Mixed-use Open floor plan, $1k budget, aesthetics matter.. subwoofer selection/placement advice requested

[nmkef]

Hey guys, first post here! I've been digging around and spending way too much time researching subs without really coming to a strong conclusion. I posted this on avsforum too but figured I would come here as well since I read so many reviews on this site so far. Here goes...

I live in a "loft-style" condo, with concrete floor/ceiling (floor covered with wood though) and 11ft ceilings. I have a roughly 4000 cu ft open area that's a mixed living room/kitchen area. It also is partially open to a bedroom that is about 1500 cu ft via the opening over a "short wall" and 1ft long "hallway". The main listening area is on the right side, with floor-to-ceiling windows as the right-side wall... here's a rough snip of a 3D model showing the current configuration. Right now it shows a 5.1 setup (really it's 5.1.2 with 2x atmos addons on top of the L/R channels)

The speakers are some gifted B&W DM602 S3 on stands with LCR600 S3 in the center. Surrounds are cheapo JBL that I will replace eventually. AVR is a Denon X2500H, but will probably upgrade to 4000 series in the next year or two. I have an ASW300 that was given the same time as the speakers, but it is woefully underpowered and I think either starting to go bad or just really too small for the space (regularly get distortion at -10 to -20dB off reference). I am looking to upgrade with a ~$700-1000 budget.

The system is used for music, TV, and movies, but the main constraint really is in placement as well as size. I already "get complaints" about the size of the speakers, so all of the large, ported subs are entirely out of the question. I'm open to either dual sub if it is even possible to be effective at my budget, but more likely it would be a single with "future upgrade" to a second, if even necessary/helpful. Per many things I've read so far, it seems like a second wouldn't necessarily do much for me in my space.

I've also thought about whether or not it would make sense to put something in the rear, near where I have the surrounds. Given the limited space, the only other place besides underneath the TV or the back wall is in the small inlet to the left where I mocked up a turntable stand, but I had concerns the wall shape there would negatively impact the sound.

Main actual sound priorities are a good, snappy bass and not necessarily looking for anything really boomy or physically impactful. I'd like to enjoy movies of course, but given I live in a large, multi-unit building, I don't want to immediately gain notoriety for being "subwoofer guy".

So far, I've thought of these options that meet the price point, but am not totally set on :

SVS SB-2000 Pro or SVS SB-3000
SVS PC-2000 Pro (potentially to be used only in the rear given its height, but it's still a bit too large)
Rhthmik F12
HSU ULS-15 MK2

Does anyone have any other feedback/recommendations? Should I just stop reading 2000 webpages and pull the trigger on one of the SVS with their generous return policy? Any words would be appreciated

 

[mazersteven]

Based on your dimensions of the room you show you need a large subwoofer if not two to properly fill that space and pressurize it. But yet you say you can't because of being an apartment condo environment so you have to make up your mind whether you want to have the proper subwoofer or just go without

 

[nmkef]

More of an aesthetics issue than anything else. I'm willing to consider something "larger" as long as it can stay within the center "zone", which restricts depth to ~18-20" and height to ~24". Potentially can go with something like the cylinder SVS options, but the only real placement can be the rear behind listening position. Still not sure if that can even work given it would still be relatively close to the couch and probably would not mix well with the front channels? Most of the large ported subs have absurd dimensions so it's unfortunately easy to just KO them from consideration.

I don't really expect to fully pressurize the space, more get a sub that can at least provide some depth and impact where my current sub is just completely unable to perform. But if others have had experience with getting small to medium footprint subs to work, I'm all ears.

 

[mazersteven]

Call SVS and ask their recommendations.

 

[nmkef]

I decided to try the SB-3000 which will arrive sometime next week. I'm in LA, so I reached out to HSU to see if they are reopened for local pickup in which case I might also try and audition the ULS-15 MK2 at the same time. Review measurements appear to show it as a "better" choice at the low end with ~6+dB better performance below 40-50 Hz plus the large vs medium sub rating from audioholics, but it is physically larger plus has a $80 shipping fee with return shipping my responsibility as well. If I'm lucky, they'll allow for pickup so I can avoid shipping and truly have a risk-free A/B comparison!