Subwoofer - Help

[berkdawg]

Hello- I am looking for help with my Acoustic Research s115 wiring and/or replacement.

Currently I have a Denon 1911 with Focal Chorus 700 series fronts and center. The AR115 is connected with the speaker wires but I am not sure if this is the best method. The bass is very boomy and does not add much to the listening experience. We listen to 75% music and enjoy a good action movie when the wife is away.

The listening room is rather large with no closures. The listening area is less than 12 feet away with a wall 10 feet to the right and the wall on the left is 20 feet and flows into a open space. The ceilings are to my disadvantage for a subwoofer also, slanting to 12 feet with wood floors.

The budget is up for debate. I might be able to slide a $600 budget but the wife really would like it to be less. I would like a great movie experience and an awesome music experience. (Dave Matthews)

I know I do not have the perfect situation so I do not want to spend a ton when my space will not allow me to gain all of the advantages but I want to improve where I am today.

Can I better integrate my current sub or what is the best choice for a upgrade?

Thanks for any input.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Your Acoustic Research s115 - I could not find much about it other than here:
Acoustic Research AR-S115PS 15" Subwoofer (Single in Black) - Compare Prices, customer and user reviews, Features, Accessories, Specifications

It seems it's really crappy sub from AudioVox (owner of AR)

there not many decent subs which could fill your space and I recommend you to save a bit and wait. you just missed most of cyber Monday sales - a Pair of EMP 1010 subs for $300 shipped each might have been a decent choice.

I suggest you to calculate total open space volume (not just the listening area) and give HSU a call. They are exceptional musical AND movie subs

or get HSU based Outlaw LFM-1 EX - I think it's still on sale today (last day)
https://www.outlawaudio.com/mofcart/TG2012T.html
This should be fine for large spaces like yours.

Or for really big bass:
https://www.chasehometheater.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=586&category_id=29&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=143&redirected=1&Itemid=143
and you'd need to add external amp like Behringer iNUKE NU3000DSP Power Amp | GuitarCenter

The DSP in model name indicates you have internal computer controlled dsp which would allow amp internal EQ to customize sub sound to your room
This combo is almost $300 over budget, but it's small price to pay for such extraordinary power.

 

[berkdawg]

Thanks for the response. I did find a SVS Model PC-12nsd for sale in Craiglist for $500. Would you consider this an option? Is $500 a good deal?

I have been looking at the LFM-1 EX and I have wondered if it will be lower in January like last years sales.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Thanks for the response. I did find a SVS Model PC-12nsd for sale in Craiglist for $500. Would you consider this an option? Is $500 a good deal?

I have been looking at the LFM-1 EX and I have wondered if it will be lower in January like last years sales.

PC/PB-12nsd are a bit cleaner and a bit better extension, but LFM-1 EX will have signification more output especially in "mid-bass" 31.5Hz and higher

I think SVS has a good warranty and $500 is ok deal (I'd try to lower it a bit - $400 sounds better for used sub), but before pulling the trigger give a call to SVS and see they think a single nsd sub is sufficient for your space (PC and PB are very close in performance)

 

[Steve81]

I think SVS has a good warranty and $500 is ok deal (I'd try to lower it a bit - $400 sounds better for used sub), but before pulling the trigger give a call to SVS and see they think a single nsd sub is sufficient for your space (PC and PB are very close in performance)

FWIW, I wouldn't expect a single PB/PC12-NSD to dominate such a large space; I could easily light up the limiter at -10dB from reference watching some bass heavy flicks in a 2500 cubic foot sealed space. OTOH, for $4-500, there's not exactly much that's going to deliver reference levels in a large open plan room, and if you're listening at more moderate levels, it would do the job just fine.

With respect to the warranty, only the newest models purchased within say, the last year or so have a 5 year transferable warranty. Models that were purchased before they brought out their bill of rights only have a 3 year transferable warranty.

 

[berkdawg]

I called Outlaw and they recommended the Plus because the room is not optimized so it should be be fine for our 75% music useage. He felt the EX-1 would not give enough benifit for the increase price. SVS recommneded the 12-plus series but this is well outside of my budget. SVS thought the used 12-NSD would work but it is 1/2 the sub of the plus.

Do you feel the LFM-1 Pro would be enough or do I beg for the bigger budget for the EX? I want a above average listening experience but it does not have to be the very best.

 

[Steve81]

SVS recommneded the 12-plus series but this is well outside of my budget. SVS thought the used 12-NSD would work but it is 1/2 the sub of the plus.

To clarify, when SVS says the PB12-NSD is half the sub of the Plus, in cold hard numbers that means it will deliver 6dB more output than the NSD across its operating range, which equates to twice the sound pressure. When you're talking about frequencies that you feel as well as hear, twice the pressure can be pretty significant.

I called Outlaw and they recommended the Plus because the room is not optimized so it should be be fine for our 75% music useage. He felt the EX-1 would not give enough benifit for the increase price....Do you feel the LFM-1 Pro would be enough or do I beg for the bigger budget for the EX? I want a above average listening experience but it does not have to be the very best.

A lot of it really depends on the output levels that you're looking for. Either of these subs will sound good at moderate to reasonably high levels (putting things into perspective, when I said I could light up the PC12-NSD's limiter at -10dB from reference, that's borderline uncomfortably loud for me). OTOH, if you're planning to push the limits and want to feel the bass as much as possible, go big.

 

[berkdawg]

Steve81 and Boredsysadmin

Thanks for your help. I have a LFM-1 Pro on the way.

Perhaps this is the incorrect forum but my next investment is rear surrounds. Any reasonable suggestions above the Bose 100s that grace my rear wall?

 

[Steve81]

Perhaps this is the incorrect forum but my next investment is rear surrounds. Any reasonable suggestions above the Bose 100s that grace my rear wall?

I'd probably just stick with Focals, either the SR 700 dedicated surrounds or a pair of 705 bookshelves. If nothing else, matching helps with the OCD factor