Noob needs help choosing small sub!

[vettefan77]

OK - here's the deal:

room = 2000 cu. ft (14x18x8), open to hall & dining room

budget = flexible

size wanted = 10 in. with small'ish footprint

purpose = movies only

local options:
- NHT SW2p w/SA2 amp for $225
- Klipsch RW-12 for $300
- Infinity PS-10 for $300
- RBH MS-8.1 for $150

considerations:
- HSU VTF-1
- SVS PB10-NSD
- Velodyne MiniVee

The velodyne obviously gets the small footprint award, but this is all new to me. The HSU & SVS subs have a lot of good reviews, but they arent very small either. I

Suggestions??!

 

[shadyJ]

Of those, the I'm guessing the SVS PB10 will hit the hardest for movies. It will also be the largest. Second to that would be the Hsu. I think, in your budget and for your purposes, you might take a look at the Epik Legend. Also give the Emotiva Ultra Sub 12 a look, and the Elemental Designs A5s-300, A3-250, and A2-300. You might also consider the Outlaw Audio LFM-1 Plus, which has a nice sale right now, it's not a small subwoofer but it will have the most output, and comes with a free wireless adapter while on the current sale.

 

[just-some-guy]

what are your performance expectations for this sub ?

 

[sholling]

If you have a 2000cuft room that's open to a kitchen and hall then you're probably looking at closer to 3000-4000cuft. If my guess is correct then IMO that's too much for any of those choices. I'd save up for a more substantial subwoofer.

 

[vettefan77]

the openings are relatively small...4 x 8 into the dining room, and 3 x 8 into the hallway...our apartment layout is long and rectangular with a concrete floor underneath it all. We want just enough for good clean movie sound, and not quite enough to annoy our neighbors.

As for performance specs...we dont want anything thats going to require a million watts to sound good. something 4-500 watts or less would be nice...something a decent amp can fully exploit without shelling out tons of cash for a Krell or something crazy. The NHT looked like a great bargain to us, but again we arent sure how times have changed and if its been outdone by now.

 

[GranteedEV]

A pair of Emotiva Ultra sub 12s

 

[sholling]

the openings are relatively small...4 x 8 into the dining room, and 3 x 8 into the hallway...our apartment layout is long and rectangular with a concrete floor underneath it all. We want just enough for good clean movie sound, and not quite enough to annoy our neighbors.

As for performance specs...we dont want anything thats going to require a million watts to sound good. something 4-500 watts or less would be nice...something a decent amp can fully exploit without shelling out tons of cash for a Krell or something crazy. The NHT looked like a great bargain to us, but again we arent sure how times have changed and if its been outdone by now.

Those openings still count. I'd probably go with a side firing Hsu Research VTF-3 MK3 which is on sale right now. I would just be careful not to put it near a shared wall. You could always use it as an end table if that helps with placement. It's always easier to turn a sub down when the neighbors get home than it is to turn one up beyond what it's capable of putting out.