"Best" Sub With a Remote Control?

slipperybidness

slipperybidness

Audioholic Warlord
OK, so I have been looking into a nice sub for a while. I've been around here long enough to know the usual recs and like what I see on those (HSU, SVS, Rythmic, Emotiva). I think the SVS is probably at the top of my list right now, however I like the dual-tuning concept on the HSU. I currently have a velodyne VSX-10 and am well aware of its limitations, especially for my large room.

But, none of these seem to have remote control operation and that would be really nice.

My L/R are Goldenear Triton 2s with the built-in subs. Those are great speakers and have plenty of low-end for 2 channel music. I only use the sub for LFE on movies. Thus, on music I have the sub either off or on a very low setting just to slightly supplement the bass from the Tritons. On movies, I want the sub up louder to get more impact out of it.

So my question:
What is the "best" sub available with a remote control? My price range is up to maybe $1300 or so, maybe I could stretch it to $1500 but I have a hard time paying that much for just a sub and would prefer to keep it around $800.

I see the new line of Def Tech Supercubes look pretty nice, reviewed very positive in Home Theater Mag, have a remote, and would seem to fit the bill. Anybody have any experience on those? Would they come close to an ID brand at all, or no contest?

Any of the ID brands have a remote operated sub that I missed? My overall concern is SQ and awesome bass, so if my best option is an ID brand and me getting my lazy a$$ off the couch, then I guess I will have to do that.

While I'm at it, any comments on the wire-less subs that give easier placement options or one of the aftermarket wire-less packages? My surrounds are currently running off the Rocketfish HD wire-less kit and for what it is (and the hassle of running wires in a difficult situation), it works fine for me.
 
j_garcia

j_garcia

Audioholic Jedi
I've owned a sub with a remote before. Properly calibrated, you shouldn't need to ever change it, and I actually ended up hating having the remote. The ONLY time it was useful was late at night so I could either turn it off or have a preset setting to turn it down.

Your receiver or pre/pro should already have this capability. Nearly all of them have a "direct" mode that will set the mains to large and remove the sub.
 
ParadigmDawg

ParadigmDawg

Audioholic Overlord
That's like saying that you want a new girlfriend but only one with big hoots...oh... never mind....it's nothing like that....

Tequila is good...
 
Irvrobinson

Irvrobinson

Audioholic Spartan
I've owned a sub with a remote before. Properly calibrated, you shouldn't need to ever change it, and I actually ended up hating having the remote. The ONLY time it was useful was late at night so I could either turn it off or have a preset setting to turn it down.
I'm on another page, I like the sub remote. For music some CDs sound better with a different sub level than others. I use mine regularly.
 
macddmac

macddmac

Audioholic General
I have a velodyne dls 3750- not a classic sub, but that remote is damn handy!
 
j_garcia

j_garcia

Audioholic Jedi
It was fine at first, but then I found myself constantly tweaking it to everything. I got tired of that. Next sub did not have a remote and I found I didn't need to tweak it as much as I thought, but I agree some material is too bass heavy and may warrant tweaking, but I generally just turn the whole rig down a bit instead. When I bought it, I though "Why doesn't EVERY sub have a remote?" but I haven't missed that capability and it has been quite a few years now.
 
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pbc

pbc

Audioholic
Any of the ID brands have a remote operated sub that I missed? My overall concern is SQ and awesome bass, so if my best option is an ID brand and me getting my lazy a$$ off the couch, then I guess I will have to do that.
I think the selection of subs with remotes, as you're finding, is not very good. So you're going to limit yourself way too much, and $1300 - $1500 range is a great spot to be in for ID subs and a range, IMO, where the ID subs dominate B&M.

It's too bad the newer DSP based subs out there from ID companies aren't coming with a simple front "button" where you can quickly toggle between various saved EQ modes. Even if it wasn't a remote, that would be pretty cool.

The SMS-1 was great in that regard, if you can find a used one at a great price, problem may be solved as the poster above suggests.
 
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