Hi Guys.
Apologize for the preschool type question, but I've never owned a nice powerful sub before (have always been content with a HTIB type sub 'til now) and I am having a tough time explaining to the wife, actually justifying, the purchase of a new Epik Knight to her and why it is "needed" for my HT upgrade.
Other than just loud 'BOOMS!" what else will a good quality and powerful sub, like the Epik Knight, bring to our home theater experience?
List all you can so I can get out of the dog house.
Thanks
Sean

Sean, do you ever get out to see action type movies in a really good movie theater? Image that sound or better in your home. Of course, it's not just the sub, but the whole system that does it.

A good sub (or two ;)) can make a movie so much more engaging. Instead of "booms" coming from the corner with a cheap sub, a good sub will integrate with the rest of your system. It should be pretty much seamless. A good sub gives a tactile quality to both music and HT - it can impact you in the chest and shake your furniture, but it can also work in subtle ways. I don't know exactly how to explain it, but great subs give whatever you're listening to a much more palpable, believable, "feels like you're actually there" quality. I don't want to exaggerate, but it's almost like adding another dimension to what you're listening to. Surround speakers can give sounds from all around you, but the presence of a good subwoofer brings it from a directional "3D" to a full experience where you cease to be "watching" the movie and actually become personally a part of the movie. It sounds strange, I know, but it really is true. The subtlety of accurate, deep bass just adds something that immerses you in the movie or music. It's well worth it, and your wife won't believe the difference a Knight makes over a HTIB sub. Good luck ;)

Hi Guys.
Apologize for the preschool type question, but I've never owned a nice powerful sub before (have always been content with a HTIB type sub 'til now) and I am having a tough time explaining to the wife, actually justifying, the purchase of a new Epik Knight to her and why it is "needed" for my HT upgrade.
Other than just loud 'BOOMS!" what else will a good quality and powerful sub, like the Epik Knight, bring to our home theater experience?
List all you can so I can get out of the dog house.
Thanks
Sean

The potential for structural damage:D:D

The potential for structural damage:D:D

True, though I don't think that'll help the cause with the wife, though :cool:

A good sub will:

- make your toes tingle
- make your head tingle
- make the room glow audibly
- take your breath away
- make you duck
- bring to life what the bass player's fingers are doing with each string
- let you hear the kick pedal as it hits the drumhead
- put you in the scene
- put you onstage
- get those endorphins flowing


Tim

A good sub will:

- make your toes tingle
- make your head tingle
- make the room glow audibly
- take your breath away
- make you duck
- bring to life what the bass player's fingers are doing with each string
- let you hear the kick pedal as it hits the drumhead
- put you in the scene
- put you onstage
- get those endorphins flowing


Tim

But it will only do those things if calibrated to match the rest of the system. Careful attention must be payed to placement, level, polarity and time delay. Once dialed in, you won't be able to localize it and the bass will "follow" the instruments. It's quite the effect. Don't be cheap and have it calibrated by a professional. You won't regret it.

But it will only do those things if calibrated to match the rest of the system. Careful attention must be payed to placement, level, polarity and time delay. Once dialed in, you won't be able to localize it and the bass will "follow" the instruments. It's quite the effect. Don't be cheap and have it calibrated by a professional. You won't regret it.

Fanbrain, I would respectfully disagree with you on that. Yes, proper calibration is very important, but I'd suggest getting past the learning curve and learning to do it properly. It is rewarding in many ways and doesn't require a whole lot of expensive equipment. You get to understand your system much better and become capable of recalibrating it if new equipment is added or things are moved or changed. I dare say, it is actually fun to do.

Fanbrain, I would respectfully disagree with you on that. Yes, proper calibration is very important, but I'd suggest getting past the learning curve and learning to do it properly. It is rewarding in many ways and doesn't require a whole lot of expensive equipment. You get to understand your system much better and become capable of recalibrating it if new equipment is added or things are moved or changed. I dare say, it is actually fun to do.

I agree...not to mention, if memory serves from another thread, I believe the OP is stretching the budget to get the Knight - professional calibration will likely cost another $200+. Totally agree that learning about your system is worthwhile. It's part of the hobby. I'm far from the most knowledgeable person on this forum, but even the small amount I know has proven to make things a lot more fun :).

But back to the original topic, everything that has been said in this thread about what a high quality sub can offer is true (minus perhaps the structural damage part - chances are you'll need a big DIY project to accomplish that ;)).

If you want, you may have to give... tell her a good sub will bring foot rubs and chores done with out asking.;)

Thank you all very much! Lots of great info to share with the wife!
I am very much looking forward to my new HT experience. Upgrading from a 65" rear projection with, dare I even say, Bose AM 15 7.1 speaker set up to front projection on a 120" x 70" screen with magnepan 1.6 Qrs, CC3, MC1's and eventually the new Epik Knight!
I don't think I'll ever want to leave the room!
Unfortunately, it looks like I've got quite a wait before the Knight gets here.

Picture of my face smiling like when I heard my neighbors yelling, "We are playing ball, come out" from outside when I was a kid.
It is immeasurable.