JBL EON 518s vs Yamaha DSR 118w subwoofers

[System Shock]

Hello Audioholics!

I have a dilema, my actual setup is 2x JBL EON 315 monitors and 1x JBL EON 518s subwoofer.
I play electronic dance music, usually outside and for small audiences. Im quite satisfied with the setup I have at the moment, but Im looking for a more powerful bass.

At 1st, I thaught I will buy 2nd EON 518s and link it with my current EON sub, but I heard people speaking about Yamaha DSR 118w as being louder and sounding better, while being in a same price range.

So I have following options, sorted by difficulty to achieve from easy to hard:

A) buy 2nd EON
B) buy Yamaha and play EON+Yamaha DSR linked together
C) buy Yamaha, sell EON and than buy 2nd Yamaha DSR subwoofer

It seems like 2x Yamaha (800w - 132db SPL) will play almost like 3x EON (500w - 129db SPL), but is it really so? Is the problems with selling old EON 518s worth it? How reliable is Yamaha DSR compared to EON 518s?

Any advice will be greatly appretiated.

Thanks a lot in advance (and pardon my English please, its my 2nd language)

 

[theJman]

So I have following options, sorted by difficulty to achieve from easy to hard:

A) buy 2nd EON
B) buy Yamaha and play EON+Yamaha DSR linked together
C) buy Yamaha, sell EON and than buy 2nd Yamaha DSR subwoofer

If those are your only options then C is probably the best choice. Trying to balance the output level and sound of different subwoofers is often a challenge, and if you can avoid doing that it would be the better idea. I don't know what your budget is, but if you want some really powerful subwoofers look into the JTR Orbit Shifter or Cap Pro. Either of those should have no problem better the JBL and Yamaha.

 

[shadyJ]

The thing is, you don't know how those subs are rated. JBL and Yamaha could be using a different metric to obtain that SPL rating. If it were me, I would go to the nearest pro-audio store and demo them. Many pro-audio shops have these sort of things set up for demo, or at least can set that up for you if you ask. Check out Guitar Center or Sam Ash or whatever. You may find choices better than either the Yamaha or JBL. You might also check out what DIY has to offer, there are some amazing values for anyone up for cabinet work in this realm. I would check out some of Bill Fitzmaurice's designs or Wayne Parham's 12 Pi Basshorn. Those would crush the JBL or Yamaha subs. Use a cabinet maker to construct the cabinet, then just drop the drivers in. Those are the kind of subs that outdoor concerts and large venues use. They are on the level of Danley's higher end subs. Many famous acts tour with Fitzmaurice subs, like major electronic music acts, just go check out his forums.