Need help choosing sub/questions

[pezboy]

Hello,
This will be the first time I've ever used a subwoofer. I have an 8 ohm 100 watt per channel receiver with bookshelf speakers front and back. I am currently in an apartment, but will be moving to my own home soon. How many watts in a sub do I need? If I get, say, a 200 watt sub will it be much louder than my speakers? Can I adjust the output of the sub to match? Thanks for your help.
Dustin

 

[mazersteven]

Hello,
This will be the first time I've ever used a subwoofer. I have an 8 ohm 100 watt per channel receiver with bookshelf speakers front and back. I am currently in an apartment, but will be moving to my own home soon. How many watts in a sub do I need? If I get, say, a 200 watt sub will it be much louder than my speakers? Can I adjust the output of the sub to match? Thanks for your help.
Dustin

You can get a 4000 watt subwoofer and with proper calibration and placement it will blend fine with your speakers. Watts alone have nothing to do with output.

The main question when choosing a subwoofer is the dimensions/volume of the room it's going to be placed in. Any large openings to other rooms. Also what performance expectations your looking for.

 

[MUDSHARK]

Who has a 4000 watt subwoofer? That I would like to hear or maybe I wouldn't Consider the enclosure size as well. Generally the larger the better. As Steven mentioned there should not be a problem with calibration to match your speakers.

 

[mazersteven]

Who has a 4000 watt subwoofer?

OK so I was off 200 watts.

JL Audio g213
http://home.jlaudio.com/products_subs.php?prod_id=370

 

[pezboy]

Thanks for the responses. I have heard that (considering all else is equal) the bigger the speaker the better. Are there any drawbacks to having, say, a 15" compared to a 12"? Thanks.
Dustin

 

[phlakvest]

In general a larger woofer will have more output for a larger space. (In general, there are plenty of exceptions.)
You can't simply chose a sub by its woofer size.

What are the dimensions of the room your putting the sub in?
What is your budget?