff that goes that low are bass audio tracks that are specifically designed to go that low. Ive never seen a movie or regular music track go anywhere close to 10-15 hz, and anything above 15 hz would be where the Trinity beats the Dynasty. I would say, from hearing both subs on the same material(assorted movies and music) that the Dynasty is better for bass below 15hz, bass between 16-45 hz I would say the 2 are comparable with a slight advantage to the Trinity, and anything about 50 hz would be the Trinity hands down. So unless your gonna listen to bassotronics or some other groups hell bent on bass all day and nothing but the lowest bass I would say the Trinity would be the way to go.
A lot of consumer subwoofers give up so much to go 'low'. That extra extension costs so much elsewhere, especially in headroom and power. All these subwoofers end up running on their rails trying to fill these rooms with sound that goes mostly unnoticed.

Don't get me wrong, real, undistorted 20Hz is awesome.... but its more of an uneasy, uncomfortible /feeling/ than heartpounding bass. And its not something I've experienced to delight with a consumer subwoofer.
 
C

cjsxv2

Audiophyte
A lot of consumer subwoofers give up so much to go 'low'. That extra extension costs so much elsewhere, especially in headroom and power. All these subwoofers end up running on their rails trying to fill these rooms with sound that goes mostly unnoticed.

Don't get me wrong, real, undistorted 20Hz is awesome.... but its more of an uneasy, uncomfortible /feeling/ than heartpounding bass. And its not something I've experienced to delight with a consumer subwoofer.
Agreed, the Dynasty seemed to just put out more in the ultra low frequency but that was only on the few low bass frequency testing tracks that I listened to. When it came to the movies... the Trinity was a harder hitting bass, and much quicker and crisp. On music in general(not bass frequency test tracks), the Dynasty just couldn't hit with as much punch as the Trinity and seemed to lag with the faster bass, such as The Eagles - Life in the Fast Lane".
 
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