1. am i missing something? are their specific threads that give a detailed account of how to build these? i have read enough to know there are variations to the main theme but was wondering if there was a sticky or a member that is the authority on the subject.

2. also, what are the different options for sub and amp? i mean realistically, we have the TC subs, what else is there? in order of performance, how are the sub options rated? is TC the best? same goes for the amps, BASH and what else? and how do the rate as far as good to best?

3. just as important, in all that i have read, i can not get a sense of how these compare to SVS or HSU subs. say i want to build something comparable to a $1200 SVS sub, what are we talking as far as price? just trying to figure (read: justify) what i would save by DIY? if i can build a $500 sub that is comparable to a SVS sub worth over a grand, it would be inticing to saay the least.

any help would be much appreciated

4. oh, and i have a few "car" subs that have been lying around, how do i determine if they can be used? what specifications do i need to look at?

i also would be interested in "offering" my services of building an enclosure. seems to me to be a waste of time to go through all the trouble of cutting all the wood for ONE enclosure, when it wouldnt take too much time to make 2-5 more sets of same design. so obviously i would pick the most common design with the most common components.

i would charge for the wood/shipping and a small fee for my time. you would have to assemble (buy your own sonotube and hardware) and paint yourself. it would certainly offset the price of mine....

i have read Willd's instructional thread, is it safe to say we can use his and ecir38's thread as guidlines since i do not see any other threads that go as indepth on how to do it?

ecir's thread is good, as is parboy's.

I personally like the TC-2000 in the low-tuned sonosub category, but of course I am a bit biased.

You can use various types of amps, like the Carvin HD900, the Buttkicker amp, etc...basically 800-1100W is good for the TC-2k, or 600-900 for the Rl-p.

Well, I can think of one direct comparison. I believe Parboy said it would take multiples of his SVS PC Ultra to match the TC-2K sonosub he built.

As for the car subs...just list the make/model.

we have the TC subs, what else is there? in order of performance, how are the sub options rated? is TC the best? We have
www.tcsounds.com
www.ficaraudio.com
www.ascendantaudio.com
www.edesignaudio.com
www.soundsplinter.com
Dayton by www.partsexpress.com
www.rythmikaudio.com
www.aurasound.com
www.reaudio.com
www.adireaudio.com
Cerwin Vega V-Max with the red surround. (Available on Ebay).

Rating them is difficult. Each has its advantages based on budget, max space for the enclosure and power available.

i have a few "car" subs that have been lying around, how do i determine if they can be used? what specifications do i need to look at?
There's no one spec that determines whether or not it will work in a home theater. Model the sub in WinISD or Unibox and see how it stacks up with some proven designs.

-Robert

If you have $1000 to spend, going the sonosub route is a great option. I spent between $800-$1000 to complete mine, which like WillD said, is a tc2k driver, buttkicker amp, in a 320 liter sonotube. I went from the svs pc ultra to the sonosub and there really is no comparison. I would have to say it would take 3 of the pc ultra's to equal the sonosub's performance. This isn't a knock against svs as I really enjoyed the ultra for the year I had it. I still think it's a great sub, but it can't compete against a larger driver, more than twice the enclosure volume, and twice the amp power. You can check out my build thread here: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=726584

sweeet! exactly all the info i was looking for. makes the decision easy. thanks to all who responded and thanks for the write ups. i am sure there are many that are very appreciative for the time you guys have taken to build-take pictures-write up-and answer questions. take comfort in knowing you have affected many lives in the HT community...even if they never build what you have, and what i intend. many thanks