My first sub - suggestions?

[tloomos]

I'm just starting to build out a home theater system and need some help selecting a sub. I'm not an audiophile by any means, but I don't want to end up with junk (although that may be unavoidable at my price point).

I'm renting a house right now, and it has built in polk fronts and surrounds, so I'm building off of that figuring that I can't really go wrong with Polk for speakers. I read that the CS20 center is timbre matched with my fronts, so I got that, figuring that even once I move I can't really go wrong building my system with Polk speakers. My current setup includes a Denon AVR-1910 Receiver, Polk CS20 Center, Polk RCi85 In-Wall Fronts and Polk RCi80 In-Ceiling Surrounds.

Although I know the sub doesn't need to be timbre matched like the center does, I started out by looking at Polks. I was looking at the PSW505, but the more I read, the more I hear that Polk isn't really known for their subs and everyone seems to be pointing to Velodyne.

As always, my dilemma comes in with my budget. I was hoping to not go over $200, but the Polk PSW505 got some great reviews and seems like I can pick it up for around $250.

I'm planning to use this for a mix of music and movies, and it's in the family room which connects to the kitchen as one large space - 23' x 40' with 9' ceilings.

Any suggestions??

 

[sholling]

That's over 8000cuft of space. You aren't going to get a $200 sub that is going to give you the kind of deep room shaking bass that most people want for movies. My best advice is to start saving for a pair of very large subs from Hsu Reseach, Elemental Designs, or SVSounds. I'd also forget Polk subs and stick with the internet direct subwoofer specialists. If you want something to get you by for the short term while you save you could try $155 Dayton from Amazon or Parts Express. Just don't expect it to fill that space with deep powerful bass. But once you've saved enough for a big sub or two the little guy will make a great master bedroom sub.

The nice thing about investing in a great sub is that you can take it with you when you move.

 

[zhimbo]

I'm planning to use this for a mix of music and movies, and it's in the family room which connects to the kitchen as one large space - 23' x 40' with 9' ceilings.

Wait and save up more money. For example, Hsu's well-respected top-of-the-line subs are recommended for spaces of up to 6000 cubic feet. Your room is bigger than that.

You may be able to skimp a little bit and still be quite happy - but a $200-$250 budget for that kind of space is skimping much more than a little and is probably unrealistic.

(You could also start looking around at DIY information, maybe. There's plenty of it in these forums, and the price/performance ratio is far better).

 

[lsiberian]

You could always assemble your own sub.

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=293-604

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=300-805

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=302-802

That would give you a top brand subwoofer driver, a decent amp and a prebuilt cabinet. The resulting sub would be substantially better than anything you could buy and would only be limited by the amplifier.

The type of subs that would be superior to it's performance are over 1k in cost.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

This will fill up a 8,000 cuft room, it does it everyday!!!
http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=64459
I know, I know...shameless plug...but it will...

That's over 8000cuft of space. You aren't going to get a $200 sub that is going to give you the kind of deep room shaking bass that most people want for movies. My best advice is to start saving for a pair of very large subs from Hsu Reseach, Elemental Designs, or SVSounds. I'd also forget Polk subs and stick with the internet direct subwoofer specialists. If you want something to get you by for the short term while you save you could try $155 Dayton from Amazon or Parts Express. Just don't expect it to fill that space with deep powerful bass. But once you've saved enough for a big sub or two the little guy will make a great master bedroom sub.

The nice thing about investing in a great sub is that you can take it with you when you move.

 

[njedpx3]

Dayton SUB-120 HT Series 12" 150 Watt Powered Subwoofer is just around $155. i feel is will suit for you but anyway it just like sholling stated that,it wont rock your house. but i feel that will enough within your budget and it sound good also.
if can afford to it is worth to investing in a great Polk sub. highly recommended!

Okay first I agree with Sholling and Jonathan Walker on the Dayton SUB-120 HT but you are going to need Two(2). The later when you can afford it upgrade to the SVS PB13-Ultra MSRP $1699

http://www.svsound.com/products-sub-box-pb13ultra.cfm



Peace and Good Sound,

Forest Man

 

[njedpx3]

Dayton SUB-120 HT Series 12" 150 Watt Powered Subwoofer is just around $155. i feel is will suit for you but anyway it just like sholling stated that,it wont rock your house. but i feel that will enough within your budget and it sound good also.
if can afford to it is worth to investing in a great Polk sub. highly recommended!

Jonathan - nice post .. I threw you acouple of green chicklets

Peace,

Forest Man

 

[tloomos]

Clarification

Not sure if it makes a difference or not, but although the rooms are connected to form a huge open space, the area where the home theater is covers only about 16' x 20'. Since I don't currently have a sub and this is my first entrance into HT, my expectations are pretty moderate and I figure anything is bound to be better than nothing.

Additionally, since I'm only renting this house, I don't want to focus too much on the right sub for THIS space, but rather what a reasonably good sub would be for an average home theater space (if there is such a thing). I would really like to stick close to the $250 range, but everything I read tells me there are some brands to just avoid and others that are great if you can afford them.

I think at this point I'm curious if there are any brands that I should just not even consider as well as if there are any features or specs I should be on the lookout for.

 

[sholling]

Not sure if it makes a difference or not, but although the rooms are connected to form a huge open space, the area where the home theater is covers only about 16' x 20'. Since I don't currently have a sub and this is my first entrance into HT, my expectations are pretty moderate and I figure anything is bound to be better than nothing.

Additionally, since I'm only renting this house, I don't want to focus too much on the right sub for THIS space, but rather what a reasonably good sub would be for an average home theater space (if there is such a thing). I would really like to stick close to the $250 range, but everything I read tells me there are some brands to just avoid and others that are great if you can afford them.

I think at this point I'm curious if there are any brands that I should just not even consider as well as if there are any features or specs I should be on the lookout for.

There just isn't much worthwhile in your price range. Maybe wait and catch a sale on a pair of 12" Dayton subs. They normally sell for $155ea plus S&H but occasionally go on sale for $120. But keep one thing in mind - you can turn down the volume if you buy "too much" sub, but you quickly run out of volume knob on too little sub.