The first time you heard a "real" subwoofer after owning an entry-level sub

ViperZ

I had 8-incher powered Polk, then JBL PB12 down-firing, then a couple dozen other mid-grade subs before ending up with fully rebuilt Velodyne ULD-15 in the 2-channel (with Maggies) and two NHT SubTwo in the theater. Will be last things that I will upgrade in both systems if I ever get to them.

spencerthomass

Inspector 24 wrote: »

Went from three...yes...three PSW505's and a PSW650 to a HSU VTF-15h.

That single HSU put out more bass at any volume than the three PSW505's could possibly muster. And did it cleanly where the 505's sounded like half dead flapping goldfish in comparison.

Now I have two 15H's.

While I haven't heard many other similarly priced subs, all the reviews seem to suggest it's the biggest bang for the buck sub on the market right now.

This sub from HSU is amazing. I have owned it for a little over a year now and everybody that watches a movie in my theater comments how clean and deep the bass is. It truly is amazing and the price makes it even better. I had a velodyne before that I bought for around $600 about 14 years ago.

davidk0512

Polk PSW 450, amp died in stages, first the LFE input, I ran with R/L speaker level for a few years, then that too quit. I bought a SVS PB1000, it sounded great but didn't give me everything I wanted. SVS has an upgrade policy that I took advantage of and I now have the new PB2000, I absolutely love it and I highly recommend SVS, they are undoubtedly the best customer service company I've ever dealt with.

rooftop59

Older thread, but I think its a good reference thread for all those folks debating whether or not to bite the bullet on a "real" subwoofer. I've owned a number of subs that did not plumb the sub-20 hz depths that were still great and very enjoyable subs. Now I think that if I had gone straight from a PSW-10 or even 505 to my current SVS I would have a black and white opinion, but I didn't and it taught me that there are some really good subs in the middle ground that a fast, tight, musical and hit a true 25 hz, which will be very satisfying for all "pop" music and most movies/games. The Mirage BPS 150i was a great music sub, as was the OMNI Prestige 10. The ACI Force was the best music sub I have ever owned, flat to 20 hz and extremely tight and fast, but pricier and rare. But there is still a pretty big difference on BD soundtracks with truly deep bass with my former HSU VTF-3r or current SVS. They just growl and fill the room in a way the smaller ones can't. So I do think that it is worth saving up and making one long-term purchase, but it's not like you can't get a solid sub for less$$$...

felipe

I had a BIC f12 and I thought I was a great sub...especially for 180 bucks. I recently got the SVS pb1000, and IMO it beats it hands down..clean, tight,thumpy,thunder rolling bass! No boxiness or boominess at all!! I thought I knew deep bass with the BIC, but after hearing the SVS, it makes the BIC sound like a MBM lol...IMO. Its a lil heavier on the wallet, but its worth it in the end ;-)

jon s

The sub that floored me (literally0 was in my friend's HT... He had a pair of JL Audio F212s...

AudioPro

I was in my friends room listening to the Beastie Boys, lol..

Sherardp

Klipsch to SVS. From unboxing, to setup and on to listening. All WOW factor. Then I added a second and completely submitted to the Sub Gods.

tonyb

Coming off of Polk subs and hearing a Revel B15 sub, changed the way I thought about subs in general. Even by todays standards, that sub would still hold it's own.

slk55amg

I moved from a PS10, to a micropro 4000. Huge improvement, glad I did it as the 4000 is no longer available.

gce

Coming from a 12" Klipsch and going to a SVS PC12-NSD was a HUGE upgrade for me!

specd_out

I started with a psw10 then stepped up to a dswpro 600. That was a huge change. Then I got my hands on a micropro4000. But that died shortly after. It was a great sounding sub. It a smooth strong sounding sub.

When that died, I decided to build my own sub. I went with dayton 15" Ultimax in a ported 8 cuft box. Powered with a crown xls1000 bridged to mono @1100 watts. Calibrated with a minidsp and rew. This sounds like nothing else I have had no matter how good I thought they where. There is bass everywhere and it hits hard loud and clean. Never sounds boomy no port noise, no drone just perfect.

Nothing against SVS or any other high end sub company . I am sure those subs are fantastic, I just cant afford 1,300 for a sub.

If your handy and want an enjoyable project, I highly recommend building one

MetropolisLake

Chinsy cheap subs aren't worth listening to to be honest. They add coloration in music on bookshelves that can't handle anything else but that's about it. Dinky subs usually can't even play back the hardcore stuff on movies that require a sub in the first place.

Currently I'm running two UltiMax 18's powered by an iNuke 6000 as well as two Klipsch 15's, just not at the same time, I get bored and play around and switch back and forth and like to learn the difference. I kind of want more, or at least go with a ported box so 20 something hz will be more powerful. What I've got now is about the minimum I'm cool with. A big box store 100 watt 10" is for music on your laptop, not home theater.

Erik Tracy

Went from a modest PSW303 Polk to a sealed 15" Epik Valor.

I played the first Iron Man movie and the scene where he comes from the cave in his first iron man 'suit'.

I thought the house was going to shake apart!! That was some serious pictures on the wall rattling, ground rumbling bass!

Dennis Gardner

Moved from Polk PSW 300 to Dual Shiva EBS alignment 12" each having 5 Cu. Ft. tuned to 17Hz.

dpowell

Started with a PSW300, went to a LSiW1000 to an SVS PB12 plus/2 and now to dual SVS PB13 Ultras. Noticeable improvements each time.

Polkie2009

dpowell wrote: »

Started with a PSW300, went to a LSiW1000 to an SVS PB12 plus/2 and now to dual SVS PB13 Ultras. Noticeable improvements each time.

Duel SVS PB13's ought to be rockin' the foundation,lol ! To all newbs, this is how its done, to get good, clean, quality deep bass , you 're gonna have___ to spend at least $1200 on up on a sub(s) . Even spending $500.00 on bass traps for your room will surprise you in a good way. Started with a used MK V2-B sub, bought another used one, now running dual EPIK Empires , might add another Empire (used) or maybe go for a PSA sealed sub in the future.

MetropolisLake

I actually remember the first time I heard one. Before then I had been messing around with some Wharfedale 10" subs I got off an auction site for cheap. This place had an 18 flexing the bejeesus out of itself in the corner of an otherwise empty showroom. I think it may have had a TV up but that's about it. Absolutely insane, I didn't even know such things were possible outside of a vehicle environment. I don't even remember what brand it was, it was nearly 15 years ago but I do remember they wanted around 3 maybe 4 grand for the thing, it just blew my mind. Back then you might as well have told me they wanted 40 grand for it. It's still a ridiculous amount for a single sub.

slbenz

I started years ago with a BIC passive subwoofer then went with a Velodyne VA1012, which was my first powered sub. Later, I upgraded to a Velodyne HGS-10 but because I have a large room, I upgraded again to my current Velodyne HGS-12 Series II sub. Very clean bass and integrated well with my Martin Logan and Magnepan speakers. Currently using it with a set of Polk Audio SDA 2B speakers I recently acquired. I found going with a higher quality sub provides better integration for music and greater bass impact for movies. Also, I have a Mirage Omni-S8 powered sub which I think is better performing than my old Velodyne VA1012.

Polkie2009

I have to give some credit to some of those original sub makers like M&K and Velodyne. Hats off to them A number of those old subs are still working and they have to be at least 20 to 25 years old. I honestly doubt any__ of the sub plate amps made nowadays will last that long.

Willow

Started with a Sony HTiB with a small powered sub. Then on to a Bose, very shortly after that I moved on to Polk with a 10", from there my biggest step up was to an Energy S10.2 which served me well until this past Friday when my SVS PB 10 NSD. So far I'm very impressed but not blown away. Mind you I have not yet had a chance to play around with settings and on top of that my wife requested I move it from its current location to a corner so it's less visible. The reason she wants it moved is that our whole set up on this wall makes our 42" Panny Plasma look very small. So come xmas sales I've been given a green light to look at 55-65" tv. So to save my back I'll leave the sub where it is and once the new tv is installed then if it still looks funny I'll move the sub.

EndersShadow

I moved from a Polk PSW125 to a Elemental Designs A2-300. While nice it still just didnt have enough to really fill the room I had "right". Plus we lived in an apartment and while the room was decently optimized for bass, turning it up wasnt really an option.

Then we bought a house on a slab. The A2-300 was even more overmatched with my current room so I built a DIY job.

The DIY job does a REALLY GOOD JOB of bass until you hit 20hz (port tuning) where it drops like a rock. Even it struggles to really HIT you with bass, but let me tell you its there. The panels in my kitchen and pictures on the wall tell that story.

And for music.... well it sounds GREAT, lots of kick drum in your chest....

But thats not enough so now I'm debating 2 sealed 18" monsters to replace it so I can cull the depths of sub 20hz and feel the bass in my body. And of course fix any room nulls and modes by using one of the subs nearfield.

But for now my DIY monster does a REALLY GOOD job. And I think @oldrocker would agree after his demo of the WOTW Pods Emerge Scene

oldrocker

It is a monster that looks awesome and sounds very great.

Try playing the song Fantasy by Aldo Nova. Yeah, it's a super "cheesy song but I'd like to hear the intro on that thing...

EndersShadow

oldrocker wrote: »

It is a monster that looks awesome and sounds very great.

Try playing the song Fantasy by Aldo Nova. Yeah, it's a super "cheesy song but I'd like to hear the intro on that thing...

Will see what I can do. I've actually got some decent bass stuff I can play next time your down lol...

Polkie2009

Wow, 2 sealed 18" subs would be massive. You'd probably be able to feel your pantlegs flopping against your shins,lol. Good ol' Aldo Nova, that was a great tune!

EndersShadow

Polkie2009 wrote: »

Wow, 2 sealed 18" subs would be massive. You'd probably be able to feel your pantlegs flopping against your shins,lol. Good ol' Aldo Nova, that was a great tune!

Thats the goal lol....

Irrenhaus

Hi all

I went from a cheap Sony 8" to a 12 JBL L8400P and that was a nice upgrade. Now I have a Ryhtmik Audio F25 dual 15"s. The first movie I try was War of the Worlds. The house was shaking hard, even one of the smoke detectors fell off.

Cheers

Polkie2009

That Rythmik Audio F25 sub is a total beast ! What size room do you have it in,lol?

ken brydson

Irrenhaus wrote: »

Hi all

I went from a cheap Sony 8" to a 12 JBL L8400P and that was a nice upgrade. Now I have a Ryhtmik Audio F25 dual 15"s. The first movie I try was War of the Worlds. The house was shaking hard, even one of the smoke detectors fell off.

Cheers

I blew a clock off the wall the first time I ran my SVS...

Willow

Yesterday when playing a bass test disk my ears popped like riding an elevator very fast. First time I've ever experienced that.