Need musical subwoofer for CM8 2.1 combination

[Nice shoes]

Hi all, currently have a 2.1 music set up using B&W CM8 with an Energy SW10.3 subwoofer.

However, using the subwoofer with the speakers set to small on my r-vx430 AV receiver (90hz crossover), the subwoofer sounds like a muddled mess that just swamps the tight bass from the speakers.

I've turned the subwoofer off now and I'm running it as a 2 channel stereo set up which is better, though the CM8 doesn't have a lot of bass extension for a floorstander.

I'd like a good musical subwoofer with accurate, controlled and tight bass to match the speakers. I don't really care about boom factor or loudness or shaking my house down.

Was thinking the B&W PV1 or SVS SB13 ultra or SB12. I'm not able to audition all of these though so if anyone could tell me whether these fit that bill that would be much appreciated!

 

[theJman]

The PV1 is probably more show than go - it may not be worth the money they're asking. Both of your SVS options are noted for being very articulate, so either of them would probably satisfy your needs. You might want to check out the Rythmik F12 and E15HP as well. Rythmik is known for making some of the most musical subwoofers available.

 

[rnatalli]

HSU, SVS, PSA, and Rythmik all offer great sealed designs. How large is your room and budget? Going from a SB12 to SB13 is a pretty wide swing.

 

[ImcLoud]

The sb1000 is about the most innexpensive non diy sub I would go with for music, and it does it well... The sb120nsd is also very nice, but unless you really like the finish I would go with the sb1000... What a lot of people don't realize about music subs is you don't need much, a small sealed sub is plenty for most systems, if you want better get 2 subs that tends to sound better with music than 1 larger unit...

 

[shadyJ]

What a lot of people don't realize about music subs is you don't need much, a small sealed sub is plenty for most systems

Hells naw! unless of course, you only listen at lower levels. My subs get more stress from music then they ever do with movies. The bassline in many tunes is constant. You can't really rock with a single small sealed sub. I would go with duals of something that has some kick. Duals will also blend in better than a single sub.

 

[Nice shoes]

It's an unusual space in that the listening area is an average 4m x 6m, but it is completely open on 2 sides into large indoor spaces. Ceilings are relatively high. Not sure what this means in terms of size of the sub, as I'm never sitting more than 3-4m away from the sub.

The SB13 is stretching my budget, and I'd be happy with a cheaper sub if the sound was adequate.

I hadn't considered the SB1000, it seems like the SB12-NSD gets more attention. Will also check out those rythmiks but don't recall seeing them in Australia.

 

[TheStalker]

I'm getting ready to purchase the B&W CM5 speakers and I will be pairing them with the SVS SB12-NSD. This is absolutely the best sealed sub/performance/output/price that I've been able to find. In piano gloss finish, you're looking at $680 shipped. About as good as it gets Whatever you do though, stay away from the PM1! Oh and the CM8s are true gems.

 

[shadyJ]

I think the sealed Dayton subs have potential to be better, at least as far as price over performance. Those probably aren't available in Australia though.

 

[ImcLoud]

Hells naw! unless of course, you only listen at lower levels. My subs get more stress from music then they ever do with movies. The bassline in many tunes is constant. You can't really rock with a single small sealed sub. I would go with duals of something that has some kick. Duals will also blend in better than a single sub.

Maybe you misunderstood my post, I said the most inexpensive I would go with is the sb1000 and if you need more than that I would get 2 of them vs 1 big 18". I have tested this many times, and it is very easy for a sub to overpower a pair of bookshelfs or towers with a couple of 6.5" drivers... IF you want the music to sound natural anyway, I don't listen to much rap, rb, hiphop stuff where bass is really prominent, with classic rock, country, ect the bass is strong but not much louder than the rest of the range...

That sb1000 will give plenty of punch to say a pair of ascend sierra 1's powered by a 150x2 amplifier, and the benefits of having a pair of them is they sound much smoother and blend into your mains much better...

 

[shadyJ]

I take your point, I listen to a lot of bass heavy music, and I frequently run the bass hot too. A single weak sealed 12" would be a nightmare for me.