I have an Energy Take 5.2 system. I have purchased the C300's and a CC50 to replace the L,R, and C Take speakers. I am keeping the Take rears for now, but I would like to replace the 8.2 sub. My budget for now is between $200 and $300. I of course would rather spend $200 but if I can find SIGNIFICANT performance improvement by moving to $300 then I would heavily consider it.

My listening habits are about 60% Movies and 40% music.

At this price range it'd be nice if it was aesthetically pleasing, but ultimately I DON'T care about footprint. Most important is performance per dollar!

I don't hate the 8.2 but I know it's lacking, and I know my price range doesn't leave much in the way of performance but the recent price drops on the budget Energy's have me thinking. I hadn't been planning on upgrading anything but the price of the C300 seemed like a good deal and a step up from my Take system which I have been happy with.

The Energy ESW 10 and 12 are both below $200 new at the moment.
I've seen people talk about the HSU STF-1, the BIC H100, and the PA120W. I had never heard of these three subs until yesterday on AVSForum. I like what I hear about the HSU but I am skeptical about replacing an 8 with another 8. I do know all 8's are not created equal but I'd like to see some real improvement if I am going to replace the 8.2. Then I know there are a couple of Velodyne on eBay in that range. I'm pretty lost at this point.

Which of the budget options is likely to be the best step up from my Energy 8.2, or should I just stick with what I have?

Source will be Onkyo 805.

Thanks in advanced!

The Hsu's and other bang for the buck budget subs mentioned here will be an improvement, it's just a matter of how much of an improvement you are expecting. You will find they play cleaner, and give you a noticeably more output than your Energy, but on a whole, I'd aim higher toward the $300 range where you will find a very noticeable improvement. Sticking with the popular online subs like the BIC and Hsu's are your best bet over most of the Velodynes in this price range

Also, my room is only 14x14 but it is only three walls as the room opens up into the kitchen area. This is our main viewing/listening area.

The Hsu's and other bang for the buck budget subs mentioned here will be an improvement, it's just a matter of how much of an improvement you are expecting. You will find they play cleaner, and give you a noticeably more output than your Energy, but on a whole, I'd aim higher toward the $300 range where you will find a very noticeable improvement. Sticking with the popular online subs like the BIC and Hsu's are your best bet over most of the Velodynes in this price range

Yeah, you've summarized most of what I'd like, maybe to produce the lower range a bit better, the 8.2 tends to distort a little with music, it does pretty well on movies. I am not expecting miracles, but the 8.2 is 5+ years old and a lot less than $300 so I was hoping things in this range today would be a decent step up.

Thanks for your input!

Update, what if I expand my limit to $400 (But abosultely no more than $400)? I can't even believe I am considering this. This all started because I saw the Energy ESW 10 for $189. Now I am wondering about spending twice that.
So to recap, I'd like a rec for a rec for a sub $300 subwoofer, and a sub $400 subwoofer.
Thanks guys, I am hoping to buy today!

SVS PB10NSD is $399 this week. Definitely should be on your list to look at if you're buying today.

SVS PB10NSD is $399 this week. Definitely should be on your list to look at if you're buying today.

That may be a deal but that actually puts me at $450 with shipping, a long way from where I was Sunday when I wasn't even planning on upgrading my sub. Is the PB10 regarded that much better than the HSU and BIC offerings that are below $400 Shipped?
Thanks!

That may be a deal but that actually puts me at $450 with shipping, a long way from where I was Sunday when I wasn't even planning on upgrading my sub. Is the PB10 regarded that much better than the HSU and BIC offerings that are below $400 Shipped?
Thanks!

The SVS is a superb sub mainly because it reaches down to an honest 20Hz in a linear fashion which few subs can do under $400. It would take you upgrading to the Energy 12.3 to come close to the SVS...to give you an idea of a comparison. You'd have to buy the Hsu VTF-2 to beat that SVS, even the VTF-1 doesn't reach as deeply as the SVS althought it will come close in output

The problem with your room is that it is open to the kitchen. An open room is very hard to pressurize (when you can "feel" the bass). You don't have to worry that you can't make use of the extra output a bigger sub can give you.

I know I would buy the SVS if it was me just because it *is* a good price and getting that bass extension is something you can appreciate right away, but honestly the BIC or the Hsu STF-2 would be a great sub and give you a noticeable improvement all around. The SVS would be icing because it does give you a bit more extension (try the Darla scene in Finding Nemo)

Thanks warpdrive, this never ends, I should just stop reading.... now I am wondering if I should stretch and go for the PB12. Gosh I really don't want to do that, but this is a big room when you consider all of the openings to other rooms.

Another option...

http://www.vanns.com/shop/servlet/item/details/549699392/mirage-omd-prestige-s10

$299 for this sub is an amazing price.

It won't play flat to 20Hz like the SVS, but it's ALOT smaller and nicer looking, and I'm willing to bet more musical too.

If you have the budget and want a HT sub...I'd say the SVS is the obvious choice...

But the S10 is a serious consideration if you're more concerned with tight quality bass than extension; or if size, $$, looks are a big factor.

Thanks warpdrive, this never ends, I should just stop reading.... now I am wondering if I should stretch and go for the PB12. Gosh I really don't want to do that, but this is a big room when you consider all of the openings to other rooms.

Agreed. It never ends. Subs are one thing that I don't mind spending more for because what you get for your money is pretty clear. It's clearly easy to tell the difference between a great $600 sub, a great $400 sub and a great $200 sub. And the fact that you don't really want to keep selling (shipping) and upgrading something that weighs that much, you want to be sure you have met your needs. Bass is something that you can't really have too much of especially in your open room. And there is always some soundtrack out there that WILL reveal the limits of your sub. For example, some movie soundtracks have clearly a lot of sound information in the 15-25 Hz range, and with your current Energy, you won't hear any of it. Even the PB10 will start cutting some of it off, but the PB12 will let you hear all of it, just as the director intended it (otherwise they wouldn't have bother recording it).

But I hear ya, it's easy to get carried away....the lower offerings will be a nice little upgrade, but the PB10 is a step up, the PB12 gives you nearly the full serving for a medium-large sized room. Of course, if your open area is large, you actually could still use more output if you really push things, but I'm confident you'll find both the PB10 and PB12 to be formidable.

I appreciate the replies Warp and Alphaiii. I've gone from *thinking* about buying an $180 Energy Sub to hoping SVS can get me a $600 sub to NC by this weekend so I can play with it. Going to give them a call first thing in the AM.

Again thanks for the conversation guys!

I appreciate the replies Warp and Alphaiii. I've gone from *thinking* about buying an $180 Energy Sub to hoping SVS can get me a $600 sub to NC by this weekend so I can play with it. Going to give them a call first thing in the AM.

Again thanks for the conversation guys!

Might as well continue to kick it up a notch and snag the PB13 Ultra ;)

Good luck with the PB12 though, definitely a nice sub.

Another option...

http://www.vanns.com/shop/servlet/item/details/549699392/mirage-omd-prestige-s10

$299 for this sub is an amazing price.

It won't play flat to 20Hz like the SVS, but it's ALOT smaller and nicer looking, and I'm willing to bet more musical too.

If you have the budget and want a HT sub...I'd say the SVS is the obvious choice...

But the S10 is a serious consideration if you're more concerned with tight quality bass than extension; or if size, $$, looks are a big factor.

I got this sub a couple of weeks ago from Vann's and I gotta say I love it! It may not go the lowest, but it is no doubt very musical and tight sounding. I have absolutely no regrets about buying it.

I got this sub a couple of weeks ago from Vann's and I gotta say I love it! It may not go the lowest, but it is no doubt very musical and tight sounding. I have absolutely no regrets about buying it.

I put in an order for one last night while the deal was going on....$300 for that sub caused me an impulse buy.

For some reason, I have to call vann's to verify the order before it will ship, so I can still decide to cancel it. I'm having buyers remorse now, since I just bought an S8 last week for the bedroom, and shouldn't be buying another sub.

The S10 would be a replacement for the Acculine Asub I have now in the living room. It's not that I wasn't content with the Asub...just that the deal on the S10 sucked me in.

Now I'm wondering if the S10 is going to offer any improvement over the Asub.... Plus, then I have to worry about selling the Asub, and trying not to take a huge hit on that.

Hmmm...

Might as well continue to kick it up a notch and snag the PB13 Ultra ;)

Good luck with the PB12 though, definitely a nice sub.

Ha but no thanks! This is really nutz. I was trying to decide if I should upgrade my Energy 8.2 sub since the Energy ESW-10 was on sale for $180. I went from questioning if I should upgrade for $180 with that or one of the PA-120's on eBay, and ended up spening $620 (shipped) this morning on the PB12-NSD. I hope I am really amazed! I just wish I had considered this Monday so I might have received the sub before the weekend. At this point it looks like I'll be waiting until Monday :(

How about a pinnacle sub 100 like new in box maybe an hour play time on it for 135.00 shipped cost 350.00 10in 100watt, or a boston acoustics ps400 100.00 shipped 8in 100. Watt, or a final sound s220 12in 220 watt new in box 350.00 shipped?

Sorry no dice, bought a SVS PB12-NSD this morning.

Nice.

We expect a full report. Now try gather up some really kickin' movies to test out it once it arrives

I hope I am really amazed!

You are guaranteed to be. Definitely a big upgrade from your current sub. I was incredibly surprised with the difference between my friends Dayton 10" that he let me borrow and the measly PA-120 sub that I upgraded to. The jump from your 8" Energy sub to an SVS PB12 is HUGE! You'll be amazed, and you'll definitely put a smile on your face knowing it was a good purchase.

I have yet to hear anybody be truly disappointed in any SVS sub. Of course, the hype is almost deafening and sometimes it's possible to have too high expectations, but man, the different will be huge. A sub like that, you'll have to take more care to set up and find a good location for it. If you have bass anomalies in your room, that sub will let you know.