I just bought a floor model Pros Sub 100 from a high end audio store and so far it sounds good. What should I listen for to make sure the speaker is in good condition? How should bass sound?

You didn't listen to other subs in the store before you bought this one?

Ideally what you hope for in a sub is power, extension, and cleanness. Bass takes the most power of any segment of the audio spectrum. At a good listening level your sub should be a good match for the rest of your speakers.

You do not want the sub to add coloration to your system. You should not be aware of it on a male spaeking voice.

A good sub for HT will go to near subsonic frequencies. Many mid-grade subs can make it down to 40Hz or a little lower, and that's generaaly fine for music (the lowest note on a four string bass is around 44Hz). But movies often have the LFE track putting out frequencies in the teens! These are more felt than heard.

I used to own a Mirage box sub with about 90 watts. It sounded decent with music, even added a little oomph to the bass. But when I got my current sub, a 500 watt cylander with response flat down to 20Hz, I was amazed at the difference. I realized my old sub was adding color to the sound of my system. The new sub was virtually audibly invisible, but when bass was called for, it delivered!

A good way to tell where your sub lies is to play one of the reference films mentioned on this forum. The DTS version of "The Haunting" should pressurize your living room. Check out the scene where Eleanor gets fastened to the bed as the ghost of Hugh Crane rearranges the architecture! Or "War of the Worlds", when the first tripod emerges from beneath the street. More tellingly, at the very end of the film, in Boston, when the last tripod collapses, there is an incredible amout of bass going on, but the second the tripod hits the ground there is a subsonic burst way deeper than the other bass going on.

Good luck with your new sub. I'm not familiar with the make and model, but I hope it serves you well!

You didn't listen to other subs in the store before you bought this one?

I listened to it at the store and it sounded fine. However, I did not have a ton of time to demo it as I had to leave for an emergency. Since I traveled over an hour to listen to it, I decided to buy it and test it more at home. I've had it for about 3 weeks now and have yet to find time to really test it (my wife and I just had our first child 4 weeks ago).

Ideally what you hope for in a sub is power, extension, and cleanness. Bass takes the most power of any segment of the audio spectrum. At a good listening level your sub should be a good match for the rest of your speakers.

You do not want the sub to add coloration to your system. You should not be aware of it on a male spaeking voice.

A good sub for HT will go to near subsonic frequencies. Many mid-grade subs can make it down to 40Hz or a little lower, and that's generaaly fine for music (the lowest note on a four string bass is around 44Hz). But movies often have the LFE track putting out frequencies in the teens! These are more felt than heard.

I used to own a Mirage box sub with about 90 watts. It sounded decent with music, even added a little oomph to the bass. But when I got my current sub, a 500 watt cylander with response flat down to 20Hz, I was amazed at the difference. I realized my old sub was adding color to the sound of my system. The new sub was virtually audibly invisible, but when bass was called for, it delivered!

A good way to tell where your sub lies is to play one of the reference films mentioned on this forum. The DTS version of "The Haunting" should pressurize your living room. Check out the scene where Eleanor gets fastened to the bed as the ghost of Hugh Crane rearranges the architecture! Or "War of the Worlds", when the first tripod emerges from beneath the street. More tellingly, at the very end of the film, in Boston, when the last tripod collapses, there is an incredible amout of bass going on, but the second the tripod hits the ground there is a subsonic burst way deeper than the other bass going on.

Good luck with your new sub. I'm not familiar with the make and model, but I hope it serves you well!

Thanks! I will try that. For the make and model, it is a Definitive Technology ProSub 100. I purchased it for less than $300 and it has a 5 year warranty on the driver and a 3 year warranty on the amp.

With the Warranty you have just feel free to dial it in and push the sub as you would with any other sub. You are covered even if something happens to it :)

First things to inspect...

Inspect the corners,edges for any damage. Check the plate amp for damage,knobs too lose from too much toying around at the store.

If you can play some sine waves for 5-10 seconds 31.5Hz and 20Hz ,at a good volume listen for any air leaks,abnormal noises emanating from the cabinet/driver.


Do not let the subs play sine waves for a long period of time,this is a real VC killer and of little use. 5-10 second bursts are all that is needed.


You should be A ok.

I'm not a sub expert. So take this with a grain of salt.

If possible, turn down the other speakers so as to not handycap this test. Run a repeating frequency sweep with your head fairly close to the sub. I'm talking a few inches. Do have the volume turn down so as to not cause hearing damage. Listen for any rattling or strange distortions that may be due to air leakage. Put your hand behind the sub where the controls and inputs are located and feel for air movement. There shouldn't be any.

Play something musical as its more revealing than a movie. When bass notes are played, do they sound like the instrument? Does a kettle drum sound like a kettle drum. Bass guitars sound like bass guitars? Think attack, overhand and duration.