Opinions on sub selection

Halon451

Halon451

Audioholic Samurai
Okay, here are my choices for a new sub, HT application - mostly movies, some music, fairly large, open room; my only requirements for a sub are as follows:

- Good flat response down to 20Hz or lower
- Powerful enough to add lots of impact to my movies, capable of sustaining power in the 50-60 Hz range (kick)
- Capable of blending well with the rest of my system (soon to be AV123 line)
- Cannot be ridiculously large or overbearing (WAF)

Here are my choices:

- Epik Knight sub
- SVS PB-12NSD or NSD/2
- Outlaw LFM-1EX
- Axiom EP350 v3
- Hsu VTF 2 or 3 MK3

Any other suggestions more than welcome.

This will be my first REAL sub purchase, so I would like to get it right the first time! :)

Thanks in advance!
 
S

sddt

Audioholic
If you're concerned about size that NSD/2 is a monster, but its hard to beat for the price! Its about 2.5ft deep by 2ft tall by 1.5ft wide...
 
annunaki

annunaki

Moderator
None of the subs listed are small. I would be willing to bet that they all have poor WAF if your wife were to see them up close. My wife about flipped when she saw the size of the SVS PB-12 Ultra. She has grown used to it though as it serves as an end table.
 
Gimpy Ric

Gimpy Ric

Moderator
Okay, here are my choices for a new sub, HT application - mostly movies, some music, fairly large, open room; my only requirements for a sub are as follows:

- Good flat response down to 20Hz or lower
- Powerful enough to add lots of impact to my movies, capable of sustaining power in the 50-60 Hz range (kick)
- Capable of blending well with the rest of my system (soon to be AV123 line)
- Cannot be ridiculously large or overbearing (WAF)!
Give this system a 30 day try. 2 SEALED 12's with a killer amp. Auto room calibration, and much much more. Sealed subs give you much punchier bass. http://www.Emotiva.com

 
Halon451

Halon451

Audioholic Samurai
I guess as far as size is concerned, I'm aware that these subs are already pretty big. I'm basically planning to grab my 'you-know-whats' and deal out the apologies after the thing arrives. She'll get used to it I'm sure, but any larger, and I would be out of a home, and me and my new subwoofer would be looking for a place to crash. Or at the very least, I would be sleeping on the couch for a while, keeping it company.

What about the SVS PB-NSD? Oh, I really was drawn to that Emotiva dual sub, external amp system too. That just looks darn sweet.
 
annunaki

annunaki

Moderator
The emotiva setup looks to be really nice. I can't wait til Audioholics can review it.
 
no. 5

no. 5

Audioholic Field Marshall
my only requirements for a sub are as follows:

- Good flat response down to 20Hz or lower
If you want flattish in room response to 20Hz, you will need acoustic treatments and or a parametric EQ.

A good sub will get you to 20Hz, but the room will be an impediment to a flat response.
 
C

cbraver

Audioholic Chief
MSRP is like 2200 for the True Sub Signature EQ, but I think they go for around 1600-1700 bucks? You'll certainly talk a dealer down in price below the 2000 mark though. Not sure what your budget is, but this subwoofer would keep you (and your wife) happy for years to come. I have logged many hours on my Sunfire True Subs (the model that came before the EQ'd one) and they still impress me.

You can place it by ear in locations your wife is okay with, choose the best and then let the EQ take care of the rest. If during parties/family-stuff at your house the wife wants it completely hidden, you can hide it behind the couch or something, grab the mic and re-EQ it for it's new hidden location. Honestly though, it's so small I doubt your wife will mind it in it's optimum location for the room. She might mind the output though ;) Watch U571 for a good time!
 
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Halon451

Halon451

Audioholic Samurai
1.7K or higher is a bit outside my acceptable range, to say the least. Let me just say that the WAF isn't only concerned with aesthetics, as it takes into account prices too! :)

Still for the EQ capability, regardless of price it's worth a consider. It would be a while before I could save up the dough.

Wow... that's all I can say. That's an amazing piece of equipment.
 
C

cbraver

Audioholic Chief
Yeah, 20Hz is generally expensive though. There is also the Sunfire True Sub EQ (non-Signature model). It's even smaller, 11" x 11" ... and less expensive. I think they sell for 1200 or something. I haven't specifically heard that model though, but based on my experience with other Sunfire subs I'd say it is no slouch. Sunfire states 18 Hz to 100 Hz (+0, -3 dB) for the frequency response. Might be something to demo. The Sunfire Junior I have heard, and think it's a great little sub, but it's frequency response doesn't meet your 20Hz requirement.
 
AcuDefTechGuy

AcuDefTechGuy

Audioholic Jedi
Epik Knight:

Price: $599 – Textured black
Enclosure dimensions: 26H x 18W x 26D inches (27D with grill)
Port: Patented 6 inch flared design
Driver: Custom 15 inch high excursion design
Amplifier: Custom 350 watt RMS BASH amplifier
Cabinet: Triple-internally braced, dual thickness baffle super-refined MDF
Warranty: 7 years on driver, 2 years on electronics

For $600, I don't think you will beat this beast!

So I will vote for the Epik Knight.
 
Gimpy Ric

Gimpy Ric

Moderator
1.7K or higher is a bit outside my acceptable range, to say the least. Let me just say that the WAF isn't only concerned with aesthetics, as it takes into account prices too! :)

Still for the EQ capability, regardless of price it's worth a consider.
Did you go to Emotiva and read up on the amp for the 2 sealed 12's?

FROM EMOTIVA WEBSITE:

DSA-1 amplifier

* Super efficient 600 wrms/ 800 watt peak class D amplifier stage
* 24 Bit DSP front end with digital based dynamics processing
* Proprietary EMOQ Auto Room correction
* Dual Mode operation (Movie and Music)
* Digital variable low pass crossover with selectable 12 or 24db/octave slopes
* Digital variable “True Phase” control (0-360)
* Manual/ Auto sensing / 12 volt trigger
* Movie mode trigger

Additional Notes

* Calibration Microphone included
* Milled terminal cup with integrated milled aluminum plate
* 6mm milled aluminum front baffle plate
* Magnetically mounted low diffraction grill
* Non-reflective black satin lacquer finish
* Frequency response: 20-200hz +/-2db
 
Halon451

Halon451

Audioholic Samurai
Did you go to Emotiva and read up on the amp for the 2 sealed 12's?
I did, and I'm definitely still considering - for the price that looks like one great setup - and I love the little blue lights on the amp! :D

All kidding aside - it's rather tough to ignore all that hardware and the impact it would add to my system. $999 for the whole shebang is not a bad deal. Is that thing rack-mountable as well? It looks like it from the picture.
 
G

Gasman

Senior Audioholic
Where in Florida?
You could demo my VTF3.2, if you are close.;)

If you like it, it could be up for sale. It still has the plastic on it, (Piano Black edition)

Or just check it out, for general size and sound of HSU.:)
 
Halon451

Halon451

Audioholic Samurai
Gasman - where exactly is a hop, skip and a jump from Stratman? I can't find that anywhere on the Florida map! :D:D
 
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