Looking for some Subwoofer advice...

CrayzeeGuy
CrayzeeGuy Posts: 12
edited June 2013 in Speakers
Have a budget minded setup in my town home family room...

Fronts: Monitor 60
Center: CS10
Sub: PSW111
Receiver: Denon AVR-1713
Room: 19'x15'x7'
Music 60% / Movies 40%
Fronts set to small. Crossovers at 80, LFE at 125


Really happy with my setup except for the sub. Spent lots of time calibrating and finding solid placement. However, the volume is rather underwhelming with movies and certain genres of music. L/R/C put out 85db at listening position while sub barely crosses 70db. If I mess with the gain on the sub or receiver, it begins to sound muddy.

Would either a PSW505 or PSW125 be beneficial to my setup? Not sure if the PSW125 is any better because it has the same specs as my PSW111 but with the bigger speaker and could push a bit more air. Afraid the PSW505 may be too much "boom" for my space.

Any advice appreciated... Thanks!
Post edited by CrayzeeGuy on
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • Tornado Red
    Tornado Red Posts: 939
    edited June 2013
    I'm running similar equipment to yours, in a similar sized space listening to music/movies. I can recommend the 550pro, tighter and not as boomy as the 505. $388 at Amazon. I'm sure lots of others will chime in with more ideas for you.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • obieone
    obieone Posts: 5,077
    edited June 2013
    Polk's ebay page has a Micropro 1000 for $431.98. Downward firing, with a passive front, should work nice for both HT and music.
    I refuse to argue with idiots, because people can't tell the DIFFERENCE!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • CrayzeeGuy
    CrayzeeGuy Posts: 12
    edited June 2013
    Thanks for the quick replies. I guess my initial budget is a tad lower than what many will recommend. I guess I assumed that with the Monitors at under $300 a pair, I'd be able to find a decent sub in that price range. The PSW111 was an old freebie with a previous purchase 5+ years ago.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • ZLTFUL
    ZLTFUL Posts: 5,655
    edited June 2013
    obieone wrote: »
    Polk's ebay page has a Micropro 1000 for $431.98. Downward firing, with a passive front, should work nice for both HT and music.

    Actually, it is front firing with a down firing passive radiator.
    But a solid choice at that price.
    "Some people find it easier to be conceited rather than correct."

    "Unwad those panties and have a good time man. We're all here to help each other, no matter how it might appear." DSkip
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • CrayzeeGuy
    CrayzeeGuy Posts: 12
    edited June 2013
    ZLTFUL wrote: »
    Actually, it is front firing with a down firing passive radiator.
    But a solid choice at that price.

    Should I not be worrying too much about 8" vs. 10" vs. 12" for my room size?
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • CrayzeeGuy
    CrayzeeGuy Posts: 12
    edited June 2013
    Other sites seem to be high on the BIC and Lava subs... are those ones I should be considering as well?
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,596
    edited June 2013
    CrayzeeGuy wrote: »
    Thanks for the quick replies. I guess my initial budget is a tad lower than what many will recommend. I guess I assumed that with the Monitors at under $300 a pair, I'd be able to find a decent sub in that price range. The PSW111 was an old freebie with a previous purchase 5+ years ago.
    CrayzeeGuy wrote: »
    Other sites seem to be high on the BIC and Lava subs... are those ones I should be considering as well?

    Personally if it was me I would keep your PS111 or go with either the 505 or the 550Pro. With that said you'll still be wanting for me. I purchased a 125 and ran it with my Monitor 60's and it was good, but I wish given the cost of the 125 (349) I had just spent a little more and gone with a Outlaw Audio LFM model of sub, or even one of the HSU Research subs in that price range.

    Polk makes good speakers, but their subs you really honestly need to spend some considerable cash before they become good. I am also not a fan of BIC or Lava, they are about on par with Polks stuff.

    Emotiva used to have decent prices on their subs which were quite good, but last I looked they jacked the prices up to where you would be again better off with an internet direct dealer like Outlaw, HSU or even SVS (but SVS is a bit out of your range from what I can remember).

    So if it was me I would take the cash you set aside for your sub, let it grow to about 450-500 and then purchase a sub to replace your PSW111. Until then honestly your going to get a little bit of a gain, but I dont think it will be worth the amount you'll have to pay to get it.
    "....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • teekay0007
    teekay0007 Posts: 2,289
    edited June 2013
    I'd go with the DSWPRO550wi. It goes on sale at Newegg quite often for $279 - $299 shipped. You can just go to their site and set a Price Alert on it - at say, $300 - and they'll send you an email when your price point is met. Then, you can sell your PSW111 to offset the price some.

    I have two 550s from Newegg and got them to replace my DSWMicroPRO2000 and 3000 while at the same time putting serious money back in my pocket. Haven't regretted it for a minute. The 550 pulls double duty (stereo and HT) very well.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • CrayzeeGuy
    CrayzeeGuy Posts: 12
    edited June 2013
    Really liking the currently available discount on the MicroPro 1000 vs. the Pro 550. Is the MicroPro enough for my room size with the 8" speaker, or would the 550 sound better even though its more cost effective?
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Tornado Red
    Tornado Red Posts: 939
    edited June 2013
    $431 is a great price on the Micro Pro 1000, but just so the OP knows that is a refurb. Same for the 550pro they have for $299.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • teekay0007
    teekay0007 Posts: 2,289
    edited June 2013
    Tornado Red wrote: »
    $431 is a great price on the Micro Pro 1000, but just so the OP knows that is a refurb. Same for the 550pro they have for $299.

    Yes, the ones available from Polk direct on ebay are refurbs. The 550's that Newegg marks down to $299 are Brand New with full warranty and FREE shipping.

    I like the 550 better, no matter the size of the room.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • jbooker82
    jbooker82 Posts: 1,627
    edited June 2013
    +1 for the 550 or 660 from new egg.
    AVR: Onkyo Tx-NR808
    Amplifier: Carver A-753x 250 watts x 3
    Fronts: Polk RTI A7 (modded by Trey VR3)
    Center: CSI A4 (modded by Trey VR3)
    Rear: FXI A4
    Sub: Polk DSW Pro 660wi
    TV: LG Infinia 50PX950 3D
    Speaker Cable: AudioQuest Type 8
    IC: AudioQuest Black Mamba II
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • CrayzeeGuy
    CrayzeeGuy Posts: 12
    edited June 2013
    Looks like I will give the MicroPro1000 a test drive. As soon as I ordered mine refurbished at $431, they changed the price to $539. It has to be an upgrade from my free PSW111 that was used with SurroundBars.

    If it doesn't do what I'm looking for it to do, I can always return and try out a Pro550 when NewEgg has them back at $299. I may have spent enough money in returning things to Polk in my lifetime to afford that $1,000 sub already!

    Thanks all for the fantastic advice. Feel free to keep chiming in with feedback!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Tornado Red
    Tornado Red Posts: 939
    edited June 2013
    Great choice! Come back after you set 'er up and let us know how you like it.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter