$1K Music Sub advice needed

I would at least throw out dual Epik Legends. Recently bought two Empires and, while I am planning to return them due to their SIZE alone, they sound great with music. At least per Chad at Epik, two legends is about equal to a single empire.

If you have the space for these relatively large (for sealed subs they have a big box relatively to woofer size) subs, I'd consider.

BTW, I am planning to replace with dual SVS SB12-NSDs as much for aesthetics as anything else. The SB13-PLUS is very nice but currently only available with cherry side trim

I think the sb13- plus, the f15hp, or the uls-15 would serve you just fine in that space. What finish are your Aperions? If they are gloss black I would go with the f15hp since it comes in a gloss black finish.

While all of the subs you mentioned are very good. However, I think you would be hard pressed to beat the Empire for music at its price point.

The Empire only needs about 3 inches of clearance from the driver on each side. You can't beat it when it comes to clean output for music at its price point.
The other subs you listed would also do well but with significantly less output. If your listening habits are fairly tame and WAF is a major concern then a single Rythmik F15HP (or Hsu ULS) or dual SB-12's (or Legends) would be my next choices. Good luck.
Tim

For someone about to return / sell his new Empires this may be funny, but I completely second this. I've only even powered up one but it has me very impressed with its output and ability to sound tight and not boomy. The idea that these dual-firing subs are pretty inert is true too as it is now sitting behind my couch (between a sectional sofa and the wall) and has been used to hold a box of baby wipes while hitting 100db.

Now, the space issue is for real. This sucker is really wedged between a wall and the couch...believe me I've been trying to find a way to keep them because I love the sound, but I don't have even 3" on either side of the woofer. Still sounds pretty good but makes the couch unsittable during loud music due to, as you might expect, extreme vibration.

I'm a little worried about how I'm going to feel when transitioning to the much smaller and much lower output SB12-NSDs but such is life.

You have it set up like that and still the wife wants you to swap it out? :0

Epik should rip off the Trojan commercial for vibrators. They could show your set up with you and the wife watching a movie. Then an after-movie shot of the wife's hair blown back as she's getting off the couch.
Tim

FWIW: When I was looking to upgrade from a single SVS PB12-NSD for my ~3,375 cu.ft. basement HT room, the guys at Rythmik recommended going with dual F12s or a single F15. I think either of those recommendations would work even better in your space than in mine.

You know, she's actually being pretty reasonably cool about the whole thing (considering the initial reaction), hence our creative rearrangement. There was a brief moment this weekend when I thought I might even keep them, jack them up on rubber and use them as couch back 'tables'. But I'm concerned that for SQ, I now have dual, massive subs sitting side by side on one end of the room and they are firing directly into a couch and a wall. Even with only one powered up the bass is extremely uneven in the room...the whole reason I wanted two subs was to even this out.

Your commercial idea is legit. You should feel what sitting on the sofa feels like!

Ok...sorry to thread jack with my own personal dramas. Back to the search for the perfect 1K sub for music, which was pretty much my exact question when I went searching for my own subs (with more like a 1500-2000 budget for two).

The SB12-NSD is not going to be under powered for what you discribe above.

my sb13-plus matches my cherry Intimus speakers well, but i know the Verus are glossy so it may not be as good a match. If the sub color matching your speakers is important, i would talk to Jim at Salk Sound. He uses Rythmik drivers and amps and could custom make you one.

Out of curiosity, why did you upgrade from your PB12-NSD? Also, what did you upgrade to eventually.

The PB12-NSD had tremendous low-end output, especially around its tuning frequency, but it seemed to lack a bit of punch higher up. (I noticed this most with music, as I'd have to boost the sub level in the AVR to compensate.)

I was going to replace it with dual Rythmik F15s - I actually had an order placed with Rythmik - but after waiting three months for a back-order on the matte black finish I wanted, I cancelled the order and went with ChaseHomeTheater's redesigned SS-18.T sub package (2 x SS-18.1 w/ the Dayton SA1000 amp). I've been very happy with the ChaseHT subs, both for HT and music.