Just kicking around ideas

[Jeff R.]

I am still brainstorming on sub ideas for my HT. I really would like to do a DIY project, would likely have to have some local help building a box. I only have about $1000 total in the budget.

I wondering if I did a TC Sounds LMS 15 or something like it, and did a custom ported enclosure and say a 1000W plate amp to run it with. Could I pull it off for about $1000, I think can and would think it will handle my room size. My room it is going into is huge, about 20 x 40 x 12 and does not open to anywhere else. All concrete floors with drywall on walls and ceiling. I do have a lot of sound treatments though that I just installed to help.


From a performance stand point I would think this would compare to a SVS PB13 Ultra.

What do you guys think?

Thanks for the input.

Jeff

 

[lsiberian]

I am still brainstorming on sub ideas for my HT. I really would like to do a DIY project, would likely have to have some local help building a box. I only have about $1000 total in the budget.

I wondering if I did a TC Sounds LMS 15 or something like it, and did a custom ported enclosure and say a 1000W plate amp to run it with. Could I pull it off for about $1000, I think can and would think it will handle my room size. My room it is going into is huge, about 20 x 40 x 12 and does not open to anywhere else. All concrete floors with drywall on walls and ceiling. I do have a lot of sound treatments though that I just installed to help.


From a performance stand point I would think this would compare to a SVS PB13 Ultra.

What do you guys think?

Thanks for the input.

Jeff

The LMS drivers are not optimal for porting because they have such a high excursion and are designed for small boxes. P-Rs are the only way I recommend porting them and for the cost of 3 P-Rs you can get 2 LMS drivers. If you want to go ported there are certainly more economical options. An Ultra performance wise can't compare with a DIY build of sufficient quality. Just don't forget you'll need a 300 dollar amp to drive the sub and a HPF. The hidden costs are what kill your budget.

 

[Jeff R.]

Now if I went with a sealed box on the LMS I would likely need to have equalization to boost my lower end frequencies right? Basically my goal is to get rid of my dual A2-300's and either get a single sub or duals that will give me more output, but a tighter sound for music. So I am open to options. I really like the ported FV15 from Rythmic as a manufactured option, just not sure the single 15 will give me enough output. So I am looking the DIY route to assist with the budget.

How about dual TC 12" drivers in sealed boxes? Would they accomplish my goals?

 

[Nuance AH]

How about dual TC 12" drivers in sealed boxes? Would they accomplish my goals?

I doubt it. For an almost 10,000 cu. ft. room you might want to stay with ported unless you plan to go quad sealed subwoofers at some point. And for a room that size I'd honestly build two ported or passive subs that are at least as capable as the Rythmik FV15H or SVS PB13 Ultra. That's just such a large space to pressurize...perhaps a tapped horn or TL cabinet is required.

 

[Jeff R.]

So if I saved a few more bucks would a pair of the TC 15s in sealed boxes be able to fill the room? Or at the point do I just go with dual A5-350s and call it a day. Any other suggestions are welcome. I am in no hurry just brainstorming.

Thx
Jeff

 

[Nuance AH]

So if I saved a few more bucks would a pair of the TC 15s in sealed boxes be able to fill the room? Or at the point do I just go with dual A5-350s and call it a day. Any other suggestions are welcome. I am in no hurry just brainstorming.

Thx
Jeff

Well, they fill my room, but placement and box size is key. I went smallish, with 20"^3 external, which equates to around 90-100L if you factor in bracing and the driver. Your room is almost double the size of mine, so I am going to say no, they won't fill that space. I personally think you'd need to spend quite a bit more money to pressurize your room. It really depends what your goals are, though. Do you want slam and pressurization, or do you just want something that is good enough? If I was you I'd save up and get dual TC LMS5400's and run them with dual passive radiators in each box. Otherwise two Rythmik FV15HP's or SVS PB13 Ultra's should get the job done.

I know that isn't what you want to hear, but your room is huge.

 

[Jeff R.]

I guess, maybe I have never experienced true room pressure....because right now my dual A2-300's are pretty good in my mind. So with the added size of drivers and expense what kind of difference does that equate to sonically....Would I be getting like double the output and also gaining significantly in accuracy....

Thanks

Jeff R.

 

[Ricci]

You can port the LMSR drivers easier than the 5400 but it is still a juggling act.

A 15" LMSR with a single flared 6" port 31" long in 6.5cu ft net volume nets a tuning near 18Hz. Think PB13-Ultra size or slightly bigger. You could bend the port and use a 1000w Dayton plate amp (Or another) which has an 18hz 3rd order rumble filter. You could modify the amp to lower the filter down to 15 or 16Hz really. The LMSR will eat everything that amp has and ask for seconds so you wouldn't have to worry about damaging the driver from over excursion.

Just saying it is possible.

 

[Jeff R.]

Ricci - Would this option fill my room? Or does TC sounds have a slightly lower cost 15" that I could port and be successful.

 

[Nuance AH]

Ricci - Would this option fill my room? Or does TC sounds have a slightly lower cost 15" that I could port and be successful.

Ricci would know best, but I'd recommend two of those if that's the route you take, assuming they are of the SVS PB13 Ultra caliber that Ricci mentioned. Darn near 10,000 cu. ft. is huge! Maybe Ricci will loan you his monster XXX in that fabulous cabinet he has; that'll get the job done. You still own that beast, Josh?

Jeff,

If I recall correctly the TC2000 worked better in a ported enclosure, so perhaps you could find couple of those used and build from there. If you go with the 270L variety that Ilkka did you'd get similar output to the PB13 Ultra.

 

[Jeff R.]

I will have to check it out the TC2000. I have also though about trying to pick up something similar to my Eclipse 10" seal subs that are in a 15" version, those are made by TC Sounds for Eclipse and I ablsolutely love their sound for music in that system. So I am thinking that a pair of 15" of the same family could be a win also.

 

[Ricci]

You still own that beast, Josh?
.

Yep. Hasn't been turned on in about a year though...


Jeff,

The LMSR-15 is a slight upgrade over the TC2000 which is no longer available. Unfortunately they aren't making an Epic 15" which would be cheaper.

 

[Jeff R.]

What is the Epic 15 that is a cheaper option? Thx

 

[Jeff R.]

Still brainstorming.....I have made the decision I really want to try and stay sealed from a tight bass stand point.

I am considering buying a pair of the Part Express Titanic 15" Subs and putting them in a sealed 3 cubic foot box from PE also. Then purchasing a Behringer I-Nuke for power and equalization.

How do you guys think that would compare to my current pair of A2-300's from an output stand point? I am very confident that the sealed 15" will be plenty tight and musical. I just want to be able to get plenty of volume and dig down to about 25 hz or so for movies.

Also you think it would be sufficient for my 9600 cubic foot room. The room can be closed off and not open to the rest of the house.

Thanks

Jeff

 

[timoteo]

I could be wrong but i believe i have read that the Titanics arent the most musical drivers around. I did however ask one guy who had dual sealed 15" Titanics in a smaller room (approx 2,500cuft) & he loved them. But i have heard elsewhere that they get very loud but just arent very accurate. So i would look into the reviews more before pulling the trigger.

Hopefully someone else who has more experience with those drivers will chime in.

Id be more interested in the TC drivers but if your trying to build dual 15"s for about $1000 then im not sure thats possible.

I hope you are able to get what your looking for!

FYI: no days sealed doesnt always equate to tighter bas compared to a well designed ported. My VTF-15H is one of the most musical subs ive heard & im running it with both ports open!! For your space id go ported. Im not sure even dual 15" sealed will be enough for your room. Dual ported? Yes.

 

[Jeff R.]

I did speak with Parts Express about the accuracy of the Dayton Audio RSS390HO-4 15 vs the Titanic MK 15 and the parts express employee believed the Titanic was the more musical of the 2, all the reviews on the site about the Dayton Audio RSS390HO-4 15 state how musical it is and accurate but maybe they have a skewed definition of accurate.....

Anybody heard these two subs and can speak to it?

 

[Josuah]

TC-Sounds also sells through Parts-Express and they make good drivers. The technical details are available on their web site.

 

[Nuance AH]

Still brainstorming.....I have made the decision I really want to try and stay sealed from a tight bass stand point.

I am considering buying a pair of the Part Express Titanic 15" Subs and putting them in a sealed 3 cubic foot box from PE also. Then purchasing a Behringer I-Nuke for power and equalization.

How do you guys think that would compare to my current pair of A2-300's from an output stand point? I am very confident that the sealed 15" will be plenty tight and musical. I just want to be able to get plenty of volume and dig down to about 25 hz or so for movies.

Also you think it would be sufficient for my 9600 cubic foot room. The room can be closed off and not open to the rest of the house.

Thanks

Jeff

What do you mean when you say you can seal your room? Does that mean you can reduce the cubic footage? If so then perhaps going sealed will work out. If not, I really don't recommend going sealed in that sized room unless you'll have four subs. In my opinion you just won't get the output, impact or pressurization that you could by going with larger ported or passive subs. I'd also go with the TC drivers, but that's just me.

 

[Jeff R.]

By sealing I meant that it does not open to the other areas of the house. I do not have the budget for the TC sounds unless I drop to the 12"woofer size.