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Help: Subwoofer recommendations that makes you "feel the movie in the chest"

4121 Views 40 Replies 24 Participants Last post by Expidia, Jul 1, 2021

AG9

Discussion Starter · Jun 29, 2021

Hi All - I have come to understand, or maybe misunderstand (I'm a rookie), that some subwoofers are better for listening to music and others are more catered towards movies. I've heard some folks on youtube call them "thicker" and you can "feel the woofer in your chest" during some parts of the movie. I don't know how true this is, but it got me wondering...

What is the best subwoofer for a small Home Theater (space is living room, 8 ft ceilings, 10ft by 18 ft area, tile floors) that would really allow me to feel the woofer during movies. I will be placing it on the tile floor, next to a wall, next to our couch.

The budget is $250 - $400 ideally, but a little flexible.

Any insights would greatly be appreciated. I'm also open to being corrected / learning if there is no such thing as woofers catered towards movies versus music.

Some names I've researched based on the AVS forum and youtube...

Klipsch R-112SW
RSL speedwoofer 10S
Monolith by Monoprice 10in

1 - 20 of 41 Posts

badtlc

· #2 · Jun 29, 2021

There are two different types of "feel" when it comes to movies. There is the couch/floor shaking which comes from output <20Hz and there is the "chest slam" for things like gunshots and explosions which happen in the 50-100Hz range. Sometimes you are giving up some chest slam for couch shaking and vice versa.

If you want both you are going to want to look at spending quite a bit more on subs but from those choices the Monolith 10" is the best sub.

Reactions: 3

nakkiran

· #3 · Jun 29, 2021

Check out SVS, the bass is intestinal

Sent from my G8441 using Tapatalk

Reactions: 3

eljaycanuck

· #4 · Jun 29, 2021

RSL Speedwoofer 10S. If you can make it to $500, the Monoprice Monolith 10" - more powerful, greater overall output, better/deeper extension, tune-able (can be run ported or sealed) and THX Select certified (for low distortion) - will be a noticeable step up.

Reactions: 1

AG9

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jun 29, 2021

badtlc said:
There are two different types of "feel" when it comes to movies. There is the couch/floor shaking which comes from output <20Hz and there is the "chest slam" for things like gunshots and explosions which happen in the 50-100Hz range. Sometimes you are giving up some chest slam for couch shaking and vice versa.

If you want both you are going to want to look at spending quite a bit more on subs but from those choices the Monolith 10" is the best sub.

@badtlc Awesome insight! Thanks so much for that clarity and insight. So there is a "feel" to them... thanks for the input on the "couch/floor shake" at <20hz and the "chest slam" at 50-100Hz range. Wasn't aware of that.

Thanks for the recommendation on the Monolith. I've seen it come up quite a bit in various places

tokerblue

· #6 · Jun 29, 2021

AG9 said:
What is the best subwoofer for a small Home Theater (space is living room, 8 ft ceilings, 10ft by 18 ft area, tile floors) that would really allow me to feel the woofer during movies. I will be placing it on the tile floor, next to a wall, next to our couch.

The budget is $250 - $400 ideally, but a little flexible.

A 10" woofer in that area is going to have a tough time.

Reactions: 5

AG9

Discussion Starter · #7 · Jun 29, 2021

nakkiran said:
Check out SVS, the bass is intestinal

Sent from my G8441 using Tapatalk

@nakkiran - Thanks much. Will check out SVS as well. Do you know if the SVS SB-1000 Pro ever drops to $499 on occasion? Currently, it's at $600

Now that you mention SVS, I recall some folks speaking about the SB-1000. Thanks for that!

AG9

Discussion Starter · #8 · Jun 29, 2021

tokerblue said:
A 10" woofer in that area is going to have a tough time.

@tokerblue Appreciate that honest input. Thank you. So you think I should go bigger, say 12 inch or should I go bigger at 15?

AG9

Discussion Starter · #9 · Jun 29, 2021

eljaycanuck said:
RSL Speedwoofer 10S. If you can make it to $500, the Monoprice Monolith 10" - more powerful, greater overall output, better/deeper extension, tune-able (can be run ported or sealed) and THX Select certified (for low distortion) - will be a noticeable step up.

Thanks so much @eljaycanuck. I noticed that, the THX Select cert, maybe that's what I should aim for. One quick question, based on your expertise, do you think a quality 10inch sub can perform better than a 15 inch sub? For example, would a 10 inch monolith serve my needs better than a 15 inch that maybe isn't as well made as the Monolith?

The Monolith from youtube videos seems to be built like a tank, 70 pounds.

eljaycanuck

· #10 · Jun 29, 2021

AG9 said:
... do you think a quality 10inch sub can perform better than a 15 inch sub? ...

Yes. For example, I'd take the Monolith 10" over the Dayton SUB-1500 any day.

Reactions: 3

Expidia

· #11 · Jun 29, 2021 (Edited)

AG9 said:
@nakkiran - Thanks much. Will check out SVS as well. Do you know if the SVS SB-1000 Pro ever drops to $499 on occasion? Currently, it's at $600

Now that you mention SVS, I recall some folks speaking about the SB-1000. Thanks for that!

Deleted, my error on the price

eljaycanuck

· #12 · Jun 29, 2021

tokerblue

· #13 · Jun 29, 2021

AG9 said:
@tokerblue Appreciate that honest input. Thank you. So you think I should go bigger, say 12 inch or should I go bigger at 15?

I used a 12" SVS cylinder in a similar sized room for many years. It was a decent subwoofer, but it never had the hard hitting bass that I was hoping for. A 15" would probably be a lot better for that room. You may get better bang for your buck going used and trying to find something local.

Reactions: 2

Sharpshooter91

· #14 · Jun 29, 2021

Expidia said:
You are probably looking at a rip off vendor affiliate on Amazon for that $600 price. They are trying to offset the free shipping by bumping the price up.

I bought mine directly from SVS and it's $499 with free shipping: 1000 Pro Series Subwoofers.

Maybe he’s not in the USA?

Kothoga

· #15 · Jun 29, 2021

Always go with the largest driver you can afford/fit. What you're looking for is midbass or "chest slam", best place for that is PSA subs. SVS isn't going to compare in the least.

Reactions: 3

AG9

Discussion Starter · #16 · Jun 29, 2021

Sharpshooter91 said:
Maybe he’s not in the USA?

Thanks, @Sharpshooter91 and @Expidia for that insight, this is the website where I saw it for $600 - but I understand my mistake, I was quoting the PB for $600 not the SB 1000 - Now I see the one you're talking about for $499
.

I'm in the states.

philpoe

· #17 · Jun 29, 2021

At the lower end of your budget, the Dayton and BIC subs might be reasonable, but given your budget you can get better.
At the high end of your price point, the RSL Speedwoofer 10s edges the Klipsch, and beats the lower-priced ones
At $500, the Monolith 10" beats everything costing less, and rivals larger subs. Sometimes you'll find an open-box unit for a bit less.
The next step up is about $650-$700, where the SVS PB-1000 Pro (different than the $500 non-Pro), Hsu VTF-2 Mk 5 (include shipping charges), and Rythmik LV12F come in.

Rather than rely on driver size and wattage, try to find output specs for frequency response and sound pressure. As Eljaycanuck points out, a 10" Monolith will outperform a 15" Dayton.

Many subs have limited availability now, but the RSL and SVS have free return shipping from their site, and SVS can be found locally in many retailers.
If worried about return shipping on the others, when available, Target.com sells Monolith and they can be returned in store. Walmart sells BIC and can be returned in store. I'm not sure about others.
Check the listings before buying.

AG9 said:
What is the best subwoofer for a small Home Theater (space is living room, 8 ft ceilings, 10ft by 18 ft area, tile floors) that would really allow me to feel the woofer during movies. I will be placing it on the tile floor, next to a wall, next to our couch.

The budget is $250 - $400 ideally, but a little flexible.

Klipsch R-112SW
RSL speedwoofer 10S
Monolith by Monoprice 10in

See less See more

Reactions: 2

AG9

Discussion Starter · #18 · Jun 29, 2021

philpoe said:
At the lower end of your budget, the Dayton and BIC subs might be reasonable, but given your budget you can get better.
At the high end of your price point, the RSL Speedwoofer 10s edges the Klipsch, and beats the lower-priced ones
At $500, the Monolith 10" beats everything costing less, and rivals larger subs. Sometimes you'll find an open-box unit for a bit less.
The next step up is about $650-$700, where the SVS PB-1000 Pro (different than the $500 non-Pro), Hsu VTF-2 Mk 5 (include shipping charges), and Rythmik LV12F come in.

Rather than rely on driver size and wattage, try to find output specs for frequency response and sound pressure. As Eljaycanuck points out, a 10" Monolith will outperform a 15" Dayton.

Many subs have limited availability now, but the RSL and SVS have free return shipping from their site, and SVS can be found locally in many retailers.
If worried about return shipping on the others, when available, Target.com sells Monolith and they can be returned in store. Walmart sells BIC and can be returned in store. I'm not sure about others.
Check the listings before buying.

@philpoe Wow, greatly appreciated. Thank you so much for breaking down where I can buy each from. Thank you.

The breakdown of the subs in each price point was excellent, super helpful.

Do you think the 12 inch sub Airmotiv SE12 for $399 has any place in this conversation? Just came across this version in a youtube video where this gentleman was comparing it to the Rythmik L12, REL HT1205, and SVS SB3000

By the way, with the Monolith, Rythmik, etc. my receiver is the Denon AVR-S750H... I don't want to buy a more powerful sub than my receiver can even handle, I'd be leaving boom in the box. Do you think that receiver is adequate to at least get most of the boom out of whichever sub I go with above?

ctsv510

· #19 · Jun 29, 2021

AG9 said:
@philpoe

By the way, with the Monolith, Rythmik, etc. my receiver is the Denon AVR-S750H... I don't want to buy a more powerful sub than my receiver can even handle, I'd be leaving boom in the box. Do you think that receiver is adequate to at least get most of the boom out of whichever sub I go with above?

These are all powered subs and just need a basic subwoofer signal that any AVR is capable of producing. For example, you could run multiple $10k subs from the receiver you have and it would work just fine!

Reactions: 1

Holden_Commodore

· #20 · Jun 29, 2021

How about 2 or 3 of these? More subs = better bass response/coverage for your room. You can put 1 or 2 behind your couch and one at the front of your room.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Klipsch-R12SW-Subwoofer/558618439?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=8053&&adid=22222222228356164175&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=m&wl3=466849077747&wl4=pla-963849926092&wl5=1016367&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=115070468&wl11=online&wl12=558618439&veh=sem&gclid=CjwKCAjwieuGBhAsEiwA1Ly_nZfD3RTmxS95KMqisE42c47zSisXs6CL03zBaH5bSMCbkL6I43TrehoCAmAQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

1 - 20 of 41 Posts

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