Subwoofer - $300

[blruggles]

Dear Group,
Am newcomer to the Forum and am hoping to get a some recommendations for a good subwoofer for MUSIC.

Current system is being upgraded and am replacing my original Athena Micra Speakers and subwoofer. They were ok for HT but lacked in the Music area.

Have replaced current speakers with BIC DV62CLR-S for Front and Center and 62si's for rears. Room is 13' x 19'. AM now very happy with the improvement of sound when playing Music. They image well, sound good to my ears and are pretty effiicent with my Yamaha HTR -5760 receiver. Our music taste is varied Rock, Jazz, Country and Light Classical and we do occasionally watch a DVD movie.

Budget for SUB is around $300, trying to get something not to BIG, would prefer 10" speaker size. Was looking at the Yamaha YST-SW315 10"? The specs seem to be there and the price seems reasonable.

Can anyone recommend on this Subwoofer?

TIA

 

[Matt34]

Welcome blruggles,

The BIC Acoustech H-100 is a decent sub for the money($240-250 shipped) and was designed with Dr. Hsu. There has been extensive user reviews and testing here so use the search feature and I think it will answer most of your questions regarding it's performance.

The HSU SFT-2 is just over your budget but would be better suited for music than the H-100.

Parts Express has a 10" Dayton "kit" that, I believe, is $350.

AV123.com has the X-sub which is an 8" sub that gets very good reviews and is a more compact design than the others I've mentioned, available at $200.

Check out the used market too, such as audiogon.com.

Hope this helps.

 

[no. 5]

I have a Yamaha 10" sub, it's alright; I'm not sad that I bought it, but it is going to be upgraded. it can't handle the size of my room, and it can't touch 20Hz.

As far as BIC subwoofers, the nonprofessional reviews I have read have been positive.

At this price range I don't think that there will be to much that will get you too close to 20Hz, and anything that will get to 20Hz will be not be small.

As far as recommendations, Matt34 listed a bunch of good ones, but I'd like to add; Dayton's sub-100 (part no. 300-633) and sub-120 (part no. 300-635), also from Parts Express. They are cheeper then the Titanic kit Matt referred to.
The outlaw Audio LFM-2, and Aperion Audio Intimus S8, may be things to give a look too.

 

[blruggles]

thanks for both of your input. I am kind of new to the new HT receivers with the SUB output. My Yamaha HTR-5760 has a single SUB output jack that I currently have connected to my Athena Sub.

In looking quickly at the Daytons I do not see a single input connector for this type of connection. Is this some a concern? Also is this "single" connection an uncommon connection? I see the LFM has this type of connector?

Do you know if the BIC HT has a single connector?

Thanks

 

[rexracer]

2nd on the HSU STF-2

I recently bought the STF-2, and I love it. I haven't been able to find a frequency responce graph for it, but it's rated at 25hz (-2db) Right now it's $319 direct. The STF-1 is $259 I think.

 

[jcPanny]

Onix X-sub

Check out the Onix X-sub from av123.com. It is $200 new + shipping. It should provide plenty of tight clean bass down to the 30 Hz range, perfect for music.

 

[thomas2717]

BIC H-100 does have a single LFE input! Hope this Helps.

 

[jonnythan]

thanks for both of your input. I am kind of new to the new HT receivers with the SUB output. My Yamaha HTR-5760 has a single SUB output jack that I currently have connected to my Athena Sub.

In looking quickly at the Daytons I do not see a single input connector for this type of connection. Is this some a concern? Also is this "single" connection an uncommon connection? I see the LFM has this type of connector?

Do you know if the BIC HT has a single connector?

Thanks

They do have a single RCA input connector.

Actually they have a dual RCA input connector - L and R. They're physically connected though, and it is expected that you will only plug into one of them.

 

[j_garcia]

It doesn't really make any difference if it has a single or dual input as mentioned, they are summed to mono anyway inside the sub. Some subs can have issues with the preamp output voltage from some receivers, causing them to shut off during use when there is a quiet passage. Using a Y splitter increases the voltage "seen" by the sub slightly and can help prevent this.

no.5 summed it up pretty well - 20Hz performance at $300 is going to be tough. The closest thing is really the SVS PB-10NSD and it is not in the price range nor is it small.

 

[Ron Temple]

Elemental Designs has the A2-300 which supposedly gets 20hz for $350 shipped (was $250 at it's intro price). They have a long waiting list, but I think they are starting to catch up.

Check them out...

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=750685

 

[speakerman39]

It doesn't really make any difference if it has a single or dual input as mentioned, they are summed to mono anyway inside the sub. Some subs can have issues with the preamp output voltage from some receivers, causing them to shut off during use when there is a quiet passage. Using a Y splitter increases the voltage "seen" by the sub slightly and can help prevent this.

no.5 summed it up pretty well - 20Hz performance at $300 is going to be tough. The closest thing is really the SVS PB-10NSD and it is not in the price range nor is it small.

As a very recent PB10-NSD owner I have to agree in that (1) the PB10 is NOT small and (2) it will cost more than $300. In fact, mine is a B-stock which sold for $389 and as always shipping and handling added another $40.10. However, imho even at regular price the PB10-NSD is truly a bargain. Still can't believe a 10" driver can pack such a wallop. Good advice there John.

 

[j_garcia]

I was always impressed with the PB-10 while I had mine. Every bit worth what you pay for it and then some

 

[annunaki]

If you don't mid getting your hands dirty you may want to check this out:

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&Partnumber=300-760

It would do very well for your application. It will match up with subs many times the price.

Speaking of the DIY route, A JL Audio 12W1v2-4 ($129 retail) with a 240 watt plate amp ($129 retail) in a 1.75-2.0ft^3 sealed enclosure would be very impressive for the money. Or a 2.25-2.5 ft^3 vented enclosure tuned to 28hz would be excellent. It would cost you $260 for the meat and potatoes portion of the project and figure another $40-$50 for materials and finishing. This would be a killer sub set up for the money.

 

[rexracer]

If you don't mid getting your hands dirty you may want to check this out:

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&Partnumber=300-760

It would do very well for your application. It will match up with subs many times the price.

Speaking of the DIY route, A JL Audio 12W1v2-4 ($129 retail) with a 240 watt plate amp ($129 retail) in a 1.75-2.0ft^3 sealed enclosure would be very impressive for the money. Or a 2.25-2.5 ft^3 vented enclosure tuned to 28hz would be excellent. It would cost you $260 for the meat and potatoes portion of the project and figure another $40-$50 for materials and finishing. This would be a killer sub set up for the money.

My question on that would be...will it perform better than my STF-2? I myself wouldn't want to put in the time and effort unless the finished product was superior.

 

[speakerman39]

I was always impressed with the PB-10 while I had mine. Every bit worth what you pay for it and then some

Yeah the PB10 is very impressive considering what I gave for it. I used to own a Mirage S12 and before that a Paradigm PS1000 v.4 10" sub and neither of these two are even close to the PB10 imho. Well, at least in my living room. The S12 was also impressive but not quite as articulate as the PB10 and the PS1000 v.4 well lets say it left much to be desired if you know what I mean. My Acoustic Research 8" powered subs mesh very well with the PB10.

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

My question on that would be...will it perform better than my STF-2? I myself wouldn't want to put in the time and effort unless the finished product was superior.

It would outperform you sub in a larger room. In a small room with moderate listening levels, I'd stick with the HSU.

 

[Maceo23]

AV123 has the ULW-10 B-Stock for $319. If you can live with the maple finish, thats a hell of a deal.

 

[annunaki]

I would be willing to bet the JL option would probably top the HSU if done correctly.