AVS › AVS Forum › Audio › Subwoofers, Bass, and Transducers › Moving into a new house, need a sub recommendation
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Moving into a new house, need a sub recommendation

post #1 of 13
5/18/12 at 10:42am
Thread Starter 
I am looking mostly for HT, but do listen to music as well, probably about 80/20 split. The room in the basement where everything is going is ~ 15'x25'x8' = 3000 cubic ft.

This is my first dive into getting a more expensive audio system. I have always been in apartments where my abilities (and funds) were quite limited. I recently purchased a set of PSB speakers for my 5.1 setup
FL/FR - PSB T55
C - PSB C60
SL/SR - PSB S50

and I believe I have settled on the Denon AVR-891 for my receiver. Currently my investment in this (including the receiver) is $900, and I was looking to stay between $1100-$1300 for the full build, leaving me $200-$400 budget for my subwoofer. I narrowed it down to what I believe would be my best choices, but would like some opinions for me to make my final decision. I was thinking of getting either 2 x BIC PL-120s, 2 x Energy S10.3s or a BIC PL-200 and add a second one later down the line when I get more funds.

Unfortunately, I have no way to demo any of these so I have narrowed these choices down strictly based on reviews and reading on here. Will any of these options be enough to power my room size, or is my budget simply too low? Also, are my speakers nice enough to warrant waiting and saving for a truly good sub like an SVS, HSU, eD, etc. or do you think my choices are good compliments to my speakers? My time line for having enough funds to get a nicer sub ($600+) would probably take me to mid September. I currently have a 12" Sony 200W RMS sub from a HTIB purchase from when I was in college that could somewhat bridge that gap, although not very well.

Thanks ahead of time for any help.
Reply
Reply

AVS Top Picks

post #2 of 13
5/18/12 at 3:53pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by wydileie View Post

I am looking mostly for HT, but do listen to music as well, probably about 80/20 split. The room in the basement where everything is going is ~ 15'x25'x8' = 3000 cubic ft. ...
. . .
I was thinking of getting either 2 x BIC PL-120s, 2 x Energy S10.3s or a BIC PL-200 and add a second one later down the line when I get more funds.

I vote for dual S10.3s. They're impressive performers for their size and (when on sale for $200) their price.

In a 3,000 cu.ft. basement HT space, they may not rattle your fillings or deliver gut-punching bass, but they should provide a decent amount of output and LFE enjoyment.
Reply
Reply
post #3 of 13
5/18/12 at 3:59pm
I say save for a good sub, and keep an eye out for decent used ones in the meantime. Regularly check ebay, audiogin, the classifieds at this audio message board and others, craigslist, etc. Awesome deals do pop up from time to time, trust me on that. Patience is rewarded here. There is no substitution for great bass.
Reply
Reply
post #4 of 13
5/19/12 at 10:07am
Thread Starter 
Thanks for the advice from both of you. I was first leaning towards the dual Energy S10.3s as well but I think I am going to hold out and see if I can put my $400 into finding a deal, and if not just save the money to buy a new one. I mean, I got all those PSB speakers for $600, I thought that was a pretty good deal, so maybe the same thing can happen with the sub!
Reply
Reply
post #5 of 13
5/19/12 at 6:03pm
The S10.3s are a deal, one of the the best you are likely to find. Unless you plan on holding out AND increasing your budget, you won't do any better.
Reply
Reply
post #6 of 13
5/19/12 at 6:29pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by cel4145 View Post

The S10.3s are a deal, one of the the best you are likely to find. Unless you plan on holding out AND increasing your budget, you won't do any better.

+1

Only way you're going to do better is increasing the budget.
Reply
Reply
post #7 of 13
5/20/12 at 2:45pm
Thread Starter 
Based off your guys suggestions of needing to increase my budget, I got permission from the wife so it is now time to go big or go home. I'm now looking around $800. I really like the Epik Empire, but I don't know if the sealed design will properly fill up my space, even with 600W. Does anyone have any idea on whether that would work?

Some others on my radar are the SVS PB12-NSD, HSU VTF3-MK4 and the Outlaw LFM-1 EX. With any of these have enough power to really make me feel it in the large space?
Reply
Reply
post #8 of 13
5/20/12 at 2:56pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by wydileie View Post

Based off your guys suggestions of needing to increase my budget, I got permission from the wife so it is now time to go big or go home. I'm now looking around $800. I really like the Epik Empire, but I don't know if the sealed design will properly fill up my space, even with 600W. Does anyone have any idea on whether that would work?

Some others on my radar are the SVS PB12-NSD, HSU VTF3-MK4 and the Outlaw LFM-1 EX. With any of these have enough power to really make me feel it in the large space?

I think the Empire would be good in that space.
Reply
Reply
post #9 of 13
5/20/12 at 3:14pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by wydileie View Post

Based off your guys suggestions of needing to increase my budget, I got permission from the wife so it is now time to go big or go home. I'm now looking around $800. I really like the Epik Empire, but I don't know if the sealed design will properly fill up my space, even with 600W. Does anyone have any idea on whether that would work?

Some others on my radar are the SVS PB12-NSD, HSU VTF3-MK4 and the Outlaw LFM-1 EX. With any of these have enough power to really make me feel it in the large space?

Any of those subs will get the job done, pick the one that you like best for whatever reason.
Reply
Reply
post #10 of 13
5/20/12 at 4:40pm
The Empire will have the most output overall, but not deep bass output. Too much attention is paid to sealed vs unsealed around here. The difference is slim except at the ported subs tuning point. In the case of the Outlaw and Hsu, you have some choice of tuning points. The Empire will have much more output than the ported subs above 40 hz. If it's deep bass you're after, go for the Hsu VTF3, that can dig down to 16 hz before rolling off. It will also run neck-to-neck with the Outlaw in output and best the PB12 there as well.
Reply
Reply
post #11 of 13
5/20/12 at 4:51pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by shadyJ View Post

The Empire will have the most output overall, but not deep bass output. Too much attention is paid to sealed vs unsealed around here. The difference is slim except at the ported subs tuning point. In the case of the Outlaw and Hsu, you have some choice of tuning points. The Empire will have much more output than the ported subs above 40 hz. If it's deep bass you're after, go for the Hsu VTF3, that can dig down to 16 hz before rolling off. It will also run neck-to-neck with the Outlaw in output and best the PB12 there as well.

+1 for the Hsu. I have the last model, mk3, in my den with the same dimensions. Definitely worth the wait and extra cash. It's an awesome sub.
Reply
Reply
post #12 of 13
5/20/12 at 6:19pm
Go with the Hsu vtf3 mk4 and don't look back. I have one and it fills my room nicely and I have a bigger room them yours.
Reply
Reply
post #13 of 13
5/21/12 at 9:11am
Thread Starter 
I'm definitely looking for deeper bass. My mains can already handle a lot of the mid bass frequencies so I wasn't too worried about that.

Having said all that, I think I have come full circle here and decided to get the 2x Energy S10.3s and using the additional leverage I gained with the wife for not spending the money to start a DIY subwoofer project. I have never done anything like that and it looks very interesting and fun. I think the dual Energys can hold me off for awhile, and if not, I'll resell them and reevaluate from there.
Reply
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home

AVS Top Picks

AVS › AVS Forum › Audio › Subwoofers, Bass, and Transducers › Moving into a new house, need a sub recommendation