Pro subwoofers for Home Theater use?

I would like to see the -3 point. Very few of the pro subs are meant to go below 40hz. Just because it can claim extension to 20 does not mean it does it well. Some subs use numbers as low as -10dB and claim they can play a certain frequency

The scary part to me is the warning in the manual not to touch the back panel because it gets very hot and could cause skin damage.

The pro offerings are not designed for the kind of subsonic or even 20-35 Hz output that is desired in HT.

There really is no point in using them with all of the affordable and capable HT subwoofers available.

If you consider jtr pro subs then it might be a good choice. I plan on getting one

123db.......at 80hz. No distortion spec. Not suitable for home use.

How about 116 from 15-85 ha. That what the captivator should do but I guess its more of a home sub designed by a pro guy.

The Growler would be the pro sub choice for JTRs lineup. Would be wicked to be running Growlers crossed over with T8s for mains along with a couple Captivators I don't want to know how deaf I would be in one weeks time!

Just becasue it "says" 20 or 30Hz dows not mean it iwll do that -at any real level.

Your tweeters in your full range loudspeakers will do 1Hz (yes ONE Hz) with no problem at all. You just won't be able to hear it.

Unless you can get a response graph-I would be VERY leary. Even if you found a spec that said -3dB-that would also be suspect. There are quite a few REAL pro subs who list a -3dB spec-but when you look at THEIR measured graphs-you find that at the published -3dB number is actually -9dB (as measured from the rated sensitivity).

You CANNOT use a single number to describe a spec. It has to be tied to other numbers.

Why bother?
Unless there is some compelling reason like you are getting them for free, then why not just get the right tool for the job?

Just my $.02.

I mean pro subs are meant to play loud in their designed freq range, bass guitar, bass drum ,etc. They are not made with Terminator Salvation and WOTW in mind.

Exactly. I mean if you want pro, there are pro drivers that will give you the efficiency AND have enough excursion that you could get the extension as well.
TC Sounds has a new pro driver slated to come out in the near future, killer.
But, pre-made setups are not well-suited for HT use.

OK, well maybe you fellows are correct, BUT I probably have the MOST "inept" stand-alone sub that DT ever built, the diminutive PRO Sub 100 (virtually the same as the current Pro Sub 400, I believe). Nevertheless...this thing fills in VERY well with my DT BP-2004. The 100 is "tight" as it is only a 10" speaker but the amp plugs along and handles material like "U-571" depth charges very well. It might not shake your guts loose, but for those that are not looking for the aforementioned and are wanting a fair representation of depth without extreme volume, I would not dismiss the Pro Subs quite so quickly, especially anything bigger than my 100/(newer) 400. If you have the money and the thirst for it, go for it !

...unless it is of the Danley variety (TH50, DTS-20, TH221,etc). Deliberately left off the DTS-10 because it was designed for HT.

Perhaps, if you want a stadium sized enclosure in your room, then yes. But, not traditional direct radiating pro sound driver cabinets.

But, they simply don't have the extension that most of us crave, unless you using multiples of them. Everyone's demands are different, but most of use want 15 Hz or lower with authority. If you are goint that route, then why not just get one or two subs that are designed to do it in the first place.

Sure you can slap a 350sb/600hp powerplant in a Yugo, but it will never be a Corvette.

Hey man, to each his own. If you want to use Pro Subs, then go for it.

Your points are accurate. The 100/400 will never get you to 15Hz...or even 20Hz for that matter. I actually agree with you, but not everyone is looking for the 15Hz @ 120dB. BTW, most people would be astonished at how much NEVER sees 15Hz in movie material. 99% of a movie is hitting lows of about 40Hz. The ProSub 100/400 is a champ at 35-50Hz. It's utilitarian. For strong, gut-pounding bass at 20Hz, its not going to be adequate.

I respectully disagree with the content below 40Hz.

If you look a the plots over at the master directory of movies with bass thread, almost if not all of them have plenty of content below 20Hz, even many, many with very strong content below 10Hz. I am always amazed at the objects shaking in my room, all when there is sometimes no audible content.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=755493
Check the waterfall plots...

This trend is only going to increase exponentially with DTSMA and TrueHD audio providing more bandwidth and the explosion of the HT subwoofer market.

One may choose to ignore all the subsonic content and associated house shaking bass, but that is up to the individual.

But, it is sweet and intoxicating when you experience it.

If there weren't any content worth reproducing, no one would bother wasting the bandwidth to put it on the Blu-Ray or build subwoofers that could reproduce it. They would simply put a high pass filter when mixing the audio and eliminate everything audible below 20Hz...

Well, enjoy it ! Give me cannon shots and depth charges like on U-571, but phantom rumbling for no "apparent" (no audible content) is not a fun-filled night for everyone.

Like I said, one can choose to ignore it or even pretend it is not there.

But the fact is that the explosions that you enjoy have harmonics that add to their impact that are not always "aduible" per se, but add to the tactile and audible sensation that was intended by the audio technicians that have spent millions of dollars bringing the realism to you.

Tell Velodyne, SVS, HSU, eD, Epik, JL Audio, etc that there is no content and no one enjoys rumbling. They could save a ton of effort and money making their sub's extension go to 15Hz or below. After all it takes the most power, excursion, etc. to get there. HSU/SVS even offer variable tuning to accomplish this.

Hence, the reasons that Buttkickers and other tactile devices are so popular.
There is more to dpeth charges than 20-50 Hz.

Why? I require 125dBs from my subs, hence I have many of them.

There has been many threads on this so this is like beating a dead horse....but.....

There is a really simple point...

Those who have the ability to experience sub 20Hz content WILL NEVER GO BACK!!!! They know its missing when they don't have it too.

btw, I agree with you on people shouldnt dismiss pro subs! I think they are great if you add them to an ULF sub!

I love Pro designs from 30Hz on up....just get a sub system that does 10Hz to 50Hz well and cross it over into the pro designs.

Well said. My point was, if you have money to buy one sub, don't waste it on a pro model. Get something with some extension.
No one could argue that pro subs are not good for what they are designed to do.

Two of those do go down to 20Hz though and with their SPL output they can product similar performance down low with room gain as many other designs. Im not assuming anything about their quality though, Im not sure what 18" pro driver is used so it could be crap period and those boxes are seldom overbuilt so the resonance from them is something to consider.

I remember Ricci and LTD02 having a big debate over Pro subwoofers drivers vs something like the XXX over on the DIY forum. It was a very interesting discussion.

personally, like you I want ULF and SPL but I have no idea what the goals are for the OP.

Ya, that's not too bad if they can do it with enough usable SPL.

I would say the debate here is the quality of the build and the driver used more then if its a Pro audio sub period. JBL makes some incredible subs, Danley makes some incredible subs. I wouldn't snub them but Nady? Im not sure they make quality subs.

I agree with the guys saying that once you heard/experience it, theres no going back. I would find like a big part of the movie was missing.