I am about to have an entertainment center/bookcase built and I am starting to do research on lots of electronics I plan to buy. I am a complete novice at this. The last set of speakers I bought were Marantz Imperial 5Gs way back in 1974! (they still sound pretty decent). Anyway, due to our room configuration, I need to buy the smallest subwoofer possible. The absolute largest floor width can only be 8 inches (case included). The depth is also limited, but the height is not. So far the only one I have found is the Pinnacle SUBcompact6. I would appreciate any advice on options I may have, especially on performance vs price. As an alternative, I may also consider an in-wall sub, so help on that would also be appreciated. Thanks.

Rob

I am about to have an entertainment center/bookcase built and I am starting to do research on lots of electronics I plan to buy. I am a complete novice at this. The last set of speakers I bought were Marantz Imperial 5Gs way back in 1974! (they still sound pretty decent). Anyway, due to our room configuration, I need to buy the smallest subwoofer possible. The absolute largest floor width can only be 8 inches (case included). The depth is also limited, but the height is not. So far the only one I have found is the Pinnacle SUBcompact6. I would appreciate any advice on options I may have, especially on performance vs price. As an alternative, I may also consider an in-wall sub, so help on that would also be appreciated. Thanks.

Rob

Are you planning on putting the sub in the cabinet? If so...that's a bad idea as it will certainly affect the sound quality in a bad way. The same applies if you plan on putting any speakers you buy inside cabinets. Even if you have them sitting flush with the front of the cabinet, the sound resonating from the speakers cabinets will reflect off the walls and back of the home built cabinet skewing the speakers rated frequency response. :(

A sub that small (max 8" box") is probably not even worth the effort. A 6" sub driver is a waste of money and effort. It simply cannot move enough air to be significant. An in-wall alternative would do a better job.

Are you planning on putting the sub in the cabinet? If so...that's a bad idea as it will certainly affect the sound quality in a bad way. The same applies if you plan on putting any speakers you buy inside cabinets. Even if you have them sitting flush with the front of the cabinet, the sound resonating from the speakers cabinets will reflect off the walls and back of the home built cabinet skewing the speakers rated frequency response. :(

No, I didn't plan on putting it in a cabinet. It's just that I only have a very small area of floor space available (unless I move the floor vent!).

A sub that small (max 8" box") is probably not even worth the effort. A 6" sub driver is a waste of money and effort. It simply cannot move enough air to be significant. An in-wall alternative would do a better job.

So you're saying this small Pinnacle is definitely not worth it ($500)?

Pinnacle engineers did it again! Housed in a cabinet approximately an 8" cube, the
SUBcompact 6 delivers deep, tight bass response down to 28 Hz in a stylish cabinet sure to please the most discerning eye. Ideal for apartments, condos, medium and small living areas where the subwoofer needs to be heard but not seen. The front firing configuration allows for placement in built-in wall units and other custom situations.
• Anti-Clipping Circuit for High Level Undistorted Bass!
• Auto On/Off Circuit with LED Indicator
• Includes High Quality Gold-plated 6' Interconnect Cable for Easy Hook-Up
• Phase & Crossover Bypass Switches
• Includes Non-Skid Rubber Feet for Stability
• Satellite Speaker Crossover: First Order @ 80 Hz
• Line Level Inputs and Speaker Level Inputs & Outputs
• Stylish Rounded Edge Cabinet Design
• Variable Crossover 50-150 Hz
• Volume Control
Component Drivers: (1) 6.5" Heavyweight Fibercone Woofer with Butyl Surround,
2" Voice Coil and 30 ounce Magnet
Subwoofer Low End Frequency Response: 28 Hz (- 3 dB)
Variable Subwoofer Low Pass Filter: 50-150 Hz
Satellite Speaker Crossover: First Order @ 80 Hz
System Power: 200 Watts
Dimensions: 7 7/8” Wide x 8” High x 9 3/8" Deep (with Amp & Grille)
Finish: Premium Black Vinyl
Weight: 16 lbs. each
Only 8” Cube!

Any brand recommendations for in wall subs? Is the Sonance Moderno at Best Buy a waste of $250?

Rob

So you're saying this small Pinnacle is definitely not worth it ($500)?
I dunno, a 16lb sub that's -3db@28Hz with a 6" driver for $500...

From a performance perspective, that's not a very good deal. Lots of better options at that price point...but...if it's the only thing that fits, I guess it's a moot point.

Just as a word of caution, if it's that tight a fit...it's not going to have any room to breathe (if it happens to be a ported sub) and probably not going to sound very good. The chances that having it crammed in there will be the optimal placement in the room are just not very good.

Kind of off topic, but I'm guessing you're planning on going with bookshelf speakers? If so, you're going to need to do some very careful consideration if you plan on putting them in an enclosed entertainment center.


Scott

So you're saying this small Pinnacle is definitely not worth it ($500)?

Pinnacle engineers did it again! Housed in a cabinet approximately an 8" cube, the
SUBcompact 6 delivers deep, tight bass response down to 28 Hz in a stylish cabinet sure to please the most discerning eye. Ideal for apartments, condos, medium and small living areas where the subwoofer needs to be heard but not seen. The front firing configuration allows for placement in built-in wall units and other custom situations.
• Anti-Clipping Circuit for High Level Undistorted Bass!
• Auto On/Off Circuit with LED Indicator
• Includes High Quality Gold-plated 6' Interconnect Cable for Easy Hook-Up
• Phase & Crossover Bypass Switches
• Includes Non-Skid Rubber Feet for Stability
• Satellite Speaker Crossover: First Order @ 80 Hz
• Line Level Inputs and Speaker Level Inputs & Outputs
• Stylish Rounded Edge Cabinet Design
• Variable Crossover 50-150 Hz
• Volume Control
Component Drivers: (1) 6.5" Heavyweight Fibercone Woofer with Butyl Surround,
2" Voice Coil and 30 ounce Magnet
Subwoofer Low End Frequency Response: 28 Hz (- 3 dB)
Variable Subwoofer Low Pass Filter: 50-150 Hz
Satellite Speaker Crossover: First Order @ 80 Hz
System Power: 200 Watts
Dimensions: 7 7/8” Wide x 8” High x 9 3/8" Deep (with Amp & Grille)
Finish: Premium Black Vinyl
Weight: 16 lbs. each
Only 8” Cube!

Any brand recommendations for in wall subs? Is the Sonance Moderno at Best Buy a waste of $250?

Rob

I think that would be a complete waste of $500 for that little sub. Do not buy into those specs! 28 hz from a 6" woofer? No way unless you are in a closet. It can't move that much air.

I don't know about the Sonance, but it will most likely do a better job than the little Pinnacle. It does, however, need a separate amp as do most in wall subs.

Do a Google search for in-wall subwoofers for other possible alternatives. I know Crutchfield carries a few.

If you have any end tables in the room, you can replace one with a large subwoofer.

Rob, keep in mind that there can be some creative ways to hide subwoofers. They do not need a direct line-of-site like other speakers. They can sometimes go behind furniture and as rockemsockem pointed out, many are just the right size to substitute for an end table.

I personally have pre-ordered a very large sub which I will use to replace an end table. I plan on having a piece of glass cut to the size of the top to protect it.

Rob, keep in mind that there can be some creative ways to hide subwoofers. They do not need a direct line-of-site like other speakers. They can sometimes go behind furniture and as rockemsockem pointed out, many are just the right size to substitute for an end table.

I personally have pre-ordered a very large sub which I will use to replace an end table. I plan on having a piece of glass cut to the size of the top to protect it.

Trust me, the weirdness of our room layout (structurally) has me scratching my head about where to put this darn thing. It's a very open floor plan. The entertainment center is going to cover one entire wall (facing the couch). Left of the EC is a hallway, left of that is a den wide open to the living room and left of that (back left of the couch) is a completely open dining room. The wall right of the EC angles out at you at 50 degrees and almost immediately (this is the spot with the 8" floorspace and room on that wall for an in-wall) comes to a door, fireplace (directly right of the couch), and another door. Behind the couch is a large open kitchen and a short wall separating the kitchen from the dining room. There is no room between the couch and the wall. We have a love seat and a couch and no room for an end table. We do have a coffee table in front of the couch, but I doubt the wife will let me park a sub under it!

Rob

That room sound like quite a challenge. The fact that it has a couple of openings to the rest of the house makes it even more important that your sub has some ooph. Other than the in wall possibilities, you might want to consider designing the EC to allow for the sub to be concealed behind a grill.

How about calling eD and have them build you a small footprint, tall sub? Or a sub/coffee table:) They can custom build whatever you need!! And the price would be right!
http://www.edesignaudio.com/edv2/homeaudioenclosure.php

Other than the in wall possibilities, you might want to consider designing the EC to allow for the sub to be concealed behind a grill.

Doesn't that mean you end up having to deal with vibration issues?

Rob

You could build a portion of the EC so that it sort of goes around the sub, but the sub would be actually resting on the floor and not in contact with the furniture.