EMP ES10i SUBWOOFER question

[cwt4]

New here but long time follower....

I have heard a lot of people saying that it isn't quite as good as it should be, but will it get the job done? I will be moving into a loft apartment with neighbors so I will not be able to rattle the pictures off the wall anyway. The living area is 16x20, but that includes a dining room (10ft). Also, the wife is going to need things to match and I think it will be hard to find a good matching sub to the piano black speakers.

I was looking at the HSU VTF-1 Subwoofer, but im just not sure it is worth paying the extra 200$ right now... am I correct?

So all in all, will this sub get the job done at the 300$ price tag?

Thanks guys!

 

[Exit]

My brother got that subwoofer in an EMP 5.1 speaker package last year. It was set up with the Audyssey room acoustics feature in an Onkyo 606. When we fired it up playing the Incredibles, I was shocked about how good it sounded. Some of the credit goes to Audyssey but the basic subwoofer can perform up to par. As I recall it does not go down to 20 Hz. I think it goes down to 30 Hz but whatever - it sounded very good in a very large room (30' by 20' with open ceilings to the kitchen and halls. I have a SVS PB12+2 and it goes under 20 Hz. I would have been satisfied with the EMP sub in my house and my brother was well pleased. I don't know if it is better or worse than other subwoofers at its price point but I think you would be satisfied with the sound for the money. I highly recommend the Audyssey acoustics feature. It sounds great and you don't have to fool around with test tones and a SPL meter to get the setup sounding good.

 

[Audioholics]

The guys at EMP typically underrate their subs. We're trying to advise them to rate them the same way other companies do, but they tend to stick with RMS power, etc...

 

[Haaspac]

I live in a one bedroom apartment on the third floor. This sub has MORE than enough power to satisfy an apartment HT. I have never turned the gain past 1oclock on the dial but I worked second shift yesterday and so around noon when everyone else in the apartment building was gone to work I turned the gain to 3/4 full power and popped in the Rambo BD and fast forwarded to the gunfight at the end, and I will tell you right now the LFE was rattling the entire apartment. There is no way this sub will not satisfy you unless you want to break noise ordinance and get evicted from your apartment complex.

 

[Xargos]

Not to hijack the thread, bit I have a question along the same lines.

It sounds like we've established that the EMP ES10i does a pretty decent job, but how does it perform against something like, say, the eD A2-300 which is close in price and claims significantly lower extension?

 

[Haaspac]

Not to hijack the thread, bit I have a question along the same lines.

It sounds like we've established that the EMP ES10i does a pretty decent job, but how does it perform against something like, say, the eD A2-300 which is close in price and claims significantly lower extension?

in an apartment complex you wont be able to really use anything more powerful than the E10Si. If you live in a house however, then I have no clue because I live in an apartment.

 

[cwt4]

So the fact that it dosent go down to 20 hertz isnt a big deal? Also.. only being 150 watts?

thanks for all the input guys!

 

[skers_54]

in an apartment complex you wont be able to really use anything more powerful than the E10Si. If you live in a house however, then I have no clue because I live in an apartment.

I have used a DIY Kappa Perfect sub in two apartments and have gotten no complaints. Level-matching and using an isolation device like a Subdude really help both sound quality and transmitted sound. Obviously, common sense with the volume control and when certain movies/music are played is required. So, living in an apartment doesn't mean you can't use a quality sub! It even comes in handy when dealing with pests (like my neighbor's shitzu)...

 

[cwt4]

I was recommended the Outlaw LFM-1c for $319 shipped. Anyone think this is a better sub?

 

[KEW]

It even comes in handy when dealing with pests (like my neighbor's shitzu)...

Could you be a little more specific?!

 

[gene]

So the fact that it dosent go down to 20 hertz isnt a big deal? Also.. only being 150 watts?

thanks for all the input guys!

The sub doesn't magically stop producing bass below its rated -3dB point. Thus you will still have usable bass response down in the 20Hz region, but it will be tapered off based on the natural roll off of the driver and enclosure system.

The 150watts is a continuous power rating. Most sub companies rate their amp power as peak. You have to make sure you are comparing apples to apples. also the amount of power needed depends on the enclosure size and the efficiency of the driver.

I highly recommend reading this article on this very topic:
http://www.audioholics.com/education/loudspeaker-basics/subwoofer-extension

 

[KEW]

I was recommended the Outlaw LFM-1c for $319 shipped. Anyone think this is a better sub?

If that is the one Hsu designed for Outlaw, I don't think you will do better for $320.

 

[skers_54]

Could you be a little more specific?!

I usually turn up the volume when it starts barking. Bass is much more pleasing than yapping. I suppose I could position my sub outside my neighbor's door and wait until she takes it for a walk to blast them with the opening scene of Transformers (with the volume set just below clipping of course)

 

[cwt4]

If that is the one Hsu designed for Outlaw, I don't think you will do better for $320.

That is the one. Unless anyone can tell me that the emp will be just as good... I might go with the outlaw.

 

[cwt4]

The sub doesn't magically stop producing bass below its rated -3dB point. Thus you will still have usable bass response down in the 20Hz region, but it will be tapered off based on the natural roll off of the driver and enclosure system.

The 150watts is a continuous power rating. Most sub companies rate their amp power as peak. You have to make sure you are comparing apples to apples. also the amount of power needed depends on the enclosure size and the efficiency of the driver.

I highly recommend reading this article on this very topic

What do you think of the outlaw I had mentioned? Potentially better then the EMP?

 

[cwt4]

http://www.outlawaudio.com/products/lfmcompact.html

 

[cwt4]

anyone have an opinion on this outlaw?

 

[shadyJ]

I think the Outlaw will be significantly better. It has a more powerful amp and a larger enclosure. It extends down to 10 hertz, which will really come in handy for a lot of movies. It is not a absolute monster sub, but I think it is a significant step up from the EMP sub.

 

[AVRat]

Yes, the Outlaw is the better sub but you need to order by midnight EST 10/02 to get it for $319

 

[Haaspac]

Maybe my neighbors are less tolerable when it comes to bass. I can watch movies during the day on the weekends or right after I get home from work around 5pm with the gain on the emp sub at around 1oclock and its not a big deal, never had a complaint. But I did get my next door neighbor to knock on the walls when I was testing the bass for music playing when I played Eminem - Same old Song and Dance. Maybe my neighbors tolerate certain sources of bass more so than others haha.

Then I bought an svs PC12-NSD yesterday. I wonder what they will say when I bring that big daddy home for testing