I am in the need of a sub and see that Vanns has the Infinity SW-12 for $400. I have managed to find a few reviews here and there which seem to be positive. However, the reviewers dont give too many specifics if you know what I mean. That said, are there any members here that currently own or have owned this sub that could give more specifics in terms of musical vs. ht performance?? If so, please elighten me/us as to your experiences. My new room will be just a bit over 1000 ft. ^3 that is enclosed. My goal is to obtain a sub that offers tight, punchy, articulate bass on a budget. Most of the reviews I have read on the SW-12 claim it offers lots of tight, feel it in the chest bass. But, how is it with respect to extension?? Any info will be surely appreciated.

No, the SW-12 is not a good sub compared to ID subs like the PB10 and Hsu

I own an Infinity PS212 (Primus line instead of Beta, but almost identical specs) and the one thing it didn't do well was dig deep. Useable extension stopped in my small room a little above 25hz. On the other hand, the SVS PB10-NSD's I use now dig down to 16hz no problem in my room. They're also a couple notches up in sound quality. If you can get the Infinity for under $300, it's probably a good deal. It should be plenty of subwoofer for your small room as far as output is concerned. But if you want a sub that can dig deep and reproduce some of the infrasonic effects that make movies so engaging, I'd look elsewhere. Just my two cents.

I currently own an SW-12. I've been using it on my computer (with some Monitor Audio RS-1's) for quite a while now. For gaming and music it works great and can easily over power my RS-1's. For intense movie listening, it, just like any other inexpensive sub (pb10 and hsu mentioned above) will not cut it. That's why I'm upgrading to dual 15's and more than a kilowatt of power.

My SW-12 was used as a foot rest, placed in a pretty big room (over 4000ft^3), but would still do a good job with music in that large of a room with those fairly small bookshelfs. I had a Klipsch Sub-12 before the SW-12 but it was too big to use as a footrest with my computer. The Sub-12 had better performance below 30hz.

No, the SW-12 is not a good sub compared to ID subs like the PB10 and Hsu

As a former owner of a PB10-NSD AND PB12-NSD would you mind to elaborate a bit more as to why you feel the SW-12 is not up to par? To be honest, the PB10-NSD nor the PB12-NSD did not impress me too much musically speaking. However, for ht they both were excellent. Have you done a direct A/B comparison or are you just speculating?

I own an Infinity PS212 (Primus line instead of Beta, but almost identical specs) and the one thing it didn't do well was dig deep. Useable extension stopped in my small room a little above 25hz. On the other hand, the SVS PB10-NSD's I use now dig down to 16hz no problem in my room. They're also a couple notches up in sound quality. If you can get the Infinity for under $300, it's probably a good deal. It should be plenty of subwoofer for your small room as far as output is concerned. But if you want a sub that can dig deep and reproduce some of the infrasonic effects that make movies so engaging, I'd look elsewhere. Just my two cents.
I use to own a PB10-NSD and a PB12-NSD so I am very aware of what either of these two subs can do. However, I am not after a sub that digs to sub-sonic frequencies NOR am I needing a high SPL sub. Rather, I prefer a tight, accurate, and punchy bass-line that has distinctness in the transient response. Moreoever, as long as I get decent extension for ht I will be happy but musicality is of the utmost importance. Unfortunately, the PB10-NSD or the PB12-NSD was not very musical at all. From what I have read on the SW-12 one thing stands out in the reviews and that it is punchy and tight musically speaking. I really could care less if the SW-12 does not play all the way down to 20 Hz. Have you heard the SW-12 or are you speculating based upon your experience with your PS212 sub?

I currently own an SW-12. I've been using it on my computer (with some Monitor Audio RS-1's) for quite a while now. For gaming and music it works great and can easily over power my RS-1's. For intense movie listening, it, just like any other inexpensive sub (pb10 and hsu mentioned above) will not cut it. That's why I'm upgrading to dual 15's and more than a kilowatt of power.

My SW-12 was used as a foot rest, placed in a pretty big room (over 4000ft^3), but would still do a good job with music in that large of a room with those fairly small bookshelfs. I had a Klipsch Sub-12 before the SW-12 but it was too big to use as a footrest with my computer. The Sub-12 had better performance below 30hz.

Very interesting-so how do you think the SW-12 would do in a much smaller room say of 1000 ft.^3 and practically fully enclosed? With that much power I am sure the SW-12 would easily pressurize the room but how would it perform mucially speaking AND would I be able to get decent extension for ht?

I use to own a PB10-NSD and a PB12-NSD so I am very aware of what either of these two subs can do. However, I am not after a sub that digs to sub-sonic frequencies NOR am I needing a high SPL sub. Rather, I prefer a tight, accurate, and punchy bass-line that has distinctness in the transient response. Moreoever, as long as I get decent extension for ht I will be happy but musicality is of the utmost importance. Unfortunately, the PB10-NSD or the PB12-NSD was not very musical at all. From what I have read on the SW-12 one thing stands out in the reviews and that it is punchy and tight musically speaking. I really could care less if the SW-12 does not play all the way down to 20 Hz. Have you heard the SW-12 or are you speculating based upon your experience with your PS212 sub?

Pretty much speculation. I'd acknowledge that the SW-12 should be better, but probably not overwhelmingly so. If you can stand to wait a couple months, the Epik Valor ($549) is a 15" sealed sub that got great scores for music from Craigsub, and the owners have tended to agree. I'd think about that one.

Another sub that you can get for pretty cheap and is supposed to be quite good musically speaking is the JBl L8400P. You can get that one for under $400 on Harman's eBay store (it's about $1100 MSRP).

Please note I haven't heard these subs personally, but many people that have used them think highly of them. Best of luck in your search.

Pretty much speculation. I'd acknowledge that the SW-12 should be better, but probably not overwhelmingly so. If you can stand to wait a couple months, the Epik Valor ($549) is a 15" sealed sub that got great scores for music from Craigsub, and the owners have tended to agree. I'd think about that one.

Another sub that you can get for pretty cheap and is supposed to be quite good musically speaking is the JBl L8400P. You can get that one for under $400 on Harman's eBay store (it's about $1100 MSRP).

Please note I haven't heard these subs personally, but many people that have used them think highly of them. Best of luck in your search.
Yeah I agree that the Valor would be plenty. However, not sure about the wait. I will look into the JBL. Thanks for the info. Have a great day.

Very interesting-so how do you think the SW-12 would do in a much smaller room say of 1000 ft.^3 and practically fully enclosed? With that much power I am sure the SW-12 would easily pressurize the room but how would it perform mucially speaking AND would I be able to get decent extension for ht?

Obviously, a smaller room will help with both extension and total output. However, where nearly every inexpensive sub fails is their enclosures are simply too small and improperly tuned for very accurate music reproduction (among other cost cutting things). For example, in Metallica - One, the double bass at ~4:20 isn't reproduced accurately enough. It bleeds together slightly. (I've yet to hear a commercial sub that does an excellent job with that song). With my Cerwin Vega towers, (single 12 each), they do a better job with the double bass/kick drum and other very fast transients. They're also in an enclosure roughly three times the size of the SW12. It's one of the songs I use to "audition" speakers to see what their capabilities are.

If you're really critical about your music, the DIY route is the way to go. Check out the Lambda drivers built by John J at www.aespeakers.com. Dual TD12x's would do wonders! Or even better, dual TD15x's, but he's not built up a supply of them yet. He will still build them if you order them.

As a former owner of a PB10-NSD AND PB12-NSD would you mind to elaborate a bit more as to why you feel the SW-12 is not up to par? To be honest, the PB10-NSD nor the PB12-NSD did not impress me too much musically speaking. However, for ht they both were excellent. Have you done a direct A/B comparison or are you just speculating?

No, I was just speculating. But I've heard of the PS212 before at BestBuy, it's a bit boomy, that's why I'm speculating that the PB10 would do better.

No, I was just speculating. But I've heard of the PS212 before at BestBuy, it's a bit boomy, that's why I'm speculating that the PB10 would do better.

Oh I assure you the PB10 but most all accounts is better than the PS212. Keep in mind that BB is not the most ideal place to demo a sub. To be honest I did not care for the PS212 either. Thanks for pointing that out as I am hoping to get some replies from members whom own or have owned the
SW-12. Maybe even one in which the PB10 was directly compared to the SW-12. Sure would be very helpful to say the least.

Any other members here own OR have owned OR at least had some experience with the Infinity SW-12??? If so, please post and tell us about your experience(s). Better yet, has anyone here ever been able to do an A/B direct comparison between the SW-12 and some other more common sub??? Lastly, has anyone even heard an SW-12??? :p:p

dear freak I do not have alot of post here but I do have a sw-12 I just got 2 weeks ago form vanns.Have not heard any of the internet subs.But I will say that I am happy with so far and the more it breaks in the better it sounds.I have a 1250cuft room and it pressures the room no problem.not boomy at all,great with music .And it goes deep but dont know how deep that is HOW DO YOU FIND OUT?vanns was great to deal with.for 400 dollars shipped its a very good deal for a 500 watt 12 in that sounds great at low spl or will rip things off the walls at high spls thanks green

As a former owner of a PB10-NSD AND PB12-NSD would you mind to elaborate a bit more as to why you feel the SW-12 is not up to par? To be honest, the PB10-NSD nor the PB12-NSD did not impress me too much musically speaking. However, for ht they both were excellent. Have you done a direct A/B comparison or are you just speculating?



You are not alone here, my thoughts are the same. I was not impressed with how the PB12 NSD sounded no matter what the configuration or setup for music. For HT it was plenty of fun however. Kick drums sounded delayed there was more slop and linger in the note than with other cheaper subs I've owned. Eagles greatest hits DTS-A was a great example for this, specifically the track new kid in town and hotel california which sound great in 2 channel and on a sub I would consider good for music like the ML abyss or REL.

I think when a lot of people come on this forum and praise all these internet direct subs which perform well for HT... I'm beginning to think they havent heard or owned any other subwoofers that were actually good with music. I will hopefully be able to audition a conquest sub in another fellow AVS'rs HT this weekend, maybe that will rekindle my interest in ID subs. sorry about the rant, going back to the question I have heard the SW-12 in a less than ideal environment and thought it was good for music, about on par with the energy 12.3 sub which i also thought was quite good considering the price.

You are not alone here, my thoughts are the same. I was not impressed with how the PB12 NSD sounded no matter what the configuration or setup for music. For HT it was plenty of fun however. Kick drums sounded delayed there was more slop and linger in the note than with other cheaper subs I've owned. Eagles greatest hits DTS-A was a great example for this, specifically the track new kid in town and hotel california which sound great in 2 channel and on a sub I would consider good for music like the ML abyss or REL.

Interesting that we BOTH nearly concluded the same thing. However, it is my understanding that the PB12-NSD has been improved greatly w/respect to musical performance. Like you said the PB12-NSD is a real winner when it comes to ht.

I think when a lot of people come on this forum and praise all these internet direct subs which perform well for HT... I'm beginning to think they havent heard or owned any other subwoofers that were actually good with music. I will hopefully be able to audition a conquest sub in another fellow AVS'rs HT this weekend, maybe that will rekindle my interest in ID subs. sorry about the rant, going back to the question I have heard the SW-12 in a less than ideal environment and thought it was good for music, about on par with the energy 12.3 sub which i also thought was quite good considering the price.
I used to own a Mirage S12 and just loved it. My neighbors at the time kept calling the police on me so I elected to get rid of it. Have regretted that decision every since. It was so musical yet packed a big punch for ht. Very tight, punchy, and articulate sounding. Anyways, how do you think the SW-12 would sound in my new room that is 706 ft. ^3? I am sure it will easily pressurize the room and by all accounts be good with music applications. But, what kind of extension do you think it would give me? I really don't need anything lower than mid 20's. Care to speculate?

it actually has been a few years since ive heard it... i wouldnt want to give the wrong impression, but I would say it is about as articulate as the mirage/energy. I rememeber it sounded quite good but I dont believe it would have the output of the larger ported sub like the mirage or the energy 12.3
extension was rolling off around 30hz, so certainly not as deep but I have always considered it a good sub for kick drum and music.

audiofreak

Most of the time I don't even read this section of the forums due to this type of response. When you ask for any advice here in the sub section all you get is fans of the ID brands saying theirs is better. Sometimes I think this section is more of a cult than a forum. I would bet that none of the people responding have even heard the SW-12, but theirs must be better. I had a PS-12 and was considering the SW-12 and the CSW-10 at one point and did hear the SW-12. It is a perfectly capable sub. The problem I saw with Infinity was not the sound,but the value. I mean they were overpriced at list. For $400 you are getting a good unit at a reasonable price. When I looked at it it was $799.00 at CC and like I said not worth it. I finally found a refurb CSW-10 at $429 and that is what I got. Don't be swayed by all the negative. This is normal in this section.

it actually has been a few years since ive heard it... i wouldnt want to give the wrong impression, but I would say it is about as articulate as the mirage/energy. I rememeber it sounded quite good but I dont believe it would have the output of the larger ported sub like the mirage or the energy 12.3
extension was rolling off around 30hz, so certainly not as deep but I have always considered it a good sub for kick drum and music.
Thanks, I appreciate your honesty. It sounds like the SW-12 would not be a bad choice either way. Just have to figure out what works best for my application.

audiofreak

Most of the time I don't even read this section of the forums due to this type of response. When you ask for any advice here in the sub section all you get is fans of the ID brands saying theirs is better. Sometimes I think this section is more of a cult than a forum. I would bet that none of the people responding have even heard the SW-12, but theirs must be better. I had a PS-12 and was considering the SW-12 and the CSW-10 at one point and did hear the SW-12. It is a perfectly capable sub. The problem I saw with Infinity was not the sound,but the value. I mean they were overpriced at list. For $400 you are getting a good unit at a reasonable price. When I looked at it it was $799.00 at CC and like I said not worth it. I finally found a refurb CSW-10 at $429 and that is what I got. Don't be swayed by all the negative. This is normal in this section.
Very well spoken. I am convinced that the SW-12 would be at the very least good with tight, punchy bass that is well articulated. The SW-12 would easily pressurize my room with 500 watts rms of power. However, I am a bit concerned about extension for ht applications. Would like to at least get to the mid 20's and as such the SW-12 may not be able to get there.

25hz is about it for the SW12

I never had the SW-12 but I did have dual PS212 and one PS12. These subs are good for 25hz and above. I had the dual PS212 and was very happy with the upper bass but, was unhappy with the extension on these subs. That is why I went ahead and sold all three and bought dual HSU 3.3 with a MBM-12. Now I am in bass heaven:D. Dont get me wrong the infinity sub are very good but just wont give you the extension for HT.

25hz is about it for the SW12
Getting 25 Hz would be fine for me. Have you gotten to hear the SW-12? If so, can you compare it to anything else currently on the market? Any info would be most appreciated.

I never had the SW-12 but I did have dual PS212 and one PS12. These subs are good for 25hz and above. I had the dual PS212 and was very happy with the upper bass but, was unhappy with the extension on these subs. That is why I went ahead and sold all three and bought dual HSU 3.3 with a MBM-12. Now I am in bass heaven:D. Dont get me wrong the infinity sub are very good but just wont give you the extension for HT.
Yeah bori I remember you having (2) PS212's. With (2) 3.3's and the MBM-12 I am sure you are in bass heaven. Congrats on your choice.

I've had the pleasure of hearing the SW-12 in about 1300sqft room and for music was very impressive,tight and responsive and outperformed the Velo dps12 it was next to. Being a sealed design probobly not the best choice for dedicated HT but definately adequate for 50/50 system. It takes some big$$ or DIY to get usefull output below 25hz anyway. That price is about half MSRP so not a bad deal IMO.

I've had the pleasure of hearing the SW-12 in about 1300sqft room and for music was very impressive,tight and responsive and outperformed the Velo dps12 it was next to. Being a sealed design probobly not the best choice for dedicated HT but definately adequate for 50/50 system. It takes some big$$ or DIY to get usefull output below 25hz anyway. That price is about half MSRP so not a bad deal IMO.
Oh I am convinced the SW-12 is a decent sub. Most say it is very tight and punchy sounding. At $400 it is really not a bad deal if you ask me. Not convinced it will extend down to the mid 20's though which concerns me with respect to ht applications. I dunno yet but may give it a try. My new room is only 706 ft. ^3 with a flat ceiling and with 500 watts rms at my disposal would have to pack a punch. If I go this route I plan on getting a RABOS kit which cost $60 more to tame any major room peaks. Oh, this is what makes this hobby so much fun-the chase, the hunt, the thrill of finding the "right" fit for MY application.

My short take- I've had the SW-12 for 7mo's now. Wonderful sub, but i'm by no means an audiophile. When someone asks me about Hertz, I tell them to try Enterprise instead. Seriously, I really enjoy music and movies with this sub. My room is 24x17x9, and it fills the room well.

This sub will make a "pop" sound if it sits idle for a while and then a loud action scene occurs. It seems to have a stand-by mode. Someone suggested turning the sub gain down and turning the amp gain up to compensate. I've yet to try that.

My short take- I've had the SW-12 for 7mo's now. Wonderful sub, but i'm by no means an audiophile. When someone asks me about Hertz, I tell them to try Enterprise instead. Seriously, I really enjoy music and movies with this sub. My room is 24x17x9, and it fills the room well.

This sub will make a "pop" sound if it sits idle for a while and then a loud action scene occurs. It seems to have a stand-by mode. Someone suggested turning the sub gain down and turning the amp gain up to compensate. I've yet to try that.
Thanks fresh for sharing your experience with the SW-12. I think I am going to order one and give it a try. After all, for $400 shipped to my door is a really good deal to me. Besides, I have a Vanns card and right now it is paid off. :D:D I would think the SW-12 would perform quite well in my new ht room. It may not extend down to the lower 20's but I could really care less if it doesn't. Most refer to the tight, punchy sound it delivers and that is exactly what I prefer. Have you used the RABOS kit with the SW-12? The 500 watts rms is also a lot of power for a 706 ft. ^3 room and as such should easily pressurize my room.

I ordered the Infinity Beta speakers from Vanns.

- Beta 40 for fronts
- Beta 360 for center
- Beta 20 for surrounds
- SW-12 Subwoofer

Well, I just recieved the speakers on Friday. They are extremely well built and also look good (wife also approves). The center speaker is crazy...

Anyway, the only thing I didn't recieve yet is the Sub. It will arrive Monday. I also pre-ordered the Yamaha RX-V663 Reciever from J&R so I have not yet hooked them up.

I was disappointed there was little info about these subs online. I suspect they were slightly overpriced at retail, but a bargain at the current price with no tax and free shipping!

From what I can tell the PS212 isn't in the same league and lacks the ceramic coating and RABOS. I almost bought the Aperion system, but realized it would cost me about $1,000 more and probably very little benefit. I am not saying Aperion isn't a good value, but it is hard to compete against closeout prices.

I also had the option of buying the Beta replacement speakers through my company discount (affiliate only) but the prices seemed much higher and they appeared to be using the same CMMD technology.

Better hurry though...Vanns seems to be running out of stock!

One more thing...this price includes a 5 year factory warranty and Vanns is an authorized dealer. Those people throwing out prices of other alternatives are not necessarily comparing apples to apples.

Obviously I am biased about my purchase, but I didn't see much evidence of quality $399 Subs through authorized dealers.

All that being said, everyone has their priorities. Mine will be used as a nice home theater setup in a 15 by 20ft room with 11ft ceilings. It will be used primarily to watch movies and listen to music, not to impress or annoy the neighbors.

One more thing...this price includes a 5 year factory warranty and Vanns is an authorized dealer. Those people throwing out prices of other alternatives are not necessarily comparing apples to apples.

Obviously I am biased about my purchase, but I didn't see much evidence of quality $399 Subs through authorized dealers.

All that being said, everyone has their priorities. Mine will be used as a nice home theater setup in a 15 by 20ft room with 11ft ceilings. It will be used primarily to watch movies and listen to music, not to impress or annoy the neighbors.
Hi, and thanks for posting. I was considering ordering the exact same set-up as you but got a very good deal on my Polks. I also just purchased a set of the FxiA4's for my rear surrounds and will have them soon. My Onkyo 705 receiver will be here Monday. The missing piece is the sub. As such, it looks like I will be going with the SW-12. If I do, I will also order the RABOS kit directly from Harmon Kardon. With shipping the kit is only $66. Should help to tame any room peaks which in turn will help with extension due to my room being so small. Do you plan on getting the RABOS kit too?

The missing piece is the sub. As such, it looks like I will be going with the SW-12. If I do, I will also order the RABOS kit directly from Harmon Kardon. With shipping the kit is only $66. Should help to tame any room peaks which in turn will help with extension due to me room being so small. Do you plan on getting the RABOS kit too?

I am still undecided on whether to order the RABOS kit. I know both of our recievers have the mics and speaker setup built in and I may just play with the settings to see how good it is out of the box. However, if I have any doubts about the sound quality then I will order the RABOS kit or buy a sound meter and do additional research online.

I just spent over $6.5K on the TV (Sharp 52" 94U LCD), speakers (Infinity Beta), blu-ray (PS3), reciever (Yamaha RX-V663), cabinet (BDI Meriden), and line conditioner (Panamax 5300-EX). My wife is pretty easy going, but I just spent another $50 on (2) HDMI cables yesterday and I don't wan't to explain to her how I should spend another $66 unless the sound isn't up to par.

I am still undecided on whether to order the RABOS kit. I know both of our recievers have the mics and speaker setup built in and I may just play with the settings to see how good it is out of the box. However, if I have any doubts about the sound quality then I will order the RABOS kit or buy a sound meter and do additional research online.

I just spent over $6.5K on the TV (Sharp 52" 94U LCD), speakers (Infinity Beta), blu-ray (PS3), reciever (Yamaha RX-V663), cabinet (BDI Meriden), and line conditioner (Panamax 5300-EX). My wife is pretty easy going, but I just spent another $50 on (2) HDMI cables yesterday and I don't wan't to explain to her how I should spend another $66 unless the sound isn't up to par.
It sounds like you have a good plan if you ask me. Guess I am lucky in that I do not have to deal with a WAF. I may go ahead and order the RABOS kit just in case I do have some room peaks since my new room is so small. If you do decide to get the RS SPL meter right now it is on sale at Radio Shack for $40. My local RS even still had the analog one in stock for $5 more. I even picked up a 58" tri-pod for only $15. I have to count my pennies on everything I do so to speak. So, I can understand your concern as well. At least, it appears you have a pretty cool wife.

I've had the pleasure of hearing the SW-12 in about 1300sqft room and for music was very impressive,tight and responsive and outperformed the Velo dps12 it was next to. Being a sealed design probobly not the best choice for dedicated HT but definately adequate for 50/50 system. It takes some big$$ or DIY to get usefull output below 25hz anyway. That price is about half MSRP so not a bad deal IMO.
I am sorry but are you sure the SW-12 is a sealed sub? I must of have overlooked that.

I don't know much about different subwoofer types, but it appears if accuracy is a priority, then a sealed system is the best way to go.

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-eenSNzEl00v/learningcenter/car/subwoofers_enclosures.html

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20071013080348AAh3aNn


And at 500W RMS, power shouldn't be an issue. In fact, based on this information I can see why people who are only looking for the loudest systems prefer other subwoofer makes.

The SW-12 is not a sealed sub. It is ported.

The SW-12 is not a sealed sub. It is ported.
Okay great. Thanks for the info and clarification.

I don't know much about different subwoofer types, but it appears if accuracy is a priority, then a sealed system is the best way to go.

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-eenSNzEl00v/learningcenter/car/subwoofers_enclosures.html

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20071013080348AAh3aNn


And at 500W RMS, power shouldn't be an issue. In fact, based on this information I can see why people who are only looking for the loudest systems prefer other subwoofer makes.
I agree yates. Thanks for all of your help. You have been a big help.

I don't know much about different subwoofer types, but it appears if accuracy is a priority, then a sealed system is the best way to go.

*sigh* Uh, no. A ported setup can be built to be just as accurate throughout the critical listening area (30hz+) as a sealed. However, you wont find that in any of the commercial designs due to too many compromises in the design.

Agreed, Looneybomber. I almost responded to that post as well but I decided to let someone else do the work :). The misconceptions regarding ported vs. sealed are alive and well :rolleyes:.

*sigh* Uh, no. A ported setup can be built to be just as accurate throughout the critical listening area (30hz+) as a sealed. However, you wont find that in any of the commercial designs due to too many compromises in the design.
Very good point BUT if the tune is very low this in turn affects output in the middle and upper midbass region where most of the music action is at. I am no expert but have talked to several "Experts" in the field that has explained this to me. Of course, that is if I understand them correctly.......LOL!!!! :p:p My goal is to ascertain tight, punchy, and articulate bass that has excellent distinctness in the transient response and thus not sound one-notey if you will. I am aware there are better subs both sealed and ported that are better than the SW-12 but are also more expensive. I, like many here, is just trying to get the absolute best sub that is in my price range of $400-$500. In addition, I also need a sub that will offer decent extension and dynamics for ht purposes. Dynamically speaking, the 500 watts rms should offer all the SPL I will ever need. Keep in mind that my room is very small and as such will probably encounter some room peaks that I hope to tame. If I do, then it is in my understanding that in turn will make the response flatter resulting in a bit better extension. Am I correct? Or, am I just being hopeful?

Don't you already have a Hsu Vtf3-3? if it's for a different room why not get a Vtf-2-3??

Geez, if you haven't already, just buy the thing. You are over analyzing this. I'm sure you will be pleased.

Don't you already have a Hsu Vtf3-3? if it's for a different room why not get a Vtf-2-3??
No Mike, I decided to sell off my complete set-up due to my roof leaking. My area has seen more rain than ever in my 40 plus years here. Basically, all the moisture has ruined my roof. We also have had a lot of tornadoes and so much freezing rain. I was afraid the moisture would ruin all of my components before I got the chance to take care of things. It also looked like I was going to move into a very small apartment. However, it turns out I will be getting a much better place with (2) bedrooms. Thus, the smaller of which will be my new ht room. Furthermore, I really don't want to spend $500 right now as things are a bit tight. I am sure you understand.

Geez, if you haven't already, just buy the thing. You are over analyzing this. I'm sure you will be pleased.
Sorry, but I do my best to make a well informed decision and at times I do over analyze. If money was not such an issue, then I would have no need to do this.

I'm sorry but while i was listening to the infinity, i looked around back at the amp and didn't notice a port. I went on infinities website and found no mention of a port or bass reflex design. Where is the port located and how big is it? I wonder if Vanns desciption is correct. Seems like an awefully small box for ported!!

Bummer. But if you liked the Hsu? Why not try the Stf-2 $349 + shipping. Seems you get more with ID companies.I'm sure the Infinity will sound fine in a small room.

I'm sorry but while i was listening to the infinity, i looked around back at the amp and didn't notice a port. I went on infinities website and found no mention of a port or bass reflex design. Where is the port located and how big is it? I wonder if Vanns desciption is correct. Seems like an awefully small box for ported!!
I wouldn't be surprised if the info Vanns has on their website is wrong. I do know they have the wrong weight and dimensions with respect to the Onkyo 705 receiver. I have told them this several times but to no avail. The weight and dimensions posted for the 705 are actually that of the 805. Oh well, I was aware of it when I ordered it so it really is no big deal to me. For others, this may be a problem.

Bummer. But if you liked the Hsu? Why not try the Stf-2 $349 + shipping. Seems you get more with ID companies.I'm sure the Infinity will sound fine in a small room.
Good point Mike BUT the SW-12 is only a $21 delivered more. It looks to be a lot more sub imho. Now, at the $800 price point I would never pay that much for the SW-12. But, for only $400 delivered it really is an awesome deal. The STF-2 may have just a bit better extension but by all accounts the SW-12 will pack a bigger punch in my small ht room. To be totally honest I still have not made up mu mind yet. Who knows..................LOL!!!!!:):)

I have a sw-12 and it is a ported box its black plastic fleared at the end to about 3in and nerrows at the center.Its on the back left hand side under the amp.Its ported for sure. Green

I just received my SW-12 today. As stated in a previous post it is ported on the back. I also got off the phone with Infinity and the technician said the RABOS kit is well worth it. Evidently you just enter the settings on their website and it will automatically provide you with the optimal settings.

My receiver is shipping out today, so I probably won't be able to test the speakers until Friday.

That makes up my mind. Go with the infinity at that price. I didn't listen at reference levels but since it's ported i'm sure it's more than capable down low. At that price it's probobly below cost.

I just received my SW-12 today. As stated in a previous post it is ported on the back. I also got off the phone with Infinity and the technician said the RABOS kit is well worth it. Evidently you just enter the settings on their website and it will automatically provide you with the optimal settings.

My receiver is shipping out today, so I probably won't be able to test the speakers until Friday.
This is great news yatesd. Here is the shocker-decided to order a different sub. I will not be needing the RABOS kit but if I had ordered the SW-12 I would have bought one myself. I ordered a Mirage Omni S10 instead. The reason is I used to own a Mirage Omni S12 and loved it. I know the S10 is not going to be as good but in my small room it should be awesome. The S10 will give me better extension than the SW-12 and also will have less distortion due to the design of the S10. However, I am NOT implying the S10 is a better sub but rather a better fit for my needs. If it isn't enough, then I may order another one. I also bought a new analog RS SPL meter and a 58" tri-pod. I plan on ordering the RIVES Test CDII tomorrow. My Onkyo 705 came in today so things are really looking good right now. My Polk FxiA4's should also be here later this week OR early next week. I can't wait!!!!! I also hope to be moving into my new home within the next 3-weeks or so. Lastly, I plan on ordering an Elemental Designs eQ.2 very soon as well. Glad to hear your set-up is also coming together yatesd. Be sure to keep us all informed.

I won't get my receiver until tomorrow, but I just wanted to comment on Vanns and Infinity's customer service.

Vanns- The one speaker stand didn't work as expected and Vann's was very easy to work with! I ordered the stuff via free shipping and for the return, they provided the label and paid for the shipping back!

Infinity- One speaker grill had a bubble/speck of glue between the metal and the gray felt. Cosmetic issue only. I e-mailed Infinity and they are sending me a replacement grill at no charge.

Anyway, I got a great price, great warranty (5 years), and great service. Now I can't wait until I can actually listen to the system.

I won't get my receiver until tomorrow, but I just wanted to comment on Vanns and Infinity's customer service.

Vanns- The one speaker stand didn't work as expected and Vann's was very easy to work with! I ordered the stuff via free shipping and for the return, they provided the label and paid for the shipping back!

Infinity- One speaker grill had a bubble/speck of glue between the metal and the gray felt. Cosmetic issue only. I e-mailed Infinity and they are sending me a replacement grill at no charge.

Anyway, I got a great price, great warranty (5 years), and great service. Now I can't wait until I can actually listen to the system.
Glad to hear that both Vann's and Infinity is taking good care of you. I know from personal experience that Vann's has been nothing but a pleasure to deal with. Be sure to keep us posted. BTW, I ordered the Rives Test CD II today and placed an order for the eD eQ.2. These along w/my RS SPL meter should prove to be extremely helpful in flattening out the in-room response in my new ht room. Lots of hard work and time consuming but the rewards should pay off in the end. What else would I be doing with my extra time anyways.......right? :D

Congrats Yatesd and Audiofreak38. You should be happy with your purchases. I too have an Onkyo (805) AVR pushing a Beta set-up; 50's, C360 and 250's for 5.1 sound. No Rabos used; I let the AVR do it's magic. It took me a couple of weeks to tweak the settings to my liking. Don't worry about the SW-12. It's a great sub, especially at $400. In the opening nuclear attack scene of T-3, Rise of the Machines, the bass nearly shook the roof off my house!

Congrats Yatesd and Audiofreak38. You should be happy with your purchases. I too have an Onkyo (805) AVR pushing a Beta set-up; 50's, C360 and 250's for 5.1 sound. No Rabos used; I let the AVR do it's magic. It took me a couple of weeks to tweak the settings to my liking. Don't worry about the SW-12. It's a great sub, especially at $400. In the opening nuclear attack scene of T-3, Rise of the Machines, the bass nearly shook the roof off my house!
Thanks I appreciate your sentiments. However, I decided to order a Mirage Omni S10 instead of the SW-12. I am sure I would of been happier with either but thought the S10 fit my needs a bit better. Also, I have an Onkyo 705 and Polk Rti series speakers. The Betas though are stellar and I am sure your 805 is also very nice. If I were you I would go ahead and get the RABOS kit as I assure you it will be worth the money. Have a great evening and thanks for posting.

Congrats Yatesd and Audiofreak38. You should be happy with your purchases. I too have an Onkyo (805) AVR pushing a Beta set-up; 50's, C360 and 250's for 5.1 sound. No Rabos used; I let the AVR do it's magic. It took me a couple of weeks to tweak the settings to my liking. Don't worry about the SW-12. It's a great sub, especially at $400. In the opening nuclear attack scene of T-3, Rise of the Machines, the bass nearly shook the roof off my house!

Thanks for the encouragement. Depending on when UPS comes tomorrow I am hoping to try it out. When I first bought the C360 I had concerns that I was overdoing it, but I can't wait to test it!

Very good point BUT if the tune is very low this in turn affects output in the middle and upper midbass region where most of the music action is at...Dynamically speaking, the 500 watts rms should offer all the SPL I will ever need. Keep in mind that my room is very small...resulting in a bit better extension. Am I correct? Or, am I just being hopeful?

You're right. At a certain point, as you tune deeper, you reach the point of diminishing returns. It's a give and take. 15hz is usually the threshold with most of todays quality sub drivers.

I was where you were at one point. I upgraded and upgraded then finally got the SW-12. The SW filled my needs, but did not fill my wants. Now I have dual 15's and just bought a bigger amp (ce-4000) incase I want to add two more 15's.

Small rooms do help with both extension and output...but to a point.

You're right. At a certain point, as you tune deeper, you reach the point of diminishing returns. It's a give and take. 15hz is usually the threshold with most of todays quality sub drivers.

I was where you were at one point. I upgraded and upgraded then finally got the SW-12. The SW filled my needs, but did not fill my wants. Now I have dual 15's and just bought a bigger amp (ce-4000) incase I want to add two more 15's.

Small rooms do help with both extension and output...but to a point.
So very well spoken there. Like I said, the SW-12 would of been fine BUT decided to opt for the Omni S10 instead. It was a better for for MY needs in such a small room. Thus, the S10 will give me plenty of extension and it will also be quite musical. Perhaps not quite as powerful as the SW-12 but given my room is so small AND is fully enclosed will imho make up the difference. If not, then I will order another. I intend to do that sooner or later anyways. From the looks of your set-up you must have a ton of output. Bet it sounds real full as well as quite good. Thanks for posting.

So very well spoken there. Like I said, the SW-12 would of been fine BUT decided to opt for the Omni S10 instead. It was a better for for MY needs in such a small room. Thus, the S10 will give me plenty of extension and it will also be quite musical. Perhaps not quite as powerful as the SW-12 but given my room is so small AND is fully enclosed will imho make up the difference. If not, then I will order another. I intend to do that sooner or later anyways. From the looks of your set-up you must have a ton of output. Bet it sounds real full as well as quite good. Thanks for posting.



Good choice audiofreak I think you made a good decision based on your criteria. the S10 is nearly identical to the energy 10.3 , and it has mammoth output for its size and price, while still so.unding great for music if placement is careful. In your small room it should be a winner, let us know your impressions when you get it dialed in.

Good choice audiofreak I think you made a good decision based on your criteria. the S10 is nearly identical to the energy 10.3 , and it has mammoth output for its size and price, while still so.unding great for music if placement is careful. In your small room it should be a winner, let us know your impressions when you get it dialed in.
Thanks a bunch swerv. I will be more than happy to post my initial impressions once I get around to doing so. Keep in mind though, I will not be moving into my new home for a few more weeks. As such, my initial impressions will be based on my much larger room I have now totaling nearly 3000 ft.^3 that is far from being enclosed. I may just wait till I get moved and post some impressions then. In the mean time, I plan on taking it easy on my new sub thus giving time for proper break-in. If the S10 is even close to the S12, then I know I will be extremely happy. I do, however, appreciate your welcomed sentiments. :):)

Well, got my Mirage Omni S10 this morn. Must say I am quite impressed. It is very punchy and tight sounding while offering superb extension. I plan to take it easy on it for a while to allow for proper break-in. Just cant wait till I get moved into my new home. The S10 should be the perfect fit for my small dedicated ht room. I also have ordered an eD eQ.2 which will allow me to tweak it even better. Hence, the subsonic (high-pass) filter will be a big help filtering out the ultra low signals. Hopefully, this will tighten things up even more if not allowing for a bit more head-room. With (2) bands of equalization I should be able to tame any in-room peaks. My Rives Test CD II should be here any day as well. No real hurry since I am not in my new home just yet.

This is my first post but it involves the SW-12 and the Yamaha VX-663. I just received them today and my SW-12 was demolished. I had just purchased a Blu-Ray player from Vanns as well and it did not work. I have two Infinity Interlude IL-50's with built in 12" powered subs but I wanted a dedicated sub. I will be calling Vanns in the morning and its gonna be hell sending this heavy monster back :(

This is my first post but it involves the SW-12 and the Yamaha VX-663. I just received them today and my SW-12 was demolished. I had just purchased a Blu-Ray player from Vanns as well and it did not work. I have two Infinity Interlude IL-50's with built in 12" powered subs but I wanted a dedicated sub. I will be calling Vanns in the morning and its gonna be hell sending this heavy monster back :(

Sorry to hear about the hassle. My experience with Vann's was a positive one and I am sure they will make it right. That being said, I wouldn't be looking forward to sending back a 50lb. box either. At least Vann pays for shipping both ways and creates the UPS label.

This is my first post but it involves the SW-12 and the Yamaha VX-663. I just received them today and my SW-12 was demolished. I had just purchased a Blu-Ray player from Vanns as well and it did not work. I have two Infinity Interlude IL-50's with built in 12" powered subs but I wanted a dedicated sub. I will be calling Vanns in the morning and its gonna be hell sending this heavy monster back :(
Am sorry to hear about your situation. I have bought loads of gear from Vanns and never once have I had any issues whatsoever. I am sure that they will make it right. You do need to contact them immediately and let them know what is going on. Be sure to let us know what you get worked out. Good luck.

Sorry to hear about the hassle. My experience with Vann's was a positive one and I am sure they will make it right. That being said, I wouldn't be looking forward to sending back a 50lb. box either. At least Vann pays for shipping both ways and creates the UPS label.
Hey yates I have asked you several times here and over at audioholics.com how your SW-12 is working out for you but to no avail. Not sure if you are not seeing it or what...???? Hope I have not said anything to offend you. If I have please accept my apology. Anyways, please let me know here or shoot me a pm and we can discuss it that way if you like.

Hey yates I have asked you several times here and over at audioholics.com how your SW-12 is working out for you but to no avail. Not sure if you are not seeing it or what...???? Hope I have not said anything to offend you. If I have please accept my apology. Anyways, please let me know here or shoot me a pm and we can discuss it that way if you like.


I thought I did post an update last week. Anyway, I am very happy with the SW-12. I didn't use the RABOS since the Yamaha YPAO setup specifies setting the crossover at maximum.

The sound blends in very smoothly with my other speakers and I can't even place where the bass is coming from, but it is there!

I thought I did post an update last week. Anyway, I am very happy with the SW-12. I didn't use the RABOS since the Yamaha YPAO setup specifies setting the crossover at maximum.

The sound blends in very smoothly with my other speakers and I can't even place where the bass is coming from, but it is there!
Wow yates!!! Sounds like you made the right choice. How tight and punchy sounding is it? Bet it packs a punch...???? Would you say it is musical?

Wow yates!!! Sounds like you made the right choice. How tight and punchy sounding is it? Bet it packs a punch...???? Would you say it is musical?


I am no musical expert, but the bass is clear and integrates well with my other speakers. So I suppose you could say it is both punchy and musical.

i have 2 sw12's in my home theater - they are great especially with the RABOS. They do not go down to 20hz, but roll-off at about 27.

I specifically selected these subs becasue of RABOS.

The best test i have found for a sub is in the opening scene in Independence Day - the room should shake a little in that scene and the sw12s make the room shake just enough.

I use the 2 sw12s with paradigm speakers and a denon 4308ci receiver -

I am no musical expert, but the bass is clear and integrates well with my other speakers. So I suppose you could say it is both punchy and musical.
Geez yates I thought you was a musical EXPERT!!!!!................LOL!!!!!!! Just kidding..........:p:p. Sounds like you made the right choice though.

i have 2 sw12's in my home theater - they are great especially with the RABOS. They do not go down to 20hz, but roll-off at about 27.

I specifically selected these subs becasue of RABOS.

The best test i have found for a sub is in the opening scene in Independence Day - the room should shake a little in that scene and the sw12s make the room shake just enough.

I use the 2 sw12s with paradigm speakers and a denon 4308ci receiver -
Hi, and thanks for posting. I am glad the SW-12's are working out for you. I do, however, prefer a bit more extension and this is why I ended up going with a Mirage S10. I watched a couple of those movies from the "Horror Fest" yesterday and was amazed at just how deep the S10 played. Not only that but it has a very tight, accurate sound which is very tuneful. There is ONLY one other sub that I have ever owned that had a better sounding pitch-the SVS PB10-NSD. However, the PB10 was NOT very musical and as such sent it back. The S10 is very musical and I am now quite happy.

Vanns did make it right as I will be getting my SW-12 on Monday but I do have a question ! I wan to run two subs with my new Yamaha 663. I have been without a dedicted sub for years since my Infinity Interlude IL-50's have built in 12" powered subs. I watched 30 days of Night last night and w/out a seperate sub the room just shook. I asked this on another forum but do you think running two subs ( the SW-12 and the IL-50 subs which are ran from a y-split into the sub 1 out of the 663) is too much bass ? How important is a seperate dedicated sub when you have towers that have 12" built in powered subs ? Does anyone else have a similiar speaker situation and if so whats real important to watch out for when running so much bass ? I paid $399 for the SW-12 and I'm wondering if I really need it as my room is 14X18 ! Any help is appreciated

Vanns did make it right as I will be getting my SW-12 on Monday but I do have a question ! I wan to run two subs with my new Yamaha 663. I have been without a dedicted sub for years since my Infinity Interlude IL-50's have built in 12" powered subs. I watched 30 days of Night last night and w/out a seperate sub the room just shook. I asked this on another forum but do you think running two subs ( the SW-12 and the IL-50 subs which are ran from a y-split into the sub 1 out of the 663) is too much bass ? How important is a seperate dedicated sub when you have towers that have 12" built in powered subs ? Does anyone else have a similiar speaker situation and if so whats real important to watch out for when running so much bass ? I paid $399 for the SW-12 and I'm wondering if I really need it as my room is 14X18 ! Any help is appreciated
Too much bass............is only a question YOU can answer. What I think is too much may not be enough for another person. It is purely subjective. You can always dial it back if it becomes too overwhelming. It is better to have too much than NOT to have enough. It sounds like you are moving in the direction that too much may be a concern. Take a careful listen to what you have now and then decide from there.

Well Audiofreak I was also thinking about turning the subs way down in the IL 50's and just connecting the SW-12. I posted this on Blu-Ray.com and I had a guy tell me that you should always have one dedicated sub ! You have to remember that these are tower pkeakers about 10-11'' wide and 45 '' high so the bass can only do so much. They also shoot to the side so with the SW-12 I'm gonna have a big box that fires to the front....I'll just have to wait and see !! I'm gonna post my original question as a thread just to get a few different opinions, thanks :)

Well Audiofreak I was also thinking about turning the subs way down in the IL 50's and just connecting the SW-12. I posted this on Blu-Ray.com and I had a guy tell me that you should always have one dedicated sub ! You have to remember that these are tower pkeakers about 10-11'' wide and 45 '' high so the bass can only do so much. They also shoot to the side so with the SW-12 I'm gonna have a big box that fires to the front....I'll just have to wait and see !! I'm gonna post my original question as a thread just to get a few different opinions, thanks :)

I don't have quite the same situation as you, but one of the reasons the sub seems to balance so well is because it just fills in as necessary for the Infinity Beta series. My front, center, and surrounds all contain at least a 6.5" speaker (center & front (2), surrounds (1)). I can certainly feel the extra bass during thunderous scenes, but it fills in very naturally.

Well Audiofreak I was also thinking about turning the subs way down in the IL 50's and just connecting the SW-12. I posted this on Blu-Ray.com and I had a guy tell me that you should always have one dedicated sub ! You have to remember that these are tower pkeakers about 10-11'' wide and 45 '' high so the bass can only do so much. They also shoot to the side so with the SW-12 I'm gonna have a big box that fires to the front....I'll just have to wait and see !! I'm gonna post my original question as a thread just to get a few different opinions, thanks :)
Hey, I understand that you want more feedback. Can't blame you on that. However, I still think it all comes down to what YOU deem as too much. Ideally, you want enough so that it blends smoothly with your mains. By doing so, it will be very difficult to localize exactly where the bass is coming from. I just love that effect. Remember though, the higher the X-over point the more localized the sub will become. Good luck in your decision. Be sure to keep us posted.

Thanks Audiofreak !! I wasn't in any way trying to say your opinion wasn't valued I was just gonna see if anyone else was in my situation. Another thing it comes down to is how far in htz will the sub go down too. The IL 50's are rated at 36 htz where the SwW-12 can go as low as 26 htz, so we are talking hearing more bass with the SW-12 now how much can our ears hear when it gets that low.....lol.... Is too be found out :)

Thanks Audiofreak !! I wasn't in any way trying to say your opinion wasn't valued I was just gonna see if anyone else was in my situation. Another thing it comes down to is how far in htz will the sub go down too. The IL 50's are rated at 36 htz where the SwW-12 can go as low as 26 htz, so we are talking hearing more bass with the SW-12 now how much can our ears hear when it gets that low.....lol.... Is too be found out :)
Oh, no offense taken. It is good to research this fully so that you can make a well informed decision. Keep in mind, that the SW-12 begins to roll-off in the high 20's and rolls off quite rapidly being approximately -6db or so down at 25-26 Hz in most rooms. Thus, I wanted a bit more extension with a slower roll-off and that is why I opted for the Omni S10 instead. To each his own I always say. Good luck in making the call. Keep us informed if you don't mind. Hope you have had a good Easter.

Thanks Audiofreak.....and the same to you !! I'll get the sub in tomorrow and will report my findings !! :)

Thanks Audiofreak.....and the same to you !! I'll get the sub in tomorrow and will report my findings !! :)
Looking forward to your initial impressions. Inquiring minds want to know. :p:p

Well Audiofreak I was also thinking about turning the subs way down in the IL 50's and just connecting the SW-12. I posted this on Blu-Ray.com and I had a guy tell me that you should always have one dedicated sub ! You have to remember that these are tower pkeakers about 10-11'' wide and 45 '' high so the bass can only do so much. They also shoot to the side so with the SW-12 I'm gonna have a big box that fires to the front....I'll just have to wait and see !! I'm gonna post my original question as a thread just to get a few different opinions, thanks :)

Yea If it were me, i would make sure there weren't any phase issues if running both the IL50 subs and the SW12... if you have an spl meter or a friend to help you out, you could check. I would run the SW12 with an 60-80hz crossover, as the SW12 sounds quite good above 60hz.

Yea If it were me, i would make sure there weren't any phase issues if running both the IL50 subs and the SW12... if you have an spl meter or a friend to help you out, you could check. I would run the SW12 with an 60-80hz crossover, as the SW12 sounds quite good above 60hz.
Very good point here. Improper placement and phasing issues can create standing waves which in turn results in cancellation. There also could be some in-room peaks creating even more problems. However, with a RS SPL meter and the Rives Test CD II should be very useful in identifying any problem areas. A PEQ can help you tweak very precisely correcting room nodes and thus acquiring a more flat in-room response.

Finally hooked the SW-12 up tonight and Im having problems being able to hear it ! I mean I have to turn it up so I will need to do some adjustments with my Yamaha VX-663 and my Infinity Interlude IL'50's . So far it seems like the best adjustment is when I chose small front speakers on my AVR as the bass is much more present. There is a lot of buttons on this monster so for now I have some homework to do !!!!!

hi rox addict, it sounds to me like the bass of the towers and the sub is out phase and you are getting a cancelation. I would try playing around with the crossover and phase settings some , set the crossover on the sub to bypass or LFE, and adjust it from the receiver. The Sub should have some phase controls unless im mistaken. It could also be room placement... not sure if you have a WAF situation but if it doesnt sound great in one spot, it might sound great in another nearby spot.

Hey Swerve !! Well I ran the YPAO setup for my speakers from My Yammy VX-663 and the sub sounds pretty good for a first run. Now where I am getting confused is on the Bass Optimization EQ's !!!! Should I just turn it off since the Yamaha has set the EQ of my subs and fronts ? The Yamaha asks you to turn your crossover all the way up and it EQ's the sub from the AVR, Thanks again :)

Hey Swerve !! Well I ran the YPAO setup for my speakers from My Yammy VX-663 and the sub sounds pretty good for a first run. Now where I am getting confused is on the Bass Optimization EQ's !!!! Should I just turn it off since the Yamaha has set the EQ of my subs and fronts ? The Yamaha asks you to turn your crossover all the way up and it EQ's the sub from the AVR, Thanks again :)

I'll be interested in hearing replys, but that is what I did. I left RABOS off, volume halfway, and set the crossover to max allowing the receiver to control everything.

When I used YPAO, the sub wouldn't wake up fast enough for the test, and I would need to do the test twice in a row. Second time works like a charm;)

As I said before, the setup provided by the receiver is very smooth with nice transitions. I get no boominess (although I feel bass at appropriate scenes). Sometimes I am tempted to turn up the sub slightly, just so I can impress friends and neighbors while acting like a teenager a few times.:D

I'll be interested in hearing replys, but that is what I did. I left RABOS off, volume halfway, and set the crossover to max allowing the receiver to control everything.

When I used YPAO, the sub wouldn't wake up fast enough for the test, and I would need to do the test twice in a row. Second time works like a charm;)

As I said before, the setup provided by the receiver is very smooth with nice transitions. I get no boominess (although I feel bass at appropriate scenes). Sometimes I am tempted to turn up the sub slightly, just so I can impress friends and neighbors while acting like a teenager a few times.:D

Thats hillarios Yates !!!! I was watching "Shoot em Up " last night and I wanted to turn the bass up but when I did " BOOM !!!! " the bass hit so hard !! I'm gonna keep the RABOS off and let my Yammy eq it with YPAO !! It sounds awesome I'm just amazed that the Yammy can make everything sound so good that I just think I need to use all my eq settings on the SW-12 , thanks Yates :)

Unfortunately missed this thread. Still for those,
who might be interested in a musical sub.
Listening jazz and classical (well, some 70/30).
Although specs of my fronts (Dynaudio BM-15P) claim -3dB @43Hz,
use them with ports blocked - they play (double)bass a bit sloppy.
Everything below 80Hz goes to Infinity SW-12. This is the real sub
for music. Fast, tight and very clean (I mean comparatively low IMD).
Parametric EQ does it job pretty well at 52-55Hz in my room.
I must agree though SW-12 doesn't produce any useable SPL below 25Hz