Best Sub for a $750 Budget

[AcuDefTechGuy]

My 18' X 15" X 12' seems pretty cramped with the couch, TV stand, gear rack, etc. IMHO an 18" sub would be a gross overkill, sheet rock cracking monster. Could be fun though.

Yeah, my other room (the HT room) is about 15' x 18' x 15'. After you add sofas, chairs, loungers, audio racks, TVs, etc., it seems kind of small.

Have you ever added a subwoofer?

If Best Buy or another local store offers a 14-day return policy, you could just try out one of their sorry subs just for "size".

From my experience in my 2 rooms (18' x 20' & 15' x18'), a good 12" sub or dual-10" driver sub would shake that room like a rag doll.

But if you have room for an 18" sub, it doesn't hurt either. If you have room.

 

[slovell]

I've got a sub that I built from various pieces from Parts Express that I described in an earlier post in this thread. The cabinet rattles on low passages in movies and I'm ready to be done with it. I'm leaning toward the HSU VTF-3 MK4 but I haven't made my decision yet.

 

[picture_shooter]

Here's an idea:

* Get an SI 18" or Dayton 18" HO driver.
* Get the MartyCube Flat packs (a seller sells it over at AVS).
* Get an Inuke 1000DSP amp (can be had as low as $150) and will be easily enough to bridge and slam a 18x15 room. Make sure to either get the 4 ohm or 2 ohm driver. *If you buy the 2 ohm, make sure to wire it 4ohm to be able to bridge the amp so its eligible to give the amp 1000 watts of "oompa loompa"

A total price of about $500 could get you a great performance sub as long as you got some woodglue, c-clams ( or heavy books) and patients to build the cabinet. At the end, pure solid performer and under your budget price.

 

[slovell]

Assembling a cabinet really isn't an option for me. I don't have the time nor the place to do it.

 

[GIEGAR]

Assembling a cabinet really isn't an option for me. I don't have the time nor the place to do it.

Fair enough, DIY is not for everyone. Having said that, a local cabinet maker could whack it together for you and you might still come out ahead.


From earlier:

From where I'll have to place it, a rear port will be difficult to get far enough away from the wall. The HSU VTF-3 MK4 looks doable and also the down firing Outlaw. Will a sealed configuration give me good low end response with movies vs ported? I've been using a ported 12" sub that I built with a Dayton RSS315HO-4 in a Dayton cabinet with a 500 watt O-Audio amp. I've never managed to get it to sound quite right. It's two years old and the Dayton cabinet rattles like a box of rocks. I'm ready to be done with it and try something else.

At the wavelengths produced by the port (or the sub as a whole for that matter), the bass propagates into the room in an omnidirectional manner from the acoustic source. So, in practise it makes no real difference which way the port is orientated. If the sub has enough clearance from the wall to plug in the cable and power cord it will be fine. I just mention this so you don't unnecessarily exclude rear ported subs from your list.

Having said that, the HSU VTF-3 MK4 with it's tuning options, looks like it would suit your 50:50 use well.

 

[3db]

I 2nd the Rythmik LV12-R as its a solid sub and garnered excellent reviews as shown here;

Rythmik LV12R Subwoofer Review - Home Theater Forum and Systems - HomeTheaterShack.com

 

[slovell]

I very, very tempted to pull the trigger on the PSA XV15se. But if I can buy the Rythmik LV12R and get most of the performance of the XV15se and save $300 is this the sub to go with?

 

[shadyJ]

It's hard to say what percentage of performance an LV12r would be from a XV15se, since neither has been measured. The other subs mentioned in this thread would get most of its performance and perhaps even beat it in some respects. Keep in mind that PSA misrepresents their competition's performance in their charts on their product pages. Their competition is so good that in my opinion it is worth looking past PSA if only for their deceptive marketing practices. It's not as if Hsu, SVS, Reaction, or Rythmik are lesser values in anyway.

 

[ImcLoud]

HSU best sub for the money............... I have tried a lot of them and HSU rocks... VTF2 is plenty for most sized rooms..

 

[rojo]

Forgive my ignorance, but is it so implausible that PSA's 15" subs have higher SPL than the 12" subs to which they are compared? I wouldn't discount PSA from consideration.

 

[theJman]

I very, very tempted to pull the trigger on the PSA XV15se. But if I can buy the Rythmik LV12R and get most of the performance of the XV15se and save $300 is this the sub to go with?

PSA doesn't make disingenuous claims, so you can look past unsubstantiated comments that proclaim otherwise.

I'm one of the biggest LV12R fans you're likely to meet, because for the money I feel it's one very nice subwoofer, but the XV15se will be able to best it in virtually ever category (with the exception of perhaps transient response, something which Rythmik is legendary for).

Depending upon what your definition of 'most' is it might be worth investing the extra $300, but in that regard only you can decide. I can say this much with certainty; rarely does anyone regret having excess capacity, for it hardly ever goes 'unused' for long.

 

[billy p]

It's hard to say what percentage of performance an LV12r would be from a XV15se, since neither has been measured. The other subs mentioned in this thread would get most of its performance and perhaps even beat it in some respects. Keep in mind that PSA misrepresents their competition's performance in their charts on their product pages. Their competition is so good that in my opinion it is worth looking past PSA if only for their deceptive marketing practices. It's not as if Hsu, SVS, Reaction, or Rythmik are lesser values in anyway.

Have you even heard a Reaction Audio sub or any of the other subs you've recommended in this thread outside of the Hsu your are so readily enamored with? Enough already with your PSA remarks. We no Hsu rock.....


Not if he continues on making those remarks...

shady is GREEN, Yay....

 

[Alex2507]

Glad I could help restore balance to the force.

 

[theJman]

Nothing you say about PSA can be considered anything other than a personal vendetta, a fact which is painfully obvious on every forum you infect. Except for the occasional newbie we all know that, so you're only fooling yourself with the incessant stream of baseless drivel.

 

[shadyJ]

My criticism is based on third party data. You know, data, the stuff that worthwhile speaker and sub reviews have. Without data we have no reliable way of determining how our audio gear performs. We need performance data so our audio equipment evaluations are something more than mere conjecture, or what you might call "baseless drivel".

Anyway, I argue from observations based on objective measurements, not some imagined vendetta, although the idea of a personal vendetta makes audio equipment discussion a lot more exciting, so let's pretend that is true. It is telling that in return for these technical criticisms, I get a lot of name-calling but rarely any serious counter-point to my arguments.

 

[billy p]

My criticism is based on third party data. You know, data, the stuff that worthwhile speaker and sub reviews have. Without data we have no reliable way of determining how our audio gear performs. We need performance data so our audio equipment evaluations are something more than mere conjecture, or what you might call "baseless drivel".

Anyway, I argue from observations based on objective measurements, not some imagined vendetta, although the idea of a personal vendetta makes audio equipment discussion a lot more exciting, so let's pretend that is true. It is telling that in return for these technical criticisms, I get a lot of name-calling but rarely any serious counter-point to my arguments.

Well you know what they say went one fights/or argues with a turd...right!

PSA will basically have their entire sub line-up tested by third party metrics(JR) @ DB...by years end. Seriously...dude what other company can make that claim. Certainly not Hsu, Svs or Rythmik...although Svs comes very close...IMO.

 

[Steve81]

Try to keep the arguments technical in nature vs personal gentlemen. If there are problems with the charts as is, point them out vs name calling.

 

[rojo]

This topic has been thoroughly discussed before with the same futility. We ought to divert the conversation back to a more useful direction for the OP.

slovell, I agree with the general sentiment that you've got quite a bit of space to pressurize, so you should lean toward something strong enough to fill it. The LV12R would be a very musical sub, but probably wouldn't satisfactorily pressurize your vaulted ceiling room with attached kitchen as thoroughly as any of the subs suggested on the first page of this thread. I would probably lean toward the Hsu or the PSA.

 

[billy p]

This topic has been thoroughly discussed before with the same futility. We ought to divert the conversation back to a more useful direction.

slovell, I agree with the general sentiment that you've got quite a bit of space to pressurize, so you should lean toward something strong enough to fill it. The LV12R would be a very musical sub, but probably wouldn't satisfactorily pressurize your vaulted ceiling room with attached kitchen. I would lean toward the subs listed on the first page of this thread, particularly the Hsu or the PSA.

No issues with sticking to the matter at hand. He doesn't have to like PSA...I certainly understand his view point but IIRC he made a claim back in post# 28 and followed it up again in post #34.
Feel free...to ask him via PM what subs he has heard, auditioned, built, tested or modded...I have in the past and the list was short.

But yeah...I'll move on and the OP has been given a lot of good options for a sub in the <$750.00...range

 

[billy p]

Try to keep the arguments technical in nature vs personal gentlemen. If there are problems with the charts as is, point them out vs name calling.

Agreed...Pm sent...