By midrange I mean 300-500 bucks. Would appreciate a few suggestions.

Also I am very familar with car audio. Despite using 4 inch ports I kinda still disliked vented boxes sound (except in really small cars) and their inability to go below the tuned frequency. Sealed boxes on the other hand seemed much more linear and had the ability to be in control at any frequency. Basically the better of the 2 for SQ. I realize in home audio the tuned frequency is usually below 25Hz but in general if someone prefers sealed in car do they also prefer it in a house? I am scared because being in a car really helps with the low freq and sealed might have nothing at that range.

These are the cheapest sealed subs I know of at $699 and $775 shipped respectively

http://www.svsound.com/products-sub-box-sb12plus.cfm
http://www.edesignaudio.com/product_info.php?cPath=2_41&products_id=640

Are you handy with woodwork? Might look into something DIY. You're wrong about vented subs not being able to go below tuning frequency. Usually subs can go around 5hz deeper, if not more.

These are the cheapest sealed subs I know of at $699 and $775 shipped respectively

http://www.svsound.com/products-sub-box-sb12plus.cfm
http://www.edesignaudio.com/product_info.php?cPath=2_41&products_id=640

Are you handy with woodwork? Might look into something DIY. You're wrong about vented subs not being able to go below tuning frequency. Usually subs can go around 5hz deeper, if not more.

Their power handling and efficiency really drop off in my experience.

Their power handling and efficiency really drop off in my experience.
While that is true, how low are you looking to go? Some ported subs for HT use can dig to 18-20 Hz. Few sealed subs will get that low and they are more $$$.

Craig

These are the cheapest sealed subs I know of at $699 and $775 shipped respectively

http://www.svsound.com/products-sub-box-sb12plus.cfm
http://www.edesignaudio.com/product_info.php?cPath=2_41&products_id=640

Are you handy with woodwork? Might look into something DIY. You're wrong about vented subs not being able to go below tuning frequency. Usually subs can go around 5hz deeper, if not more.

From what I know the Ed A7-450 is designed to go deeper than the SB-12 PLus. It really only makes sense, the Ed A7-450 has 15 inch driver in a larger box.

From what I know the Ed A7-450 is designed to go deeper than the SB-12 PLus. It really only makes sense, the Ed A7-450 has 15 inch driver in a larger box.

Yup, I would only recommend the SB12 if you really want a wood veneer/ultra small box. I've heard the A7S-450 can easily hit 18hz.

And actually the A7S-450 is a sealed 18" driver

Yup, I would only recommend the SB12 if you really want a wood veneer/ultra small box. I've heard the A7S-450 can easily hit 18hz.
And both are well above the OP's budget of $300-$500. At the $300-$500 price point, the "value" choices are all ported, with some having quite deep extension.

Craig

Oops, I thought the OP was heart set on going sealed... lots of good sub $500 choices from eD and HSU.

Oops, I thought the OP was heart set on going sealed...
He may be, but it will be difficult to find a sealed sub in his price range. Finding one with deep extension in his price range is near impossible. Sealed subs require more amplifier and beefier drivers. These cost $$$. Ported subs are better values at his pricepoint.

Craig

I'm sure this must have been mentioned.

But the Epik Valor is a sealed sub for $50 more than the OP's target range.

http://www.epiksubwoofers.com/ValorOverview.html

Just thought I'd toss that one out.

Does anyone have a source of feedback on this sub?

I've heard that sealed subs are more "musical" than ported ones?

Erik

I'm sure this must have been mentioned.

But the Epik Valor is a sealed sub for $50 more than the OP's target range.

http://www.epiksubwoofers.com/ValorOverview.html

Just thought I'd toss that one out.

Does anyone have a source of feedback on this sub?

I've heard that sealed subs are more "musical" than ported ones?

Erik

There are plenty of lovers of the Valor over in the -Official Epic Subwoofers- thread. With that said I don't know if sealed is all that great of a trade off. The Valor will go loud and sound musical blah blah blah, but for $50 more the Knight will dig much deeper. I know then we are $100 above budget with out considering shipping yet. Maybe I am just trying to justify my Knight, but I am getting down to 13-14Hz with a Knight in a 1700cu ft room.

What about this one?
JBL Studio L8400P

http://www.jbl.com/home/products/product_detail.aspx?prod=L8400P/230&Language=GER&Country=DE&Region=EUROPE&cat=SLS&ser=SLS

Look at the Valor. The Valor is about $130 over budget. That would make the Knight @$180 over shipped. Well if you live in Wa like me :)

What about this one?
JBL Studio L8400P

http://www.jbl.com/home/products/product_detail.aspx?prod=L8400P/230&Language=GER&Country=DE&Region=EUROPE&cat=SLS&ser=SLS

It's a little above your original budget, but it meets your other criteria. There is very little info available about it on this forum, or in a Google search. "Secrets" seemed to like it as part of the whole JBL Studio L system:
http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volume_13_2/jbl-studio-l-speakers-6-2006-part-1.html
Unfortunately, this was just a subjective review, with no measurements. :(

If "sealed" and relatively inexpensive are you primary criteria, then I think you should be our "guinea pig". :) Get one and let us know what you think. It'll be a great data point for the forum.

Good luck.

Craig

By midrange I mean 300-500 bucks. Would appreciate a few suggestions.


Ported subs go down to much lower frequences then similar drivers in a sealed configuration.

For $500 you can build a MASSIVE ported sub that gives you easily a flat response below 15Hz. Your movies will never sound better....just got to have space for a 11 CuFt enclosure :D

Ported subs go down to much lower frequences then similar drivers in a sealed configuration.

For $500 you can build a MASSIVE ported sub that gives you easily a flat response below 15Hz. Your movies will never sound better....just got to have space for a 11 CuFt enclosure :D
You should just put a link to the DIY area in your signature. Then you would only have to post a one-line response in all the threads and (interested) people could make their way to the DIY forum. Everyone else not interested in DIY could ignore you.

Craig

Ported subs go down to much lower frequences then similar drivers in a sealed configuration.

For $500 you can build a MASSIVE ported sub that gives you easily a flat response below 15Hz. Your movies will never sound better....just got to have space for a 11 CuFt enclosure :D

Midrange small sealed subs

thanks anyways

In that price range, the best compact sealed subs are probably the Dayton kits.
http://www.partsexpress.com/webpage.cfm?webpage_id=3&CAT_ID=48&ObjectGroup_ID=536

Although I haven't heard them, I believe them to be of decent quality and they can't be to hard to assemble.

Midrange small sealed subs


hehe, Small is relative ;)

hehe, Small is relative ;)

Is that like having a midget in the family? :p

By midrange I mean 300-500 bucks. Would appreciate a few suggestions.

Also I am very familar with car audio. Despite using 4 inch ports I kinda still disliked vented boxes sound (except in really small cars) and their inability to go below the tuned frequency. Sealed boxes on the other hand seemed much more linear and had the ability to be in control at any frequency. Basically the better of the 2 for SQ. I realize in home audio the tuned frequency is usually below 25Hz but in general if someone prefers sealed in car do they also prefer it in a house? I am scared because being in a car really helps with the low freq and sealed might have nothing at that range.

good points, having a bit of knowledge about car guys, id like to comment...

problem with car audio vented systems is they are rarely used to be linear. its not a problem with the system alignment so much as it is the system parameter choices. Often times you see boxes far too large with tuning points far too high. They basically leads to very peaky systems and that sound loud and annoying to say the least. you'll find that homeaudio ported subwoofers are much more linear and sound quite good.

good points, having a bit of knowledge about car guys, id like to comment...

problem with car audio vented systems is they are rarely used to be linear. its not a problem with the system alignment so much as it is the system parameter choices. Often times you see boxes far too large with tuning points far too high. They basically leads to very peaky systems and that sound loud and annoying to say the least. you'll find that homeaudio ported subwoofers are much more linear and sound quite good.

Yeah I know all about this. I tried to recommend a guy that he use his XXX sealed (which should be awesome with enough power) if he did end up going with that driver, because IMOP they are just not suited to being ported in a car and there were people saying crap like "it's a waste not to port those" "They pound so much better, sealed just sounds weak, and why buy a high dollar driver if you are going to not make the most of it?:rolleyes:"

All you have to do is look at most of the manufacturer's recommended enclosures and model them in WinISD. Then factor in that you are going to have rising low end gain. You get FR's that look like a side profile of Mt. Kilimanjaro.

good points, having a bit of knowledge about car guys, id like to comment...

problem with car audio vented systems is they are rarely used to be linear. its not a problem with the system alignment so much as it is the system parameter choices. Often times you see boxes far too large with tuning points far too high. They basically leads to very peaky systems and that sound loud and annoying to say the least. you'll find that homeaudio ported subwoofers are much more linear and sound quite good.

yeah i didn't think about that. I bet port noise is also much more obvious with a higher tuning freq. and smaller box common in car audio.

Is that like having a midget in the family? :p

:p

Could you guys compare the JBL L8400P i mentioned above and the Infinity CSW10?

They both fit my for factor quite well but the Infinity matches my other speakers. The CSW10 is also said to hit lower than the JBL and is a smaller overall package.