Sealed Subs

[WRG]

Is anyone running Harbottle subs?

 

[TLS Guy]

Is anyone running Harbottle subs?

No, but I just looked on their website, and they seem to make very small sealed subs, which is not a good idea for a start. The look like a boutique brand to me, and I see nothing that would encourage me to recommend them.

 

[WRG]

Looking for 2 end game subs. Any recommendations?

 

[TLS Guy]

Looking for 2 end game subs. Any recommendations?

How much do you want to spend and what are your specifications?

 

[lovinthehd]

Harbottle is often considered one of the best. Might also look at JTR/RTJ, Perlisten, etc.

 

[kini]

Looking for 2 end game subs. Any recommendations?

Subwoofers

Funk Audio's Finest Subwoofers

www.funkaudio.ca

 

[lovinthehd]

Subwoofers

Funk Audio's Finest Subwoofers

www.funkaudio.ca

Yeah and Harbottle and Funk work together, meant toi mention that.

 

[WRG]

Budget 10k + for multiple subs

 

[TLS Guy]

Budget 10k + for multiple subs

It would be really helpful if you would post dimensions and also pictures of your room. Knowing associated equipment would also be helpful. Good systems are integrated and have all pieces of equipment chosen with care, and not randomly picking items. So we can't really give you a good opinion without knowing a lot more about your situation.

 

[m. zillch]

When it comes to subs all using the same woofer size, multiple medium quality ones beat state of the art ones, plus the concept of potentially exciting the room from multiple, different locations instead of just one/two can potentially be a huge perk both in terms of sound quality and uniformity when heard from multiple seating positions.

 

[WRG]

Good point.
Marantz AV10
Parasound Halo 21 for mains Focal Aria 3
Emotivea 250 x5 for center sides and back Focal 302 center and sides 301 rears
Parasound for 4 ceiling speakers Focal F300ICA6 6.5" Angled In Ceiling Speaker

I have 2 older subs a JL audio Fathom 13 and a older Earth quake sub

The room is terrible but it is what I have. It is a multi purpose room with all the wrong opening size 31 x 15'5" 8' ceiling's several openings and windows.

Needles to say it is a difficult room to pressurize. I am open to ideas.

 

[WRG]

Good point.
Marantz AV10
Parasound Halo 21 for mains Focal Aria 3
Emotivea 250 x5 for center sides and back Focal 302 center and sides 301 rears
Parasound for 4 ceiling speakers Focal F300ICA6 6.5" Angled In Ceiling Speaker

I have 2 older subs a JL audio Fathom 13 and a older Earth quake sub

The room is terrible but it is what I have. It is a multi purpose room with all the wrong opening size 31 x 15'5" 8' ceiling's several openings and windows.

Needles to say it is a difficult room to pressurize. I am open to ideas.

 

[TLS Guy]

Good point.
Marantz AV10
Parasound Halo 21 for mains Focal Aria 3
Emotivea 250 x5 for center sides and back Focal 302 center and sides 301 rears
Parasound for 4 ceiling speakers Focal F300ICA6 6.5" Angled In Ceiling Speaker

I have 2 older subs a JL audio Fathom 13 and a older Earth quake sub

The room is terrible but it is what I have. It is a multi purpose room with all the wrong opening size 31 x 15'5" 8' ceiling's several openings and windows.

Needles to say it is a difficult room to pressurize. I am open to ideas.

It certainly would be. I would consider ported rather than a sealed sub and they are more efficient and couple better to the space.

That ceiling center is a pity and not the best arrangement. I suspect you would be better off with a phantom center, especially as you have very good mains.

My sub recommendation for you is this SVS sub, and it is well within budget. Their customer service is beyond reproach.

 

[WRG]

Thanks for the input.
Actually the 301 center sounds get. I prefer the sound of sealed subs. That's why I was looking at Harbottle, RBH,JTR. I would be running 2 to 4 subs.

 

[TLS Guy]

Thanks for the input.
Actually the 301 center sounds get. I prefer the sound of sealed subs. That's why I was looking at Harbottle, RBH,JTR. I would be running 2 to 4 subs.

Why do you prefer the sound of sealed subs? You have a big space and that is not the best way to go. Sealed subs are a brute force approach to reproduction and require huge amounts of power for the Eq, as natively they roll off an octave above the Fs of the driver. Smaller volume is their only advantage the rest is all negative.

 

[m. zillch]

SVS (the source of this quote) make both ported and sealed subs:

"Sealed subwoofers typically have a smaller overall cabinet size and footprint, allowing easier integration into the listening environment with minimal visual impact to the décor. The reason for this is sealed models rely on the natural acoustic suspension of the sealed enclosure to control the woofer’s motion, rather than needing extra internal volume and a tuned port to boost low-end output. This design trades off a bit of raw efficiency for tighter, more articulate bass and a much smaller footprint—perfect for rooms where space is at a premium or for setups where sleek, low-profile gear is the goal. Whether you’re squeezing one behind a sectional, under a desk, or into a minimalist home theater, sealed subs deliver deep, musical bass without the bulk, blending performance with lifestyle-friendly design.

Best for Critical Music Applications

A properly designed sealed subwoofer will typically exhibit less phase rotation, lower group delay, and reduced ringing in the time domain. Sealed cabinet subwoofers are generally more accurate in frequency response and better at rendering instrumentals in a convincing way. These characteristics make the sealed subwoofer a natural choice for critical music applications and are typically described by enthusiasts as sounding tighter and more articulate or musical, with less perceived overhang."

 

[WRG]

I listen to a lot of music and prefer the sound of sealed subs that I have listened to.
Also the size, I have a very crowded room. I need them to blend in as best they can into the room. It is a multi purpose room, not a dedicated theater. It's a hard balance or finding the best compromise.

 

[TLS Guy]

SVS (the source of this quote) make both ported and sealed subs:

"Sealed subwoofers typically have a smaller overall cabinet size and footprint, allowing easier integration into the listening environment with minimal visual impact to the décor. The reason for this is sealed models rely on the natural acoustic suspension of the sealed enclosure to control the woofer’s motion, rather than needing extra internal volume and a tuned port to boost low-end output. This design trades off a bit of raw efficiency for tighter, more articulate bass and a much smaller footprint—perfect for rooms where space is at a premium or for setups where sleek, low-profile gear is the goal. Whether you’re squeezing one behind a sectional, under a desk, or into a minimalist home theater, sealed subs deliver deep, musical bass without the bulk, blending performance with lifestyle-friendly design.

Best for Critical Music Applications

A properly designed sealed subwoofer will typically exhibit less phase rotation, lower group delay, and reduced ringing in the time domain. Sealed cabinet subwoofers are generally more accurate in frequency response and better at rendering instrumentals in a convincing way. These characteristics make the sealed subwoofer a natural choice for critical music applications and are typically described by enthusiasts as sounding tighter and more articulate or musical, with less perceived overhang."

That is because commercial subs are always extended bass designs, to play the my F3 is lower then yours. You certainly can design ported subs to have a very realistic and naturally tight bass. The best of all is a TL sub. They have a better and more natural bass then any other form of loading.

 

[lovinthehd]

Sealed main advantage is size. A good ported sub will sound just as good as a good sealed sub and think a lot of poorly executed ported subs created most of the bad rep. Like a lot of audio, sometimes old situations are portrayed as ongoing when they're generally solved. OTOH if you can handle multiple sealed subs I think you'll do fine generally. Might need more amp power and better eq, tho.