Speaker matching
Hi-
I purchased a pair of RTi4 Polks recently for $40 (clearance at Circuit City). I intend to use the system for music ONLY. I am an old audiophile just getting back to listening.
My question is this, I have the oportunity to buy a subwoofer, and I have a choice. A Polk PSW200 or a Polk PSW250.
Remember, this is only for music, I am not into home theater at all and am concerned with sound quality, not volume.
Any thoughts?
I will be using an old Carver preamp and amp combo, I may also be dragging out the vinyl too, so I may be venturing beyond the capabilities of CDs. Foe the moment I will be using a Nakamichi CD deck.
I don't have the opportunity to audition the subs, but I can get either one cheap. As an old school purist this is newer ground for me, normally I would have used the RTi4 pair in a near field setup and tuned from there....but I am interested in the sub now...things change I guess.
Are the older subs better musically? That is my impression.
I purchased a pair of RTi4 Polks recently for $40 (clearance at Circuit City). I intend to use the system for music ONLY. I am an old audiophile just getting back to listening.
My question is this, I have the oportunity to buy a subwoofer, and I have a choice. A Polk PSW200 or a Polk PSW250.
Remember, this is only for music, I am not into home theater at all and am concerned with sound quality, not volume.
Any thoughts?
I will be using an old Carver preamp and amp combo, I may also be dragging out the vinyl too, so I may be venturing beyond the capabilities of CDs. Foe the moment I will be using a Nakamichi CD deck.
I don't have the opportunity to audition the subs, but I can get either one cheap. As an old school purist this is newer ground for me, normally I would have used the RTi4 pair in a near field setup and tuned from there....but I am interested in the sub now...things change I guess.
Are the older subs better musically? That is my impression.
Post edited by Chopdoc on
Comments
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I'd probably go for the 250. The 200 is a bandpass design, they're not very musical.Go BIG or go home!
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Ah, so it is a bandpass. That's what I thought. Polk isn't very clear about that.
The 250 is an eight inch direct radiator in a ported enclosure. Since it is easier to control the eight inch cone I assume it will likely be a more accurate and tight sub.
The fit and finish on the 200 sure is better though...just a thought.
Can anybody refute the idea that the 250 is more musical? -
What is your budget?- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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Things are tight these days and I don't have the money I used to for speakers. Actually I used to design and build my own some, but I don't even have a place to work now, let alone the time.
Remember I got the RTi4s dirt cheap, I am very impressed with them....80 bucks for the pair brand new.
Cheaper is definitely better.
If I had to I could throw a couple hundred at something but I would prefer to keep it under 100. That's why I am looking at some older models. The PSW200 was originally a $700 item, the 250 seems to be lower end than the 200 but prices have dropped for decent subs too, and capabilities have gone up for the lower end stuff.
Is there another model or make you would like to recommend? -
This SUB will likely outperform both of the Polk subs you mentioned. People speak very highly of it at the Home Theater Forum.Sony KDL-40V2500 HDTV, Rotel RSX-1067 Receiver, Sony BDP-S550 Blu-ray, Slim Devices Squeezebox, Polk RTi6, CSi3 & R15, DIY sub with Atlas 15
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Vr3MxStyler2k3- I checked out your system. Believe it or not the old Advent cabinets drew my attention more than anything else!
I won't say how it curled my toenails when you said you sanded and cleared them.
I have some old JBLs in storage. A few years back we were moving some of my stuff and my brother commented on how heavy they were. It blew his mind to find out there were no drivers in them.
I do still have some equipment in storage, but no speakers. That's why I jumped on the Polks. I used to do some nice nearfield setups but was really a floorstanding guy by nature.
The best I ever built I called Pylonz. They were massive and nearly 200 pounds each. I put every ounce of what I had learned into them. They are long gone but I still have the drawings and stuff. In fact I still have a scale model I did of them. -
Hey,
Those Advents are my Dad's speakers...
They had alot of paint on them and scratches, water damage, and some adhesive stuff...
Sanding was the only option....
They look like new, if not better since the walnut stain came off the front 'frame'...
Yeah, Old speakers are built like tanks, period....
Yeah, building things are fun, I am about to start building some Full Range speakers in shop class soon...- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit. -
Originally posted by tryrrthg
This SUB will likely outperform both of the Polk subs you mentioned. People speak very highly of it at the Home Theater Forum.
I had been looking at Parts Express and saw that.
I am uncertain about how I should take the evaluations of the HT crowd (no insult intended). Maybe I have been away from audio too long but at one time there was a big difference between the demands of HT and HiFi. ie: The HT folks tended toward more is better; more speakers, more base, more power. HiFi was about finesse.
But I go on too much and maybe I am stuck in the past (I am, I dig tube amps).
The price is great on that sub. Maybe I will check it out.
Any thoughts about timbre/voice matching and subs/satellites? I understand this is less critical than in the mids and highs but I am wondering how much less. -
If you don't mind saving a few more bucks...
www.hsuresearch.com offers some cheap/musical performers for a real decent price- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit. -
Originally posted by Vr3MxStyler2k3
Hey,
Those Advents are my Dad's speakers...
They had alot of paint on them and scratches, water damage, and some adhesive stuff...
Sanding was the only option....
They look like new, if not better since the walnut stain came off the front 'frame'...
Yeah, Old speakers are built like tanks, period....
Yeah, building things are fun, I am about to start building some Full Range speakers in shop class soon...
I didn't mean to be critical, i am sure you rescued them from a terrible fait.
Full range? You mean single drivers? Are you going to build horns or something? You really have my attention on that.
http://melhuish.org/audio/fullrange.html Like this?
Being an old tube guy that sort of thing gets me majorly geeked.
If you didn't mean that, consider it, there are MANY plans available and they will blow you away. -
http://www.eandr.biz/Vr3_Home_Theatre_Projects_BlackLab.html
There is a link to the design idea....
Russ Gates (a member here) is helping me with the Labyrinth design and supplying me with a few materials...
Just a cheap...original design that will either sound good or wont...just doing it to see how it will sound...
I have 9 weeks to build anything I want...so...yeah
Might build several pairs...lol - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit. -
I agree with Sid -- save a few more bucks and go with Hsu Research, especially for a music only setup.HT/2-channel Rig: Sony 50 LCD TV; Toshiba HD-A2 DVD player; Emotiva LMC-1 pre/pro; Rogue Audio M-120 monoblocks (modded); Placette RVC; Emotiva LPA-1 amp; Bada HD-22 tube CDP (modded); VMPS Tower II SE (fronts); DIY Clearwave Dynamic 4CC (center); Wharfedale Opus Tri-Surrounds (rear); and VMPS 215 sub
"God grooves with tubes." -
If music is your thing you might want to check out the Rava from Adire Audio. It is a sealed sub which "generally" does better for music. The Rava is also HIGHLY regarded!
Adire Audio RavaSony KDL-40V2500 HDTV, Rotel RSX-1067 Receiver, Sony BDP-S550 Blu-ray, Slim Devices Squeezebox, Polk RTi6, CSi3 & R15, DIY sub with Atlas 15 -
Originally posted by Vr3MxStyler2k3
If you don't mind saving a few more bucks...
www.hsuresearch.com offers some cheap/musical performers for a real decent price
I really can't spend that much.
But the link speaks to my thoughts earlier. They expound on how loud and how low they go. That isn't the first comment I am hoping to see.
But, as I said, things have changed, and maybe I am just being difficult.
I like the idea of the one at Parts Express and the price is great. I will have a look at what people are saying. -
Originally posted by Vr3MxStyler2k3
http://www.eandr.biz/Vr3_Home_Theatre_Projects_BlackLab.html
There is a link to the design idea....
Russ Gates (a member here) is helping me with the Labyrinth design and supplying me with a few materials...
Just a cheap...original design that will either sound good or wont...just doing it to see how it will sound...
I have 9 weeks to build anything I want...so...yeah Might build several pairs...lol
Very cool! I was hoping you were talking about a single driver. It should be fun. -
HSU and SVS
www.hsuresearch.com
www.svsubwoofers.com
Are both online subwoofer companies that offer the best bang for the buck, they are built around ruler flat frequency responses for music, but also hit hard and low for movies...
If you save up for the BOTL HSU (300 bucks) -- you won't regret it.- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit. -
The louder and lower a sub can play the less distortion it will have playing "simple" things like music.Originally posted by Chopdoc
But the link speaks to my thoughts earlier. They expound on how loud and how low they go. That isn't the first comment I am hoping to see.
For the price you really can't go wrong with the Parts Express sub. It will do a fine job, but if you're looking for a sub with "finesse" at $150 you'll be looking for a VERY long time. It sure would be nice if they were out there!Sony KDL-40V2500 HDTV, Rotel RSX-1067 Receiver, Sony BDP-S550 Blu-ray, Slim Devices Squeezebox, Polk RTi6, CSi3 & R15, DIY sub with Atlas 15 -
Originally posted by tryrrthg
If music is your thing you might want to check out the Rava from Adire Audio. It is a sealed sub which "generally" does better for music. The Rava is also HIGHLY regarded!
Adire Audio Rava
Those guys are speaking my language. Sealed enclosure etc.
Maybe I will just keep saving...... -
Originally posted by tryrrthg
The louder and lower a sub can play the less distortion it will have playing "simple" things like music.
For the price you really can't go wrong with the Parts Express sub. It will do a fine job, but if you're looking for a sub with "finesse" at $150 you'll be looking for a VERY long time. It sure would be nice if they were out there!
Although there is a great deal of truth in what you say, I believe the most complex thing a speaker can do is play music well.
Realistic stage and the nuances of vocals, the sound of the skin of a bass drum, these things are not so simple.
Yes, avoiding distortion is a primary consideration, but there is more to it that that.
So far the Rava people are speaking my lingo.
I think I will need to get into a shop and audition some things.....u-oh...I think I may have the bug again........
I'm thinking bi-amped with monoblocks........maybe I can sell my car...... -
Those harmonics are all done at your main speakers. the sub just plays the thud. A seamless tranistion from mains to sub is the most important. As long as you keep the crossover below 80hz the sub won't be producing any of the things you mentioned.Originally posted by Chopdoc
Although there is a great deal of truth in what you say, I believe the most complex thing a speaker can do is play music well.
Realistic stage and the nuances of vocals, the sound of the skin of a bass drum, these things are not so simple
EDIT: and without a sub that can play down deep you may be missing some of those room nuances you're speaking of...Sony KDL-40V2500 HDTV, Rotel RSX-1067 Receiver, Sony BDP-S550 Blu-ray, Slim Devices Squeezebox, Polk RTi6, CSi3 & R15, DIY sub with Atlas 15 -
Yes, and that is why I titled the post "Speaker Matching" and asked how critical this was in considering different makes and models of subs.
These days they all seem to have variable crossovers etc so they are very "matchable"....I think. That is why I looked at Polk first, since my main pair is Polk.
There is more to than the "thud" than you imply, but I am certain you know that and you were just driving home your point.
Thanks for all the input. This really looks like a great forum. -
Polk is not near the same level as SVS and HSU in terms of accuracy, extention, and overall power...
Just no comparison in price/performance against the two subwoofer monsters...
Adire makes awesome subwoofers as well, and offer plenty of killer DIY woofers and plans...
www.adireaudio.com
I see someone pointed the Rava out to you...
The Dayton will also be alright, but the Rava and HSU or even the SVS for 100 more than the HSU will be killer choices, all of them...- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
