Help me buy my first real subwoofer (please)!

ManBearPig · Aug 8, 2011

...moving on from speakers to subwoofers for the time being. Thanks for everyone's help with that btw!

1. Your budget. $400(ish)...lower is better though!

2. Size requirements/limits. None.

3. Room dimensions. 13Wx15Lx8H...1560 cubic feet (small). There is a large opening in the back (about 8 ft), and the sub will sit on a wood floor, and likely be in the corner.

4. Primary uses. 100% movies and games, no music.

5. Listening habits. I don't really like to play my stuff loud at all...definitely no where near reference levels. I get to maybe 45-50 on my receiver (mine starts at 0 and goes up).

6. Appearance requirements. None, except for it has to be black.

7. Timeframe. None...I'd like to buy within the next few months.

All I have right now is a 10" Polk HTiaB subwoofer. I have two Polk Monitor70s and a Polk CS2 center, with 4 Onkyo surrounds I'm going to replace later. I was looking at the HSU STF-2, Elemental Design A2 - 300, Emotiva Ultra Sub 12, and Emotiva Ultra Sub 10. Then of course the BIC America F12 and Polk PSW505 (though I am not sure if they even compare to the other subs on this list?).

Thanks a ton!

Edit: Pic of room layout:

blackangst1 · Aug 8, 2011

HSU for sure. The Emotiva 12 may come in 2nd, but I believe the HSU is the best of the bunch from you listed.

queequeg99 · Aug 8, 2011

blackangst1 said:
HSU for sure. The Emotiva 12 may come in 2nd, but I believe the HSU is the best of the bunch from you listed.

I concur with this recommendation. Hsu makes great subs and this should be a great entry level choice. The Emotiva gets decent comments over at avsforum for the price. While Polk makes decent mains, I have rarely heard decent things about their subs and the few times I have actually listened to them, I was singularly unimpressed.

I have never heard the Bic. But it get decents comments at avsforum for the price. You could get two for the same price as the Hsu (when shipping is taken into account). This would be nice if you have some bass response issues in your room as having multiple subs can help eliminate holes in your coverage. I personally have never had such troubles and have been fine with one excellent sub.

Anubis · Aug 8, 2011

i have the F12

get the HSU its better & worth the money

vi edit · Aug 8, 2011

Where are you located? Depending on location you might be able to grab a used MFW-15 for $250 or so. At this point if the amp hasn't crapped out it's probably good for another couple years. You won't touch anything for the money. Even if the amp does die, then a $100 external one will power it just fine.

ManBearPig · Aug 8, 2011

vi edit said:
Where are you located? Depending on location you might be able to grab a used MFW-15 for $250 or so. At this point if the amp hasn't crapped out it's probably good for another couple years. You won't touch anything for the money. Even if the amp does die, then a $100 external one will power it just fine.

Indiana!

I'd like to but new but I'm open to used if I get a crazy deal.

ManBearPig · Aug 9, 2011

The people @ AVS are trying to get me to buy something more expensive since my room opens into a hallway (which opens up to a few large rooms). Arghhhhhhhhhh...

Anubis · Aug 9, 2011

kazaam said:
The people @ AVS are trying to get me to buy something more expensive since my room opens into a hallway (which opens up to a few large rooms). Arghhhhhhhhhh...

they always do that. the HSU is a great sub, dont let them pressure you into spending more then you want. the Emotiva might be a better buy as its larger 12 vs 10 inch

im currently using a Bic F12 in a room thats 10 feet wide by 30 feet long with 7 foot celings and its fine. I purchased it knowing i would replace it in under a year as a hold over.

The arguements brought up in your AVS thread are valid about room size but for your needs you really dont need to worry about them as you dont really care about reference level bass in the entire space

xXFaNtAsMaXx · Aug 9, 2011

Nevermind.

ManBearPig · Aug 9, 2011

Anubis said:
they always do that. the HSU is a great sub, dont let them pressure you into spending more then you want. the Emotiva might be a better buy as its larger 12 vs 10 inch

im currently using a Bic F12 in a room thats 10 feet wide by 30 feet long with 7 foot celings and its fine. I purchased it knowing i would replace it in under a year as a hold over.

The arguements brought up in your AVS thread are valid about room size but for your needs you really dont need to worry about them as you dont really care about reference level bass in the entire space

I mean, i know theyre trying to help out, but its so hard to meet their requirements. I know what they say is true, but tbh i dont really give a shit about anyones seating position but my own, and if people are there, everyone will be in a pretty concentrated space anyway so it shouldnt be a big deal.

Also, a 12" sub sounds appealing because i already have a 10". So it would be bigger which is...cool.

funboy6942 · Aug 9, 2011

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=303-432

I have this one and it puts out more bass then my Logitech Z5500 set ever did.
Bash amp, 200 watts RMS, 400+ peek, floor firing, house rattle.

Aikouka · Aug 9, 2011

I have a weirdly shaped living room as well. It has a hallway on one side and a small dining room on the other that opens into the kitchen.

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I usually ignore the chair when it comes to things like Audyssey listening points, but I figure those openings don't do well when it comes to proper sound. Is yours similar?

I tried to find your thread on AVS as I was interested in reading it, but I didn't seem to find it in the subwoofer forum. Could you link it?

Thump553 · Aug 9, 2011

My specs are almost identical to the OP, except I would be 90% music/10% movies and WAF is significant (no sonotubes for sure). Any reccommendations for me (I have a spare amp for passive subwoofer if need be).

If HSU, a guy is selling a HSU STF-2 locally for $300 but that seems a tad high for used to me.

ManBearPig · Aug 9, 2011

I have the same thread at like 4 different forums (including here) lol. I'll link to each:

AVS

AudioKarma

AudioHolics

I'll draw out a Pain pic of my room.

Midwayman · Aug 9, 2011

You live in an apartment or house? I'd try and squeeze an infinite baffle setup in there if you have a house. (You'll need to cut holes, etc)

sdifox · Aug 9, 2011

how handy are you? you could build a sonotube sub.

ManBearPig · Aug 9, 2011

sdifox said:
how handy are you? you could build a sonotube sub.

Im not that handy, i dont trust myself building something like this.

Any thoughts about the BIC H-200 or the Cadence CSX-12 MkII?

P.S. I've had a picture of my room made forever but its taking forever for pics.bbzzdd to send me my password reset since i forgot it. argh...guess ill just photobucket.

Heres a pic of my room layout:

sdifox · Aug 9, 2011

kazaam said:
Im not that handy, i dont trust myself building something like this. Any thoughts about the BIC H-200 or the Cadence CSX-12 MkII?

P.S. I've had a picture of my room made forever but its taking forever for pics.bbzzdd to send me my password reset since i forgot it. argh

http://www.subwoofer-builder.com/sonosub.htm

pieces of wood, caulking gun, a paper tube and clamping is all you are doing. not hard at all. Now if you don't know which side of the saw is the sharp end, then yeah, don't try this.

http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volume_6_3/diy-11-sonotube-subwoofer-september-99.html

http://www.lungster.com/l/speakers/sonotubefaq.shtml

ahahahahaa the homewrecker

http://www.decware.com/newsite/diy/Box_Plans/HWK15.html

step by step build.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=854905&page=1&pp=30

Howard · Aug 9, 2011

sdifox said:
http://www.subwoofer-builder.com/sonosub.htm

pieces of wood, caulking gun, a paper tube and clamping is all you are doing. not hard at all. Now if you don't know which side of the saw is the sharp end, then yeah, don't try this.

http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volume_6_3/diy-11-sonotube-subwoofer-september-99.html

http://www.lungster.com/l/speakers/sonotubefaq.shtml

ahahahahaa the homewrecker

http://www.decware.com/newsite/diy/Box_Plans/HWK15.html

step by step build.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=854905&page=1&pp=30

Usually applications that need this much bass will go with folded horns, but horns can create standing waves so large that much of the bass is canceled throughout the center of the space - right where you need it most! The HWK has far less loading problems in a given room and unlike a horn, can be used in smaller spaces.

The problem is, the uninformed can actually believe stuff like this...

ManBearPig · Aug 9, 2011

Howard said:
The problem is, the uninformed can actually believe stuff like this...

<-----

I am uninformed.

gar655 · Aug 9, 2011

This is probably the best you're going to get for your usage preferences and close to your budget that is not a DIY kit.

http://www.edesignaudio.com/product_info.php?cPath=2_41&products_id=407

Gene

Howard · Aug 9, 2011

kazaam said:
<-----

I am uninformed.

Don't worry about it. A horn sub is the last thing you need to think about.

ManBearPig · Aug 9, 2011

Hmm...the people at Elemental Designs offered me a $15 which is nice.

I like how they continued to build stuff in America and raise prices a little vs go to China. Thinking strongly about that, i've heard its a good sub for HT.

Otherwise, i'd get the HSU, but instead of the STF-2 I would end up waiting & saving a lot longer and getting the VTF-2 MK 3, which would be superior to any of these subs (and more expensive).

ManBearPig · Aug 9, 2011

Oh yeah, how do i know if i can connect to an LFE channel with my receiver? I think i have one plug going from the socket in the wall to the sub, and another RCA cable or something going from the sub to the receiver.

sdifox · Aug 9, 2011

kazaam said:
Oh yeah, how do i know if i can connect to an LFE channel with my receiver? I think i have one plug going from the socket in the wall to the sub, and another RCA cable or something going from the sub to the receiver.

that rca cable should be connected to LFE out from your receiver.

Help me buy my first real subwoofer (please)!

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