Best Small sub around $1000

[Stripes]

Im looking for a smaller enclosed sub preferably with a 12" woofer, I was considering the Aperion Bravus 12D, but I'm sure there are better out there for the price...

Thanks, Josh

 

[Adam]

Josh,

What are your size requirements? Are you restricted in the footprint, height, or both?

Cylinder subs can have a small footprint, but you pay for it in height. My PC-Ultra from SVS fits great in my set-up with it's relatively small footprint, but it's about four feet tall.

Adam

 

[jostenmeat]

The Sunfire HRS series has got some talk here before. InTheIndustry has been a main advocate, here's the audioholics review. Smaller and below budget.

http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/subwoofers/sunfire-hrs-12-subwoofer

 

[Gimpy Ric]

Im looking for a smaller enclosed sub preferably with a 12" woofer, I was considering the Aperion Bravus 12D, but I'm sure there are better out there for the price...

Thanks, Josh

I auditioned a Bravus 12D and found it to be A very very good sounding sub. It is very small for a dual 12" sub, and would play very deep, and musical, BUT...At very high volumes it tended to distort. The woofers wouldn't bottom out, but there was distortion.

You can try one for free, Aperion gives a 30 day in home trial, with shipping both ways. Can't hurt to try one.

 

[Stripes]

The Sunfire HRS series has got some talk here before. InTheIndustry has been a main advocate, here's the audioholics review. Smaller and below budget.

http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/subwoofers/sunfire-hrs-12-subwoofer

I did want a sunfire sub but the customer service and warranty horror stories that I have read about kind of scared me off...

 

[Stripes]

Josh,

What are your size requirements? Are you restricted in the footprint, height, or both?

Cylinder subs can have a small footprint, but you pay for it in height. My PC-Ultra from SVS fits great in my set-up with it's relatively small footprint, but it's about four feet tall.

Adam

Yes as far as height, I would like it shorter than 17" and width and depth I would like to keep to a minimum also.

I know I said I wanted a 12" woofer but if I could find a rock solid performer it probably would sway my decision.

I did demo this little sub and was very impressed for movies but not sure how musical it would be...

http://www.sunfire.com/SuperJrPR.htm

 

[Tod]

Can't help but suggest something different also - the height is 16.5" for the older model, but here's a link to the newer model:

http://www.us.martinlogan.com/speaker_intro/depth_i.html

I have its big brother the Descent and totally love it. The subs are made by a company whose primary concern is music. Whether you like the ESL sound or not, the subs are rather lovely. They're expensive and thus not so well known, but used Depth original models go for about $1000 or so.

The design by the way is 3 8" drivers opposing each other, which supposedly helps with room integration and definitely helps with cabinet noise and shake. Something else to think about, anyway.

 

[annunaki]

The design by the way is 3 8" drivers opposing each other, which supposedly helps with room integration and definitely helps with cabinet noise and shake. Something else to think about, anyway.

If a subwoofer is well made, it should not have any cabinet noise or shake regardless of how many woofers it has.

A JL Audio 12W7 in a 17" cube, with a strong amplifier, and a bump in eq for low end response could be done for under $1,000.00 with all the materials. It would be a superb performer with a small footprint. This would be a DIY option of course.

SVS has the SB-12 which is known to have very good performance for under your budget.

 

[Gimpy Ric]

Svs Pb-12 Nsd

The sub annunaki mentioned. Good Sub.

Size: 18" wide x 21" high x 25" deep.

http://svsound.com/products-sub-box-pb12nsd.cfm

 

[gus6464]

The Sunfire HRS-12 is better on paper than the SB12-Plus.

 

[Paradise]

How about a little REL T-1?

 

[annunaki]

The sub annunaki mentioned. Good Sub.

Size: 18" wide x 21" high x 25" deep.

http://svsound.com/products-sub-box-pb12nsd.cfm

Actually I was referring to the Sealed SB-12 Plus Dimensions of 15 x 14 x 14 (+/-3db 22hz-150hz). In room gets about 3hz-5hz lower extention.

http://www.svsound.com/products-sub-box-sb12plus.cfm

 

[annunaki]

One could also do two of the Dayton Audio Reference 12" High Fidelity kits for a grand. They feature in-room extension down to 25hz and below.

Dayton Reference Kit

These are high quality units, which used as a pair, would easily best many single sub options when properly placed. Dimensions are 17 x 17 x 17-1/4

The kits are extremely easy to assemble.

Here is a write up on the kit as well.

 

[westcott]

The Energy S12.3 is probably the best performing sub under $800. It generates 87dB at 20Hz and averages 110dB over the rest of the frequency range. Not too shabby for the money. A lot of subs costing a LOT more can not say the same.

See Nousaines Shootout List!!!

Remember, these numbers reflect distortion levels below 10%.

 

[swestbom]

I did want a sunfire sub but the customer service and warranty horror stories that I have read about kind of scared me off...

I have had very good luck with Sunfire support. There may have been some issues because of their move from Snohomish, WA to Lexington, KY.

That being said I sold my Sunfire True Subwoofer and bought an SB12-Plus (small room) because I hated the auto-on only feature of my 10 year old sub (you can defeat it or use a 12 volt trigger in the new ones) and it was very difficult to blend with the mains due to its passive radiator design and lack of PEQ. The Sunfire did have considerably higher output capabilities, especially in the lowest bass (below 25 hz) but I didn't need that in a smaller room. The HRS will have no where near the output capabilities of the True Subwoofer EQ, especially that of the Signature version.