Sub recommendations for 1500cu ft room

JimMueller
JimMueller Posts: 100
edited April 2015 in Speakers
My almost 25 year old Velodyne sub recently began emitting a loud hum when I turn it on, so I'm looking into a new unit. Currently it's located in the corner near the front right speaker.

I have a small apartment with a mixed living/HT setup. Room dimensions are 13x15x8 and I have the existing speakers shown in my signature, but the room is not very open due to other furniture. Location flexibility would be a plus, and I use it more for HT than home audio. Price, well definitely less than $1K, if it was closer to $500 that'd be all right. Not sure what type of compromises I would need to put up with for the lower cost.

Thanks for your help.
Yamaha RX-2600 receiver, Nakamichi Dragon, Mitsubishi HS-U80 VCR, Pioneer DVL-90 LD Player, Sony BDP-S550 Blu-ray player, Sony CDP-X555ES CD player, Carver TFM-42, Carver AV-634, Panasonic TC-P54V10 plasma, BenQ W1070 PJ, Fisher MT-90 turntable, AKG-K340 headphones, Polk SDA-1C mains, CS-400i center, FX A4 surrounds, Rti A1 surround backs
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Answers

  • ken brydson
    ken brydson Posts: 8,779
    At that price I'd be looking at one of the new SVS PC2000's. 3 in B stock right now...

    http://www.svsound.com/specials/outlet-specials/pc-2000-pg_5
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  • JimMueller
    JimMueller Posts: 100
    I use the top of my existing front-firing subwoofer for a rotating media storage cabinet slightly smaller than the subwoofer footprint. I'm wondering if the cylinder would be sturdy enough at that height. The room is carpeted and I read somewhere else about a concern about the PC-2000 downward cone coming into contact with the carpet at full extension. Any suggestions in a normal cube design?
    Yamaha RX-2600 receiver, Nakamichi Dragon, Mitsubishi HS-U80 VCR, Pioneer DVL-90 LD Player, Sony BDP-S550 Blu-ray player, Sony CDP-X555ES CD player, Carver TFM-42, Carver AV-634, Panasonic TC-P54V10 plasma, BenQ W1070 PJ, Fisher MT-90 turntable, AKG-K340 headphones, Polk SDA-1C mains, CS-400i center, FX A4 surrounds, Rti A1 surround backs
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  • PSOVLSK
    PSOVLSK Posts: 5,220
    http://www.svsound.com/specials/outlet-specials

    Take your pick.

    Give SVS a call. They will not sell you more subwoofer than you need. I called and they recommended a less expensive sub than I was asking about.
    Things work out best for those who make the best of the way things work out.-John Wooden
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  • JimMueller
    JimMueller Posts: 100
    edited April 2015
    I spoke with Darren @ SVS and he recommended the PB-1000 for the room size, saying that it could go up to roughly a 3000cuft size and do well depending upon the desired volume. He said that the PB- and PC-2000 will be a little more accurate but might be too much for the current room size.

    I just read in a review that the PB-1000 will not 'punch you in the chest' like a 15" or 18" driver, it has 'port noise', and is not fast enough to handle fast drumming such as in rock or heavy metal drumming. He said that may have been due to the location of the unit in the testing environment. But he said for a more musical sub which hits harder with Metallica, NIN, Slipknot, etc, he'd say go with the SB-2000 with the sacrifice of a little less low frequency efficiency during home theater use compared to the PC-2000.

    I don't know if it matters, but the living area is open to the dining area and kitchen, so that is cubic feet I didn't take into consideration.

    How does the HSU VTF-15H compare to a SB/PB/PC-2000?
    Post edited by JimMueller on
    Yamaha RX-2600 receiver, Nakamichi Dragon, Mitsubishi HS-U80 VCR, Pioneer DVL-90 LD Player, Sony BDP-S550 Blu-ray player, Sony CDP-X555ES CD player, Carver TFM-42, Carver AV-634, Panasonic TC-P54V10 plasma, BenQ W1070 PJ, Fisher MT-90 turntable, AKG-K340 headphones, Polk SDA-1C mains, CS-400i center, FX A4 surrounds, Rti A1 surround backs
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  • WLDock
    WLDock Posts: 3,073
    The smaller 12" HSU and Outlaw Audio are some nice cheaper alternatives. Musical subs that go low for HT. That 15H sub is HUGE...the size alone might overwhelm but only you know how well it will work in your room The cool part is that they can be used both sealed and ported.
    2.2 Office Setup | LG 29UB55 21:9 UltraWide | HP Probook 630 G8 | Dell Latitude | Cabasse Stream Amp 100 | Boston Acoustics VS 240 | AUDIORAX Desk Stands | Mirage Omni S8 sub1 | Mirage Omni S8 Sub2
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  • JimMueller
    JimMueller Posts: 100
    I guess I better do some measuring to see how big of an enclosure will fit in the corner. How much gap is recommended between the sub and other nearby objects? Some other options another forum gave me with a $1000 budget:

    - PSA (Power Sound Audio) XS15se
    - PSA S1500
    - RA (Reaction Audio) Gamma 15
    - RA Gamma 18 (for $99 over budget)
    - Rhythmik
    Yamaha RX-2600 receiver, Nakamichi Dragon, Mitsubishi HS-U80 VCR, Pioneer DVL-90 LD Player, Sony BDP-S550 Blu-ray player, Sony CDP-X555ES CD player, Carver TFM-42, Carver AV-634, Panasonic TC-P54V10 plasma, BenQ W1070 PJ, Fisher MT-90 turntable, AKG-K340 headphones, Polk SDA-1C mains, CS-400i center, FX A4 surrounds, Rti A1 surround backs
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  • erniejade
    erniejade Posts: 6,321
    JimMueller, I have a velo spl1200 original. a few years ago when it got a hum i took it into a local shop and for around 150$ they fixed it. The caps in the unit go. Lots of 411 on the hum & some older velodyne subs.
    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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  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,596
    How comfortable are you with DIY?

    And when I say DIY I mean more sourcing parts and then finding someone to put it together for you (for a small price)?

    Because DIY you can likely get a bit better IMHO setup for the price.....
    "....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)
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  • WLDock
    WLDock Posts: 3,073
    edited April 2015
    Speaking of DIY...I saw the 15"-18" Dayton Ultimax driver up close over the weekend. What a beautiful yet menacing looking Beast!
    https://www.parts-express.com/Search.aspx?keyword=Ultimax&sitesearch=true

    http://www.minhembio.com/bilder/hq/?pic_id=460973.jpg
    2.2 Office Setup | LG 29UB55 21:9 UltraWide | HP Probook 630 G8 | Dell Latitude | Cabasse Stream Amp 100 | Boston Acoustics VS 240 | AUDIORAX Desk Stands | Mirage Omni S8 sub1 | Mirage Omni S8 Sub2
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  • RamZet
    RamZet Posts: 792
    What, buying a new one?
    Call Velodyne and ask them to fix it!

    My money on a new sub around 500 bucks would be a B&W ASW610.
    B&W CM9Classé Sigma
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  • Inspector 24
    Inspector 24 Posts: 1,308
    If you have the room, the HSU VTF-3 Mk5 pretty much equals the Mk1 15h in a smaller package:
    http://www.hsuresearch.com/products/vtf-3mk5HP.html

    Or if you have a little more room, this is a screaming deal:
    http://www.hsuresearch.com/products/vtf-15h.html
    Up
    LSi15 LSiC - RX-V3000

    Down
    LSiM707 - 706c - 702f/x - Dual HSU VTF-15H Mk2
    Parasound HCA-3500 - HCA-2003A - Marantz SR7005
    Sim2 D60 - Dragonfly 106" Panny 500

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  • JimMueller
    JimMueller Posts: 100
    I'll inquire with Velodyne to see if they offer a repair service, but I figured a couple of decades is a decent lifetime for a speaker and perhaps I'm missing out on advancements. I found a locally recommended repair shop and I'm waiting on quotes.

    I'm completely comfortable with DIY, I just don't know anyone locally who has the woodworking tools to fabricate the cabinet.

    Holy scheisse, that 18" is huge. I didn't measure my available space yet, I don't think that'll fit :)
    Yamaha RX-2600 receiver, Nakamichi Dragon, Mitsubishi HS-U80 VCR, Pioneer DVL-90 LD Player, Sony BDP-S550 Blu-ray player, Sony CDP-X555ES CD player, Carver TFM-42, Carver AV-634, Panasonic TC-P54V10 plasma, BenQ W1070 PJ, Fisher MT-90 turntable, AKG-K340 headphones, Polk SDA-1C mains, CS-400i center, FX A4 surrounds, Rti A1 surround backs
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  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,596
    JimMueller wrote: »
    I'll inquire with Velodyne to see if they offer a repair service, but I figured a couple of decades is a decent lifetime for a speaker and perhaps I'm missing out on advancements. I found a locally recommended repair shop and I'm waiting on quotes.

    I'm completely comfortable with DIY, I just don't know anyone locally who has the woodworking tools to fabricate the cabinet.

    Holy scheisse, that 18" is huge. I didn't measure my available space yet, I don't think that'll fit :)

    Eh... I will see your 18 and raise you a 24" sub

    file.php?n=26761
    "....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)
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  • Polkie2009
    Polkie2009 Posts: 3,834
    Yowzah! Reminds me of that line from the Cake song, " bowel shaking earthquakes of doubt and remorse".
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  • WLDock
    WLDock Posts: 3,073
    D A M N ! ! !
    2.2 Office Setup | LG 29UB55 21:9 UltraWide | HP Probook 630 G8 | Dell Latitude | Cabasse Stream Amp 100 | Boston Acoustics VS 240 | AUDIORAX Desk Stands | Mirage Omni S8 sub1 | Mirage Omni S8 Sub2
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  • JimMueller
    JimMueller Posts: 100
    Velodyne replied that this model is no longer supported as they no longer have replacement parts. They did forward the schematics for a local repair facility though. The facility I contacted last week is a one-man operation and he's in the middle of handing off the business to someone else due to health issues. His comments on the repair were, "I ... never had much luck with Velodyne subs. After the caps start going, the power IC'S are damaged and cause problems with the accelerometer windings in the woofer itself. The IC'S are NLA and the ones that show up on ebay are many times defective. " So either I look for another local reputable repair shop or I'm back to square one.

    Cr4p, why is it I only remember to measure the floor area for a sub when I'm at work :(
    Yamaha RX-2600 receiver, Nakamichi Dragon, Mitsubishi HS-U80 VCR, Pioneer DVL-90 LD Player, Sony BDP-S550 Blu-ray player, Sony CDP-X555ES CD player, Carver TFM-42, Carver AV-634, Panasonic TC-P54V10 plasma, BenQ W1070 PJ, Fisher MT-90 turntable, AKG-K340 headphones, Polk SDA-1C mains, CS-400i center, FX A4 surrounds, Rti A1 surround backs
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  • Polkie2009
    Polkie2009 Posts: 3,834
    Jim, you got almost 25 years of loyal service from your Velodyne, that speaks volumes to me of the integrity of the product and company. Not sure any__ subs made nowadays will ever match that degree of longevity. I 've noticed some folks have tried replacing a bad sub amp with another brand of plate amp or pro amp. It's your call, but you may just be better off finding a new sub and starting over. Let us know what you decide on.
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  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,596
    If you want DIY I can help you put together a decent little DIY kit from either Parts Express or some other places that should be in your price range, of course some assembly required :smile: .... however it is nice to just get it and be done.

    Another company that is out there similar to SVS is Outlaw Audio. Lots of folks love their subs as well ( @codyc1ark ).

    That said it looks like they "might" be a bit higher on the pricing than you wanted to spend... not sure how well they compare to the SVS your looking at either...

    They do also have some b-stock in from time to time. The LFM-1 EX looks good....
    "....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)
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  • JimMueller
    JimMueller Posts: 100
    EndersShadow wrote: »
    If you want DIY I can help you put together a decent little DIY kit from either Parts Express or some other places that should be in your price range, of course some assembly required :smile: .... however it is nice to just get it and be done.

    I'd entertain this offer, at least I can compare costs and assembly effort with a prebuilt unit. I've read that if you know what you're doing with parts selection that you can easily match a decent prebuilt sub.

    Yamaha RX-2600 receiver, Nakamichi Dragon, Mitsubishi HS-U80 VCR, Pioneer DVL-90 LD Player, Sony BDP-S550 Blu-ray player, Sony CDP-X555ES CD player, Carver TFM-42, Carver AV-634, Panasonic TC-P54V10 plasma, BenQ W1070 PJ, Fisher MT-90 turntable, AKG-K340 headphones, Polk SDA-1C mains, CS-400i center, FX A4 surrounds, Rti A1 surround backs
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited May 2015
    SVS reps always speak very conservatively. My "little" PB12-NSD easily fills my great room with clean/deep bass. The room is probably 20ft x 40ft x10ft ceilings, and yes, I like to rock. I have never found it's "limit." Keep in mind, my sub is tuned for accuracy, not CPR.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • JimMueller
    JimMueller Posts: 100
    I watched Olympus Has Fallen a few nights ago and forgot that I had routed all the bass to the mains because my sub was dead. No damage, but the mid's were clipping around -15dB. Took care of that in the receiver for now.
    Yamaha RX-2600 receiver, Nakamichi Dragon, Mitsubishi HS-U80 VCR, Pioneer DVL-90 LD Player, Sony BDP-S550 Blu-ray player, Sony CDP-X555ES CD player, Carver TFM-42, Carver AV-634, Panasonic TC-P54V10 plasma, BenQ W1070 PJ, Fisher MT-90 turntable, AKG-K340 headphones, Polk SDA-1C mains, CS-400i center, FX A4 surrounds, Rti A1 surround backs
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