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Help me spend $500

post #1 of 21
8/23/12 at 8:30pm
Thread Starter 
Many of you may have seen my threads about the Adcom Pre-amp and Amp that I purchased recently. Well after a lot of thought and back and forth comparison, I decided that it was not enough of an improvement over my HK 3490 to keep, so I sold them for $500. Now I've got $500 burning a hole in my pocket. I was thinking about buying a new sub, but can't decide if I should get one for my HT or for my 2 channel. I have also been wanting to get into Vinyl and so I've been considering a Turntable. I'm torn between the three. Help!
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post #2 of 21
8/23/12 at 9:05pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tweaked05 View Post

Many of you may have seen my threads about the Adcom Pre-amp and Amp that I purchased recently. Well after a lot of thought and back and forth comparison, I decided that it was not enough of an improvement over my HK 3490 to keep, so I sold them for $500. Now I've got $500 burning a hole in my pocket. I was thinking about buying a new sub, but can't decide if I should get one for my HT or for my 2 channel. I have also been wanting to get into Vinyl and so I've been considering a Turntable. I'm torn between the three. Help!

Well, the sub can satisfy two of three. $500 is kinda minimal for the sub, tho. While I can understand wanting to keep my old vinyl around, as I do for my 700 or so LPs (and still have my Technics SL1200MkII for many many years now), but if I didn't have any vinyl at all I don't think I'd be interested whatsoever...
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post #3 of 21
8/23/12 at 10:36pm
If your 2 channel and HT setup are in the same room a new sub can work for both setups. Just plug both preamp/receivers into the sub l/r jacks. I wouldn't play both at the same time but I have done it on accident. It doesn't seem to affect the sub at all. FWIW I don't use a sub for 2 channel but my speakers do go down to 35hz. I've got 4 subs for movies.
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post #4 of 21
8/24/12 at 8:09am
I recommend the Music Hall MMF-2.2 turntable; a very nice one for a reasonable price.
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post #5 of 21
8/24/12 at 10:11am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tweaked05 View Post

Many of you may have seen my threads about the Adcom Pre-amp and Amp that I purchased recently. Well after a lot of thought and back and forth comparison, I decided that it was not enough of an improvement over my HK 3490 to keep, so I sold them for $500. Now I've got $500 burning a hole in my pocket. I was thinking about buying a new sub, but can't decide if I should get one for my HT or for my 2 channel. I have also been wanting to get into Vinyl and so I've been considering a Turntable. I'm torn between the three. Help!

IME you want to keep your sub and your vinyl separate.

Once you have a decent system, a good sub is your best SQ value other than room acoustics upgrades (if needed).
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post #6 of 21
8/24/12 at 10:24am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by arnyk View Post

IME you want to keep your sub and your vinyl separate.
Once you have a decent system, a good sub is your best SQ value other than room acoustics upgrades (if needed).

Arny,

What do you think of these choices?

Rumba 12 $550 + shipping
2x Jamo SUB650 $500 shipped
Epik Legend $500 + shipping
Hsu Research VTF-2 MK4 $550 + shipping

I'm leaning towards a pair of Jamo's for $500 shipped
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post #7 of 21
8/24/12 at 12:22pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tweaked05 View Post

Arny,
What do you think of these choices?
Rumba 12 $550 + shipping
2x Jamo SUB650 $500 shipped
Epik Legend $500 + shipping
Hsu Research VTF-2 MK4 $550 + shipping
I'm leaning towards a pair of Jamo's for $500 shipped

I'm leaning towards the Hsu.
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post #8 of 21
8/24/12 at 1:47pm
AVS member Archaea has been testing the SUB650 over in the AVS subwoofer forum. I don't think the's talked about it's SQ performance yet (you could ask), but if they would be close to comparable in SQ to the HSU, a dual setup would sound great biggrin.gif

The Rumba 12 has been reviewed by one AVS member, but no measurements, so we don't really know how well it does.

The Epik has gotten good testimonials for its musicality over the ID ported subs at the same price point.
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post #9 of 21
8/24/12 at 6:10pm
Thread Starter 
What do you think of this option? Someone just offered me a Paradigm Seismic 12 for $650. I know it is an older sub, but it is rated at 1500w RMS and 4500w peak with a single 12" driver and two 10" Passive Radiators. Would this be better than any of the others I have mentioned?
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post #10 of 21
8/24/12 at 8:16pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tweaked05 View Post

What do you think of this option? Someone just offered me a Paradigm Seismic 12 for $650. I know it is an older sub, but it is rated at 1500w RMS and 4500w peak with a single 12" driver and two 10" Passive Radiators. Would this be better than any of the others I have mentioned?

I'd think so, but might try counter offer a bit less, too. 1200 RMS from what I saw looking around a bit.

PS Being an Epik fan that would be my other choice of those you list.
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post #11 of 21
8/24/12 at 8:45pm
I would seriously consider the HSU! It is new, solid and has a warranty. I used to have a Definitive Tech. Power Field 1500, it would vibrate concrete! My neighbor, 200 ft. away complained about it rattling his house! Quality will trump quantity at times. The Definitive was a 15" sub rated at 500 wpc rms, it weighed 100 lbs, it was a beast! The Def Tech could hit hard enough to nearly disrupt you breathing, really!!! A good sub absolutely kicks ASS!!!
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post #12 of 21
8/25/12 at 8:10am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tweaked05 View Post

What do you think of this option? Someone just offered me a Paradigm Seismic 12 for $650. I know it is an older sub, but it is rated at 1500w RMS and 4500w peak with a single 12" driver and two 10" Passive Radiators. Would this be better than any of the others I have mentioned?

Seems like an interesting sub to me based on this review. It's going to have plenty of output. Although the age would concern me. I don't know expensive (or easy) it would be to get a replacement if the amp went out.
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post #13 of 21
8/25/12 at 9:42am
The Paradigm drops 25db between 50 and 20 hz - plus distortation really picks up after 31 hz. There are good subs on the
projected list (post #6), with new amps that can handle lower frequencies. I would really weigh all this out.
Edited by zieglj01 - 8/25/12 at 9:50am
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post #14 of 21
8/25/12 at 11:34am
Thread Starter 
I just spent the morning going around to a couple of local HT stores and listening to a few subs. I listened to the Golden Ear Force Field 4, the PSB Sub 300, an Epicure PSW 12250, and B&W ASW610 with the 500w amp. These were the only subs available to listen to that were anywhere near my price range. To be honest, I'm very disappointed. They didn't seem to be any better than what I've already got and most of them cost about twice what I was prepared to spend. This has caused me to really second guess whether or not a new sub would really do anything for me. Perhaps my money would be better spent elsewhere.
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post #15 of 21
8/25/12 at 11:52am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tweaked05 View Post

I just spent the morning going around to a couple of local HT stores and listening to a few subs. I listened to the Golden Ear Force Field 4, the PSB Sub 300, an Epicure PSW 12250, and B&W ASW610 with the 500w amp. These were the only subs available to listen to that were anywhere near my price range. To be honest, I'm very disappointed. They didn't seem to be any better than what I've already got and most of them cost about twice what I was prepared to spend. This has caused me to really second guess whether or not a new sub would really do anything for me. Perhaps my money would be better spent elsewhere.

What do you have now?
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post #16 of 21
8/25/12 at 12:00pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by lovinthehd View Post

What do you have now?

For my HT, I have a single MTX SW-1212 , and for my 2 channel setup, I have a single 17 year old JBL PSW-1000.
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post #17 of 21
8/25/12 at 12:48pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tweaked05 View Post

I just spent the morning going around to a couple of local HT stores and listening to a few subs. I listened to the Golden Ear Force Field 4, the PSB Sub 300, an Epicure PSW 12250, and B&W ASW610 with the 500w amp. These were the only subs available to listen to that were anywhere near my price range. To be honest, I'm very disappointed. They didn't seem to be any better than what I've already got and most of them cost about twice what I was prepared to spend. This has caused me to really second guess whether or not a new sub would really do anything for me. Perhaps my money would be better spent elsewhere.

The best way to evaluate a sub, is in your own home/enviorment and properly set-up.
It is up to you, how you wish to spend your money >>> however, getting a sub with a
30 day trial/return period, is a good way to test something out and see if it brings your
system to another level. It will not be easy to match or knock off, the HSU or Epik subs.
Also, you may want to buy one of the Jamo 650 subs, and give it a test run. That sub
is really looking good - and the word is that it is good, for one who is wanting a sub that
is also good with music.
http://www.amazon.com/Jamo-SUB-650W-powered-subwoofer/product-reviews/B00548SKQO/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1
Edited by zieglj01 - 8/25/12 at 12:56pm
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post #18 of 21
8/25/12 at 1:04pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tweaked05 View Post

I just spent the morning going around to a couple of local HT stores and listening to a few subs. I listened to the Golden Ear Force Field 4, the PSB Sub 300, an Epicure PSW 12250, and B&W ASW610 with the 500w amp. These were the only subs available to listen to that were anywhere near my price range. To be honest, I'm very disappointed. They didn't seem to be any better than what I've already got and most of them cost about twice what I was prepared to spend. This has caused me to really second guess whether or not a new sub would really do anything for me. Perhaps my money would be better spent elsewhere.

The audible performance of speakers is highly dependent on the rooms that they are in and how they are set up. It is not necessarily in the best interest of retailers to fully exploit the capabilities of lower priced products. My own experience with retailers of loudspeakers is pretty dismal.
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post #19 of 21
8/25/12 at 8:04pm
Thread Starter 
I decided to hold off until one of my other subs dies and see what is available at that time. Instead, Idecided to get a samsung Tab 2.0 7". Ihave been wanting a tab for a while and this was the student package which came with a keyboard and USB adapter for $233.99 at Costco. I think I'm also going to look into a streaming media player instead of a turntable.
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post #20 of 21
8/26/12 at 6:21pm
Congrats! I've got a Galaxy Tab 7 Plus. Nice tablets smile.gif

There is a media streaming forum on AVS, so check it out.
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post #21 of 21
8/29/12 at 8:16pm
Thread Starter 
I ended up finding a Velodyne DPS-10 at a local pawn shop and picked it up for $125. I Know it's a older sub, for $125 it sounds awesome. I'm really impressed with not only the volume, but also the quality of bass out of this little 10. Have any of you had any experience with this sub?
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