With the demise of the av123-stocked Onix Rocket ULW-10, it doesn't appear that there's a decent sealed-sub option for at or less than $500 new. I'm leaning toward a sealed design because I primarily listen to music (90 percent of my system time), and tightness/accuracy is of prime importance as opposed to volume/excursion/extension/gettin' looow.

I'd narrowed things down to the Rocket, the Hsu STF-2, the Hsu VTF-1 and a couple of other ported models. Two immediate problems with the Hsus: both models are out of stock, and the adjustable low-pass filter only goes up to 90Hz, meaning if I set my mains to 'small' on my Marantz A/V receiver, I'd have a hole in between 90Hz and 100Hz. I have a possible line on an Energy sub (the S10.3 or the new ESW-V8), but those seem to be geared toward excursion/power more than accuracy/efficiency ...

... any suggestions, especially regarding sealed designs? They'd be greatly appreciated at this point ... and no, I'm not interested in building my own from a kit ...

If you can possibly swing another $50, the Epik Valor has been highly praised for it's musical abilities and -- with a 15 inch driver -- can do a little shaking for movies, too.

Search Scamp-10....its a new sub that will be out this summer and it will be a damn good cheap sub. Its not 12" but I do think its going to be a huge performer for its price tag.

Search Scamp-10....its a new sub that will be out this summer and it will be a damn good cheap sub. Its not 12" but I do think its going to be a huge performer for its price tag.

Not sealed and probably nowhere near the sound quality he wants.

if you live near a Tweeter, they are clearing out the ML Abyss for $550.

i'm thinking about picking one up myself for that price.

+1 for the Abyss if you can get your hands on one at that price. Otherwise the Epik Valor is probably the best way to go at the price.

Not sealed and probably nowhere near the sound quality he wants.
Well, granted no one's heard it, but Seaton's never been involved with a "bad-sounding" sub.

Funny that the ported/sealed generalizations still abound.

I'd narrowed things down to the Rocket, the Hsu STF-2, the Hsu VTF-1 and a couple of other ported models. Two immediate problems with the Hsus: both models are out of stock, and the adjustable low-pass filter only goes up to 90Hz, meaning if I set my mains to 'small' on my Marantz A/V receiver, I'd have a hole in between 90Hz and 100Hz.

Both the STF-2 and VTF-1 crossovers are bypassable.

Here's a small sealed sub I ran across:
http://www.tsto.com/cgi-bin/TSTO.storefront/4819d29200bc543c2740ac1003410616/Product/View/2515
and
http://www.mordauntshort.com/summary.php?PID=28&Title=Premiere+309W+subwoofer

I have no idea how it actually sounds and it's low end only seems to be down to about 35hz so it won't do justice to a lot of action movies. It is one of the cheapest sealed subs I've seen.

Well, granted no one's heard it, but Seaton's never been involved with a "bad-sounding" sub.

Funny that the ported/sealed generalizations still abound.

I agree, I've demoed several models of both in my system. To me it's more build quality and proper implementation of the design rather than the design itself, but the op did specify sealed in the title.

I'm not saying the Scamp-10 won't have good sound quality, I'm just saying don't expect MFW-15 or SB-12-esque quality.

I'm not saying the Scamp-10 won't have good sound quality, I'm just saying don't expect MFW-15 or SB-12-esque quality.
Fair enough. Personally I'm going to get two Scamps and stack them. I reckon that'll be a hard package to beat for $320 plus shipping.

JBL L8400 $429- shipped from the eBay store. $1099- MSRP.

I really like the ML, but would more prefer the Dynamo over the Abyss. This may sound odd, but I don't want a woofer over 10" in a sub (this comes from being a bass player: I'm partial to the speed and accuracy of 10" drivers).

Another issue with the MLs: their adjustable crossovers only go up to 80Hz. That's the same problem with the Hsus, but the frequency gap is doubled.

I'd bypass the adjustable crossover, but I recent lost the woofers in my mains because of low-frequency distortion from a dirty, low-level signal being over-amped by my Marantz receiver (an SR-5300). I don't want to risk that again, so I want to run my mains as 'small' (and I don't think that my Marantz's low-pass filter is adjustable) and add a sub (I ran without one beforehand), so I've gotta have a sub with an adjustable crossover that goes to 100Hz or above.

I'm thinking about the Aperion Bravus 8D ($500) ... anyone have experience with that sub?

If you bypass the crossover in one of the HSU subs for example you can run your speakers as small and use the receivers crossover. That's why these subs have bypassable crossovers so that the receiver crossover can control it and they won't conflict.

I'll have to investigate that, Jakeman02. Sounds like it could work in the case of the Hsus, if I decide to go that route (dang ... too bad Hsu is out of stock of all of their lower-level models, according to its web site ... )

Small sealed around $500 I'd be looking at a Rythmik kit. Would entail a bit of DIY, of course, although Parts Express has a 2ft^3 sub box (putting us over budget).

http://www.rythmikaudio.com/DS12.html

Small sealed around $500 I'd be looking at a Rythmik kit. Would entail a bit of DIY, of course, although Parts Express has a 2ft^3 sub box (putting us over budget).

http://www.rythmikaudio.com/DS12.html

I've got one recently completed that wouldn't put you over budget, shipping might though, it's a small tank as far as weight. PM me if your interested.