[ChrisKChung]


Do I buy a single high end sub, like a JL Audio Gotham or 2 JL F113s? or maybe a higher end sub and something less expensive like the SVS?

 

I am sure this probably sounds like a newbie question, and I guess it is. But I have done copious amounts of research and can't really seem to find a good answer.

 

Ht/Stereo is 80/20

Music tastes are pretty varied

HT 70% me, 30% me + family (3 others)

Stereo is almost exclusively me on my own

 

Goal #1: great ht experience, esp for action movies for small group 3-4 people

Goal #2: great 2 channel audio for myself and maybe 1 other person

 

TIA (when I first bought my stereo speakers, I never thought I'd end up turning my garage into a dedicated home theater setup, which considering I live in SF, giving up a parking space just shows how much I've gone off the deep end... )

 

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

One sub can't smooth room response, two or more can. You're almost always better off with two smaller subs than one larger one. Keep them the same model.

 

[fatbottom]

One higher quality sub. If you need another sub you can always buy the same model.

 

[eljaycanuck]

How big is your room (l x w x h, sealed or open to other spaces)? What is your budget?


A couple of good, $600-$1000 subs may suit your purposes. Or maybe you'll need three or four $2-$3K subs to give you what you're looking for. It depends.

 

[BeeMan458]



Quote:
Originally Posted by ChrisKChung  /t/1517439/subwoofer-advise/0_100#post_24346873


Goal #1: great ht experience, esp for action movies for small group 3-4 people

Goal #2: great 2 channel audio for myself and maybe 1 other person

I like a person who has rational budgets.

A pair of Rythmik FV15HPs is the top dog of this price point. This is a pair of subwoofers that can rock a 3300^3 place at full on reference capable output yet is kind and gentle enough to provide bass for background music while an old lady crochets.


In my opinion, one will have to step up to a pair of JTR Captivator S2s to improve on what a pair of FV15HPs brings to the party.


For more perspective on this matter, a suggestion, stop by the ULF thread and checkout the first couple of posts.

 

[ChrisKChung]


I think budget is probably around $5K for the subwoofer. Looking on audiogon and classifieds, I think I could get 2 JL F113 or 1 JL Gotham 213... Also open to other alternatives but reviews seem to indicate that the JL's are one of the better choices.

 

Room is 24'x20'x7' and is sealed.

 

[BeeMan458]



Quote:
Originally Posted by ChrisKChung  /t/1517439/subwoofer-advise/0_100#post_24347082


I think budget is probably around $5K for the subwoofer. Looking on audiogon and classifieds, I think I could get 2 JL F113 or 1 JL Gotham 213... Also open to other alternatives but reviews seem to indicate that the JL's are one of the better choices.


Room is 24'x20'x7' and is sealed.

I've been all over this horse for fleas and my research shows the FV15HP and the JTR S2 to be the better choices.


If you haven't already, checkout Data-Bass dot com.


Have you checked out the first couple of posts in the ULF thread?


For perspective, our 3300^3 room, open to other large spaces, at +/- 0dB MVC, peak playback measures in the 110dB to 115dB range. My goal was full on reference level playback with the ability to provide the kinder gentler output for when someone wants to crochet baby blankets.


If one wants/needs better than what a pair of FV15HPs offer, with your budget, I'd be looking at a pair of JTR S2s that have more output and are much more capable of digging deeper into single digits where the best one can expect out of a pair of FV15HPs is 11Hz.


Any money not spent, by going with a pair of FV15HPs, for the Audyssey XT32/SubEQ HT EQ's capability, if you don't already have this ability, I'd put the unspent money into a Denon AVR4520Ci and a Denon DBT-3313UDCI universal blu-ray player combination. After a bit over a year of agonizing over this question, after upgrading our center channel (CC) those are the choices we went with.


-

 

[basshead81]

Before I spent any money on the JL Audio stuff, I would be looking at the Funk Audio 18.0...I take it you want a sub that looks great, not overly larger, and performs amazing? If thats the case look no further.


Other Options Include Seaton Submersive, JTR Captivators, PSA Triax.

 

[BeeMan458]



Quote:
Originally Posted by basshead81  /t/1517439/subwoofer-advise/0_100#post_24347137


Other Options Include Seaton Submersive, JTR Captivators, PSA Triax.

D'oh!

Sorry, forgot about the Triax.


Check out comments in the Triax thread. Start at the first page as the last pages are a bunch of Triax owners sharing personal and subwoofer experiences and in general, having a great time.


(i left Seaton and Funk Audio out of my recommendation because in my opinion, the consumer is paying for the furniture grade finish vs the more utilitarian, less expensive finish of Rythmik and the JTR subwoofers. and that is not a knock on the performance characteristics of Seaton or Funk Audio products)


-

 

[bear123]


Dual PB13 ultras $3799 shipped, piano black finish.

 

[eljaycanuck]



Quote:
I think budget is probably around $5K for the subwoofer. ... Room is 24'x20'x7' and is sealed.

Room size is 3,360 cu.ft. No need to spend $5K (unless you really want to) for great bass. Dual Rythmik FV15HPs ($1,339/ea. + shipping) should have no trouble giving you what you're looking for.

 

[BeeMan458]



Quote:
Originally Posted by eljaycanuck  /t/1517439/subwoofer-advise/0_100#post_24347446


Room size is 3,360 cu.ft. No need to spend $5K (unless you really want to) for great bass. Dual Rythmik FV15HPs ($1,339/ea. + shipping) should have no trouble giving you what you're looking for.

Great! A point we can agree upon.

 

[eljaycanuck]

......

 

[shadyJ]

I would be looking at Seaton , JTR , or Funk in that price range. They will have a lot more clean output for the dollar than any JL Audio setup.

 

[ChrisKChung]


So being totally naive to this world of A/V. Is there a reason so many of the review sites seem to push the same brands i.e. JL Audio (and the one's mentioned here haven't gotten much press?). Is this a case of good marketing versus good product?

 

So to refine what I'm looking for, space is irrelevant, I have plenty of space. Appearance is also not that relevant. I think the most important thing, is that it compliments my 2 channel system, which I think would mean having a high pass filter (or low, I get confused) and not adding any noise to the signal. Then as a secondary consideration, the HT side should be good, but not as important.

 

Thanks for all the responses, it'll give me plenty to research tonight.

 

[Bill Fitzmaurice]



Quote:
Originally Posted by ChrisKChung  /t/1517439/subwoofer-advise#post_24348471


So being totally naive to this world of A/V. Is there a reason so many of the review sites seem to push the same brands i.e. JL Audio (and the one's mentioned here haven't gotten much press?).

Most review sites live off advertising revenue. Most ID companies keep overhead down by minimizing, if not eliminating entirely, advertising expenses. When word of mouth is all you need to sell as much product as you can keep up with advertising is an unnecessary expense, which doesn't result in as much 'you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours' as those who advertise heavily.

 

[fatbottom]

The SVS Ultra DSP models have high pass filter that is variable. So quite flexible, rather than just having a fixed 80hz high pass filter, if your mains go lower, or higher, you're able to tweak it. Great idea, wish SVS would make a SB Plus 12 with variable high pass. For me, SB Ultra 13 is way overkill for Hi-Fi.

 

[dsrussell]

ChrisKChung: When talking JL, one is talking a lot of money and a whole lot of weight (the Gotham weighs in at about 360 lbs). The list price of the Gotham is somewhere in the neighborhood of 12 grand. Looks are, of course, subjective, but the Gotham was the most impressive and most beautiful looking subwoofer that I've ever seen (although the Paradigm Sub 2 is no slouch in either looks or performance -- it's the price that is staggering at 9 grand list, and its weight is about 230 lbs). You just need to know what you want aesthetically in your room, what makes sense, and obviously you are looking for a top performer. Going either Gotham or Sub 2, you'll need some weight-lifting friends to help you (same with the Triax). I cannot imagine doing a sub-crawl with the Gotham (try lifting that beast on your main seating position).


As mentioned by others, there are a lot of wonderful alternatives. ShadyJ mentioned three top I.D. companies (Seaton, JTR and Funk), while eljay mentioned the best from PSA and BeeMan the best from Rythmik. I don't think the JTR or Rythmik would win any beauty contests, but their performance capabilities have been praised to the moon here (and elsewhere), as have Seaton and Funk. PSA's Triax is the new kid on the block, but its performance should be outstanding as well.


Most will tell you to go multiples, and Bill F. mentioned precisely why. With your budget, you should have no problems filling your room with unbelievable bass from any of those products mentioned. Also mentioned by Bill, don't let expensive ads, commercial recognition (many professional reviews) and great looking websites throw you. You'll get the best price per performance ratio with I.D. companies. What's just as interesting is that the warranties from I.D. companies would put most commercial companies to shame.

 

[raynist]



Quote:
Originally Posted by shadyJ  /t/1517439/subwoofer-advise#post_24347616


I would be looking at Seaton , JTR , or Funk or the PSA Triax in that price range. They will have a lot more clean output for the dollar than any JL Audio setup.

I fixed your post, cause I know you just couldn't bring yourself to do it

 

[Kini62]

Being an SVS guy, I'd go for a pair of PB13 or PC13 Ultras.