The best sub to buy for $600 and under!!!!! - Page 2

From those, the VTF3 easy. Its more powerful than the LFM-1 Plus waaay more powerful than the PB1000. Still, its isn't quite as powerful as the Empire, so you could still be let down by it. It might do a bit better in deep bass than the Empire though, but not by a whole lot.

Is this your first sealed sub?

Well i had 2 Klipsch RW-12D's, i sold em so i could get an Empire, it was definitly an upgrade, the Klipsch were great though, now i have 2 Empires, they have massive output above 40hz, below that there not to shabby.

Have you looked at Power Sound Audio subs?

What subs have you owned?

I think that may be part of the problem. When I had that Empire, it also was my first sealed sub, so it did take some getting use to. What is your volume setting set at? What is your room layout like? (maybe a quick drawing).

I have dual RW-12d's in a very large room and they tear the house down.

Original Poster, ShadyJ has been giving you solid advice here. Every sub you've mentioned will be a downgrade from a Epik Empire. Unless you go DIY- there isn't a sub that will sound better new for $600. (assuming your epik empire works properly). You need to take some advice here from several of the guys and move the sub around the room until you find a spot that suits you better - OR relay your equipment setup, receiver, sub settings, movies you aren't happy with etc and let us help you with a better understanding of the problem and your expectations. Just buying new subs willy nilly is going to lead to disappointment in this case. The Epik Empire is a very fine sub, and is typically compared with other $1000 subs like the HSU VTF-15H, or the SVS PB12+, etc - - - not $600 or less subs.


With this exception.
If you live close to Flordia, there is a guy selling a pair of older passive SVS 16-46 for $600. Those subs will kick the pants off the epik empire in the lower bass regions, and keep pace in the mid and upper bass regions.
http://www.avsforum.com/t/1463868/2-svs-16-46-cs-subwoofers-and-samson-s1000-amp

Rythmik's LV12r

its a solid sub and very well respected on here but will not dig as deep as the Empire below 20hz and get crushed by it at anything over say 30hz.

Why don't you get an SPL meter, download some test tones and find out? Or get REW going with the Dayton USB mic and take some nearfield and MLP sweeps? Measurement gear is an excellent investment into your system. I've not read about many if any disappointed empire users.

I think there are a few issues you REALLY should work on before selling that, all of which has been stated before, but for some reason, you aren't willing to take the advice.

1. Placement. I know that thing is a beast, and not easy to move, but you might be sitting in a huge null that you have no way of knowing about. There is a reason "the sub crawl" is recommended on here.

2. Spend $40 and get yourself a radio shack SPL meter. The day that Empire arrived at my house I bought one, and since I like LFE, I set it to 80db. Download the test tones that are recommended on here or just use to one from your AVR.

3. Come to terms that sealed subs have a very different sound than ported. I had to go through this when I went from ported to the Empire. I found that I actually prefer the sealed sound and spent 2 months trying to contact Epik and/or look for a 2nd Empire before finding the JTR Captivator deal of the year.

4. Also come to terms that the Empire is going to be very hard if not impossible to beat for what you paid, unless you go DIY. Go to data-bass and compare the empire to anything on there at or near what you paid for it. I don't think you'll find many, if any, that beat it.

You are throwing out suggestions in hopes that one will stick and it's probably not going to happen at your price point.

another option if you live close
http://www.avsforum.com/t/1447784/price-reduction-for-sale-mint-a7s-450-subwoofer

That's a real deal sub as well!

hello, first post here. been a long time lurker and decided to join. I have listened to many subs under a 1000.00 and imo the polk psw505 is hard to beat. I run 2 of them and its more bass than my 20x15 room needs. constantly knocking pictures off the wall. 300watt rms amp, long excursion 12" woofer provides tight accurate bass. thes best part is the 505 is discontinued so you can score them for around 200.00 bnib, msrp was 550.00 back in teh day. im not saying its the best sub ever, but i dont think you will find one 600.00 sub that will perform like 2 psw505's for 400.00. just my .02

PSW505 has very little below 30hz.

$600 subs have output down to 20hz. It makes a difference for movie use without question, but yes a couple of PSW505's or better yet a pair of Klipsch RW-12Ds for $600 is a solid option too.


That pair of SVS I listed used, and the ED A7-450s used would put a wallop on any pair of $300 subs. Used isnt for everyone - but there are some fine deals in the classified section from fellow members upgrading.

i do agree the svs is a better sub, cant argue that at all.

edit*just ran the frequency test again. i take that back they do go flat below 30hz and pick back up around 10-12hz.
Edited by basshead81 - 3/23/13 at 3:23pm

You aren't hearing or feeling that sub play 10-12 Hz, you are experiencing harmonics from it trying to play them. It is distortion.

from 1-9hz is just floppy woofers no sound, 10-12hz its actually shaking my house, from 13-28hz its dead, then from 29-40hz is the sweet spot. im playing it right now over and over....pretty wierd that they have response at 10-12hz and dead everywhere else around that frequency range.

all bs aside the polk505 is a good budget sub, thats all im saying. no its not a svs or anything near that caliber, but it gets the job done. i plan on moving up to better subs in the future, just trying to decide on what to get. thats why i joined. currently waiting on a yamaha rx-v773 to power my polk a7's biamped...hoping it does a better job than my current rx-v467.

sorry for the hijack op!!
Edited by basshead81 - 3/23/13 at 4:07pm

I have dual SubM's which play very strongly down to ~6hz in my room. At 3hz however, even where there is a large drop-off in SPL compared to say 10hz, doors and windows outside of the room (30ft away) will start rattling like crazy but will not do so at much higher outputs above 10hz. The reason for this is the resonant frequency of those objects. Your home starts shaking at your purported 10-12hz (even with very little output) for the same reason... but it is not an indication of the capabilities of the polk505 because, as Archaea has said, it has no real usable output below 30hz even factoring in substantial room-gain.

Are you planning to replace the Epik or add to the Epik?

ahh ok that makes sense...thanks for the explanation!

do you think changing the amp in the 505 will allow lower frequencies to not roll off below 30hz? or can i change the crossovers? one would think the 505 driver should be more than capable of playing low freq.
Edited by basshead81 - 3/24/13 at 2:58pm

I'll let far more knowledgeable people answer better, but the short version is no, it can't. The box/dimensions and driver aren't up to the task.