Best sub for music 12" wide and under.

[f8less]

By no means am I an audio expert, but I do like to do things right the first time. I am stuck in a situation of limited space and I have I believe a 12" (MAYBE 13" MAX) wide width area to stick a new sub. I'm looking for the best MUSIC option (concerned more with music than HT). I primarily listen to Dubstep and Jazz (In that order...I know...they couldn't be more different), and am looking for something that is going to really cover the low end of the Dubstep. I will have everything hooked up to my old Onkyo TX-8211.

Estimated Room Size:
13Wx18Lx8H
2 Openings in room. ~32" Doorway at back size of room and ~40" front hall opening front and center. Sub placement to be in corner against the wall to the left of the front and center, front hall opening...and there will be a tall bookshelf immediately to the right of it boxing it in.

Some subs in mind just from briefly browsing the web are:
Velodyne VX-10 - $168 Shipped
HSU STF-1 - $299 + Shipping
I would love the BIC H-100 but it would just sit out in the room like a sore thumb.

Looking for anyone's input on the best music sub solution for my tight space requirement. Thanks in advance!

 

[djreef]

I'm thinking that your best option would be the HSU. It's kinda hard for me to think of something that small a sub, though.

DJ

 

[lsiberian]

By no means am I an audio expert, but I do like to do things right the first time. I am stuck in a situation of limited space and I have I believe a 12" (MAYBE 13" MAX) wide width area to stick a new sub. I'm looking for the best MUSIC option (concerned more with music than HT). I primarily listen to Dubstep and Jazz (In that order...I know...they couldn't be more different), and am looking for something that is going to really cover the low end of the Dubstep. I will have everything hooked up to my old Onkyo TX-8211.

Estimated Room Size:
13Wx18Lx8H
2 Openings in room. ~32" Doorway at back size of room and ~40" front hall opening front and center. Sub placement to be in corner against the wall to the left of the front and center, front hall opening...and there will be a tall bookshelf immediately to the right of it boxing it in.

Some subs in mind just from briefly browsing the web are:
Velodyne VX-10 - $168 Shipped
HSU STF-1 - $299 + Shipping
I would love the BIC H-100 but it would just sit out in the room like a sore thumb.

Looking for anyone's input on the best music sub solution for my tight space requirement. Thanks in advance!

A JL Audio 8w7 build would be perfect. And redefine the meaning of subwoofer for dj too!

 

[sesshin]

Rythmik F12 is the most musical 12" sub imo. Tight, focused bass.. not flabby like some other 12s.

 

[KEW]

Rythmik F12 is the most musical 12" sub imo. Tight, focused bass.. not flabby like some other 12s.

Is that the aluminum or the paper cone?

 

[sesshin]

That would be the aluminum.

Aluminum would be better for musicality, no? I've always assumed so due to it's stiffness.

 

[WmAx]

That would be the aluminum.

Aluminum would be better for musicality, no? I've always assumed so due to it's stiffness.

Aluminum has nothing to do with it. Most people don't know anything about how or why any particular sound quality is produced(and this seems to include most supposed skilled guru DIYer speaker builders). But there is no magic or mystery. Use a driver with a linear motor and suspension within it's limits (you need to make sure your application will allow this) and target a specific preferred end frequency response. Don't leave out the room; this is responsible for much of your SQ issues. Ideally, use a powerful active DSP xover to integrate a sub with your mains. If crossing over 50-60Hz, it is highly beneficial to use two subs, one near each main, for ideal integration.

BTW, the driver suggested by lisberian is your best bet for small size and high quality sound. It is an incredibly linear driver, and even though it's diamter is 8", it actually produces as much clean SPL as a very high quality conventional 12" subwoofer. Place this JL 8w7 in the proper ported cabinet and it will yeild incredible SPL with very low distortion.

If you have a high budget, Sound Splinter still has 12" and 15" LMS drivers in stock. These are TC Sounds designed and manufactured drivers re-badged and sold by Sound Splinter. LMS drivers are the highest performing drivers in the world for low distortion, linear motor performance.

-Chris

 

[KEW]

That would be the aluminum.

Aluminum would be better for musicality, no? I've always assumed so due to it's stiffness.

Here's what Rythmik says about paper vs. Al.
I "bolded" the sentence which would matter to me (most of my listening is 65 to 70 dB).

The main performance difference is in the drivers. F12G uses a paper driver designed by GR Research. The paper driver is lighter than our standard aluminum drivers and has a more extended response. It can handle a higher crossover point, however, this is only significant when crossing above 80 Hz If a higher crossover point is desired, F12G is the subwoofer of choice. Please note: when crossing this high, localization can become an issue and dual subwoofers are recommended. Regarding the lower mass, this results in slightly better dynamics at low to moderate output levels. The downside with the paper cone is that it is not as stiff as our aluminum drivers. As a result, the performance suffers more at high output, especially with a small sealed box. Our standard F12 subwoofer features the same driver and amplifier as our signature edition, but has a vinyl veneer.

WmAx,
I know it is well below what you normally deal with, but do you see any "big red flags on fire" when you look at this as a $150 subwoofer driver?
http://www.gr-research.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=140

 

[WmAx]

Material is not an issue. It has to do with the overall design of the cone structure, as to what determines rigidity. You can design a paper or poly system to be ultra-strong or have an aluminum cone that is too weak. There are plenty of cases where aluminum cones are bent/deformed due to insufficient strength/rigidity. And in any event, do you realize aluminum, in cycled stress, must always have a finite life, then it will suddenly fail (eventually)? You can go either way..... weak aluminum/strong aluminum ... weak paper-poly/strong paper-poly.

And as for the linked GR Research woofer. I have no data on this product. But GR historically has provided high value products legitimately - so it is probably a good product.

Also, mass has NOTHING to do with bandwidth, even though they imply it in the first part. Mass has to do with sensitivity. Plain and simple. I also fail to see how the lower mass can have ANY effect on low level dynamics.

-Chris

 

[rnatalli]

Rythmik Audio does have some of the most musical subs around IMO, but they're way out of the OP's price range.

The STF-1 and Aperion 8A are good, small subs at $300.

 

[KEW]

Also, mass has NOTHING to do with bandwidth, even though they imply it in the first part. Mass has to do with sensitivity. Plain and simple. I also fail to see how the lower mass can have ANY effect on low level dynamics.
-Chris

Good point.
I suspect the cone material is one of several differences. Foremost, I believe they are made by different companies. The fact that Rythmik is recommending a less expensive option for certain situations inclines me to believe it truly is better for those situations. However, the presented choice of Paper vs Aluminum keeps it simple and seems reasonable to the 99% of us that don't know any better.
Thanks!

Edit: Apologies for getting OT!

 

[yeahman68]

+1 on the rythmik