I was hoping you guys could recomend a good subwoofer for me. I recently purchased 2 RTi12's for my front speakers. I have a Denon 3808ci for my reciever. I plan on buying a CSi3 for the center. But I'm not sure what sub to buy. I'm thinking of getting Polk's PSW125 12in subwoofer or maybe something from HSU. My room is 12' x 9.5'. I'd like a 12in sub, but I'm not sure if I need that much. I play games 50% of the time and watch TV/Movies the othe 50% of the time. I don't want to spend more than $500.00. And I like lots of butkicking deep bass. What would you guys recomend?

Might want to look into the Hsu STF-2 at that price point. It's $349 + $30 shipping, and should do a great job in your small room. I'd also look at the SVS PB10-NSD - also a very good sub under $500. I use two PB10-NSD's in my 11x10 room and they're great. My opinion is that the PSW125 isn't worthwhile. Your fronts are good speakers, and the Polk sub isn't very good (it's -3dB at 38hz!). Meanwhile, the STF-2 is -3dB at 25hz, while the PB10-NSD is -3dB at 20hz. This means the Hsu and SVS will play much deeper than the Polk. Anyway, the Hsu or SVS would be my choices in your situation. Good luck.

Might want to look into the Hsu STF-2 at that price point. It's $349 + $30 shipping, and should do a great job in your small room. I'd also look at the SVS PB10-NSD - also a very good sub under $500. I use two PB10-NSD's in my 11x10 room and they're great. My opinion is that the PSW125 isn't worthwhile. Your fronts are good speakers, and the Polk sub isn't very good (it's -3dB at 38hz!). Meanwhile, the STF-2 is -3dB at 25hz, while the PB10-NSD is -3dB at 20hz. This means the Hsu and SVS will play much deeper than the Polk. Anyway, the Hsu or SVS would be my choices in your situation. Good luck.

+1

Let me expand a bit on what I said earlier. I don't want you to think that I'm saying the only important thing to look for in a subwoofer is deep extension. Sound quality and output capabilities are also very relevant. I guess it's just hard for me to consider that PSW125 a real subwoofer. Your RTi12's are -3dB at 30hz, while the PSW125 "subwoofer" is -3dB at 38hz. Your main speakers have deeper extension than the "sub!" Sure the sub will give you louder, more powerful bass, but it isn't really being a "sub"woofer, more of a powered, louder "woofer".

As for sound quality, I haven't heard the Hsu, but the general consensus is that it sounds excellent. I obviously have heard the SVS PB10 (owning two of them myself) and consider it to sound great with music and superb with movies and gaming. I haven't heard the PSW125, but I have heard a few Polk subs and was not impressed. I heard the newer DSW-500 about a month ago and thought it sounded pretty good, but I'd take the SVS PB10 over it any day.

My recommendation is that if you're on a tight budget, the STF-2 is the way to go. Extension to 25hz and below (users often report extension down to 20hz) with good output capabilities and low distortion for only $349+ shipping is a great deal. If you can afford to go closer to the $500 mark you mentioned, the PB10 ($429+ shipping) will give you significantly more output down low, which can be crucial for movie effects. My PB10's give me solid output down to around 16hz in my room. Either way, I think you'll be very pleased. As a side note, don't be afraid that the PB10 is weak in output simply because I have two in my small room. I like to view movies very loud, and I got the second for improved dynamics. A single PB10 will do very well in your room unless you're a bassaholic. Here are the links to the two products:

http://www.hsuresearch.com/products/stf-2.html
http://svsound.com/products-sub-box-10nsd.cfm

Good luck.

+1


+2

I just got a STF2 and my room is larger than yours. Its perhaps one of the best HT upgrades I have done yet.

+3 for the Hsu, the big concern I see is your center, I think the CSi5 is what is considered by Polk for the 12s.

; the big concern I see is your center, I think the CSi5 is what is considered by Polk for the 12s.

If movies and dialog clarity are important to you, then I strongly agree with thsmith about not cheaping out on the enter channel. I know too many people who bought a smaller/cheaper center channel and could not understand the words in a movie.

+2

I just got a STF2 and my room is larger than yours. Its perhaps one of the best HT upgrades I have done yet.

I'm going to be ordering an STF-2 in a few weeks. It's going to be my very first subwoofer, and I cannot wait to make this addition! Reading this thread has only made me feel better about buying the HSU.

Does HSU have any resellers that might offer a lower price than what is listed on the HSU site?

I got my HSU 2-3 a couple of days ago. I LOVE the thing. It sounds out of this world fantastic. Deep, visceral sub I've never heard before. Just buy it, I'm not kidding.

I used to be car audio fan, this is not like that. If you saw jurassic park, do you remember the scene when they hear the big dino steps getting closer? That scene sounds like it should.

Franke46