Need help to choose subwoofer...

[digi89ua]

Hi all!... Sorry for not very good english, but I am from Ukraine And currently have problem not with english but with making desicion what subwoofer I must buy =)

In my 5.1 Home Theatre system I have:

Receiver Yamaha RX-A3010
And JBL LS 5.1 Acoustic:
JBL LS80 - Front
JBL LSCenter - Center
JBL LS40 - Surround

Now I am thinking what sub will be better to my system... I am ready to spend 2000-2500$...

I am thinking on different options:

From the same system JBL LS120P but make a dual sub system.
or I read that SVS make a fantastic subwoofers so I am thinking about SVS
PB-13 Ultra
or PB-12 Plus
or SB-13 Plus...
or JBL LS120P - dual
What will be better from my list, and what other solutions you can give me guys... I have medium room dimensional volume is 2080 ft^3. System is more for music not for films... Thanks

 

[bikdav]

Nice JBL Speakers for the mains, center, and surround. Any one of the SVS subwoofers would be good candidates. Of the three, I'd go with the PB-12 Plus or PB-13 Ultra.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

I vote for Rythmic F15HP or if you wish to save a coin - Epik Empire

Nothing wrong with SVS subs, in fact they are one of the best performing subs out there, but I'm afraid they are not represent best value

 

[timoteo]

Welcome Digi89ua!!

Very nice setup your putting together, with the right sub(s) it will be amazing. I have to agree with the thought of SVS being a great sub company but dont offer best bang for buck. For instance, for the price of 1 PB13-ultra you could get 2 HSU VTF-15H subs & it will only cost you i think $150 more but you'd have 2 massive 15"ers that will outperform 1 of SVS's 15".

Dont get me wrong SVS is fantastic & if you go with them, get their PB-13U. But if you look into HSU or Rythmik you could either pay less for the same performance or pay the same for more performance.

I can vouch for the VTF-15H i own one. Im not a fan boy but can honestly say that sometimes the bass it puts out can be scary & yet for music it is just as delicate & precise. With the ported & sealed mode options you'll find the best integration for your room & taste.

Rythmik would be my other choice. Very similar performance but with nicer finishes on the enclosures & the servo control on them is awesome!

Id recommend at least a ported 15" to give you the power & low end needed. Then if you desire more punch, get an MBM-12 or a second 15".

Hope this helps!!

 

[theJman]

It might be difficult for anyone in the USA to help much, mostly because we're not sure what is available in the Ukraine (at least I'm not sure, anyway). SVS is definitely good, so that is an option. Can you get Rythmik, Hsu, XTZ, Martin Logan, Epik, Mordaunt-Short, Focal, Tannoy or Rel? All of those companies make good quality subwoofers.

 

[digi89ua]

For me there is no problem to get any subwoofer... If I will buy SVSound it will come to from USA to Norway then to Poland and in next step it will be home =))... What about Sealed version SB13-Plus ??? And if choosing between Sealed and Opened, what is better ? atm I have dual subs from my package JBL Studio L its L8400P nice subs but they are not powerfull. Btw they are sealed and I like Soft Bass that they give but its not enough... And about PB13-Ultra would be not too much powered for my room ?

 

[theJman]

For me there is no problem to get any subwoofer... If I will buy SVSound it will come to from USA to Norway then to Poland and in next step it will be home =))...

That's quite a journey. How long would it take?

What about Sealed version SB13-Plus ??? And if choosing between Sealed and Opened, what is better ? atm I have dual subs from my package JBL Studio L its L8400P nice subs but they are not powerfull. Btw they are sealed and I like Soft Bass that they give but its not enough... And about PB13-Ultra would be not too much powered for my room ?

Are you saying that right now you have two JBL L8400P subwoofers and they aren't enough? If so, I'm not sure one SB13-Plus would be enough either. It's a great subwoofer, but I don't know that it's better then twice as good as the L8400P.

Would the PB13-Ultra be too much? Well, if you really like bass that's certainly an option but maybe not the best choice.

Most often it's better to get two really good subwoofers than one excellent subwoofer. Because of room modes it usually much easier to configure two subwoofers to smooth the bass out, then a single huge subwoofer. Since you already have dual subs now it might be better to go with two again.

 

[digi89ua]

What about dual JBL LS120P?

I cant say that dual L8400P are not enough, but in some moment it is working very hard but I didnt hear it... Its work for nothing no result....

 

[timoteo]

I read up on the LS120P & those seem to be very capable 12" subs. They are ported so you'll get lower bass extension than the L8400p you have now. But if your looking for that ever satisfying LOWW bass that compliments music so well then id opt for one or dual 15". If you want tighter, punchier bass then dual 12"s can be very easing as well.

In the recent past ive had dual 10" subs then dual 12" subs & now i have a 15" & a 12". This combo has been by FAR the most impressive to me. But i am not running them as a true dual sub configuration. They are not getting the same bass signal. Instead!.... I have the 12" (mbm-12) pick up at the crossover point (which is 80hz) & it plays down to about 50hz where this particular sub naturally rolls off at. Then the 15" (vtf-15h) picks up at 50hz & takes care of the bass from 50hz & below. This method is great because by splitting up the bass signal, each sub is doing what its size does best! Also, instead of having 350watts going to the 15" to handle all the bass, ive got 350w for 80hz-50hz & another 350w for 50hz-15hz. This doubles my headroom. Just wanted to share that with you incase you didnt know about this option. We want you to be informed of all your options!

Now again i dont know for sure if HSU, Rythmik & other I.D brands ship to you but look into it.

As far as the JBL LS120P, those do look like nice subs. They will do a nice job for music but not sure if they will have the full output your looking for. They will have more than the JBLs you have now though.

 

[digi89ua]

HSU, Rythmik are not available in Ukraine.... They are available but I am not ready to pay 400-500 $ for deliever =)))... Thanks to all you guys it was very helpfull to me... In the middle of november I will receive SVS PB12-Plus and JBL LS120P dual... I will compare it and imidiatly share with you results!... Btw for me was very helpful your topic about positioning subwoofers at room... My L8400P was right on the corner, when I took them 1/4 from the wall, it gives me much more result and I am happy with that !...

I have also question about EQ... RX-A3010 have EQ to each channel... so I can setup any settings but I dont know what will be better for my subs... Maybe you guys have any thouthgs in this point?

 

[laalvarezm]

I would probably go with a PB-13 Ultra, I heard this sometime ago in a store and I really like it.

What about an infinty TSS-SUB4000CHR?

 

[digi89ua]

I think infinity will be much worst then JBL LS120P....

 

[robc1976]

I would go with a Elemental design sub, great sub and great customer service.

 

[theJman]

I would go with a Elemental design sub, great sub and great customer service.

This may not be the best choice at the moment; seems as though eD might be having more problems than usual. From a price standpoint their subs are generally a good value -- when you could get them of course -- but they sometimes had reliability issues. Until recently customer service was always exemplary though, but on a few of the other forums there have been indications even that might be suffering now.

Caveat emptor...