Many thanks to forum members who helped me in my receiver and speaker purchases and all the other forum members who shared their thoughts, knowledge and experience in the other forum threads and discussions.
I am currently considering to add a sub to my system consist of denon x1100, acoustics speakers 2050i, 2020i and 2000ci. I had a quick look on ebay and have found the following goods and unsure if they are worth, at a good price and work well with my other gear.
YAMAHA YST-SW216 for $299
JBL VENUE SERIES 10" for $339
Q Acoustic 2070i for $359
Q Acoustic 7000si for $359
Velodyne Impact IMP10BE 10" for $390
I know svs is the value & quality for money. I cannot afford svs at the moment. I am wondering if any of these speakers would do a good job.
I think before anyone can really help you, we would need more information. How large is your room (cubic feet)? Is it closed off or open to other rooms? If it is open to other rooms one must add the cubic footage of those rooms. Is the subwoofer going to be used for mostly movies or mostly music? How loudly do you listen to movies/music? What are your subwoofer expectations?
While your two rooms aren't large, both together just puts it into a large size room (3,000 to 5,000 cubic feet or 85 to 142 cubic meters … with 2.5 meter high ceilings). I think there is probably an SVS dealer in Australia, so you might want to look at the PB-1000 ($500 in U.S.). It should give you adequate bass support you're looking for without driving your neighbors too crazy.
Also i need to mention that I live in an apartment. The apartment is on the ground floor. Therefore there is no one living below me. But there are ppl living above and on the side. Therefore I cannot turn the volume up too much.
Expectation is to hear fuller sounds in the movies and music as well as fuller and clear notes while listening music.
You might also consider DIY Dayton and MartyCube etc flat-pack subwoofer kits rumored here to be very good as well as very affordable and the Martycube even comes with specs and response measurements.
Many budget subwoofers are one-note wonders and few to none do 20Hz effectively. 20Hz might not add much audibly but it definitely helps with the visceral impact. Boominess helps nothing.
I bought two used PB10-NSDs for $270 each last year on Craigslist from two different individuals right before I was going to order a PB1000 from SVS 'damaged goods' returns/floor models sale page instead. Dumb luck I checked one last time after a full year of used shopping.
Admittedly, PB10 has analog amp with less accurate frequency/phase response and less effective high pass/limiter, rather than the updated PB1000 version with DSP, and my used subs are therefore more susceptible to accidental overpowering damage to the woofer. I need to be careful playing the opening of Edge of Tomorrow through them etc. Other than that, I doubt I could ever tell the difference in a blind listening test.
I found one Mirage Omni S-12 subwoofer on Craigslist for only $100 in perfect condition. The Omni is slightly boomy in the 40-80Hz range but it does have great extension. There is another one on SF Bay Area Craigslist today for $200 but it has a glued-on grill peg and glue on the grill. There is also an SVS PB12-Plus for $550 that I have been eyballing but it is too large and overpowered for the space it must fit into... now that I spilled the beans I expect someone will snatch that one up.
AVS Forum classifieds also have subwoofers. I never bought through AVS Forum so you need to ask around how to protect yourself.
Used equipment can be a very good deal sometimes, especially when everyone is unloading their old gear just before/after Christmas.
I have the EQ-Max 12 that I bought as a refurb from Velodyne. I works great with the NHT speakers I'm using in a bedroom for music only. It has plenty of low base without being boomy. The EQ-Max speakers also have a equalizer built in. I think the 10 would be a good choice.
The SVS is a superior sub. It will go deeper and with more output than the Velodyne, and do so more accurately. It's an excellent $500 U.S. sub. Only you can say whether that depth and accuracy is worth the extra money (not sure how much these subs will be in Australia).
As I said, the q acoustics aren't really subs. They are bass modules that barely go down to 50 Hz. Don't scrimp. The SVS is superior to the Velodyne and has a better chance at filling your volume, but if possible add a second PB-1000 down the road when funds are available.
Certainly better than the Q Acoustics. However, this ported Velodyne is below average, even at the $390 mark and questionable for music, but at least it's not at the price of the other Velodyne. It may work well for you for movies, but BIC subs might be a better choice if they are available. But you obviously don't have a grand selection of choices and don't want to spend the money for the SVS (I don't blame you, that is a premium price in Australia). Relax and get whatever sub you feel would work well for your room, and don't concern yourself about what I and others think. Just make sure whatever sub you get, you can return it.
Thank you for your input guys. Now I can clearly see that I have to step up with my purchase. Even afew hifi stores Ive spoken to did not want to sell Q Acoustics Q7000 10" subs as they would not match well with 2050i floorstandings. Currently Ive found the following subwoofers available in my budget. I like to hear about your recommendations and experience with these subwoofers.
Revel Concerta B120 Subwoofer - Silver Only for $750 @ Dennis White
Quadral QUBE 10" for $750 @ Dennis White
Sunfire SDS10 Subwoofer for $630 @ Dennis White
Definitive Technology SuperCube 2000 for $790 @ Eastwood Hifi
Definitive Technology SuperCube 3 for $700 @ Eastwood Hifi
Svs pb-1000 for $629 @ Lifestore
KLIPSCH SW-112 for $850 @ RIO
I am using my system for 60% movies and 40% music. The size of the area (open area) is 35sqm2. Thanks for your thoughts and inputs again.
Defently not that Klipsch SW-112. Especially for movies. Might as well go to walmart. The only Klipsch I would consider would be the R-115SW. But it looks like you want a small sub. So if you wanted Klipsch, then the R-112SW would be the next choice at $649.
Out of your list, I would probably go with the SVS. PB-1000. But you would be better to go with the SB-2000.
Some of these ID companies has some nice subs you should look into. Power Sound Audio, Reaction Audio, Rythmik, HSU. I find you get more bang for your money with them. And some even has free shipping.
EDIT: I just read you was down under. And I think there is a SVS dealer down there. So I would go with SVS, otherwise shipping will be $$$. Since its no free shipping from ID companies outside of the US.
Another thing you will get better smoother reponse with 2 subs. So maybe 2 SB-1000 subs or 2 SB-2000.
^ The OP lives in Australia and since his room is around 3,000 cu. ft. he'd be better off with the PB-2000, but may only be able to afford the PB-1000.
You are obviously looking for small subs that are not SVS. Small subs work great in small rooms. Too bad you don't have a small room. The Revel appears to be a very nice, musical sub. It only goes down to 36 Hz @ -3 dB, so it's not going to be very impressive for some LFE content, but should play most music well. That would be the same for all those on your list except the SVS (all nice little subs that won't get below mid 30 Hz with any kind of decent SPL). As I already said, choose whatever you like.
Are Revel Concerta B120 And Quadral QUBE 10" small subwoofers? They are 12" and 10" subwoofers. I really thought that they are mid-size subwoofers that can go below 25hz with no problem.
Put your mind at ease. Read each subwoofer's specifications ... except Def Tech's (their subs don't come within 10 dB of their stated specs).
Since you were willing to spend so much on inferior subs, why not put that extra money to good use and get a PB-2000 (or add a second PB-1000 down the road)? Your room volume and you will appreciate it.
Before i order my sub from svs, i like to ask two more questions.
1) will svs pb-1000 too strong and annoy my neighbours? My wife wants to confirm this. We just do not want to get any complain. We keep the volume at or below the point our neighbours wouldn't mind. Il still keep the system at the same volume level. But will sub make them annoyed? We live on the ground floor so noone living under us.
2) svs sb12-nsd vs pb-1000 for 50% movies, 25% tv shows and 25% music? Again for a 35sqm open area at an apartment?
By the way pb-2000 would be good but i assume jst too much for an apartment life.
Either you are in search of performance or you are in pursuit of impact. In an apartment, performance is what you are after.
I am using two PB10-NSD (equivalent to the PB1000) in a standard wood-frame apartment that is tiny compared to yours and on the third floor.
I chose SVS because the bang for buck of their 10" ported subwoofers cannot be beat and they perform ruler-flat to 20Hz or below.
I chose two subwoofers because the bass is smoother when more room modes are stimulated. Two subwoofers placed appropriately will even out the frequency response.
I use the dynamic range control and the loudness compensation to allow me to listen any time of day or night and still hear clear bass without annoying my neighbors.
If I have to, I use the temporary audio trim controls of the receiver to turn the sub down or the center up for dialog intelligibility.
I also use the input attenuator to align the loudness compensation to the program. See:
By applying the information in this one link you can 'drive' your home theater intelligently.
You do this by making sure that the program and loudness compensation align with each other so you hear clear bass without it becoming overbearing. You also use the dynamic range control to ensure that late night listening is undetectable by your neighbors.
If you know how to drive the system there is absolutely no reason for it to annoy anyone no matter what subwoofer you put in there. The PB1000 you bought is a great choice because it will save you money while getting you the performance you want.
If the impact is not good enough for you, place the sub right next to you. Then it really makes not much difference how the room modes work out because you are right next to the sub hearing its output directly. It might not sound good all over the room but in the sweet spot it will give you more of a tactile sensation from the bass without having to shake the entire building to feel it. You can even sit on the thing and get the same benefit of a shaker for free if you want to.
I think you are going to be very happy with your choice.
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