Subwoofer Recommendations under $500?

You're going to need more then a $500 sub to get house shaking volume in a room that size, if you expect bass below 40hz. If you're ok sacrificing the low end a pa-150 might get the job done.

It acts a lot like a sealed box system, but it's tuned to 25hz.



http://www.data-bass.com/data?page=system&id=48&mset=46

+1

That's a lot of room, but not a lot of budget.

Another potential candidate would be the Cadence CSX15. If you opt to go that route let me know and I can PM you some information about a way to possibly get a "coupon code" for a discount. The Acoustic Audio HD-SUB15 is probably similar to the PA-150 and CSX15, so that's another one.

Something else to consider is getting duals, to try and balance out the sound. That can often help in a large space like what you have. A couple that might be worth looking into are the Polk Audio PSW505, Dayton Audio SUB1200 or BIC F12.

Have you looked at an Outlaw Plus? I have one, as well as the larger Outlaw EX. You might go look in the Outlaw Owner's Thread. They seem to be the best bang for the buck that I've found (that's why I have two).

What's the floor? carpet? hardwood? What's the floor on? slab? suspended over basement/crawlspace?

They went on sale not to long ago for $500 shipped. Chances are it will be a while before another sale. Outlaw sells their own stuff.

I got the Plus for $499 shipped in Dec (or around there) and the EX for $549 shipped a couple of months ago.

Their sales pop up quite often, however, word is the EX will not be that cheap, again.

My house is carpet on slab, it really steals the thunder compared to all things being equal on a suspended floor.

Just curious, what does your system consist of and do you plan on running your old sub, too?

Newegg has a memorial day sale on the Definitive Technology SuperCube II 8 Subwoofer. Regular price is $699. With this code(EMCNEHE38) its $310 off. Dont know much about it but it has high ratings.

Dual Energy S10.3s, when on sale at ~$200/ea.



"Floor effect" (vibration transmitted through a suspended floor) is a sweet thing. I was sad to lose it when I moved my set-up from my main floor family room to my new basement HT space. And that's why I ended up with dual 18"s.

Who has them for $200?

Amazon has had them on sale for $200. (They're currently listed at $220.) Newegg, too.

1 left lol

At this time, lol. The OP said he's not in a hurry. They'll be on sale again.

Those subs are an amazing value, and my favorite under $300, but they're not going to give the OP "house shaking volumes" in a 30'x14' room.

It's doubtful that a single of any sub under $500 will give him that. IMHO, dual S10.3s will come closer to delivering what he's looking for.

The Energy S10.3 is a great value. Expecially, for music. I was less impressed with its movie capabilities. The one I helped get setup had a fall off in the analog gain knob on the front. Right where you want just a hair more, you get a lot more. Three of us tried to dial it in as little as possible, but the wall just couldn't be overcome. Unfortuntley, for the application, that wall came exactly at the point where it neded turned up just a touch. His choices are too low or too high because the input of the knob is not at all linear.

For music, it is one of the better subs out there, under $500. The Hsu STF-2 is a better sub, all around, but when the price is included in the equation, nothing I have heard is better than that Energy; even with the stupid (and hella ugly) control on the front.

A 14x30 room is probably too big for a single Plus.

Another possibility is a pair of Klipsch RW12d subs. Newegg has them for $299, but the sale ends today. Over your budget, but a pair should do pretty good in that room. Or buy one now, and another when they go on sale again.

OP, where are you located? There are many on this board who would likely bring one by to try out in your space. I will, if we can work it out.

That's a good plan, just know you'll be over $600 with shipping.

The Plus is a damn good sub, especially, for the $500 shipped. Best deal around, to your door. In some ways, I like the Plus better than the EX.

Just saw this was in the thread and thought I would post what I sent you in PM, for those playing at home. (with some minor edits)

The EX can give a good thump but seems to get a ittle lost on the very subtle nuances. The Plus gives just a tad less thump, but really handles the mid-ground better. Neither handles mid-bass very well; at least in my room. At my friend's house, it seems to be better, but nothing like his STF-2 (it slaughters in the midbass category).

For example, with the Plus, during Jurassic Park, where the T-Rex scene is setting up, the footsteps can be heard in the background as the Rex approaches. The sub gives a very distant footstep then a little stronger one. If you weren't looking a the screen, you may not even notice the fist couple of footsteps, but then, they get eerily closer.

This scene has been one of my main reference go-to scenes to showcase my HT. I have watched it at reference level many times on several systems. My system with the Plus is the best it has ever sounded.

With just the EX, it is too much. The first few footsteps are the same, then, they get too intense for how close the Rex is. When the bass needs to hit hard, they both do great.

Obviously, with the Plus and the EX, the EX's brashness overwhelmes the subtlety of the Plus. The two together just doesn't sound right, for those footstepst. If I had never had the Plus, alone, I wouldn't know any different, but I did and I know how great it could/should be. For the record, the Hsu Stf-2 and the Energy S10.3 didn't do any better than the Plus, during the footsteps.

The EX is a great sub, but it's the fat guy at the gym who can bench 400 pounds and squat 600, but sometimes screams and grunts while he does it and doesn't clean his sweat up off the floor. He's the guy you call when you want a door knocked down and less finesse is necessary.
The Plus is a better overall sub, much like the guy at the gym whose weight is proportional to height and can still bench 315 and sqaut 450. He doesn't look quite as good next to the EX when doing the real heavy lifting, but on his own, you never think he's inadequate.

Of course, this is my experience in a square room . For this message, I am referring to the characteristics with each sub calculated by Audyssey to -2 on my AVR. I turned off one while 2EQ'ing the other. Then, switched which one was on and retuned unil I got them both to come in at -2. Both are in ME mode. I did take the Plus to a friend's house, whose room is more optimal (nice rectangle on suspended carpet over wood floor over basement), but I haven't had the EX there. At his place, the one Plus was more than enough, room size roughy twice the size of mine.
Edited by nikerret - 8/29/12 at 10:32am

Just curious. Have you tried the EX in two port open mode? That would significantly change the frequency response.