One 15" or Two 12"?

[timoteo]

I have an option to get either:

one Earthquake MKVI-15 for $1350 (MSRP $2999)
or
two Earthquake MiniMe P12s for $1050 (MSRP $3000)

My livingroom is 315sqft & opens up to a gameroom that is 400sqft. I use my system for Movies60% TV/Music40%. I currently have two 10" subs as you can see listed in red below. You can see pics in the members system galleries. If anyone has experience with any of these id love some feedback. Or if there is a rule of thumb to whether two12s or one15 is better or pros/cons.

Thanks guys!!

 

[zumbo]

two-12

 

[timoteo]

ok cool, could you explain why you feel that 2-12"s would be better? I do know that i would have more flexibility with placement & prob be able to get a better in-room bass response. but would the 15" go lower? which would you think gets more SPLs?

Ive read that the MKVI-15 is quite the beast. some guys have purchased 2 & returned the 2nd because it was just too much bass. I dont think there is such a thing

My concern is that it seems the MiniMe line is a step down from the Supernova line. But with an MSRP of $1500ea for the P12 its gotta be a pretty decent sub. Anyways! any more feedback is very welcomed, its a good pile of cash to spend for me & would like to know as much as possible b4 making a purchase.

Thanks again!

 

[jamie2112]

I'm a fan of 12's because alot of times they are much "tighter" sounding than the 15.I am sure the Earthquakes are sick and I have only heard the 12 which I thought was punchy and very tight yet smooth.Just my 2 cents.........

 

[zumbo]

I'm a fan of 12's because alot of times they are much "tighter" sounding than the 15.I am sure the Earthquakes are sick and I have only heard the 12 which I thought was punchy and very tight yet smooth.Just my 2 cents.........

That is the answer I want to give, but fear all the @holes will drop in and start slamming my opinion again.

So, I will just keep it simple.

I have not researched Earthquake.

I like 12's.

I prefer 13's.

One is better than two.

Sealed is better than ported.

These are my opinions, and have nothing to do with technical data, design flaws, quality of drivers, build quality, or price.

 

[TLS Guy]

This is simple to work out. The one with the lowest F3 scores a point. Two subs will not lower F3.

The more important issue is spl between say 25 and 30 Hz. One sub you can get from the spec. For two twelves add 3db to the spl for one if they are apart add 6db if they are side by side.

Then you can make your choice. The size of the driver has nothing to do with quality at all. The issue is T/S parameters and especially Q total. The size of the driver does not a enter into it directly, although bigger drivers tend to be heavier and have lower Fs. The driver Fs largely determines F3 of a ported enclosure, but it will be significantly higher for a sealed enclosure without Eq.

 

[timoteo]

This is the sort of info im looking for. I like hearing both sides of the coin, personal preferences & the cut'n'dry numbers. Some guys buy equipment based on specs alone, but I'm a believer in things like synergy between products.

Obviously yours ears have to be the decider & unfortunately I wont be able to hear either of the subs that I am considering. The company I work for has an account with an audio wholesaler & I can choose between some products at 60%off MSRP.

I recently demoed both the HSU ULS-15 & the VTF-15H. Both of them were outstanding & had me sold on getting a 15" sub. However i really like having 2 subs to dial in, specially now that I got the new Yamaha RX-A200 with dual sub outs. So now I'm leaning toward 2 of the P12s...At least I have some time to think about it.

Keep the responses comin I really appreciate it!!

 

[Matt34]

It's hard to find any real data on either sub but I did find this review by hometheaterhifi for the 15.

I was able to obtain a maximum output (measured 1 foot from the passive radiator) of 110 dB at 15 Hz, and 115 dB at 20 Hz

At 20 Hz and 100 dB output, THD+N was a little less than 6%, which is terrific performance.

http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/subwoofers-products-menu-column1-41/598-earthquake-supernova-mkvi-subwoofer.html?start=3

 

[billy p]

It's hard to find any real data on either sub but I did find this review by hometheaterhifi for the 15.






http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/subwoofers-products-menu-column1-41/598-earthquake-supernova-mkvi-subwoofer.html?start=3

Hum...I recall they were suppose to participate in current sub shootout before they got cold feet and threatened court action against any inclusion of numbers or data relating to their subs. I for one...wouldn't recommend them!

Just saying...

 

[ronnielee54]

This months Sound and Vision magazine has a pretty good article comparing a 4-8", 2-12", and 1-15" setup. For the most part, the judges prefered the 1-15" setup. I couldn't find it on their online site, but it is in the magazine.

 

[Matt34]

This months Sound and Vision magazine has a pretty good article comparing a 4-8", 2-12", and 1-15" setup. For the most part, the judges prefered the 1-15" setup. I couldn't find it on their online site, but it is in the magazine.

I'm in the position of choosing between multiples or a single monster sub myself. I've had it both ways but it doesn't make the choice any easier.

 

[KEW]

I have an option to get either:

one Earthquake MKVI-15 for $1350 (MSRP $2999)
or
two Earthquake MiniMe P12s for $1050 (MSRP $3000)

My livingroom is 315sqft & opens up to a gameroom that is 400sqft. I use my system for Movies60% TV/Music40%. I currently have two 10" subs as you can see listed in red below. You can see pics in the members system galleries. If anyone has experience with any of these id love some feedback. Or if there is a rule of thumb to whether two12s or one15 is better or pros/cons.

Thanks guys!!

I cannot address the particulars of those subs, but as a general rule, if both models are similar design using drivers of similar design, you can expect more SPL at lower frequency from the 15". Since you are mainly into movies, this may be important to you though I suspect the 12" Earthquakes have plenty of slam by most people's standards.

More relevant (especially to music) is the advantage of using 2 subs to help reduce the effects of nodes and nulls in your room (places where the waves and their reflections become additive or subtractive to either saturate or starve your room from bass at particular frequencies).
If your room dimensions are especially problematic, such as 24 X 12 X 12, you are really going to be fighting room issues and having two subs would be worth much to your Sound Quality. If WAF or other factors limit placement of the sub(s), you would hedge your bets by having 2.

Here is a pretty good video clip on this:
http://www.audioholics.com/news/trade-show-coverage/videos/thx-managing-bass-modes

 

[timoteo]

Thats funny I just got home from work & my wife says "you'll be happy to see you got something in the mail" then hands me the new S+V Mag & a new BD she ordered me. (BloodIntoWine a doc on Maynard from Tool & his wine bussiness) So Im pretty stoked right now to say the least.

Anyways, my room is 13.5' x 19.5' x 8' with an opening into the game room which is around 26' x 14' x 9'. so there is a decent amount of space to pressurize.

Here is another concern/question. Both models of the Earthquake im considering have passive radiators. "SLAPS" as they call it. The P12 is a 12" w/ 12" radiator & the MKVI-15 has a 15" w/ 15" radiator. From what i understand, the radiator kinda gives you the benifits of tight sound like a sealed yet a little more low end extension like a ported. So im liking the sound of that if im correct.

However, will the subs, having the radiator on the opposing side of the enclosure give it a kind of "dipole" effect? possibly helping out in placement issues by sending out bass in 2 directions?

Because ive only owned standard sealed & ported subs before im curious if i dont need to have 2 subs as much, if i get the 15" with the radiator....?

p.s: i do understand that the subs are not considered dipole with this configuration.

 

[timoteo]

Well after reading the article in S+V it was clear to me that 2 12" subs would be what need.

Ive gone ahead & purchased 2 of the Earthquake MiniMeP12 subs. The Piano finish on them is actually incredible. Im very impressed with the 7 layer finish. I got them on friday & set them both up front flanking my entertainment rack. I set the volume to 50%, ran YPAO & gave em a go. WOTW in DTS-HD was the first movie i tried on them. ABSOLUTELY EXPLOSIVE!! almost too much Then i tried some music....NOT IMPRESSED to say the least! There was no mid-bass & music sounded hollow & empty. I was getting BOOM for movies but not smooth, even, well balanced bass. So i spent the next 1.5 days movin them, turnin them, against the wall, away from the wall even stacked but just not getting a good sound & not blending well with my mains.

I ended up calling Earthquake to see if they recommend me return them to get just 1 of their Supernova 12 in place of the 2 MiniMe 12s. I actually spoke with the owner/designer & he gave me some great advice. He is a VERY cool guy & very down to earth & helpful.

So lastnight i set them up in a way i hadnt b4 PLUS i put them on top of my SubDudes (forgot to do that...duh!) reran YPAO &.......WOW what a difference. The placement was SOOOO critical with these subs. Maybe because of the passive radiators, i dont know, but just like ive always read placement was the key! Nice clean & tight bass with so much power when called upon. Very dialed.

Now i am in love with these things. They have a tiny footprint (about 15" cube) yet they extend down to 17hz. The foam surround on them is 1.25" wide & the Xmax is over 2.25". Now i need to go through all my movies because my livingroom actually gets pressurized now which is great!

Thanks guys for the tips & links, you always come up with great responses when i need em so thanks again its much appreciated!!

 

[just-some-guy]

Pics !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[lmyers]

How about one 12" and one 15"?

I have two DIY's - the 12" is a Dayton Titanic Mk III Sonosub, and the 15" a Tempest-X in a baltic birch box; both are tuned to 15 Hz... any way you go, 2 is always better than one, for a more balanced output.

 

[aggielaw]

Glad to see that worked out for you. Would love to see pics as well when you get a chance.

 

[timoteo]

OK sorry it took so long, been away!
Here are some pictures of my new Earthquake MiniMe P12 subs. Because I have been busy & havent watched many movies lately they are taking a while to fully break in. But they keep getting better & better. I actually have them a little closer to my towers than the pictures & turned them so both active drivers are front firing & the PRs are facing the back wall. I have them toed-in keeping the front stage in a curved alignment. Now music sounds great & movies are unreal. Well worth the money!
Hope you guys like how it looks!
Any suggestions or comments are welcome.

 

[timoteo]

UH OH no pics! I did something wrong sorry, let me figure it out & ill post them ASAP.

 

[timoteo]

File size on pics was too big, my bad!