please help with match sub....

[ccheng187]

Hi all, im trying to upgrade my home theater with the svs pb12/2.
I heard somewhere in the forum,that the most importand element of HT is the sub, is that true?
IM currently trying to replace my sub of course, but im not quite happy with my reciever or speaker, so can i change the whole package with a sub?

 

[zumbo]

It's OK with me.

Question is a little odd, but I will try to help.

The sub doesn't have to be from the same company as the speakers.

There are package deals of all varieties. This can cut the cost down quiet a bit.

You may want to list your receiver. It may be better/worse than you think.

If you list a budget for the equipment needed, members will hit you with the best options at the moment. While I am a fan of having an awesome sub, you may not need to spend that much on one.

 

[Nick250]

Hi all, im trying to upgrade my home theater with the svs pb12/2.
I heard somewhere in the forum,that the most importand element of HT is the sub, is that true?
IM currently trying to replace my sub of course, but im not quite happy with my reciever or speaker, so can i change the whole package with a sub?

Receivers are very, very rarely responsible for poor sound quality. It's speaker choice and room acoustics that are responsible for sound quality almost aways.

Perhaps you can give us the size of your room in cubic feet, what speaker system you currently have and also a budget for the sub.

Nick

 

[ccheng187]

Im using the yamaha DTX-5000 filling in a 12f x 18f room. My budget for now is $800 thats why svs pb12/2 fits, but do i really need to spend that much $$$ on a sub??? cuz somewhere i heard that sub is overkill, if that is true, should i go for the svs pb12 and save some $$ and invest in a better speaker later on?
I dont know how good my yamaha speakers is but i do like the look of it and dont really want to change it for now since i only go it for a year.
LOL, im mean, my surround sound with a dvd play is $700 and the sub pb12/2is already $900, so upgrade the yamaha speaker is a must?
So my real question is, i want a standard something that make me feels like im in the theater but with my cheap speaker and a expensive sub can make my own gettoo theater?

 

[KC23]

The main speakers are widely regarded as the most important part of your HT system. I would put subwoofer second however.

Receiver is the best area to save money IMHO. A good used receiver is a great way to get started and save a lot of money. Once your system is put together you can upgrade. This is likely to be your least bang for the buck.

Speakers tend to go up in price over time. Receivers are pretty static and sometimes go down in price. The DVDs/TVs tend to go down over time. So if your building a system over time and on a strict budget, but want something really nice ... start with a good mid-range used receiver and then get a good pair of main speakers that suits your taste and pocket book.

Don't bother with the best buy/circuit city stuff you'll be playing the middle man and getting nearly half the quality system you could be getting. Internet direct is definately the best way to build a HT system IMHO. You save money and get high quality stuff.

Best to buy your mains speakers first and then your subwoofer.

If you're on a budget don't bother with a 7.1, which is very little bang for the buck. Stick with a 5.1, but make sure your receiver can do 7.1 when you can afford to do so (assuming you think you want to which often isn't the case for many people).

I bought a last generation receiver and power condictioner on the internet and saved about $400.

Then I bought my mains and saved $1,100 ... yes $1,100 and I feel the speakers I got are better than the one's I audictioned (bought Axiom M60s, was going to buy BW 703s).

Then I bought a $499 HSU 2.3 and in store ones that were near the same specs were about twice that ... another $500 saved.

In doing my homework I have easily saved $2,000. I will save some more with my surrounds and center. The TV I didn't save anything worth mentioning. Using an old cheap DVD still (waiting for HD with upconversion prices to come down).

By the time I'm done I'll have spent about $7,000 including the 50" plasma and have a very impressive HT set up. If I got it in the local stores it would be more like $10-11,000 system.

 

[markw]

What, exactly is the problem?

Hi all, im trying to upgrade my home theater with the svs pb12/2.
I heard somewhere in the forum,that the most importand element of HT is the sub, is that true?
IM currently trying to replace my sub of course, but im not quite happy with my reciever or speaker, so can i change the whole package with a sub?

Granted, a sub is responsible for that satisfying, gut wrenching, visceral feeling you get when a bomb goes off or a dinosaur stomps by, and the better the sub the better the effect. That,that sub WILL do.

But, (and this is a BIG but), if the rest of the speakers suck or are poorly placed in the room, it isn't going to do a dang thing to improve those problems. It will give you better deep bass, but the rest of the sound will be no better.

That's kinda like having a car that's only running on three cylinders and putting on expensive tires and wheels and expecting an improvement.

So, what exactly is the problem you're trying to fix?

 

[Davemcc]

When properly set-up, the sub is supposed to blend seamlessly into the mains so you can't hear the crossover between the sub and mains. By my thinking, if the mains aren't very good, the sub will simply have to be detuned almost to the point of impotence to make that blend, so an awesome sub is almost a waste in that case. If you plan on replacing the mains and receiver, then by all means, get a good sub that will perform on the level of equipment you expect to have. If you intend to keep cheaper mains, save the money and only get as much sub as you need to match them.

 

[ccheng187]

yeah, thats what exactly what im doing, putting sucky $300 6.1 speaker with a awsome sub,like i said, ill probly upgrade it latter and i dont want the package deal cuz i want big mains later on.
As for now i guess ill have to decide on svs pb12 nds or nds/2.
Should i get the nds/2 $900 or just nds $600 and save some money on better speakers?
Will they have a big differece between those two subs? i like the triple Multiple tuning point on the nds/2, it seems like it will blow the nds out.

MY real question is, i have a rca sub out on the reciever will any of the reciever have rca connection?

Will i be missing anything if i dont use any other connection on the sub?
like the red and black knot, dont know what are they for.

 

[markw]

If you're still running the yammie speakers that came with the HTIB, you'll want to replace them as well. If not, all you'll get is BOOM THUD MUFFLE BOOM rom the sub while your mains just whimper.

 

[Davemcc]

If you are going to upgrade the speakers later, get the most sub you can now. The nominal difference between one or the other now could save you a costly upgrade/replacement later.

 

[AVRat]

Save some cash, go with the SVS PB12-NSD. It will be more than adequate for your space. For most people, including yourself, the RCA connection is the best option letting the receiver handle the bass management duties.

 

[mtrycrafts]

...If not, all you'll get is BOOM THUD MUFFLE BOOM rom the sub while your mains just whimper.

Oh, you are killing me, LOL. Just what I needed.

 

[ccheng187]

ok, now im kinda confuse. So getting better speakers only will give me higher volum? so my sub can blend into it?
Thats why i dont mind about speakers cuz i dont know much about them and i cant really tell the differece but what do i know, i never had a chance to listen to a expensive HT.
When it comes to sub, i can hear the difference, deep low bass baby.
So what do i really get out of a good pair of speakers?
Clearer and louder?

For what i have now, when watching a movie with just diolog/people taking, im talking about no boom from the sub and surround, just the center channel , it seems like im not using a surround sound because it sound like something coming out of a small speakers.
So what im trying to say is, I want somthing that sounds big even is from just the center channel.
Can that happen?

 

[markw]

You've just answered your own question.

So what do i really get out of a good pair of speakers?
Clearer and louder?

Aa I tried to say before, if everythng else if fine and all you want to improve is that deep low end then a sub is exactly what you want. but, if you have problems with sounds in other areas (like muffled dialog among other things) then a sub won't do a dang thing.

Remember, a subwoofer only works from 80 hz down. The other speakers handle the rest of the range from 80 hz up to around 15 - 20,000 hz.

Now, reconsider your needs before spending your money.

 

[Resident Loser]

Maybe...

...So what do i really get out of a good pair of speakers? Clearer and louder?...

...you will find you don't really need (at least right now) a subwoofer....Larger speakers should provide better bass extension than the average HTIB inclusions...and that may be enough to provide some sonic satisfaction...

Then, of course, you have to consider the fact that the power output levels of your HTIB receiver may not be sufficient to support anything other than the loudpeakers that came in-the-box...Too few Watts or speakers with badly mismatched impedance ratings may do more harm than good...

Another thing to consider is how your current speaks are connected to your receiver...do they use standard connectors or some sort of proprietary thingies that some mfrs. use to "simplify" their hookup?

Not trying to scare you off, and while this ain't hardly rocket-science or brain surgery, there are things to take into consideration.

Go to audio shops...listen...ask questions...listen...read...visit sites like this one and ask more questions...We all started at square-one and remember there are no stupid questions...

jimHJJ(...only stupid answers)

 

[jonnythan]

I'm going to go against the grain here and say that I think the center channel is by far the most important speaker in a home theater. I'm quite surprised some people are saying the mains.

Upgrading your speakers will give you a *huge* difference in audio detail and clarity. It's not a matter of volume. Everything will sound far more natural.

Subs are very important, but to me they definitely take a back seat to the front sound stage. I'd suggest you upgrade your front three speakers first, then upgrade your sub, then upgrade your surround speakers.

 

[Nick250]

I'm going to go against the grain here and say that I think the center channel is by far the most important speaker in a home theater. I'm quite surprised some people are saying the mains.

Upgrading your speakers will give you a *huge* difference in audio detail and clarity. It's not a matter of volume. Everything will sound far more natural.

Subs are very important, but to me they definitely take a back seat to the front sound stage. I'd suggest you upgrade your front three speakers first, then upgrade your sub, then upgrade your surround speakers.

I agree with absolutely every thing in your post except one can always use a phantom center while you save up for a center and surrounds. That puts in the best fronts one can afford camp.

 

[Nick250]

I'm going to go against the grain here and say that I think the center channel is by far the most important speaker in a home theater. I'm quite surprised some people are saying the mains.

Upgrading your speakers will give you a *huge* difference in audio detail and clarity. It's not a matter of volume. Everything will sound far more natural.

Subs are very important, but to me they definitely take a back seat to the front sound stage. I'd suggest you upgrade your front three speakers first, then upgrade your sub, then upgrade your surround speakers.

I agree with absolutely every thing in your post except one can always use a phantom center while you save up for a center and surrounds.

 

[Nick250]

I'm going to go against the grain here and say that I think the center channel is by far the most important speaker in a home theater. I'm quite surprised some people are saying the mains.

Upgrading your speakers will give you a *huge* difference in audio detail and clarity. It's not a matter of volume. Everything will sound far more natural.

Subs are very important, but to me they definitely take a back seat to the front sound stage. I'd suggest you upgrade your front three speakers first, then upgrade your sub, then upgrade your surround speakers.

I agree with absolutely every thing in your post except one can always use a phantom center while you save up for a center and surrounds. Get the best two fronts one can, especially if you listen to much music. I will agree there is no absolutely right or wrong on this issue however.

Nick