Hi,

I have $500 budget, what is the best self powered Subwoofer I can get.
Yes T.H.E B.E.S.T !

HT Room size: 16ft x 24ft

Usage: Movie 90% and Music 10%.

Please mention if the sub is FRONT or DOWN firing model.


Many Thank folks :) :) :)

Down firing:
http://hsuresearch.com/products/vtf-2-mk3.html

Front firing but color choices are limited, silver and white are on overstock sale:
https://svsound.com/products-sub-box-pb12nsd.cfm

Front firing
https://svsound.com/products-sub-box-10nsd.cfm

Down firing with smaller footprint
https://svsound.com/products-sub-cyl-pcpow3.cfm

Down firing:
http://hsuresearch.com/products/vtf-2-mk3.html

Front firing but color choices are limited, silver and white are on overstock sale:
https://svsound.com/products-sub-box-pb12nsd.cfm

Front firing
https://svsound.com/products-sub-box-10nsd.cfm

Down firing with smaller footprint
https://svsound.com/products-sub-cyl-pcpow3.cfm


If Vann's still has any, I would recommend the Mirage S-12 as well. I run dual S-12's, and I am getting comparable performance to some of the best subs in the War of the Worlds comparison thread (not counting the freaks getting 114+ with thir DIY and multi thousand $$ woofers). I have also run frequency testing in my room, and my Mirage is pretty flat to 20 Hz, a little drop at 19, useable but low 18, and readable but useless at 17.

There is no such thing as the best for everyone. Different individuals have different preferences. You will not go wrong with any of the subs mentioned so far. Unfortunately, the Mirage S-12 is no longer available (although it has risen from the ashes before, and might again), but any of the Hsu or SVS models mentioned would be a fine choice. Which one is best for you depends on your room as well as your subjective preferences.

If you are looking for votes, I'd go with the SVS PB-12 NSD in that room and with your listening habits. But that's only one person's opinion. You are certain to get others. No one is "right" or "wrong."

FWIW, there is no audible reason to care whether a sub is front or down firing. Everything else being approximately equal, they will sound alike and have the same effect on your neighbors (if that is a concern).

Re: Down and front firing:

I feel Front Firing should be a better option than the down firing.

Look all the speakers are all front firing model, that should the right thing to do, or?

Appreciate for any Sub recommendation, how about the main stream brand like Klipsch, Infinity, JBL, Cerwin Vega etc.?

Actually I have allready 2 powered Subs in my HT room:
1 SVS PB2-ULTRA. 2 x 12" Driver, Down Firing
1 Velodyne F-1500BF. 15" Driver, Front Firing

I am just Bass hungry, looking for the third extra BASS . . .

I don't know how accurate they are, but if you can stretch your budget the Hsu VTF-3.3 had numbers that just killed (in the war of the worlds thread) about anything else at that price point. Significantly better- if they are accurate.

I don't see that any $500 sub will add that much to what you already have. If you want more or better bass, I think you want to be moving up, not down.

I don't see that any $500 sub will add that much to what you already have. If you want more or better bass, I think you want to be moving up, not down.

Yes, I totally agree, may be I make myself foolish with this request.

I'm just thinking, may be any Sub that sub of that existing Subs may fill in some gap the big brothers don't have in particular area or situation. It is like in basketball, one much shorter player can accomplish what the big tall guys can not do, in speed for example.

OK if there any third BASSIST we are looking for, regardless the budget (but within those 2 existing bassist).

Who it might be ? Any suggestion ? :p

A Dayton 12" MKIII from parts express is a sub I would recommend. It
comes in kit form, but you can put it together in 45 min. The cabinet is
all pre-assembled. All you have to do is put on the spiked feet, mount
the plata amp w/about 9 screws, and mount the 12" driver using the supplied
hex hed socket screws.

I have the 10" MKIII Dayton in a second smaller home theater, and it's
great...one of the best subs I've heard. Some subs I have owned are
HSU VTF-2, Velodyne ULD12, and in my main home theater a HSU VTF3.3 w/turbo)

At $536 plus shipping I don't think it can be beat....IMO. A 500W amp, massive
Dayton 12" driver.

It's pretty plain looking, but for some people performance comes first.
Go to partsexpress web and do a quick search on Dayton loudspeakers.

Just thought I'd throw this in as an alternative to the HSU, SVS etc recommendations.
But you can't go wrong with any of the subs already mentioned in
this thread.....vardo

Why not wait to see how the new SVS Ultra 13 shapes up?

Considering the subs you already have, IMO you'd be a lot better off putting that $500 towards EQ and room treatments (bass traps) rather than a third sub. Anything you can get for $500 is not going to give you anything more than the higher quality subs you already have. A third sub might help even out your frequency response, but you won't be able to tell without EQ.

My endorsement would go to the PSB Subsonic 6i, I chose this over the SVS PB12NSD and am very happy with it. It can hit 95db at 20HZ in a 7500 cubic foot room, I think that's pretty impressive. DMC electronics has a great price for them on the web. Sound and Vision subwoofer guru did recent tests on the PSB and SVS, they are both good subs. IMO, either one would serve you well. Check it out:

PSB:
http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/speakers/2170/test-bench-psb-g-design-home-theater-speaker-system.html

SVS:
http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/speakers/1932/test-bench-svs-sbs-01-home-theater-speaker-system.html

I couldn't decide between these two so I seeked some advice from Craigsub in another thread. Great advice.

Forgot to mention that the PSB is front firing, it also has gain controls on the front of the sub, which is pretty cool IMO.

Re: Down and front firing:

I feel Front Firing should be a better option than the down firing.

Look all the speakers are all front firing model, that should the right thing to do, or?

Appreciate for any Sub recommendation, how about the main stream brand like Klipsch, Infinity, JBL, Cerwin Vega etc.?

Actually I have allready 2 powered Subs in my HT room:
1 SVS PB2-ULTRA. 2 x 12" Driver, Down Firing
1 Velodyne F-1500BF. 15" Driver, Front Firing

I am just Bass hungry, looking for the third extra BASS . . .
If I understand correctly, you are referring to main speakers always being front firing. That is true because higher frequencies are directional, while bass is not. Sub designers also take the direction into account and can easily compensate if necessary.

However, many audio decisions are made based on gut feelings, so if front firing is your preference, no reason not to go that way.

Of course, after seeing what you already have, I'd agree with those who have said that your money would be better spent elsewhere.

For ~ $500, you could get a Velodyne SMS-1, if you haven't already equalized. Or bass traps, if the room and/or significant other allows. Or Buttkickers. Or the Hsu MBM-12 Mid-bass Module. Any of these are likely to improve your bass enjoyment more noticeably than another sub, especially one that is not equal to the ones you have.

If Vann's still has any, I would recommend the Mirage S-12 as well. I run dual S-12's, and I am getting comparable performance to some of the best subs in the War of the Worlds comparison thread (not counting the freaks getting 114+ with thir DIY and multi thousand $$ woofers). I have also run frequency testing in my room, and my Mirage is pretty flat to 20 Hz, a little drop at 19, useable but low 18, and readable but useless at 17.
I would think dual Mirage S12 would be rather impressive. However, I got rid of mine and bought a SVS PB10-NSD and imho I prefer the PB10. The S12 is louder above 40 Hz but down low the PB10-NSD is a bit more articulate. Either way, the op could not go wrong with either of these subs BUT he may want to look into bass traps and such as already been suggested. Cneely you do make a very good point. :) :)

SVS PB-10 all the way! It is fantastic for the money.

Many thanks for all the inputs, It is useful and in the same time also very educational.
Very appreciados!

A bit off topic:
I have ONKYO TX-DX989 A/V Receiver, it has 2 sub outputs (RCA type), as I have used out those 2 output how I connect the third sub?
Can I just use a RCA 1 to 2 splitter and split one of the RCA output to 2 RCAs, so I have total 3 instead of 2 sub outputs?

A bit off topic:
I have ONKYO TX-DX989 A/V Receiver, it has 2 sub outputs (RCA type), as I have used out those 2 output how I connect the third sub?
Can I just use a RCA 1 to 2 splitter and split one of the RCA output to 2 RCAs, so I have total 3 instead of 2 sub outputs?

Yes.

At what freq. defines "subsonic"?


I bought a PB-10, expect it to come in tomorrow....does it go subsonic? I understand the principal is the lower and louder...the better. Obviously you want a quality sub that can keep up with any soundtrack in it's path...at least that is my goal.

I am leaning to Hsu VTF3-MK3 with Turbocharger, I hope I will make the right decision. Or?

I am leaning to Hsu VTF3-MK3 with Turbocharger, I hope I will make the right decision. Or?


I just got a Hsu VTF-3 MK2 two days ago (same 12" sub but smaller amp + no turbo) and it is a monster. I mean it can shake my entire house. When there is a really big explosion in a movie the sub will actually put a shockwave through the floor under my feet. You can feel the floor ripple its kind of crazy.

I can only imagine that 3.3 + turbo you are getting would be extremely powerful. It is hard for me to imagine needing it unless you have your own auditorium lol.

Anyway I think you'll be very pleased with a Hsu sub! :)

At what freq. defines "subsonic"?


I bought a PB-10, expect it to come in tomorrow....does it go subsonic? I understand the principal is the lower and louder...the better. Obviously you want a quality sub that can keep up with any soundtrack in it's path...at least that is my goal.
Technically, "subsonic" is defined as "a speed less than that of sound in air," but here it is used interchangeably with infrasonic, "a frequency below the audibility range of the human ear," generally accepted to be 20Hz.

The PB10-NSD is tuned to 18Hz (which I find amazing for a 10" woofer), the same as the PB12-NSD, although it won't play as loud. Since in-room extention will often be 2-5dB lower, it is clearly capable of infrasonic response.

At what freq. defines "subsonic"?


I bought a PB-10, expect it to come in tomorrow....does it go subsonic? I understand the principal is the lower and louder...the better. Obviously you want a quality sub that can keep up with any soundtrack in it's path...at least that is my goal.

Yep, I had strong response to 17Hz in my room with a PB10.

I just got a Hsu VTF-3 MK2 two days ago (same 12" sub but smaller amp + no turbo) and it is a monster. I mean it can shake my entire house. When there is a really big explosion in a movie the sub will actually put a shockwave through the floor under my feet. You can feel the floor ripple its kind of crazy.

I can only imagine that 3.3 + turbo you are getting would be extremely powerful. It is hard for me to imagine needing it unless you have your own auditorium lol.

Anyway I think you'll be very pleased with a Hsu sub! :)

WOOOW, that's son of the BASS!

Tell me Apples, Do you mean I have to re-inforce my concrete floor?

What is your floor made of?

There is not a $500 sub that can keep up with your current subs(at reference levels). BTW, The Hsu vtf3.3 was not the best performing sub on the WOTW thread for the money(especially if you are looking at spl's). There was one listed in a 1500 cubic foot room. I am sure they a great subs.

There is not a $500 sub that can keep up with your current subs(at reference levels). BTW, The Hsu vtf3.3 was not the best performing sub on the WOTW thread for the money(especially if you are looking at spl's). There was one listed in a 1500 cubic foot room. I am sure they a great subs.

Sorry I don't get the whole meaning what you're trying to explain, can you be more specific and in plain English please? Thanks

...Do you mean I have to re-inforce my concrete floor?

What is your floor made of?
Concrete floor?

You'll probably never obtain the room shaking effects that some people brag about. My three subs on a concrete floor driven by over 1000 watts in my HT cannot shake the room like my full range (they really are!) speakers do with pipe organ music driven by 150 watts in my wooden floored living room music system. (I use Buttkickers to achieve as close as I can to that effect in the HT.)

If its any consolation, your sound will be cleaner without the floor itself acting as a resonator. I wish I could switch rooms for that reason. :(

WOOOW, that's son of the BASS!

Tell me Apples, Do you mean I have to re-inforce my concrete floor?

What is your floor made of?

Actually my "bat cave" theater is upstairs on the second floor (a dedicated room) about 17widex24longx8high feet.

The floor is wood so this may be contributing to the effect.

Regardless I have to keep the gain on the sub turned down low.

If I turn the gain to 30% or higher my ears will actually start to hurt while watching a movie.

I was saying that if you already own the svs ultra/2 and the velodyne that a $500 sub won't cut it, unless you build it. The vtf3.3 is a great sub, you should try it to compare to the others, but it is not $500. I was also commenting on someone mentioning another thread.

I would think dual Mirage S12 would be rather impressive. However, I got rid of mine and bought a SVS PB10-NSD and imho I prefer the PB10. The S12 is louder above 40 Hz but down low the PB10-NSD is a bit more articulate.


That's always the way I have seen people describe it as well. For those familiar with the thread, I rechecked my #'s on war of the worlds, and I am getting 113 dbs at -15 from reference, all speakers off except subs, at my listening position (4 feet from subs), when the alien pod emerges from the hole and steps on the pavement. That number compares quite favorably to all but the really heavy hitters in that thread (like the VTF-3.3 HO).

My wife came home when i was testing, and she thought it was thundering outside before she opened the door.

Also, my room is about 2500 cubic feet, wide open to the rest of the downstairs for about a total of 5000 cubic feet or so. If I could seal the room, it would be incredible!