Sub for 2.1 Setup

[toobryant]

I am building a 2.1 setup using my M&K S-5000THX's, I was wondering what would be a good sub to match with my M&K's? I am wanting to spend no more than $400 on the sub. Does anybody have any suggestions?

I also plan on buying another of the same sub later on to complete the system.

Thanks a lot for the help guys!

 

[SopRage]

You could get a Hsu STF-2 for that price. I haven't heard one myself, but Hsu Research makes well-respected subs. I have their VTF-2 MK3 and it's wonderful.

Elemental Designs also has the A2-300 for $415. Can't say much for or against it, but again, the company is well respected. Their return policy doesn't seem as generous, but this sub is a 12-inch instead of the Hsu's 10.

 

[toobryant]

I think I need to up my budget a little bit... I don't want to have to buy something else by not buying what I want in the first place...

Best sub for $700 or really close to that.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Whatever SVS has at that price...

I think I need to up my budget a little bit... I don't want to have to buy something else by not buying what I want in the first place...

Best sub for $700 or really close to that.

 

[toobryant]

Whatever SVS has at that price...

Haha, I will do some research. Thanks

Im not totally against building a kit... anybody know of a good kit I could build, but only if it would be a better value for my money.

 

[annunaki]

1.5ft" sealed enclosure with a JL Audio 8W7. Add a touch of eq around 30hz or so and you would have an impressive music sub. It would compete easily or surpass most standard designed 12" sealed subs.

 

[SopRage]

Hsu VTF-3 MK3 - $729 on sale now!

 

[skizzerflake]

You could get a Hsu STF-2 for that price. I haven't heard one myself, but Hsu Research makes well-respected subs. I have their VTF-2 MK3 and it's wonderful......

I have a Hsu STF-2 and I really like it. In a small room, it really rocks the place and has solid bottom down to about 26 hz. My only objection to it is that it tries to walk around the room. A big FX movie makes it practically lift off during big booms. I had to fix that by inventing a wooden thing with rubber lined holes for the spikes to keep them constrained.

 

[toobryant]

Hsu VTF-3 MK3 - $729 on sale now!

I was looking at that one... how does the SVS PB12-NSD compare?

 

[Tungsten06GT]

I think I need to up my budget a little bit... I don't want to have to buy something else by not buying what I want in the first place...

Best sub for $700 or really close to that.

Elemental Design's A5-350, 15" ported sub, on sale $715:
http://www.edesignaudio.com/product_info.php?cPath=2_41&products_id=618

Orrr... if you're up for building, check out their 18" vented kit ($700):
http://www.edesignaudio.com/product_info.php?cPath=2_136&products_id=907

I'm actually in the process of building this kit:
http://www.edesignaudio.com/product_info.php?cPath=2_136&products_id=849

And I've owned the A3-300, which rocked, but I too needed more once I got used to the single 12". So, I say if you want the power just to know it's there and NEVER have to worry about upgrading, go big first time, cause you'll always be thinking "what if."

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Save up for 6 more weeks, as the PB12-Plus gets back in-stock, get it and be done.

Email SVS and ask to see comparative data on it and whatever other sub you are considering. If any 3rd party data is out there on the other sub, they will tell you were to find it.

I was looking at that one... how does the SVS PB12-NSD compare?

 

[SopRage]

I was looking at that one... how does the SVS PB12-NSD compare?

I looked into both subs recently.

The PB12-NSD is far less linear than the VTF-3; the VTF-3 is ruler-flat down to around 22hz while the PB12 begins to roll off around 50hz. That said, the PB12 is also capable of playing marginally louder at pre-determined distortion limits (the CEA-2010 standard) according to the Ilkka tests, and much louder below 20hz. That is, again, at the expense of linearity. It's also worth noting that if you run the VTF-3 in maximum output mode (which most do), you get twice as much port area as the PB12. How much difference all these things make in practice I cannot tell you.

The PB12-Plus may indeed be a better sub as ParadigmDawg suggests. I could not find third-party data on it anywhere. Certainly it's prettier than the VTF-3, and it does have room-size compensation and a variable phase knob. Whether it is worth $500 more than the Hsu I can't say.

To be honest, since you've raised your budget to $700, anything you buy from eD, SVS, Hsu, or Epik is going to be a great choice.