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Best $200 sub for music?

post #1 of 16
7/5/10 at 12:46pm
Thread Starter 
Hey Guys - I'm looking for a sub around the $200 price point. I'll be using it for 75% music and 25% movies. I was looking into the BIC America F12 but read that it's not real good for music. Plus it's a bit big for my studio apartment (that's what she said?). Thanks for your feedback!
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post #2 of 16
7/5/10 at 12:52pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by guru_ck View Post

Hey Guys - I'm looking for a sub around the $200 price point. I'll be using it for 75% music and 25% movies. I was looking into the BIC America F12 but read that it's not real good for music. Plus it's a bit big for my studio apartment (that's what she said?). Thanks for your feedback!

If you can find an Energy ESW-V8 its a great small room sub for music. Nothing below 30Hz but then most music doesn't go anywhere near down there anyways.
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post #3 of 16
7/5/10 at 12:57pm
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Quote:
Originally Posted by EnergyOwner View Post

If you can find an Energy ESW-V8 its a great small room sub for music. Nothing below 30Hz but then most music doesn't go anywhere near down there anyways.

How does this compare? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-023-_-Product

I couldn't find the ESW-V8 on Energy's site.
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post #4 of 16
7/5/10 at 1:02pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by guru_ck View Post

How does this compare? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-023-_-Product

I couldn't find the ESW-V8 on Energy's site.

Unfortunately its been recently discontinued. wwstereo and Vann's used to sell it for around $225 on sale. Its leaps and bounds better than the C8.
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post #5 of 16
7/5/10 at 1:05pm
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Quote:
Originally Posted by EnergyOwner View Post

Unfortunately its been recently discontinued. wwstereo and Vann's used to sell it for around $225 on sale. Its leaps and bounds better than the C8.

Hmm then I'm gonna have to scratch that off my list. There are some good deals on Klipsch right now: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...name=Subwoofer

Anyone recommend a specific model? Would this be better than the BIC for music?
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post #6 of 16
7/5/10 at 2:11pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by EnergyOwner View Post

If you can find an Energy ESW-V8 its a great small room sub for music. Nothing below 30Hz but then most music doesn't go anywhere near down there anyways.

Plenty of my music goes that low. Movies definitely have a lot more low end material. My 8" isn't cutting it for either (nor games), so if a sub won't do anything below ~30, I wouldn't recommend it just from my experiences. I don't know a thing about that particular Energy 8" though.
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post #7 of 16
7/5/10 at 2:36pm
You might be able to find an ESW-V8 or Mirage Prestige S8 used (ebay, Audiogon). The Mirage is essentially the same sub was the Energy version. Vann's has the Mirage Presitge S8 for $350 new, but they have some in the clearance section that have been serviced that are a little cheaper. I'm selling one on ebay as well.

Outlaw is selling the Final Sound S110 subs for $199 + shipping. There isn't a whole lot of info on them... but the limited info suggests they are pretty solid sounding subs. Given that they were designed to mate with Final Sound's electrostatic speakers - they should have pretty clean SQ.

Another option if you can raise your budget a bit would the an Emotive Ultra Sub10 - on sale right now for $270. I have the Ultra 12 and I'm very impressed with it for the $$.
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post #8 of 16
7/5/10 at 3:13pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by alphaiii View Post

You might be able to find an ESW-V8 or Mirage Prestige S8 used (ebay, Audiogon). The Mirage is essentially the same sub was the Energy version. Vann's has the Mirage Presitge S8 for $350 new, but they have some in the clearance section that have been serviced that are a little cheaper. I'm selling one on ebay as well.

Outlaw is selling the Final Sound S110 subs for $199 + shipping. There isn't a whole lot of info on them... but the limited info suggests they are pretty solid sounding subs. Given that they were designed to mate with Final Sound's electrostatic speakers - they should have pretty clean SQ.

Another option if you can raise your budget a bit would the an Emotive Ultra Sub10 - on sale right now for $270. I have the Ultra 12 and I'm very impressed with it for the $$.

Thanks. Looks like I'm going to order the Emotive 10.
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post #9 of 16
7/5/10 at 3:16pm
Thread Starter 
Uh - noticed that this sub doesn't take the standard one cable configuration: http://emotiva.com/ultra-subs/sub_controls2-650w.jpg

What would I need to hook this up to my AVRs sub pre-out?

Edit: Read the manual haha. Looks like I just need to connect the single cable to the top white jack.
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post #10 of 16
7/5/10 at 4:09pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by BobbyBobo View Post

Plenty of my music goes that low.

Not really.
Quote:


Movies definitely have a lot more low end material.

Absolutely. In a studio apt, a good 8" or a 10" will probably be enough if you don't want to get evicted.
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post #11 of 16
7/5/10 at 5:33pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by EnergyOwner View Post

Not really.

What music am I listening to? The lowest fundamental bass note of many of the bands I listen to (including some of my own recordings) go below 30 hz.
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post #12 of 16
7/5/10 at 5:58pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by BobbyBobo View Post

What music am I listening to? The lowest fundamental bass note of many of the bands I listen to (including some of my own recordings) go below 30 hz.

Good for you. Are you the OP? No. Perhaps his taste in music is not the same as yours. A lot of the recent dance and rap has lots of bass below 40hz but most music does not. Dance and rap are not "most music".
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post #13 of 16
7/5/10 at 7:35pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by EnergyOwner View Post

Good for you. Are you the OP? No. Perhaps his taste in music is not the same as yours. A lot of the recent dance and rap has lots of bass below 40hz but most music does not. Dance and rap are not "most music".

You feel the need to be a smart ass why? My intentions were not to belittle your knowledge (didn't think I came off that way at all), just to tell the guy my experience. He didn't list specific music he listened to, but maybe you should tell him what he should listen to so that it'll fit the sub you think he should get.
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post #14 of 16
7/5/10 at 7:53pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by BobbyBobo View Post

You feel the need to be a smart ass why? My intentions were not to belittle your knowledge (didn't think I came off that way at all), just to tell the guy my experience. He didn't list specific music he listened to, but maybe you should tell him what he should listen to so that it'll fit the sub you think he should get.

Easy there. Intention is not always obvious on an internet forum. I'm not trying to be a smart ass. OP wants a sub for music in a small space. Most music (not yours and probably not the 30% of people who listen to pop, R&B or rap/hip-hop) does not contain fundamentals below 30Hz so its a good guess that, for music, the sub does not need to go down too low. A decent sub at that price will be a challenge, doubly so for music as it needs to be clean in the 30hz+ region. The lowest note on a 4 string base is 40hz. On a piano its 28hz. This covers 50% or more of music. The tradeoff between extension and accuracy is probably worth it. Even for sub-30hz content, its a good idea to keep the shaking to a minimum in a shared environment like an apartment.
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post #15 of 16
7/5/10 at 8:21pm
Thread Starter 
I listen to a big variety which includes hip-hop, pop, dance, techno, alternative, rock, oldies, etc. Hope I made a good decision purchasing the Emotiva.
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post #16 of 16
7/5/10 at 8:49pm
Looks like you'll be happy with it: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...1#post18646121
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