Emp tek impression series vs polk rti series

[rojo]

It could be adequate. I'm not sure how loud you like to listen, but you did say you need to fill your basement with sound. It could be that a Hsu VTF-3 or VTF-15H would suffice. PSA also offers a 15" sub that's less than a grand. That's why I say chat with Tom Vodhanel on the PSA website, let him know your situation, and see what he recommends. Two twelves are fine for me, but my room is less than 2500ft³. Your basement will take a lot more effort to pressurize.

Or you could consider a DIY project to save some dough. This sort of build, for example, using this Dayton 18" HO driver plus a $200 Crown amp and a balanced/unbalanced converter would put the i12 to shame. (See the attachment on the first post of this thread for the build plans.)

Edit: Or the Stereo Integrity HST18 or the Mach 5 UXL-18 in the Stonehenge flat pack is another interesting combo, and ought to be easier to build since all the box parts are precut. I've not modeled either of those drivers in that enclosure, so I'm not sure whether either is as well tuned as the Dayton combo linked above. If I come across any informative build threads I'll link them.

Would a DIY project be worth considering? Would you be more likely to consider a flat pack solution than something built from scratch from plans and sheets of MDF or birch, even if it means spending a little more?

Thanks for fixing the negative karma, by the way.

 

[fuzz092888]

Just fyi if you are interested.

http://www.audioholics.com/subwoofer-reviews/emp-tek-impression-i-12-and-i-12-e-subwoofer-preview

EMP is an RBH company. Not there's anything wrong with RBH or EMP, they're both excellent brands, they tend to get pushed around here due to their relationship with AH. For a room your size, if you want to adequately pressurize it, there's not a chance in heck that the little EMP will do it.

AH sub rating protocol

http://www.audioholics.com/loudspeaker-design/subwoofer-room-size

I bet that sub would only get a small rating, maybe eking out a medium. You're room is an Extreme rating. If you're really planning on following the rating guide, expect to be close to $2000 to adequately pressurize that space.

 

[fuzz092888]

I agree with rojo, talk with Tom. He's a great guy and easy to talk to.

Also, like I said, take advantage of the 30 day trial with the EMP, do it with an SVS and maybe a PSA sub and compare all three and keep the one you like the best.

 

[Alex816]

It could be adequate. I'm not sure how loud you like to listen, but you did say you need to fill your basement with sound. It could be that a Hsu VTF-3 or VTF-15H would suffice. PSA also offers a 15" sub that's less than a grand. That's why I say chat with Tom Vodhanel on the PSA website, let him know your situation, and see what he recommends. Two twelves are fine for me, but my room is less than 2500ft³. Your basement will take a lot more effort to pressurize.

Or you could consider a DIY project to save some dough. This sort of build, for example, using this Dayton 18" HO driver plus a $200 Crown amp and a balanced/unbalanced converter would put the i12 to shame. (See the attachment on the first post of this thread for the build plans.)

Edit: Or the Stereo Integrity HST18 or the Mach 5 UXL-18 in the Stonehenge flat pack is another interesting combo, and ought to be easier to build since all the box parts are precut. I've not modeled either of those drivers in that enclosure, so I'm not sure whether either is as well tuned as the Dayton combo linked above. If I come across any informative build threads I'll link them.

Would a DIY project be worth considering? Would you be more likely to consider a flat pack solution than something built from scratch from plans and sheets of MDF or birch, even if it means spending a little more?

Thanks for fixing the negative karma, by the way.

I'm not totally opposed to a build project, I'm fairly handy, but it wasn't in my original plans. Perhaps I will go forward with the inspiration 5.0 series and save for a sub down the road, or build one, something that will really do the trick.

 

[KEW]

I read the review on the i-12 on audioholics.com and thought it'd be an adequate choice. .........I guess I was wrong.

Just fyi if you are interested.

http://www.audioholics.com/subwoofer-reviews/emp-tek-impression-i-12-and-i-12-e-subwoofer-preview

It can get a little confusing, but the above link is a preview, not a review.
Usually, a preview is nothing more that a regurgitation of the manufacturer's marketing literature. Most often, the person writing the preview has not even heard or touched the item being previewed. In this case RBH has provided some measurement data, but it is usually wise to be wary of measurements done by the manufacturer (for example, there is no indication of how much smoothing was applied to the curves RBH provided).
That said, RBH is a good company that make a good value product. I bet their subs are competent, but do not expect they compete in the market against companies who's primary product is subwoofers. Definitely do not expect them to fill your large room with powerful bass!
To highlight this point, here is the RBH driver:

And here is a 15" driver from a PSA sub.

Note the metal diecast spider and the size of the magnet on top. You can get a sense of how much stronger the PSA driver is... without even considering a 15" driver has over 50% more surface area compared to a 12" driver.

So, save up...it is worth it!

 

[TheWarrior]

@KEW Psst!

The frame of this driver has a bunch of long legs that make you think of a spider. Thats just the frame. You need to flip the driver over. The spider is the yellow woven material that serves to keep everything in alignment. I guess because it vaguely resembles a spiders web...

 

[KEW]

@KEW Psst!

The frame of this driver has a bunch of long legs that make you think of a spider. Thats just the frame. You need to flip the driver over. The spider is the yellow woven material that serves to keep everything in alignment. I guess because it vaguely resembles a spiders web...

I did make the assumption that the name came from the visual similarity.
Thanks for setting me straight!

 

[TheWarrior]

I did make the assumption that the name came from the visual similarity.
Thanks for setting me straight!

I think everyone does it!

I guess the actual spider is named for the similarity to a web, it does hold everything together!

 

[fuzz092888]

I think everyone does it!

I guess the actual spider is named for the similarity to a web, it does hold everything together!

The name comes from early speaker suspensions which were made from two concentric rings connected by 6 or 8 "legs" and vaguely resembled a spider IIRC.

 

[Alex816]

On another note, I have ordered my impression series, no sub. But I found someone locally selling an HSU VFT-15H. He claims it is 2 years old, in excellent condition and that I can come listen to it, but he won't budge from $600. I know what they cost new and it seems reasonable but is a 2 year old sub worth $600. If it is in fact in the condition he claims, should I go for it?

 

[TheWarrior]

If it looks brand new, and you do not hear any audible distortion, then go for it!

If the volume knob is all the way up and he's replacing a single sub with a new pair, then ask some probing questions to make sure this thing hasn't been over driven. But from what I know about HSU, that's not easy to do!

 

[Alex816]

He seems like he's on the up and up. He texted me back and forth about audio equipment half the day. I'll probably go look at it this weekend. Thanks @TheWarrior

 

[Eng-399]

If your going to fill your space with bass I would suggest a minimum of 2-18" subs 4 would be great. Forget about buying something already made diy it. You will save a ton of money. Build a Marty box or use winisd software to model the sub box and get a 2 inuke 6,000 dsp amps to power them. The dsp in the amp works great and isn't to bad to use. Once you get that install rew into your laptop and buy a umm-6 mic to get your room flat. That's what I would do. You would then pressurize your room and have a pretty good amount of bass. For even more fun place two out of the four subs Nearfield. There's nothing like Nearfield subs it gives the movie experance that much more fun.