subwoofer options help.

ohskigod · February 2004

while i am happy with the results of modifing my sony wm500 (mod podge, poly fill, placed on a marble slab), i am looking at different options for a new subwoofer. budget is sub 400.00 ish

here are the options i am looking at

1) SVS CS series, i have an onkyo m501 150x2 i can power it with, i assume, i can only power with 150 watts from one channel since it can not be bridged.

2) HSU VTF 2, 399.00 was the price i think?

3)Dayton Titanic/Vance Dickason kit, 349.00 shipped

4) Adire Rava (a little over budget, but not bad 399.99 plus shipping)

5) Another Sony WM500 and run both stacked would be best i assume. is this the best cost to performance option?

i'm looking for opinions so i can make a better informed decision. all you guru's please chime in. am i missing any other options?

I thank you in advance for your help.

P.S. the room is fairly large, i dont have dimensions,but figure about 14' by 20' (open air into the dining room) with 10' cieling (ish).

gatemplin · February 2004

I was in your postion about a year ago. I had a modded sawm500. I foolishly bought another because I could get a good discount. I have since given them away.

My choices of the list would be 2 through 4. If you can build your own box I would recommend the Adire Shiva or Tempest and use each channel of the Onkyo for each 8 Ohm VC.

goingganzo · February 2004

or look at av12 or 15 bad to the bone if you get these you will never look back

PolkThug · February 2004

The Velodyne CHT15 went on sale again at CC for 499.

ohskigod · February 2004

what is an "av12 or 15"?

ohskigod · February 2004

did a search, and they seem to be drivers. can i get plans for any of these projects? would like to look at them and make sure i can undertake the task. I'm definitly a beginner at the DIY thing.

P.S. thanks for the help to all in case i forget to thank you later.

gatemplin · February 2004

The AV12 and 15 are sub drivers from www.stryke.com . They are very popular and I am sure you can find plenty of examples of different projects on the net.

ohskigod · February 2004

after some thought, im toying with getting a driver with dual 8 ohm voice coils (will go best with the onkyo m501 amp i have 150w x 2, which can not be bridged). the shiva looks like a great choice. i will have to go with a kit for the enclosure, since my woodworking skills are marginal at best. i was thinking

a) adire audio shiva (apparently on backorder)
b) would this driver work if i decided to go 15 inches http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/pshowdetl.cfm?&PartNumber=295-190&DID=7

this coupled with the following enclosure kit.
http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/pshowdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Partnumber=300-729

any input or thoughts would help me avoid costly errors, which would be greatly appreciated. thanx for the help in advance.

the strykes did look like they kick ****, but the low impedance would not be a good match for the amp i will be using.

goingganzo · February 2004

sono tube if you can cut a circl you can make a sub. also whar you save on the encloser you can get a good saw also the av15 will devestqate the other subs unless you get a tempest or a tintanic mk3 15in with will allmost hang. but go big or go home.

dorokusai · February 2004

I am a plug-n-play individual, and would choose the HSU. I could make a subwoofer that doubled as bunk bed, but man, I have beer to drink.

The aforementioned DIY designs are well proven and great performers. There is a huge amount of satisfaction in a completed, working project. You will need some more power to get into the "devastating" category. I am with GG on the go big statement, no doubt.

gatemplin · February 2004

Kyle sells numerous kits for Adire and Stryke drivers at http://acoustic-visions.com/~acoustic/products/subwoofers/enclosures/ . The Shiva kit starts at $330 with driver and amp. You could also take the designs from Adires website and get someone to cut it for you.

Early B. · February 2004

Go with the Hsu STF-2.

ohskigod · February 2004

the stf-2 is the one you can get at comp usa right?
is it a good sub? its 10" and am wondering if that would perform beter than the modded wm500 sony i have now. i here good things about the HSU but never heard it. maybe a demo might be in order.

if this is the sub i am thinking about, isnt it almost exactly like the vtf-2? with subtle differences. i hear goo dand bad things, the bad sems to be related to not being able to properly demo the stf-2 in a place like Comp USA. i believe it is 349.00 their? this does seem to be a valid option. The DIY option would be a complete no brainer if i had any woodworking skill

POLKOHOLIC · February 2004

Make a note of the Foam surrounds on that driver. Look at this instead:Sub

Dr. Spec · February 2004

The STF-2 is equal to a VTF-2 in maximum extension mode.

I owned an STF-2 for a week. Nice build quality and cabinet finish. Sounded really fine on music at moderate volumes.

Can't handle HT at more than about -20RL calibrated about 3 dB hot. At -15RL, it compressed badly and soft bottomed so I backed off right away. This is in a 2000 ft3 room 12 feet from the sub corner loaded.

I can recommend this sub in a small room for music applications. I can't recommend it for HT in moderate to larger rooms - it simply can't move enough air.

If HT is important to you and you want to stay with Hsu as an option, I recommend the STF-3 or the VTF-3 Mk II. That driver can move about 3.5 times as much air as the STF-2 (10" 8mm xMax vs. 12" 18 mm xMax) and will do a lot better on HT.

goingganzo · March 2004

look for a kit from struke if you can screw in a few screws you can buld the sub

subwoofer options help.

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