Def. Tech. Prosub 800 vs Klipsch SW-350 vs Audioengine S8 vs Klipsch SW-308 vs HSU STF-1

I am le newby newb here at the AVS forums, and I haz a question.

I currently run a somewhat personalized Klipsch Promedia 2.1 set (the newer revision) on my computer gaming / music setup. Someone at another forum warned me that getting the Promedias's would spark a lifelong audiophile hobby...anyway, I have been looking to upgrade the sub / amp portion of my system, keeping the Onkyo D-N3XA satellites (soon to be powered by an Audiosource Amp-100). A couple days ago I ordered one of Definitive Technology's Prosub 800s, and I believe that it may have been a brash decision. I got the sub at $160 off MSRP (putting it at $240) during a 24 hour sale at Newegg...and thus is why I ordered it with very little research / comparison (comparatively, I researched for almost two months before buying my current set).

I have been doing some research since I ordered the Prosub, and I am wondering if there are any significantly better subs around this size and price range (less than $300...college student). I personally value a tight, accurate, and clear response over frequency range; I would rather have a sub that sounds incredible from 35 hz to 100 hz than one that sounds "meh" from 20 hz to 100 hz. I also noticed that the Prosub 800 doesn't have a phase adjustment...Once my Prosub arrives, I will leave it unopened until I have made up my mind.

Info:

Due to the layout of my office (and the fact that I have cats...), my sub must fit on my desk in a space approximately ( D x W x H ) 16in x 12in x 16in.

I must also note that the back of my sub must be against the wall, and I am unsure of how a rear-ported sub would behave with only 2 inches breathing room.

My room is ~ 12' by 14', and the sub will be used in near field.

My budget is $300 (preferably 250ish).

I usually do not exceed a moderate volume level...far from blaring. Thus, I believe that a ~150W RMS / 75W FTC sub would suffice.

Setup's usage:
Games: 30% - Primarily Battlefield and The Elder Scrolls games
Music: 65% - Dubstep / Trance / Classical / Metal (NOT heavy) / Rock / Orchestral / Trailer
Movies: 5% - Misc

Subs I am currently researching:
Definitive Technology ProSub 800
Klipsch SW-350 - A bit spendy for me after shipping.
Audioengine S8 - A bit on the spendy side for me...nice frequency response though.
Klipsch SW-308
HSU STF-1 - A bit on the tall side.
Outlaw M8
Edited by Darknecron - 2/26/13 at 8:11pm

Yeah..I was looking at this earlier, and i didn't like what I saw.

I will take a look at that Outlaw as well.

Hard to find many good reviews of the Outlaw M8...except for that one on Cnet. I am assuming that since the editor gave it a good review that it will be relatively tight and clean. It's a tough call for me though, due to the gleaming reviews of the Prosub 800 on Amazon. I will probably end up refusing the shipment, and grabbing the Outlaw instead.
Edited by Darknecron - 2/26/13 at 9:41pm

Yeah...saw that too. I actually just sent Steve Gutternberg a message. He is the one that reviewed both the Def. Tech. Prosub 800 and the Outlaw M8. I highly doubt that he will respond, but hey, why not. I will very likely end up with the Outlaw.

I'll post here again when I get my new sub.

Thanks for your advice, cel.

Mr. Guttenberg responded.... O_O he said the Prosub was better.... O_o

I have decided that I will test both subs, and eat the restocking/shipping fee of the one I like less. I will spend a week testing both units, and post my results in a new thread here on the AVS forums with as much detail as I possibly can.
Edited by Darknecron - 2/27/13 at 11:54am

Yeah, I have been testing the Prosub 800, and it's limited response range definitely shows. However, it is quite a performer over that 40hz+ range. I am anxious to test the outlaw M8, as it supposedly has a 29hz -3 db limit.

Unfortunately the HSU STF-1 's port would be right up against the wall at the back of my desk. :/

I just hooked up the Outlaw. My jaw hit the floor. There is simply no comparison. Where the Prosub 800 punched, the Outlaw M8 hits like a jackhammer. It also doesn't have a high frequency crossover, but it actually blends better with my satellites. I do notice that it is slightly less tight than the Prosub, but still has very clear (and broader) tonal reproduction.

I just hooked up the Outlaw. My jaw hit the floor. There is simply no comparison. Where the Prosub 800 punched, the Outlaw M8 hits like a jackhammer. It also doesn't have a high frequency crossover, but it actually blends better with my satellites. I do notice that it is slightly less tight than the Prosub, but still has very clear (and broader) tonal reproduction.

Dafeq?

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh yesssssssss. It even gets some of the mid 20s in there. If you could cross the strong points of both subs, you would have one beast of a minisub. I am guessing that is what the Def. Tech. Supercude C6000 would be like. Only it's $1000.

I can already say that if you prefer Movies, Games, and Dubstep over Orchestral / Metal / Rock / Trailer / Classical, the Outlaw is the winner by a longshot.

No s**t lol. That is insane.

I must say that my ultimate decision was actually based on personal preference...the subwoofers were both excellent performers in their own right.