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Help Picking a Sub - Read the forums but still need advice

post #1 of 7
12/30/09 at 7:20am
Thread Starter 
Ok so I need a new sub:

Room is 19 X 13 X 8.5 w/ large double door opening to adjacent room
Primary use is for HT and Gaming probably 80% w/ 20% for music
Current Setup

Cambridge SoundWorks towers, center channel, and surround L/Rs. I can't find my specific speakers online anymore but they were like $1000 for the whole package. Apparently all they sell now is there smaller less expensive stuff, but I just got them last year

Pioneer Elite Receiver VSX-03TXH

I'm looking for something with impact so you can feel it in the room with a tight sound and enough boom to impress.

I'd like to keep it to $500 if possible but I can go a little higher if thats what's necessary to get what I want. The last thing I want to do is replace this speaker again as my last one broke.

Yesterday I went shopping and the salesman was really trying to push a Paradigm Seismic 10 on me for $800 which sounded really great in a much smaller screening room that I was in. Needless to say I was not sure it was adequate for my room.

Please help...tks
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post #2 of 7
12/30/09 at 8:33am
Quote:
Originally Posted by jkuch88 View Post

I'd like to keep it to $500 if possible but I can go a little higher if thats what's necessary to get what I want. The last thing I want to do is replace this speaker again as my last one broke.

At that price point, people will be recommending the MFW-15, but since quality is a concern, you should avoid that. Read the "I've had it up to here with.." thread for info on why.

I would also avoid pretty much anything in a real store, like a best buy or hhgregg or anything. you will beat it soundly with online offerings I list below.

Since you can go a little over $500, according to fairly consistent popular opinion HSU and SVS will have very good subs, some of the best you can get with good quality and excellent customer support. Find the subs on their sites that are around the $500-$600 price point.

The third one I've been considering would be Elemental Designs. Go to their site and see what's there around your budget, then do some forum searches on that model here and see what folks say. ED has been getting some pretty good feedback, from what I recall browsing the forum.

I don't have these. I currently have dual Mirage S-12's, but in moving to a new house with my HT room in the basement, I need more oomph since the cement walls don't shake down there.
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post #3 of 7
12/30/09 at 8:42am
Maybe the best advice is: DON'T LISTEN TO SALESMEN IN STEREO STORES !!!

If you really read this forum, you would know that there are MANY Internet Direct companies whose products will walk all over anything you find in the brick & mortar stores (Best Buy, Fryes, etc.) for the same money.

Take the time to look at all of the posts asking for advice for subwoofers in the $500 range. You will find MANY recomendations for the likes of HSU, SVS, ED, EPIK, Outlaw and others.

Bill C
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post #4 of 7
12/30/09 at 9:53am
SVS or eD will do nicely.
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post #5 of 7
12/30/09 at 10:06am
Quote:
Originally Posted by rnatalli View Post

SVS or eD will do nicely.

+1 ...and HSU
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post #6 of 7
12/30/09 at 2:41pm
Thread Starter 
Ok so from what I've read on all the postings on here I've seen everyone recommending SVS, HSU, and ED. What I'd like is some recommendations on which of their units would suffice in my room considering its rather large size and the large opening to the adjacent room. If the consensus is to reconsider my budget and go up to $1000 for a truly excellent sub that will last me the next 10 yrs then I will go down that road. I've already invested like $20K in my living room between my media equipment and my furniture so its not that big of a deal to me. I have a 58" Panny Plasma display, so I need an audio setup that can compliment this since I use a PS3 for blurays and I am listening to pristine audio. Do you all rate those 3 companies equally? Is their any solid way for me to make my choice or do I just decide on my price tag, and put the 3 companies in a hat and randomly pick a sub? Appearance does not matter to me, I'm all about the performance and quality of the product. Like I said, I want to feel the bass, not just hear it.
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post #7 of 7
12/31/09 at 7:43am
Elemental Designs (ED), HSU, and SVS all have dedicated threads on this forum. I suggest that you read them to find out what others results have been with their products. All have excellent service and quality.

At $1000 you bring in other companies to consider, such as Rythmik and Epik who also have dedicated threads. These too have excellent service and quality.

Go out to all of their websites and look for yourself at their products. You can, in most cases, call and speak with the owners to get their recomendations also. They are knowledgeable about their competition and will help you compare products.

Your room is not that large at 2100 C.F. so a single sub should suffice, but you are going to hear that two is better than one anyway. In the end, it's all up to you ... nobody can decide for you. Read as much as you can, pay your money, and take your chance on perfect bass (which by the way is impossible to acheive!).

Whatever you decide, good luck!

Bill C
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