What is the best all around 8"-10", 200-300watt sub for $500 or less? Preferably about a 14" cube, front-firing. Room is small-medium, around 250sq ft.
I have a Klipsch Synergy 5.1 setup with SF-1 tower fronts (single 6.5 woofer each), SC-1 center (dual 5.25's), and 2 Klipsch Quintet II satellites for rears (3.5 drivers).
The SF-1's are generously rated down to 40Hz.
I have been running a 9yr old Polk PSW-350 (rear-ported,front firing,10" 100 watts RMS).
The Polk was a decent choice for my first sub but kind of boomy and loud when turned up without ultimately playing all that deep (It is rated down to 25Hz but I haven't heard it). Feels like it gets me down into the mid 30's Hz but not tight enough for my musical tastes, and that's not deep enough for full-range HT anyway. I suppose placement could have been better optimized but my options were limited in my NYC apartment. My usage is about 50/50 music/HT.
I want to feel some bass presence and effects during blu-ray screenings, of course, but I don't need the room to shake. I always thought a good 8" might perform better in my space for my application.
My goal is to somehow (haha) reduce the footprint of my sub, with it playing cleaner and tighter, and as deep or deeper, but not necessarily louder.
Many have recommended the SVS SB-1000, which at $499 would not be out of the question budget-wise. But I think it's just more sound than I need.
I liked the Energy ESW-C8 sub when I heard it at Best Buy. I felt the 10" version was just too loud for my small-medium apartment setup (15x12 plus open alcove office, total approx. 250sq ft).
I also preferred the sound of the Energy 8" (price match to $215!) to the more powerful and almost twice as pricey Definitive ProSub 800 ($399). The DefTech had a boominess that I want to avoid, especially if I'm sacrificing low frequency response for a smaller footprint by stepping down from a 10".
Is my Yamaha 130wpc reciever too much for the 60 watt RMS of the Energy ESW-C8?
Should I just step up to the Energy 10" at $350 and set the gain low? That unit is only rated down to 32Hz, compared to the SVS SB-1000 down to 24Hz in a similar footprint for $150 more.
If I need the Energy 10" over the 8", I might as well spring for the SVS SB-1000 and be capable of full range bass. I'm not going to be able to play any sub loudly for a sustained amount of time. I can't help but think that either of these more powerful units will just be wasted wattage in my room.
Any thoughts on 8" subs, and recommendations at or below $500?
Or a 10" at around 200-300watts RMS that will play clean and tight?
Why do I feel you're all going to say to go for the SVS SB-1000 and set the gain low?
Thanks!
I have a Klipsch Synergy 5.1 setup with SF-1 tower fronts (single 6.5 woofer each), SC-1 center (dual 5.25's), and 2 Klipsch Quintet II satellites for rears (3.5 drivers).
The SF-1's are generously rated down to 40Hz.
I have been running a 9yr old Polk PSW-350 (rear-ported,front firing,10" 100 watts RMS).
The Polk was a decent choice for my first sub but kind of boomy and loud when turned up without ultimately playing all that deep (It is rated down to 25Hz but I haven't heard it). Feels like it gets me down into the mid 30's Hz but not tight enough for my musical tastes, and that's not deep enough for full-range HT anyway. I suppose placement could have been better optimized but my options were limited in my NYC apartment. My usage is about 50/50 music/HT.
I want to feel some bass presence and effects during blu-ray screenings, of course, but I don't need the room to shake. I always thought a good 8" might perform better in my space for my application.
My goal is to somehow (haha) reduce the footprint of my sub, with it playing cleaner and tighter, and as deep or deeper, but not necessarily louder.
Many have recommended the SVS SB-1000, which at $499 would not be out of the question budget-wise. But I think it's just more sound than I need.
I liked the Energy ESW-C8 sub when I heard it at Best Buy. I felt the 10" version was just too loud for my small-medium apartment setup (15x12 plus open alcove office, total approx. 250sq ft).
I also preferred the sound of the Energy 8" (price match to $215!) to the more powerful and almost twice as pricey Definitive ProSub 800 ($399). The DefTech had a boominess that I want to avoid, especially if I'm sacrificing low frequency response for a smaller footprint by stepping down from a 10".
Is my Yamaha 130wpc reciever too much for the 60 watt RMS of the Energy ESW-C8?
Should I just step up to the Energy 10" at $350 and set the gain low? That unit is only rated down to 32Hz, compared to the SVS SB-1000 down to 24Hz in a similar footprint for $150 more.
If I need the Energy 10" over the 8", I might as well spring for the SVS SB-1000 and be capable of full range bass. I'm not going to be able to play any sub loudly for a sustained amount of time. I can't help but think that either of these more powerful units will just be wasted wattage in my room.
Any thoughts on 8" subs, and recommendations at or below $500?
Or a 10" at around 200-300watts RMS that will play clean and tight?
Why do I feel you're all going to say to go for the SVS SB-1000 and set the gain low?
Thanks!
