Looking for a music subwoofer for $300 or less

[Saner]

Just like the title says. I know $300 isn't much to work with but it's all I have. My room is 15'x18' and I will have it hooked up to my turntables. I play 99.9% electronic music.

I currently have a Velodyne VX-11 10" 100w powered sub but it isn't putting out enough boom for me. Additionally, I think it was maybe designed more for home theater than purely for music. It just doesn't sound that great for what I'm doing.

Again, this sub will be used 100% for music and not for movies.


Any suggestions?

 

[KEW]

Just like the title says. I know $300 isn't much to work with but it's all I have. My room is 15'x18' and I will have it hooked up to my turntables. I play 99.9% electronic music.

I currently have a Velodyne VX-11 10" 100w powered sub but it isn't putting out enough boom for me. Additionally, I think it was maybe designed more for home theater than purely for music. It just doesn't sound that great for what I'm doing.

Again, this sub will be used 100% for music and not for movies.


Any suggestions?

What do you mean by "boom"? Do you mean they are not loud enough or don't go low enough? What type of instrumentation do you listen to in the context of low bass?
Since you are talking music only, usually the low frequency extension is not a big concern. However if your electronic music is heavy with low synthesizer bass, you could need lower output frequencies than what is normally considered important in a music system.

Given a general situation. I can offer comments/solutions:
1) Fundamentally, you are wanting to replace a $170 sub with a $300 sub. Both of these would be considered budget subs and I'm not sure how much of a step up a $300 sub will offer. My first thought is that you should wait and save up more money to realize a great difference when you upgrade. Generally, I believe (for 2.1 music) budgeting for a sub at about the price of a single speaker is a decent rule of thumb. While this works well for speakers at $1000 plus/pair, it falls apart at lower prices because there are some excellent inexpensive speakers. For example, a pair of Behringer 2030P's ($180/pr) will definitely outclass any $90 subwoofer.
2) Have you experimented much with sub placement? If not you could be experiencing a suck-out due to your room dimensions and reflected waves canceling the direct wave. Try moving around your sub to see if there are "sweet spots" which produce the sound you like. The best placement for the sub may be impractical, but you will know your complaint is due to room effects more than the sub. If so, I'd recommend buying another VX-11 and running dual subs. This will reduce the room problems. If you do this Audioholics has some good instruction on practical solutions for positioning dual subs.
I don't know you sub. Velodyne certainly has the competence, and I'm not too quick to discount their 35 lb., $170 ($300 list) sub as being poor (relative to other subs in the same price range).
Spec sheet:
http://www.velodyne.com/vproducts/detailpdf/VX-11_Details.pdf

Please answer the questions at the top of my post and also tell us what speakers you will use with you sub(s) and we may be able to give you a better informed response.

 

[rnatalli]

I'll throw the Emotiva Ultra out there. If you can spend a little more, HSU and eD have subs at the $350 mark.

 

[jamie2112]

I have to agree, you can get alot more sub for $50 more than $300. I would try really hard and make that happen. HSU Epik and ED are great starts for that money...

 

[Saner]

What do you mean by "boom"? Do you mean they are not loud enough or don't go low enough? What type of instrumentation do you listen to in the context of low bass?
Since you are talking music only, usually the low frequency extension is not a big concern. However if your electronic music is heavy with low synthesizer bass, you could need lower output frequencies than what is normally considered important in a music system.

By "boom" I mean the bass doesn't hit hard or loud enough. It gets distorted if I turn the volume up too loud. Electronic music, house music specifically, does have a lot of low synthesizer bass, as you mentioned.

Given a general situation. I can offer comments/solutions:
1) Fundamentally, you are wanting to replace a $170 sub with a $300 sub. Both of these would be considered budget subs and I'm not sure how much of a step up a $300 sub will offer. My first thought is that you should wait and save up more money to realize a great difference when you upgrade. Generally, I believe (for 2.1 music) budgeting for a sub at about the price of a single speaker is a decent rule of thumb. While this works well for speakers at $1000 plus/pair, it falls apart at lower prices because there are some excellent inexpensive speakers. For example, a pair of Behringer 2030P's ($180/pr) will definitely outclass any $90 subwoofer.

I'm currently running 2-Infinity Primus P162. I'm was thinking of trying the Infinity P212 400watt 12" subwoofer. The Velodyne only has a 100watt amp.

2) Have you experimented much with sub placement? If not you could be experiencing a suck-out due to your room dimensions and reflected waves canceling the direct wave. Try moving around your sub to see if there are "sweet spots" which produce the sound you like.

Unfortunately the space limits where I can place the subwoofer. As it sits now it's right next to my DJ booth. I really have no other place I can put it.

 

[j_garcia]

The Emotiva Sub10 would have to be my recommendation too, especially since that is the sale price. Sealed subs do give up some output, if output is what you are after, but they also sound great with electronica. I've been listening to Chicane Giants (great album BTW) a lot recently and it absolutely pounds my house.

 

[Saner]

The Emotiva Sub10 would have to be my recommendation too, especially since that is the sale price. Sealed subs do give up some output, if output is what you are after, but they also sound great with electronica. I've been listening to Chicane Giants (great album BTW) a lot recently and it absolutely pounds my house.

Interesting, I will do some research on this sub. Thanks!

 

[shadyJ]

For me, electronic music needs truly serious bass output. It benefits from bass more than any other music, even hip hop or metal. I would save some more money for a better sub, because massive body sensation electronic bass is definitely worth it.

 

[GranteedEV]

Get two more VX-11s and stack them.

 

[picture_shooter]

I'll bite!!

I recently sold my Outlaw LFM1-Plus. I sold it and decided to be subless since I figure I was not watching much.
Then low-and-behold I got the fever again over the holidays.

With that being said, I settled for two VX-11's and I am extremely happy with the output of these working together.

This sub is NOT a one-hit wonder and does play the notes. I am not big on music but movies and impact sound, these puppies crank if needed.

My Denon running Audyssey it tuned my subs all the way down to -12.
My subs are set @ 80hz (cut off) and the volume dial is at 30-35%.

I tried doing the whol stacking and I thought it lack more bass detail, but I bet it would be better for music settings.

I also did a sub-crawl and found that in a 17'x26' room I really enjoyed having the subs in the front in each corner, about 2' away from the corner of each wall that the subs were at.

For the "$$$" I paid for it, I am extremely happy with my end results and now at least I do not have to look @ a big'ol sub anymore stuck in one-corner (LFM1-Plus), my lower back thanks me and of course the wife is happy that the eye-sore Outlaw is bye-bye.

No regrets on my purchase.



Cheers.

Next purchase are two-subdude isolation platform pads

 

[sholling]

My first subwoofer was the older VX-10 and it was pretty good for a 100w RMS 150w dynamic sub. To my ear far more musical then the Velodyne CHT-12 that I bought later. I suspect that's just too much room for the baby velo. I'd rather see you save a bit longer for a $350 Hsu-STF-2 but if that's not doable then adding a second VX-11 might be worth trying as long as you can return it if you find it unsatisfying.

 

[ChunkyDark]

Gonna say up budget to $369 and go with Emotiva Sub10. Recently (yesterday) got the Sub12 and couldn't be happier.
I believe the sale is only until Jan 10th so you might want to hurry.

 

[KEW]

The OP has not logged back onto the board since 11/12/2010, so I guess we can figure he has moved on.