Musical Sub around $1000

[BrennanB]

Hi guys, I am looking for some recommendations for a sub in the $1000 range but am a bit flexible.
I am thinking a sealed sub that leans towards the musical side but we do watch movies once or twice a week so. One requirement is that it have a wood veneer. I can spend what I want on components and they can be large but it must have a decent wood veneer for my wife. I am not looking for something that tears down walls and would like to try something other than SVS and HSU.

I am also considering a Behringer DCX2496, would it allow me to have presets for music and then for movies?
Much thanks for your help, this is a big purchase for me and so I appreciate the suggestions. One sub I was looking at is the Omega DeepHemp, any
thoughts on it?

Use: 70% music / 30% movies.
Music: Reggae and Hip-Hop
Environment: 10 foot flat ceiling, all wood floors,
Room: 17 x 15 and opens onto a kitchen of the same size. Shotgun style home.
Components:
Rotel 1057 and Outlaw 7500 amp
B&W 703’s and B&W HTM2

 

[j_garcia]

Epik Empire. Sealed dual 15".

 

[Chopin_Guy]

Well you have a decent size space especially if you take into account the open space makes it over 5,000^3 ft....

I googled that sub you mentioned (have never heard of Omega speakers before) and the specs do not look that impressive nor do they give you an measurements or response curves. Not to mention the cost of $1,450 (DeepHemp Sub purchased seperately without any other omega speakers) for a sub that has an 8" driver and only a 220 watt amplifier in an 20"h x 14"w x 12"d enclosure that only weighs 50 lbs -- this looks like a completely over priced and uderspec'd sub to me. Love the statement in the 'specs' for frequency response "in room response to 26hz" no +/-3db measurement to be found...

You said you wanted to try something other than HSU or SVS -- but you do realize there is a reason so many have their products?? Because they have measured and documented extremely high performance at exceptional prices...SVS PB12+ (veneers available), HSU ULS-15 (many veneers available)...etc -- these are all less than that $1,450 as well...

Also, if you are seriously looking at speding $1,450 on a sub and don't want SVS/HSU you could get a used JL F110 for less than $1,450 and that would most certainly walk all over that 'hemp' sub....10" JL W7 driver, 900watt amp, absolutely some of the finest craftmanship in the cabinet, and included ARO room eq -- there is one listed on Audiogon right now for $1,250...

In short you have many alternatives that will give you superior performance...

 

[shadyJ]

You might try the Rythmik F15, it is very highly regarded for its precision. You might also try the Epik Empire, which is supposed to have excellent sound quality as well, but your wife might not like it as it is large and doesn't come in wood veneers. I know you don't want Hsu or SVS suggestions, but the Hsu VTF3 matches your criteria pretty good, and has wood veneers. Look at the Subwoofers from Elemental Designs too, they have wood veneers but those come at a pretty hefty price increase.

 

[krzywica]

LOL....you don't neeed a musical sub to faithfully reproduce Reggae and Hip-Hop.

There are a ton of sales going on right now....

Emotiva is having a sale but its sure to end soon.
http://emotiva.com/ultra_sub12.shtm

HSU is having a big sale right now and you could get a ULS15 for a little over $1k or the VTF3 MK3 as suggested by shady.
http://www.hsuresearch.com

Also Epik is coming out with their Legend subwoofer and you can get duals for $899, or a single Emprire for under $1k.
http://www.epiksubwoofers.com/legend.html

As far as the DCX goes IMO you want to use it to EQ your room to a nice flat response, not to amplify certain frequency curves...but to each his own.

Just re-read your post and you must have veneer.....in that case....I would also check out an AV123 MFW15 or dual 15's. They are excellent subs but be warned the company has had some issues with shadieness.

 

[Chopin_Guy]

Also had another thought for a musical sub for you under that $1,450 -- I noticed someone has a brand new Martin Logan Depth i listed on Audiogon and you could talk them down and be well under the $1,450...

Just one more sub to consider...

 

[rnatalli]

Rythmik would be my choice. Excellent sounding subs and they would do great in that room.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Epik Empire. Sealed dual 15".

ditto. Can not get better musical sub for the money. big fat period.

 

[caper26]

Hi guys, I am looking for some recommendations for a sub in the $1000 range but am a bit flexible.
I am thinking a sealed sub that leans towards the musical side but we do watch movies once or twice a week so. One requirement is that it have a wood veneer. I can spend what I want on components and they can be large but it must have a decent wood veneer for my wife.

Read some reviews on Monitor Audio subs. Great looking 'compact' sub with fabulous finish. I have one and love how it sounds.

 

[BrennanB]

LOL....you don't neeed a musical sub to faithfully reproduce Reggae and Hip-Hop.

I laughed about this line after I posted it but went ahead left it.

First I've got say thanks for all the great ideas, I used to hang out at AVS Forums back when it wasnt so crowded and really missed the smaller community feel it used to have. Glad to find these forums have that same feel.

I like all of the ideas, leaning towards 2 x Epik or Rythmik subs. Wish they had wood veneers but wife would never sacrifice looks for SQ. I've got the room for two so placement isn't an issue.

Any builders you guys know of that might be able to build some Rythmiks with wood veneers?

 

[darien87]

Any builders you guys know of that might be able to build some Rythmiks with wood veneers?

You most likely won't want to deal with a builder that is not local. Shipping wood is not cheap cuz it's heavy. Plus MDF isn't the strongest stuff around, so you have to worry about it getting damaged.

Just look up "cabinets" in your local phone book and call around. I found a local guy that was willing to put a sub cabinet for me with veneer, (not stained or anything though), for about $200. Building a sub cabinet is easy-peasy for wood woorkers.

 

[krzywica]

I laughed about this line after I posted it but went ahead left it.

Yeah I laughed as well.....especially given your other components.....you don't exactly come off as the "club rat" type.

Any builders you guys know of that might be able to build some Rythmiks with wood veneers?

Where are you located? I'm sure we can help get you in touch with a reputable builder in your area.

 

[sholling]

There is a reason people buy SVS and HSU ---> great quality for the price. One option I'd consider even though it's not veneered but would be a pair of PC12 subs form SVS. Two black cylinders at the back of the room would look good! Otherwise for a 4000-5000cuft space I'd look at a PB12Plus or Hsu VTF-3, I don't think a single ULS-15 is the right sub for your application. Just keep in mind that with wood floors you'll need a way to isolate the sub from the floors. With a down firing sub that's easy just put it on a SubDude.

 

[BrennanB]

Yeah I laughed as well.....especially given your other components.....you don't exactly come off as the "club rat" type.

I actually listen to all kinds of music, Jerry Garcia, JJ cale, Herbie Hancock, Emmy Lou Harris, Metallica but for the last year or so I have been listening to alot fo Coxsone Dodd's early Studio One Rocksteady and then some hip-hop.

Where are you located? I'm sure we can help get you in touch with a reputable builder in your area.

I live in Chapel Hill, North Carolina but work in RTP. A custom enclosure with wood veneer and then Rythmik components would be incredible. So do the builders typically assemble the components inside the enclosure or is that something I would need to do.

Really appreciate all the help.

 

[krzywica]

I live in Chapel Hill, North Carolina but work in RTP. A custom enclosure with wood veneer and then Rythmik components would be incredible. So do the builders typically assemble the components inside the enclosure or is that something I would need to do.

Really appreciate all the help.

Well typically if you have a sub built you use an external amplifier for the sub. This adds performance, cuts down on build costs, and makes placement easeir as you aren't tied to an electrical outlet (just need to run 1 pair of speaker wire). So if you went this route installing the driver would be very easy. DIY home audio subs are not my expertise, but there are a LOT of people on here that can help you build a monster of a sub for less than $1k.

Usually you will want to chose a driver then build your box to match its characteristics. Maybe check out, TC Sounds, Dayton, JL, ect, for your driver.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Here is two black cylinders from SVS behind the mains.

If that doesn't look cool I am uncertain what does...

There is a reason people buy SVS and HSU ---> great quality for the price. One option I'd consider even though it's not veneered but would be a pair of PC12 subs form SVS. Two black cylinders at the back of the room would look good! Otherwise for a 4000-5000cuft space I'd look at a PB12Plus or Hsu VTF-3, I don't think a single ULS-15 is the right sub for your application. Just keep in mind that with wood floors you'll need a way to isolate the sub from the floors. With a down firing sub that's easy just put it on a SubDude.

 

[sholling]

Here is two black cylinders from SVS behind the mains.

If that doesn't look cool I am uncertain what does...

Looks good to me!

 

[AJinFLA]

Hi guys, I am looking for some recommendations for a sub in the $1000 range but am a bit flexible.
I am thinking a sealed sub that leans towards the musical side

I am also considering a Behringer DCX2496, would it allow me to have presets for music and then for movies?

I have no idea why a sub would lean towards West Side Story or Hair, etc. or how it would even know it's playing a "musical".
For the smoothest perceivable bass from monopole subs that you desire, you would want to buy 3 subs in the $1000 range, maybe 3 of these to meet you wood finish requirements?
A single large sub (no matter how good) will not have as smooth response...and EQ cannot fill in notches, only tame peaks...in the response.

Yes, the DCX will work, but a DEQ2496 may be a better choice for user friendlyness, though the EQ will be global, while the DCX would allow individual sub EQ (probably overkill). Both allow presets.

cheers,

AJ

 

[caper26]

The MA sub is quite musical. A good test to it is "One" by Metallica during the double kick drum hard passage...

 

[armaraas]

Here is two black cylinders from SVS behind the mains.

If that doesn't look cool I am uncertain what does...

Hm...that does look kind of cool...too bad I went with cherry for speakers and stand.