What is the best bang-for-buck subwoofer (for the home)?

[isasir]

I currently own a variant of this KLH 10" sub - $99 from Costco.

I'm looking at the HSU VTF-2 - ~$500 shipped.

I've heard great things about the VTF-2, and heck, my current sub really isn't that bad. However, is there anything in between these two price ranges ($100 - $500) that I should consider as well?

 

[erikiksaz]

Refer to the other sub-1k system thread. I'm pretty sure they were praising the Shiva as the best bang-for-buck sub.

 

[BigSmooth]

I've heard many good things about the Sony SA-WM40. It only costs about $150-200 but you can do some very simple modifications that supposedly turn it into an excellent sub.

 

[Mallow]

I like Punch XLC's... you can usually wait for a 2 for 1 deal at BB and they end up costing like $55 each.

 

[amnesiac]

Originally posted by: erikiksaz
Refer to the other sub-1k system thread. I'm pretty sure they were praising the Shiva as the best bang-for-buck sub.

This is home theater. That thread was car audio. Big difference.

You guys really need to start reading the entire thread.

Personally, I have the JBL PB-12, which retails for about $500, but i got it from buy.com for $169 as a pricing error.

The Audiovox 15" from Amazon is a great value as long as you add some polyfill.

If you want to spend more and get the best you can, I'd check out SV subwoofers.

 

[edro]

Originally posted by: Mallow
I like Punch XLC's... you can usually wait for a 2 for 1 deal at BB and they end up costing like $55 each.

They don't make Punch XLCs anymore.... that was like 2 years ago. They are now called Punch HE.

Also, he wants Home Audio.... not Car Audio.

 

[isasir]

Originally posted by: bigsmooth
I've heard many good things about the Sony SA-WM40. It only costs about $150-200 but you can do some very simple modifications that supposedly turn it into an excellent sub.

Hmm... this seems like one worth looking into.

 

[isasir]

Originally posted by: amnesiac

Originally posted by: erikiksaz
Refer to the other sub-1k system thread. I'm pretty sure they were praising the Shiva as the best bang-for-buck sub.

This is home theater. That thread was car audio. Big difference.

You guys really need to start reading the entire thread.

Personally, I have the JBL PB-12, which retails for about $500, but i got it from buy.com for $169 as a pricing error.

The Audiovox 15" from Amazon is a great value as long as you add some polyfill.

If you want to spend more and get the best you can, I'd check out SV subwoofers.

If I didn't already own the Costco sub, I would've gotten the Audiovox 15" from Amazon. From what I've heard, JBL subs aren't as great as the rest of their speakers. I'm not too familiar with SV, but I'll look into 'em.

 

[Eug]

SVS Subwoofers

 

[Viper0329]

The shiva referred to in this thread is actually a home theater sub that happened to do extremely well in the car audio market. It is DIY. I hear great things about it. Get a plate amp, a shiva, build a box, and voila...sub-bass bliss for pretty cheap.

 

[isasir]

Originally posted by: Viper0329
The shiva referred to in this thread is actually a home theater sub that happened to do extremely well in the car audio market. It is DIY. I hear great things about it. Get a plate amp, a shiva, build a box, and voila...sub-bass bliss for pretty cheap.

Hmm... while reading reviews for the sub I currently have, some people had made mention about taking out the existing KLH woofer and replacing it with another one in the same sub box. Could I do something similar here?

 

[Entity]

I'd recommend looking at Circuit City open box specials. I got a Velodyne CT-120 there for $320, with a 3-year warranty. I love this sub.

Rob

 

[BDawg]

The HSU subs are awesome!

 

[austin316]

The sony sub is awesome. Do a search for it @ hometheaterforums.com Simply putting a little extra polyphill (sp?) in it makes it friggin awesome for MUSIC AND MOVIES.

 

[Rogozhin]

HM

I have a single voice coil Kicker solobaric d2 (car sub), but I built a special enclosure for it, .66 cubic feet with a 3.5inch 2inch diameter port to tune it to 22hz.

With my 300 watt plate amp, speaker level inputs from the amp and crossover set to 40hz I get some wall shaking bass and compression waves seem to take some breath away.

Rogo

 

[Rogozhin]

I would go for a SHiva in a custom box with a plate amp.

Rogo

 

[arod]

Get an SVS Sub, they can be had for around $380 and get a plate amp for around $150... this is what i did and its amazing.

 

[thomsbrain]

My Sony SAWM40 sounds pretty damn good to my ears. 120 watts, 12" cone, good down to 20 Hz (something you rarely see). I did the polyfill mod and it cleaned it up a bit, sounds even better now. I can't imagine listening to music without one of these things. Cost me $130 from that mysony deal a while back. I've heard of people changing out the driver to a nice car sub and saying that made it even better than before.

 

[Spac3d]

Originally posted by: edro13

Originally posted by: Mallow
I like Punch XLC's... you can usually wait for a 2 for 1 deal at BB and they end up costing like $55 each.

They don't make Punch XLCs anymore.... that was like 2 years ago. They are now called Punch HE.

Also, he wants Home Audio.... not Car Audio.

hehe Mallow was way off.

 

[isasir]

Follow-up question -

If I do get another sub, I basically will have this sub sitting around collecting dust (doubt I'd put it in my room). Since my receiver can handle 6.1 (Pioneer VSX-D811s), could I (would I want to?) run both subs?

 

[arod]

Not if you get a good one.... The second sub would make a good one sound worse. Put it up on ebay and let it help offset the cost of a new one.

 

[spidey07]

with a single good quality sub, no you would not want to run both.

It would most likely do more harm than good and you could actually wind up having LESS bass.

HSU and SVS offer very good subs for the money. You could go do it yourself as well.

I personally like my Martin Logan Descent...its servo controlled and can hurt you.

 

[isasir]

Uh, does anyone know where I can buy polyfill? I guess that's the stuff inside pillows from what I was able to google, but I didn't see where might sell it, esp. in dimensions that could be used for a sub.

 

[spidey07]

you can get poly fill at any drugstore, craft store pretty much. Its just pillow stuffing. It comes in a bag.

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: thomsbrain
My Sony SAWM40 sounds pretty damn good to my ears. 120 watts, 12" cone, good down to 20 Hz (something you rarely see). I did the polyfill mod and it cleaned it up a bit, sounds even better now. I can't imagine listening to music without one of these things. Cost me $130 from that mysony deal a while back. I've heard of people changing out the driver to a nice car sub and saying that made it even better than before.

You tested the response yourself?