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Need help with choosing a budget subwoofer - some used options included

  • Thread starter Thread starter yonyz
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Which one?

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yonyz

Audioholic
Jun 19, 2008
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Hi,

I have a pair of 8" monitors that I use for entertainment. Movies, games and music.
The bass seems fine for music, but it doesn't go low enough for movies and games. I think they get as low as 40hz or so.

I understand that you cannot bypass the subwoofer once it's hooked up, so it's important that it won't suck for music.

Options:

A new BIC F12, Dayton 1200/1500, and others up to $250 (used on Amazon is fine, too).

Or any of these used that are sold locally:

Tannoy TS-10
Klipsch R-12SW
JMLAB SW700
Mission M70as
Tannoy Saturn S-SUB 15
Yamaha YST-SW300
Mordaunt Short MS907W
Velodyne VA 68X2E

The Tannoy TS-10 has gotten a very good review from What Hi-Fi, if it means anything.
It is said to be musical, if that's a thing in subwoofers.

The Klipsch R-12SW has a better amplifier, but I couldn't find any "professional" reviews.

The others on the list are significantly older and there's not much about them on the web.

I guess the main contenders are the first 3 options I listed.

I'd appreciate your input.
 
If I were you, I would try to stretch the budget a bit go for a pair of Dayton 1200s, and place them in locations where you get the most even bass throughout the room. A single sub isn't likely to grant you a good frequency response, no matter what kind of sub you get. Multiple sub setups can go a lot further in getting you a nice response.
 
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shadyJ said:
If I were you, I would try to stretch the budget a bit go for a pair of Dayton 1200s, and place them in locations where you get the most even bass throughout the room. A single sub isn't likely to grant you a good frequency response, no matter what kind of sub you get. Multiple sub setups can go a lot further in getting you a nice response.
Click to expand...
Thanks but I'm not interested in having 2 subs. No room for that.
 

It’s hard to get a handle on your budget. You floated a figure of $250, but some of the subs in your list cost over $600.

That said, for the most satisfying movie experience you want at least a 12” sub that will get down to at least 25 Hz. There’s little good reason to get a sub that won’t get below 40 Hz if your main speakers will do that good.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt
 
WaynePflughaupt said:
It’s hard to get a handle on your budget. You floated a figure of $250, but some of the subs in your list cost over $600.

That said, for the most satisfying movie experience you want at least a 12” sub that will get down to at least 25 Hz. There’s little good reason to get a sub that won’t get below 40 Hz if your main speakers will do that good.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt
Click to expand...
Over $600? Which ones?

Note that most of the subs on that list are used. My budget is actually about $500, but I have to include shipping and taxes (I live in Israel) which would double the price of most subs.
 
SVS PB-1000(499 US) or Dayton 1500(can you return it if you don't like it?)
 
Israel, huh? Wonder whether BK Electronics ships there? If not, if the Dayton SUB-1500 is probably the best of your list.
 
I think I would have most experience to talk on the matter since very recently (a few months ago) I went thru same exercise with my friend from there. He was lucky to find some who wanted to sell his Sunfire HRS-12 sub - this one:http://www.hometheater.co.il/vt238263.html
Final price was 2750 nis with pickup from Akko

It know it's out of your $500 range, but Israel is no US. Most subs are around double their USA prices :(

In general in Israel market is very limited and finding good cheap sub is very challenging - practically on oxymoron.
Custom Importing is also expensive due to high import tax and dues.
Also Try to find this sub: JBL ES250PBK

Bottom line : You need to really patient. Out of your list probably Focal/JMLAB SW700 would be my pick. http://avforum.no/forum/tester-audio/48883-minitest-focal-jmlab-chorus-sw700.html
 
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afterlife2 said:
SVS PB-1000(499 US) or Dayton 1500(can you return it if you don't like it?)
Click to expand...
The SB-1000 is $850 with shipping and taxes. Apparently the Dayton only accepts 120V, so I can't use it. A transformer for such a device would be expensive because it has high watt peaks.

What about the old models I listed?

By the way, models that are sold in Europe should work with the electricity in my country. So Amazon.de is a possible source, or any European website really.
 
rojo said:
Israel, huh? Wonder whether BK Electronics ships there? If not, if the Dayton SUB-1500 is probably the best of your list.
Click to expand...
BK Electronics may not ship here but I can use a courier. It's usually cheaper than most websites' own shipping methods.

BoredSysAdmin, I have been following the hometheater.co.il used subforum for a while. Many of the models I've listed are from there.

Subs are actually 3-4 times their US price over here. For example, a new Klipsch R-12SW is $1152, while it's just $375 on Amazon.com, and often on sale for $200 - or so I've heard. I do not plan to buy locally from a retailer, but only used. Or import a sub on my own, as I often do with anything but clothes.

The SW700 only goes to 36hz, so far from ideal for movies.
 
Last edited:
BoredSysAdmin said:
I think I would have most experience to talk on the matter since very recently (a few months ago) I went thru same exercise with my friend from there. He was lucky to find some who wanted to sell his Sunfire HRS-12 sub - this one:http://www.hometheater.co.il/vt238263.html
Final price was 2750 nis with pickup from Akko

It know it's out of your $500 range, but Israel is no US. Most subs are around double their USA prices :(

In general in Israel market is very limited and finding good cheap sub is very challenging - practically on oxymoron.
Custom Importing is also expensive due to high import tax and dues.
Also Try to find this sub: JBL ES250PBK

Bottom line : You need to really patient. Out of your list probably Focal/JMLAB SW700 would be my pick. http://avforum.no/forum/tester-audio/48883-minitest-focal-jmlab-chorus-sw700.html
Click to expand...
I found this on Amazon.de:
JBL ES250PW. It looks like the same sub but with wireless support. $530 total price, shipping and tax included. Is it better than a BIC PL-200, for example?
 
OK. I contacted a guy who sells a used Klipsch R-12SW. He won't lower the price at all. It's $490. He says there's still warranty for another 2.5 years and he paid twice that for the sub.

Another option: new from Amazon.de - Yamaha NS-SW300. Claims to go down to 20hz.

The Monoprice 9723, recommended in the above linked article, is only 120V. So I can't use it.
 
Klipsch R12SW is well liked. Have you checked ebay as well?
 
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afterlife2 said:
Klipsch R12SW is well liked. Have you checked ebay as well?
Click to expand...
Checked for an R-12SW, it's $470 before taxes so better to buy locally.
Any idea how the R-12SW compares with others in its price range?
It seems to only go down to $29hz, but the BIC PL-200 claims 25hz but I've seen a video that says it's still loud even at 10hz (but is not flat).
 
I've checked the thread, it makes making a choice much harder. :P
I'm just afraid of shelling out $500 on a sub, without having the option to return it, just to find out it doesn't do what I expected it to.

Maybe I'll go and have a listen to the Klipsch. Any chance it actually goes lower than the listed frequency response?
 
Why don't you buy it and take it home I doubt going to hear it in a store will let you know. Hopefully there is a return policy If you don't like it. In the thread I sent you they seemed to like that 12SW. It goes on sale once in a while.
 
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