Really bugs me...

gregure

I know we're all here to help one another and be supportive, and I'm ever so thankful to those who've been helpful to me when I was less than astute about a given topic, but doesn't it just piss you guys off when someone starts a thread about finding a good subwoofer, but then says "I can't spend much, it can't be too big, the wife won't let me get what I want, etc." I like helping people as much as the next man, and we all have our limitations, but it just irks me when someone asks for a good sub recommendation, and we all say SVS, or HSU, or Velodyne, and then they come back to say they've gotten some crappy sub because the others were too big or what not. I hope no one minds the griping, but I thought I'd put it out there in case anyone else suffers from this frustration. I don't have the best sub either, but I'm saving up for one. And once I have the money, you better believe no one can stop me from getting something monstrous.

steveinaz

It IS frustrating. Some folk's just don't have the patience to save a little more and get it right the first time. I know I was guilty of this in my "poor" years when it seemed like 3 months was forever to save for something better...

I still do it today. I've always wanted a pair of Paradigm Reference Studio 100's, but never had the patience to get the "scratch" together to buy a set. Could I afford them now..YES. But I'm gonna wait awhile and ensure I can sell what I have on-hand first.

gregure

I agree the Studio 100's are sublime. I know this is the Polk Forum, and I have Polk's, but I daresay if I had the money I'd trade out for Paradigm speakers as well.

PolkWannabie

I've heard the Paradigms and imho they are okay ... but I wouldn't trade for them ...

As far as subs go if you can't deal with large size then get a Sunfire ...

thehalo8

I guess it bugs me that you’re complaining about it. I recently put up a post about a new sub that would mix well with my setup and go over with my wife. They are both important factors to me. I love my home theater and would like to improve it, and I also love my wife very much and would like to keep her happy.

I explained the situation in my post. I am not looking to give up performance for price, however size is an issue. I asked for opinions on different subs some of which will be small enough to fit my allotted area for a sub. Of course price does matter, but I have been working at Circuit City part time the last few months, and saving half the paychecks for what ever a/v equipment I want to buy. It’s been about 7 months, and I have saved up more than enough to purchase many of the high-end subwoofers. I just wanted opinions from fellow members if they owned any of the subs I asked about. If you don’t want to give your feedback, that’s fine with me; not everyone replies to every thread.

scottvamp

doesn't it just piss you guys off when someone starts a thread about finding a good subwoofer, but then says "I can't spend much, it can't be too big, the wife won't let me get what I want, etc."

I totally agree - don't ask if you can only get maybe one are two items on the entire market. I wanted the best sub for I money - I researched, I saved and I bought it.
Some people it seems they are passing some kind of Federal Law.
How long does it take to figure out what is for dinner tonight...
Do people drink really cheap beer because the good stuff doesn't match the Tupperware in the fridge.
My biggest two is "the wife says no" only after people have spent alot of time hepling some make a solid decision. Get some balls - geeesshhh!!! And just because it doesn't match dooley she has to put on it.
And the other is "my mom/dad won't give me the money" - man you could have looked into that before all the pipedreaming buddy.....
Don't get into a hobbie unless can really make a go of it....
I vented ---- JMHO

dorokusai

"I want to buy the best subwoofer around, but only have $50 to spend, live with my Mom, and I go to jail next week for a year.....let me know ASAP!"

scottnbnj

even if your pixels were wasted on that one there are lots of other surfers that will get their questions answered without having to ask because you took the time to reply.

)

scottvamp

This is NOT about getting questions answered........
Answering questions is the easy part.
Its the replies after the time spent to answer the questions....

HBombToo

Originally posted by gregure
but doesn't it just piss you guys off when someone starts a thread about finding a good subwoofer, but then says "I can't spend much, it can't be too big, the wife won't let me get what I want, etc."

Nope... it doesn't.

I believe Sherry was with me at every upgrade and had a good time with it. NOW the cave gets too loud is my issue.

twin

dave shepard

Originally posted by scottvamp
Get some balls - geeesshhh!!!

I don't want to be the only one playing with them .

Sorry had to say that

Dave

kingtut

Good one Dave.

gregure

It doesn't bother me to take time to add a post, and it doesn't really bother me that people don't take my or anyone else's advice. What gets me is that I get excited for someone else when they say "I've saved up for a kickass sub, which one do you recommend," and then come back with "the good ones are too big," or "my wife says no." Halo8, yes you picked up on the fact that my rant comes shortly after your thread. You may be bugged that I brought it up, but I'm bugged that you would sacrifice your desire for a superior setup because of your wife's unreasonable request, or because you'd rather spend the money on something else. I'm not saying you don't have the right to do what you want, obviously you do, and I don't mean to project any animosity toward you. What I'm bothered by is that I get excited for you, especially when you ask us about our opinions on superior products, but then I get deflated when I find out you go with an "ok" choice to appease your wife. First of all, if she knows it's important to you, she should live with it, and second, I have a hard time believing anyone could experience a film with reference audio equipment, and say "we shouldn't have gotten this." Anyway, I figured others would be as affected as me by your caving in, and you are one of many, so it was sort of a straw that broke the camel's back sort of thing. I posted the thread to vent, and to allow others to do so, hope you don't take it personal. Loved your rant scottvamp!

gregure

One more thing:
Another reason it's hard for me to wrap my mind around a man sacrificing his sound system for his wife is that my entire family (parents, grandparents, uncles/aunts, etc.) have decent to great HT rigs, with big screen TV's and surround sound. All of my female relatives are as caught up in the experience as my male relatives. In fact, it's usually the women who say "turn it up a bit more." I know my future wife will have similar attributes, if she's to fit in with me and my family.

PolkWannabie

Given that out of the RTi series that the 10's are probably the worst choice in towers and that the 6's would clearly be better than the 4's as point source rears and that the FXi5's are clearly better than the 3's and that an Onk receiver is most likely insufficient to properly power them all and that these issues have been discussed continually for the last year I'm sure I don't follow the logic of your purchases any better. Why did you sacrifice ?

thehalo8

So the Sunfire True Subwoofer EQ which I was able to find more great reviews about that any SVS sub is not worthy in your book? Have you heard one or are you SVS all the way because you have one? I asked for opinions to replace my current PSW350 including going with the PSW505. From the responses I will be getting a better sub, but the PSW505 will be an upgrade for now, and I should have no trouble getting back the money I paid for it when I upgrade.

I own a smaller house than it seems most people on this forum have. Thus I don’t really have a large living room with extra room to put a bigger sub anyway unless it blocks part of the hallway to our bedrooms which I would have a problem with, not the wife. I want good a/v equipment but I am not going to just jump straight to the SVS because everyone has one, I wanted opinions to take with me while I demo subs at home theater shops.

We have Velodynes at CC and I don't like the boominess of them so I took them out of the equation. We don’t have a PSW505 on display so I could not listen to that. I found a shop in Miami that has Sunfire on demo I am going to check out.

I am not looking to piss anyone off; I was just looking for honest opinions as part of my decision making for a new subwoofer.

Willow

how low and loud do you want it ??

maybe when you listened to them the gain was up to high ?? and the room acoustics where/are crap ??!!

the cht8 by velo is small and has some oumph
paradigm has some small and powerfull ones too they have a bookshelf 6" that blows away alot of 8's out of the water. looks like you have to comromise you can't have you cake and eat it too

TechChallenged

I couldn't wait on my sub purchase and I am not sorry. When I made my Sub choice I knew what I should have bought but waiting another year would have injured me irreparably. I occasionally turn off my middle of the row PSW505's to remind me what life would be like without them.

As for as wives go, mine is no different. She doesn't like bass. However she prefers the dual subs sound over single sub and single sub over speakers set to large with no sub. I don't fully understand the bass magic but I believe it is because the dual sub bass response is significantly tighter and does not sound boomy. I think us men could do a better job explaining that size does matter.

PolkWannabie

TH8,

The reality is, as I attempted to illustrate in my previous post which was not aimed at you, that we ALL sacrifice and/or compromise in one sense or another, whether it's based on budget or WAF or room size or how close the neighbors are or fill in the blank.

There are those here who really like the Sunfire subs and I've read posts in the past from those that regardless of the level of WAF that they themselves didn't want an extra large box in their HT and/or 2 channel rooms.

So like with all gear, you listen, you compare and you purchase based on a variety of factors. The 505 although imho not a world class sub is also probably among the better that Polk has brought to market.

kingtut

Quote:
"I've read posts in the past from those that regardless of the level of WAF that they themselves didn't want an extra large box in their HT and/or 2 channel rooms."

So true. My wife constantly nag me about having "too many boxes" (speakers and components) in our family room, and they don't go w/the decor. It's so difficult to find a woman who appreciates our fine taste in audio-video.

gregure

Originally posted by PolkWannabie
Given that out of the RTi series that the 10's are probably the worst choice in towers and that the 6's would clearly be better than the 4's as point source rears and that the FXi5's are clearly better than the 3's and that an Onk receiver is most likely insufficient to properly power them all and that these issues have been discussed continually for the last year I'm sure I don't follow the logic of your purchases any better. Why did you sacrifice ?

Touche PolkWannabie. Let me answer as best I can. When I first jumped into the a/v foray, I was a bit green, and had a modest budget. My excuse: ignorance. Once I joined the forum, and learned what was possible, I started saving up for better equipment. Within a few months I'll be getting a B&K 507 and an SVS PB2+. As for the 10's, well I've been happy with them, although I know many don't feel the same about them. Hopefully the B&K will really help them to shine, but if not, that will be the object of my next kitty. As for the FXi 3's, they work great, so I don't really need the 5's right now, plus I bought everything at Circuit City my first go-round, and they don't carry FXi 5's. For a back center channel, given the small amount of input to that channel, the 4 works fine. Plus, the salesman was nice enough to split a box for me to buy just one, which he probably wouldn't have done for a 6. So, there are my justifications, if you care enough to read them. In short, now that I know more, I won't settle for less. I would expect the same of someone else with a decent budget who asks for advice on this forum.

Willow

tell your wife the aunt bertha knited doilies and knick knacks don't go with the speakers and sub you wanna get so get new ones that will match the new gear

kingtut

I actually told her that I purchased the house a few years before I married her, so it should be my decor, not hers. Of course, she does not listen and keeps on nagging. I pretty much tune her out.

Willow

it'll be easier to "tune her out" once you get a big A$$ sub !! hehe

PolkThug

gregure, like myself, thehalo8 works at CC. Polk graciously allows us to purchase one 505 per year at pennies on the dollar. If he gets one for now at accomodation prices, whether to keep or just tide him over, it is a win-win situation.

I think you're getting a little out of line regarding halo's wife with "if she knows it's important to you, she should live with it." We all can't have Stepford Wives.

I do understand your frustration, but its our job to answer the questions on this forum whether the advice is taken or not.

Regards,
PolkThug

PolkWannabie

Originally posted by gregure
So, there are my justifications, if you care enough to read them. In short, now that I know more, I won't settle for less. I would expect the same of someone else with a decent budget who asks for advice on this forum.

Again ... the point I was making ( sorry it appeared to be an attack ) is that we all compromise for one reason or another ... ergo I think all of us who are into this hobby would say it's about the journey not the destination ... Is there better equipment we could have if we had six figures to spend or didn't have to please the wife or our nearest neighbor was a mile away or whatever ? Sure we can but each little step along the way to audio nirvana is hopefully about improving the overall sound of our HT or 2 channel rigs and whether it's done in baby steps or quantum leaps relates to a variety of other factors each of which are peculiar to our own individual situations.

kberg

Originally posted by thehalo8
I love my home theater and would like to improve it, and I also love my wife very much and would like to keep her happy.

Hey man, sometimes you JUST GOTTA CHOOSE!;)

scottnbnj

Originally posted by gregure
...I'm bugged that you would sacrifice your desire for a superior setup because of...

wait a second, in the original post in that thread the size issue was stated clearly, and was repeated. then cordially repeated in replies throughout the thread.

i don't get what there is to be 'bugged' about.

)

gregure

What "bugs" me is when someone comes on the forum asking for a good sub recommendation, but then places so many limits on it that it negates the possibility of actually recommending a superior sub, as opposed to just a good one. I'm all for answering the questions as best as I can, with my limited knowledge and unlimited enthusiasm, but I just wanted to vent. Obviously some agreed, some didn't. The way of the world.

Kpt_Krunch

Well - all I can say is I love my wife too. I love her so much that if she wants to buy something that makes her happy, I'm all for it. And since she loves me (why I don't know ) , and if I can buy something that makes me happy, and it keeps me at home to boot - she is all for it!!

Marriage should be a 50/50 split. Sometimes you will get things that she won't like, and vice versa, but you have to support each other.

If you like H/T, you need a good sub. No sub, no H/T IMO. There are a lot of subs out there that sound great, have great SPL, and use little floor space. If you don't like the look, put a table cloth over it, it won't affect the sound.

If your wife (or husband) starts dictating to you on what to buy, with your money, then I think your relationship is in serious trouble.

And further, if you are limited, don't ask here or any other forum, just let your wife go out and buy the sub and be done with it.

Just my opinion of course, but this is how my wife and I are, and we couldn't be happier - although I do admit I did get my PW-2200 in rosenut as it matches up better with our end tables in the H/T room, but I like the colour as well. Now, just to save up enough for the Studio 100s, CC570, ADP470's, and Studio 40's, all in Rosenut of course except for the 470 which I can only get in black!

gregure

Rock on Kpt_Krunch! Thanks for posting such a well-spoken opinion piece. That's my view of marriage as well, and the marriages that have held up in my family follow the same model (especially when it comes to HT equipment:D ). As for buying your sub in rosewood to fit the decor, that's a reasonable compromise--looks, not sound. I'm with you on saving up for a Paradigm setup. I wish I could say I was there, but I have a few things to buy first before I can start that kitty.