Recommendations for 2 Channel Sub

Dawgfish
Dawgfish Posts: 2,554
edited October 2011 in 2 Channel Audio
Hello all,

My two channel system is continuing to evolve and it's never sounded better than it is right now. The only real weakness I can hear in the system is my current sub, an Energy ES-8 can be slightly sloppy and could use a little more low-end detail. What sub(s) would y'all suggest new or used in the $700 price range and lower? I'm looking for tight, detailed, and musical bass. Right now the DSW Micropro and DSW Pro subs are on my short list, but I wanted to see if anybody had any experience with other subs in this price range that may fit the bill and how they compare to the Polk subs listed above. BTW the sub will be used with some LSi703s. Thanks in advance!
Post edited by Dawgfish on
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,177
    edited October 2011
    DSW Micro Pro's are incredible sounding subs. I am not a fan of subs for 2ch, but I guess if you are using a bookie there's no other way to get the lower octaves.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • Dawgfish
    Dawgfish Posts: 2,554
    edited October 2011
    heiney9 wrote: »
    DSW Micro Pro's are incredible sounding subs. I am not a fan of subs for 2ch, but I guess if you are using a bookie there's no other way to get the lower octaves.

    H9

    I'm with you on that H9. I don't prefer to listen to subs in 2ch either, but given my current small space constraints for my system, I have to run bookshelfs or small towers. I'm really digging the 703s and they have surprisingly good bass, but I'm missing some of the very lows without a sub. I was spoiled running the SDA-1Cs for so long! I'm really leaning towards a MicroPro 2000 or 3000 as I think I would have my best chance of integrating the sound with the 703s with these. I'm hoping my fellow CPers will chime in on this one way or another. Thanks for the advice and keep on jamming.

    Dawg
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  • quadzilla
    quadzilla Posts: 1,543
    edited October 2011
    If you're going to the 703s, unless you can afford to buy another sub soon, you might want to hold off. When I was talking to the Polk rep at an audio show, he said they're looking at coming out with a matching sub for the LSiM line.
    Turntable: Empire 208
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    Speakers: SDA 2.3TL, heavily modified
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  • Dawgfish
    Dawgfish Posts: 2,554
    edited October 2011
    quadzilla wrote: »
    If you're going to the 703s, unless you can afford to buy another sub soon, you might want to hold off. When I was talking to the Polk rep at an audio show, he said they're looking at coming out with a matching sub for the LSiM line.

    Thanks on the info Quad. I think I may do that, unless a crazy good deal comes along for a Micropro in the meantime. The energy sub I'm using now is really not bad, I'm just always looking to make an upgrade if I can. I did a little more tweaking today on the Energy sub and got it to sound a little tighter. Given that, I'm not in any rush.
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  • leroyjr1
    leroyjr1 Posts: 8,785
    edited October 2011
    Rythmik subs. Very musical and affordable.
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  • pearsall001
    pearsall001 Posts: 5,068
    edited October 2011
    I can highly recommend the Velodyne SPL-1200R. Tremendous performer for both HT/2 channel. Nothing compares to a well integrated sub/subs for a stellar 2 channel system. There's very few speakers that wouldn't benefit. Once you experience the true musical spectrum you'll never be without.
    "2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up.
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  • erniejade
    erniejade Posts: 6,321
    edited October 2011
    I also have to 2nd the velo spl 1200 im running the original spl1200 clean fast extreamly musical.
    Klipsch The Nines, Audioquest Thunderbird Interconnect, Innuos Zen MK3 W4S recovery, Revolution Audio Labs USB & Ethernet, Border Patrol SE-I, Audioquest Niagara 5000 & Thunder, Cullen Crossover II PC's.
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  • Dawgfish
    Dawgfish Posts: 2,554
    edited October 2011
    Thanks for the recommendation on the Velodyne gentlemen. I took a look at it on the net and I like what I see. I'm definitely putting it on my short list and if one comes around for a fair price, I'll jump on it.
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  • falconcry72
    falconcry72 Posts: 3,580
    edited October 2011
    The HSU ULS-15 is supposed to be the bomb, but I've never heard it. I'm trying to get someone to go in with me on gettin' a few to save some coin:

    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?125149-HSU-ULS-15-Anybody-Wanna-Split-a-Quad

    I may be down to go black instead of rosewood, which would be cheaper.


    The main points about this beast are that it's a sealed box 15, so it's super quick and tight, but goes wayyyy low.... like 5-10hz!

    It's also relatively small for its output and extension at about 18" cubed.
    2-Channel: PC > Schiit Eitr > Audio Research DAC-8 > Audio Research LS-26 > Pass Labs X-250.5 > Magnepan 3.7's

    Living Room: PC > Marantz AV-7703 > Emotiva XPA-5 > Sonus Faber Liuto Towers, Sonus Faber Liuto Center, Sonus Faber Liuto Bookshelves > Dual SVS PC12-Pluses

    Office: Phone/Tablet > AudioEngine B1 > McIntosh D100 > Bryston 4B-ST > Polk Audio LSiM-703's
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  • Ern Dog
    Ern Dog Posts: 2,237
    edited October 2011
    I had a Velo SPL 15" sub and whoaaaaa! It goes low, super tight and bass is clean. The SPL series is a sealed sub and perfect for music.
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  • reeltrouble1
    reeltrouble1 Posts: 9,312
    edited October 2011
    I would definetely get a Polk sub and nothing but a Polk sub to use with Polk Speakers to play music with.

    RT1
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  • rooftop59
    rooftop59 Posts: 8,121
    edited October 2011
    The most musical sub Ive owned was a aci Titan 10 in sealed. Really tight and quick and great texture. I couldn't believe how good it sounded. If you can find one used I'd recommend it. also the old mirage bi polar subs are great for music, especially the bps 150i.
    Living Room 2.2: Usher BE-718 "tiny dancers"; Dual DIY Dayton audio RSS210HF-4 Subs with Dayton SPA-250 amps; Arcam SA30; Musical Fidelity A308; Sony UBP-x1000es
    Game Room 5.1.4:     Denon AVR-X4200w; Sony UBP-x700; Definitive Technology Power Monitor 900 mains, CLR-3000 center, StudioMonitor 350 surrounds, ProMonitor 800 atmos x4; Sub - Monoprice Monolith 15in THX Ultra
    Bedroom 2.1     Harmon Kardon HK3490; Bluesounds Node N130; Polk RT25i; ACI Titan Subwoofer
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  • Dawgfish
    Dawgfish Posts: 2,554
    edited October 2011
    Well I've found my two-channel sub. I was really leaning towards a DSW MicroPro, but I went around to several H-FI dealers around the Atlanta area yesterday and listened to many, many subs. I ended up going with a REL R-205. I got a good deal on it too. This sub was exactly what I was looking for; tight, accurate, quick, detailed, and with a with lack of boominess. It integrated with my LSiM-703s perfectly. This sub really cleaned up the low-end. I can hear details in bass guitars and other low end sounds/instruments that I was not hearing with my old Energy sub. Next on my up-grade list will be the MIT S3 Shotgun speaker cables that I was going to buy this weekend before buying the sub instead, and then a complete set of MIT S3 shotgun ICs. That should really tighten up the lows to a whole new level. I'm really digging the sound in my system right now!
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  • Conradicles
    Conradicles Posts: 6,082
    edited October 2011
    rel.jpg
    Nice sub! I was actually going to suggest this sub from Vann's. Congrats!:biggrin:
    rel.jpg 127.8K
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  • Dawgfish
    Dawgfish Posts: 2,554
    edited October 2011
    Thanks Conradicles! When I was doing some research for musical subs, this one came up a lot. I saw the ad with Vann's before I went around looking this weekend. I actually got an even better deal than Vann's, even with sales tax added. I'm really happy with the sub. It's exactly what I was looking for. The one I bought has the gloss piano black finish btw. It looks great in the system and matches the piano black faceplates of the LSiMs exactly. The cherry finish pictured above would have went well with the cherry cabinets on my LSiMs also.
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