New Subwoofer Recommendations

Irrenhaus

Hi all

Is time to replace my faithful JBL L8400P has work great for this past 4 years. If all goes as plan I can place the order for a new sub by the end of next week. Looking for a sealed unit as it will be use for HT and music. Want to go 15" maybe a 12", here is what I have been looking at:

The E15 from Rythmik Audio http://www.rythmikaudio.com/E15.html

The New S1500 from PSA http://www.powersoundaudio.com/products/s1500

The Gamma 15 from Reaction Audio (lead time is long)
http://reaction-audio.myshopify.com/collections/subwoofers/products/gamma-15

SVS and HSU are also been consider.

Budget is around $1200.00

Cheers
Title Fixed...

mantis

I've been in the business for a very long time and never came across any of the listed woofers.
I can however suggest some very good high quality sub's that I feel would fit your needs and your system.

In no order
1) Sunfire HRS12, killer little sub that really does a great job for both music and movies. I have put it on many jobs and really liked it's overall performance.Very nice I'd own one myself if I needed it.

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_877HRS12/Sunfire-HRS-12.html

2)Definitive Technology Supercube 8000, Man let me tell you, this sub is incredible especially for the asking price. It hits hard and low yet retains composure and grace for music. It fills the room with bass and warms the heart doing so. I love this woofer.It's a few bucks more then your budget but worth spending the extra money. You could always drop down to the 6000 which is also very good but not as good as the 8000 for a few more pennies. I'd save and go here.

http://www.definitivetech.com/products/supercube-8000

3)Velodyne - I'm a huge fan and have been for over 20 years or more. Not many companies make bass like Velodyne. All of their subs from the bottom of the line up to the top are incredible. Explore their line and find the one that fits your needs. Can't go wrong here as they perform.
The Mini and Micro V series are so damn good I wouldn't mind having a pair of them killing my room. I miss the SPL line which I found to be the sweet spot in high quality and value. If you can find one or a pair used in top notch condition, I strongly suggest you go that route.
You also might want to look for a used DD series which IMO are the very best subs dollar for dollar in their classes.

This might give you a starting point as I feel it's a great woofer.

http://velodyne.com/subwoofers/optimum-series/optimum-10-black.html

Polkie2009

Hey Rey, what size room are you working with and is it an open floor plan or able to be closed off with a door? Sorry to have to ask ,but it makes a huge difference in being able to pressurizing the listening room. Also about what percentage is your HT and music usage going to be? There's a wealth of knowledge and information on the AVS forum site if you want to check out some of the results of sub shootouts that have been done over the years. PSA, (founded by Tom Vodhanel and Jim Farina , formally of SV Subwoofers) have shown to be able to hang with the big boys. I've always heard good things about SVS subs too. Rythmik subs are well regarded also , even when used for music. DYODD and good luck, I'm sure whatever you decide on will be excellent.

Irrenhaus

The room is about 13X19X8ft see image and the current sub location is marked. There is a 48X80 window behind the seating position and the entry door.

The big opening leads to the kitchen.

gce

Call the people at SVS and they'll give you a recommendation on what will work the best in your setup. I highly recommend SVS.

Irrenhaus

Polkie2009 wrote: »

Hey Rey, what size room are you working with and is it an open floor plan or able to be closed off with a door? Sorry to have to ask ,but it makes a huge difference in being able to pressurizing the listening room. Also about what percentage is your HT and music usage going to be? There's a wealth of knowledge and information on the AVS forum site if you want to check out some of the results of sub shootouts that have been done over the years. PSA, (founded by Tom Vodhanel and Jim Farina , formally of SV Subwoofers) have shown to be able to hang with the big boys. I've always heard good things about SVS subs too. Rythmik subs are well regarded also , even when used for music. DYODD and good luck, I'm sure whatever you decide on will be excellent.

Ohh is about 60/40 HT/Music

Polkie2009

Ok, so the door that's next to the big window is like the front door to the house and remains closed mostly right? That opening to the kitchen is about 7' 8" or so? It's great to be able to have a sealed HT room but in reality, most of us just don't have the right floor plan to do it or the waf is a no go. That area on the backside of the half wall where the sub is located isn't a stairwell is it?

Irrenhaus

Polkie2009 wrote: »

Ok, so the door that's next to the big window is like the front door to the house and remains closed mostly right? That opening to the kitchen is about 7' 8" or so? It's great to be able to have a sealed HT room but in reality, most of us just don't have the right floor plan to do it or the waf is a no go. That area on the backside of the half wall where the sub is located isn't a stairwell is it?

Yes the door next to the window is the entry to the house. The wall on the back of the subwoofer is the hallway to the back of the house. No stairs is a small house.

mrloren

la2vegas wrote: »

Which is better for dual purpose sealed or ported. I listen to music more than ht. I've read that in the past hsu amps were problem prone, is this still the case?

I have 2 HSU in my house. The STF2 is about 8 years old and have not had a problem. The VFT-2 is 6 years old and gets rocked every weekend with out a problem (knock on wood). My brother has a VTF-3 without problems either.

Sealed is better for all music but RAP.

ken brydson

mrloren wrote: »

la2vegas wrote: »

Sealed is better for all music but RAP.

Not music IMO

Rap that is, somehow my quote didn't come thru...

ken brydson

I've heard nothing but good reviews from HSU and that's coming from an SVS fan boy...

Polkie2009

Spend some time on the AVS forum in the subwoofer section, lots of info available on what sub amps etc... owners are having problems with. They were on it like white on rice when Epik was first having amp issues on the Empire and later Legend subs. There have been other brands with problems , the info is out there on AVS. Rey, don't be surprised if you go with a sealed sub, you end up wanting another to even out the bass, it will be worth it.

WLDock

Polkie2009 wrote: »

Rey, don't be surprised if you go with a sealed sub, you end up wanting another to even out the bass, it will be worth it.

That's what I was thinking....Irrenhaus, do yo have any DIY skills? A couple of sealed 15" or 18" subs might give you all that you are after for $1200 Dayton RS Series and Ultimax, Stereo Integrity HT, long stroke/small sealed enclosure HTS 11" and 12" subs.

Irrenhaus

WLDock wrote: »

Polkie2009 wrote: »

Rey, don't be surprised if you go with a sealed sub, you end up wanting another to even out the bass, it will be worth it.

That's what I was thinking....Irrenhaus, do yo have any DIY skills? A couple of sealed 15" or 18" subs might give you all that you are after for $1200 Dayton RS Series and Ultimax, Stereo Integrity HT, long stroke/small sealed enclosure HTS 11" and 12" subs.

I have some DIY skills. In the past in my teenage years I was building the sub boxes for my car sound system from sealed, ported and band pass units. But don't have the tools anymore and that is another rabbit hole I don't want to get into.....:')

mrloren

I listen to about 50% music and movies. My stereo starts up Saturday morning when the wife takes our son bowling and I rock out the house. it will go for about 6 hours then Saturday is our movie night so it works about 10+ hours on Saturday alone. I would say on average my HT is on 30 hours a week more or less between movies and Netflix. The HSU have been a workhorse for my system.

SCompRacer

Irrenhaus wrote: »

The E15 from Rythmik Audio http://www.rythmikaudio.com/E15.html

Rythmik servo subs will be the next subs I'd buy for my two channel set up. SVS may give you advice for ported subs, even for two channel. They did for me with my 10,000 cubic feet open main level. Rythmik said two 15" sealed.

Rythmik also sells parts and has plans for enclosures.

txcoastal1

SCompRacer wrote: »

Irrenhaus wrote: »

The E15 from Rythmik Audio http://www.rythmikaudio.com/E15.html

Rythmik also sells parts and has plans for enclosures.

And Salk will build the enclosures per Rhythmik website

WLDock

SCompRacer wrote: »

Rythmik said two 15" sealed.

IMO, for movies and music, two sealed 15" is a very nice option.

Two of the Daton Ultimax packages for $524.60
http://www.parts-express.com/dayton-audio-15-ultimax-subwoofer-and-cabinet-package--300-7097?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=pla

Two 500 watt BASH amps or Pro amp - $250-$500
MiniDSP - $200
Other needed stuff - $100-$300

About the best value in two 15's with room correction for both.

Inspector 24

HSU is likely the most bang for your buck short of building your own.

Owned four, first two were 3 and 5 years old before upgrading to MK2's, no issues at all.

10/10 would buy again and again.

Polkie2009

SCompRacer wrote: »

Irrenhaus wrote: »

The E15 from Rythmik Audio http://www.rythmikaudio.com/E15.html

Rythmik servo subs will be the next subs I'd buy for my two channel set up. SVS may give you advice for ported subs, even for two channel. They did for me with my 10,000 cubic feet open main level. Rythmik said two 15" sealed.

Rythmik also sells parts and has plans for enclosures.

10,000 cu. ft. is a big listening area to have to pressurize. To be able to do that with 2 15" sealed subs, that tells me a lot about how outstanding those Rythmik E15 subs are. Inspector 24, those HSU MK2 subs look like they are ported subs, were your older HSU subs ported or sealed design?

SCompRacer

txcoastal1 wrote: »

And Salk will build the enclosures per Rhythmik website

Yes, and he'll even veneer match to your Salk speakers. Salk's enclosures are much larger due to the extra internal bracing as compared to the Rythmik Asian made cabinets. Jim felt I could get by with two of his 12" Rythmik's provided I didn't play the dubstep/pipe organ music all the time, which I don't.

Polkie2009 wrote: »

10,000 cu. ft. is a big listening area to have to pressurize. To be able to do that with 2 15" sealed subs, that tells me a lot about how outstanding those Rythmik E15 subs are.

If I did corner setup with both with my main speakers, I'd have exaggerated bass to deal with so I like them better on the long open wall. Currently I am using two 12" NHT B-12d's. I've exhausted adjustment and placement on same wall as speakers and they do very well for what I am asking. The thing is do I want to spend $2500-$3000 to get within 2dB at 25Hz for music I listen to a small portion of the time. When I listen to that low Hz stuff, I do, so I keep my charge cards locked up...lol

Irrenhaus

Thanks for all the advice. I think will go with the Rythmik F25.

http://www.rythmikaudio.com/F25.html



I bit off budget. But why not.

Cheers

Polkie2009

I think you'll be very pleased with the Rythmik F25, that's a stout sub and well regarded as being excellent for music too.

WLDock

Irrenhaus wrote: »

I think will go with the Rythmik F25. I bit off budget. But why not.Cheers

160Lbs of B.B.D.D.S.! (Big Bad Dual Driver Sub)...Very Nice! Still, with your increased budget, I would go for two lesser subs like the PSA XS15se.

Irrenhaus

WLDock wrote: »

Irrenhaus wrote: »

I think will go with the Rythmik F25. I bit off budget. But why not.Cheers

160Lbs of B.B.D.D.S.! (Big Bad Dual Driver Sub)...Very Nice! Still, with your increased budget, I would go for two lesser subs like the PSA XS15se.

Hey thanks. I did check PSA the S1500 and they offer a $50.00 discount as they are two weeks out. Also today auditioned a JL Audio F112 boy that was great but way out of budget. They recommended the E110 but not one available for testing.

Cheers

Conradicles

Congrats on the big sub.

ken brydson

F113 right here in case you missed it..

http://forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/166279/jl-audio-f113-gloss-black-polk-price-2300#latest

Irrenhaus

ken brydson wrote: »

F113 right here in case you missed it..

http://forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/166279/jl-audio-f113-gloss-black-polk-price-2300#latest

Long drive from the Bay Area....:')

Cheers

polkfarmboy

I had a great time with the Martin Logan 1500 and you can get a demo for $1095. The big 15 inch wofer is awesome andwas better than my Grotto sub.

WLDock

Irrenhaus wrote: »

Hey thanks. I did check PSA the S1500 and they offer a $50.00 discount as they are two weeks out.

Two subs or one? Since you already have a decent sub now getting a larger and better sub will be an improvement. However, two subs of the same type well placed really helps smooth out the response around the room for HT and stereo music listening. That F25 is Bad as_, but even Rythmik will tell you two subs for a HT and Stereo music sub "upgrade" from what you have now. The S1500 looks like an improved XS15SE which is no slouch and gets great feedback for movies and music.

mrloren

Me wants one of them Rythmik F25. Living in SoCal sucks some times. either pay for the sun and no audio gear or move to a lower cost of living area.