Best $500 sub

[Too Tall]

My budget is $500, what are the best $500 subs out there for a 1700 cu sq ft sealed room? I am looking for a new sub and I just can't seem to make up my mind. I've looked at klipsch,svs,psa,new reaction audio and used over priced subs. HELP!!!!!

90%movies
10%m

 

[shadyJ]

I would go for one of those Reaction dual 12" subs in your room. Your room should be small enough to get a nice amount of pressure vessel gain if there aren't any openings to other areas, so a sealed sub should dig deep pretty nicely. An SVS PB1000 would work well too, but won't give you monster output. Bump your budget up by $100 and you can get a Hsu VTF2 or Rythmik LV12r, either of which would be well worth the extra cash.

 

[afterlife2]

SVS PB1000 I love mine and digs deep enough for me for music and movies.

 

[Pyrrho]

SVS PB1000 I love mine and digs deep enough for me for music and movies.

That is what I would recommend for $500. More money can get better, but that is as good as it is going to get for $500, and that is a really good subwoofer, well worth owning. It is a great value.

For reading on the subject, see this:

2013 Subwoofer Roundup: 6 Subs For $500 Or Less | Audioholics

 

[ImcLoud]

for a hard $500 budget PB1000 is the guy, if you can stretch to $600 vtf2 is a good step up {also some here like the rythmik lv12r for under $600}.... But for $500 pb1000 would be my pick..

if DIY is an option there are a lot of options there, Dayton Audio 15" Ultimax Subwoofer and Cabinet Package | 300-7097 with a d class pro amp would be nice and may be able to sneak in at $500...

Also dual PSW505's can be bought from $400-500...

 

[shadyJ]

if DIY is an option there are a lot of options there, Dayton Audio 15" Ultimax Subwoofer and Cabinet Package | 300-7097 with a d class pro amp would be nice and may be able to sneak in at $500...

That would be killer for a $500 sub, if you are willing to take on a little project. It would murder all these other in terms of performance.

 

[3db]

At that price point, the SVS PB1000.. a very solid performer and excellent value for the money.

 

[billy p]

Although the PB1000 likely fits your OP criteria...those Reaction Subs look very appealing BPS 212 looks very tempting especially at that introductory pricing.

 

[rnatalli]

The PB-1000 gets my vote.

 

[Basshead81]

I would probably go against the grain and try that reaction audio bps12.

 

[usery]

I would probably go against the grain and try that reaction audio bps12.

2nd that, esp. with the BPS12 "Turbo" spec at $499 shipped: dual 12" sealed bi-polar, 300w RMS 700w peak, 24-200Hz +/-3.5dB, RCA in, 18"h x 15"w x 18"d, 60lbs shipped. For what's in it that enclosure size is real attractive.

Of course, at this point there's only a product description on a shopify web page - I get that. Like ImcLoud wrote it will take time in market, quality of sales/support, customer feedback, "official" reviews & benchmarks, dialog from Reaction Audio etc. before people will buy with confidence. From other forum posts owner sounds like stand-up dude who's motivated to deliver good value.

 

[fuzz092888]

The owner is active on the AVS forum thread and he seems like he's trying to do the right things and not get ahead of himself anywhere. He's already been asked questions about the warranty and many other questions and he has responded to them all. One other nice thing is that the amp isn't some propriety custom model that you can only get from them. IIRC PE sells several of the same models that are drop in replacements to give people a little extra sense of security. If I was in the market I'd take a chance on them. One thing to keep in mind is that these are budget subs, at least for the present. They aren't going to blow anybody out of the water SPL-wise, nor are they going to plumb the depths. They`re going to do exactly as advertised. Deliver clean, somewhat loud bass, while possibly touching the teens in the right room in a smallish package, for a little less than the other ID companies.

 

[Too Tall]

I'm tempted to be a guinea pig! It maybe worth trying in my small ht room, I just don't know if it will preform well with my Klipsch rf-83's.

 

[Too Tall]

I had my mind set on the PSA xs30 but I just don't have the money for that right now and I'm becoming impatient, i'm tired of watching Movies with no sub! Do you guys think I should pull the trigger on the BPS 12 "turbo" or become more patient and save for the PSA XS30?

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

I had my mind set on the PSA xs30 but I just don't have the money for that right now and I'm becoming impatient, i'm tired of watching Movies with no sub! Do you guys think I should pull the trigger on the BPS 12 "turbo" or become more patient and save for the PSA XS30?

you have on the smaller size room, you don't need XS30. In fact PB1000 would guaranteed great sub and BPS 12 is a dark horse - it could be as good or even better - higher output etc.. but I doubt it could be as accurate as pb1000

 

[Basshead81]

I had my mind set on the PSA xs30 but I just don't have the money for that right now and I'm becoming impatient, i'm tired of watching Movies with no sub! Do you guys think I should pull the trigger on the BPS 12 "turbo" or become more patient and save for the PSA XS30?

Save for the XS30...you will be glad you did!!

 

[billy p]

I usually don't go around recommending subs but if you desire the XS30...be patient, save up and go for it.... you won't regret making that decision.

In the end it's your decision to make...GL...

Bill

I had my mind set on the PSA xs30 but I just don't have the money for that right now and I'm becoming impatient, i'm tired of watching Movies with no sub! Do you guys think I should pull the trigger on the BPS 12 "turbo" or become more patient and save for the PSA XS30?

 

[shadyJ]

In fact PB1000 would guaranteed great sub and BPS 12 is a dark horse - it could be as good or even better - higher output etc.. but I doubt it could be as accurate as pb1000

Why not? The PB1000 does not stay as clean as the NSD line, so if you are assuming that it has the same distortion profile, you would be wrong. There is good chance the BPS 212 Turbo could easily be better than that.

 

[afterlife2]

I would still say SVS PB1000(Keep your eyes on the specials section for $449.00 on their website) for your room size(Both Movies and Music) and get the BPS 212 for music only in your budget(No grill is included, but might be sold separately): Reaction Audio — BPS 212 Powered Subwoofer

 

[3db]

I would hold off pulling the trigger on the BPS 12 "turbo" and steer you back to the SVS. There's not enough information to accurately assess the BPS (and the specs are nothing to write home about) where as with SVS, its been tried and tested and it meets its advertised specs. For $80 more there's the Rythmik LV12-R which is a step up from the SVS PB1000 in terms of extension, accuracy and SPL.