Small SQ sub for bedroom PC use

[SithSolo1]

For years I've been using a Logitech z-560 setup w/o the rears for my computer audio but I decided to give it to a friend for Christmas and now I'm using bookshelfs and a receiver I had in storage. It sounds pretty good but as you can guess the low end isn't really there. I'm looking for a small sub to place under my desk to fill in the 80hz and lower range, are Dayton's subs my best bet? If so, what size?


Panansonic XR10 receiver
Infinity Entra One bookshelf speakers
Room is 17x11.5x10ft
Distance from the listening position is <3ft.
Low to moderate listening levels
95% music and games

 

[Tiamat]

If your seat is in an acoustic null for the lower bass frequencies, it won't matter what subwoofer you upgrade to. Make sure your seating position is not compromising your bass. Second, make sure the location of the subwoofer is not compromising your bass.

If your seating location is in any even fractions of the room's length, e.g. 1/4, 1/8, from the wall, you will have problems, typically in the mid-upper bass though. Since your room dimensions are sufficiently non-related, the bass modal frequencies should not overlap too much and should be reasonably smooth.

To find the optimal location of your subwoofer, place it on your chair and crawl around the room with some bassy music playing. On the floor, where you hear the bass perform the cleanest (not muddy, least one-note bass, least hooting (ringing of bass) in the room), place the subwoofer there. This location may or may not be underneath your desk.

I've tested a logitech subwoofer and while it's FR is far from linear, it does reach down into the mid-30hz range.

There are many subwoofers out there, is your budget between 100$ and 200$? The Dayton 10 and 12 are typical entry level suggestions in that price range.

 

[jtvang125]

Newegg has a Polk 10" sub for $100. It's only 50w but should be more than enough for a bedroom setup.

 

[Nohr]

I think you misunderstood him Tiamat, he doesn't have a subwoofer at all right now.

The Dayton SUB-120 is supposed to be decent. Plus it's on sale now for $140 with free shipping. I own their previous 12" model and it's a respectable sub for the $120 I paid.

I've seen the tSc ASW-10 mentioned on AVS recently and for $100 it looks okay. Had some positive owner opinions anyway.

 

[vi edit]

I'd look at the little 8" Hsu influenced sub at Parts Express:

http://www.parts-express.com/p...cfm?Partnumber=300-390

Should be a nice little drop in solution for music without being too boomy for the room.

 

[Tiamat]

Originally posted by: Nohr
I think you misunderstood him Tiamat, he doesn't have a subwoofer at all right now.

The Dayton SUB-120 is supposed to be decent. Plus it's on sale now for $140 with free shipping. I own their previous 12" model and it's a respectable sub for the $120 I paid.

I've seen the tSc ASW-10 mentioned on AVS recently and for $100 it looks okay. Had some positive owner opinions anyway.

I sorta did, I didn't read the part that he sold the logitech, so he cannot experiment with sub placement right away. However, most of what I said still applies. If you do not keep room acoustics in check, no purchase will yield fantastic results (in this price range).

 

[s44]

That Dayton isn't that small... It's about the same size as the extremely promising Dayton/Hsu 10" that's on sale for $230 shipped. Or the similar, Hsu-designed 10" Atlantic they have for $200 shipped. The 8" Dayton/Hsu mentioned above may qualify better as "small".

 

[Tiamat]

Originally posted by: s44
That Dayton isn't that small... It's about the same size as the extremely promising Dayton/Hsu 10" that's on sale for $230 shipped. Or the similar, HSU-designed 10" Atlantic they have for $200 shipped. The 8" Dayton/Hsu may qualify better as "small".

I guess size is all relative Some would classify my ACI Maestro XL as being a "small" subwoofer

 

[Jinny]

might i recommend a velodyne dd18.

 

[Tiamat]

Originally posted by: Jinny
might i recommend a velodyne dd18.

:laugh:

 

[Snakexor]

martin logan dynamo

 

[cheesehead]

DIY is always nice if you're on a budget. The electronics end is pretty much done for you - just crimp two wires and build a box.

 

[nicolaskl]

http://www.wilson-benesch.com/torus/torus.html

 

[Rubycon]

A pair of these in an isobarik coupled cavity with a nice little footwarmer can make some rolling bass that can re-arrange things on your dresser AND fit under it and out of sight!

Seal the box hermetically on the closed end and don't be afraid to EQ the heck out of it well below 20Hz. Add a dbx 4bx for some serious impact. Hope they don't have cats that like small places because a kitty would fit cozy in the common vent and a kick drum hit at -3dB would (cat-a-pault) the poor feline at e times terminal velocity.

 

[Slick5150]

Energy Speakers has a nice little subwoofer that they bundle with the Take Classic 5.1 setup. I think this one on their website is essentially the same one except without the glossy black finish that the Take Classic one comes with.

http://www.energy-speakers.com...oducts/esw-8-overview/

I use it with my PC setup and its small and out of the way, yet still puts out a really good sound.

Overall Dimensions inches: 12 5/8 x 12 5/8 x 12 5/8
Weight 19.7 lb / 8.94 kg

--

If you want something cheaper, this sub from The Speaker Company is only $80 shipped right now. I have some other speakers from them and am really impressed, but I haven't heard their subs so I can't vouch for it. But they have a 30 day return policy so you can try it out at no risk.

http://www.thespeakercompany.c...-Subwoofer-P61C17.aspx

Its a little larger than the one above, but not by much.

 

[Oyeve]

I think a JBL P10SW would be perfect. I have the older larger Sub250 version and prefer a front firing sub over a floor firing one.

 

[SithSolo1]

The z-560 sub was fine in the spot I had it in but it was way too boomy. I'm probably looking for something in the 10" or smaller range, $150ish or less.
I'm basicly just looking for low-end fill that's not too loud as I'll mostly be using this setup at night and I'm in a condo with a roommate and people above, bellow, and to the right of me.

Thanks for all the suggestions I'll start looking through them in detail this weekend.

 

[Slick5150]

Originally posted by: SithSolo1
The z-560 sub was fine in the spot I had it in but it was way too boomy. I'm probably looking for something in the 10" or smaller range, $150ish or less.
I'm basicly just looking for low-end fill that's not too loud as I'll mostly be using this setup at night and I'm in a condo with a roommate and people above, bellow, and to the right of me.

Thanks for all the suggestions I'll start looking through them in detail this weekend.

The Dayton's tend to be a bit boomy as well..

I'd check out The Speaker Company linked I put above. Its hard to argue with $80, with free shipping both ways if you decide you don't like it.

 

[SithSolo1]

Originally posted by: Slick5150
The Dayton's tend to be a bit boomy as well..

I'd check out The Speaker Company linked I put above. Its hard to argue with $80, with free shipping both ways if you decide you don't like it.

I'm really eyeing that 8" for $80. Also, I noticed that the product manuals for the TSC 8" and for the Energy 8" that the specs are the same.

 

[SithSolo1]

Well picked up the TSC 8" for $80 and its just what I needed(though I wouldn't have minded the 10" ).

Thanks!

 

[cheesehead]

Originally posted by: Rubycon


Seal the box hermetically on the closed end and don't be afraid to EQ the heck out of it well below 20Hz.

I've been looking at a SP10 myself, though you can get a grey-market ScanSpeak 23W for near the price.

Also, I'd worry about using that much EQ. The SP10 is down around fifteen dB at 20hz in what Unibox says is the optimal sealed box enclosure. 500 watts - the maximum power handling - would produce under 96dB.

Sealed boxes are useful only in cars (where the resonance of the enclosed volume of the air in the car will create gain roughly equal to roll-off), for "music" subs that don't need to play below 35hz, or huge drivers with massive voice coils that will have a much lower un-EQ'd F3 and are limited by the physical excursion of the driver, not the power handling of the voice coil.

 

[cheesehead]

Originally posted by: SithSolo1

Originally posted by: Slick5150
The Dayton's tend to be a bit boomy as well..

I'd check out The Speaker Company linked I put above. Its hard to argue with $80, with free shipping both ways if you decide you don't like it.

I'm really eyeing that 8" for $80. Also, I noticed that the product manuals for the TSC 8" and for the Energy 8" that the specs are the same.

Infinity does some okay subs on the low end of the range. I'm not quite sure, but I think that Energy and TSC have the same parent company.

 

[Slick5150]

Originally posted by: Cheesehead

Originally posted by: SithSolo1

Originally posted by: Slick5150
The Dayton's tend to be a bit boomy as well..

I'd check out The Speaker Company linked I put above. Its hard to argue with $80, with free shipping both ways if you decide you don't like it.

I'm really eyeing that 8" for $80. Also, I noticed that the product manuals for the TSC 8" and for the Energy 8" that the specs are the same.

Infinity does some okay subs on the low end of the range. I'm not quite sure, but I think that Energy and TSC have the same parent company.

No, Energy is owned by Klipsch. TSC is owned by D&M Holdings (Denon, Marantz, Boston Acoustics, etc..). It is certainly possible that both used the same design for the sub though, then just used different materials to construct it.