Cheap sub

noimposse

So I was all set to get a Mirage s8, and was excited by the great reviews/opinions and insanely cheap price that fit right into my budget. Sadly, when I went ahead to grab it from $200 on Amazon I was sad to see they upped the price to $300 and the cheapest I can find it now is $250 on Vanns.

Yeah, I know it's only 50 bucks, but for me that's quite a bit of money. I had to save to get what I have now, and I'm really missing the low end I'm not getting with the rti4's. So I guess my actual question would be, is there a sub out there in the $200 range that would compete with the Mirage? Or should I just scrounge up another 50 bucks to get what I was aiming for? And in that case, if I go up to that price point is there anything better? I saw Vanns has a Velodyne vrp1000 for $250 as well.

Any opinions would help. Thanks.

Zen Dragon

Noimposse:
I know how it is to work on a budget. Although the Mirage S8 is highly rated I just don't think your gonna be pleased with the bass you get from an 8" sub. I have heard many good things on the Mirage S-12, but it is on backorder at the moment.
You would likely be better served looking for a used unit, or waiting until you can scrape up a little more cash. It would only be a stop gap to pick up an 8" sub at this point as you would be looking to bring up the bottom end again after a short while.
Especially if you plan on home theater use you will not get much impact from an 8" sub.

noimposse

I understand what you mean Zen. But an 8 or 10 is pretty much what Im stuck with until I can live on my own. The majority of the year I'm in a dorm and having a bigass sub to listen to music (which I do every day, for hours) will just annoy my roommates and others in the building. When I'm home I have parents that go to sleep early and a father who is has annoyingly sensitive ears and hates loud noise.

So essentially, I'm stuck with something small for now. I just wanted something to give me more bottom end that I'm getting now.

mhardy6647

The cheap PartsExpress subs seem to get some respect given their very low price points. Disclaimer: I know nothing about subwoofers, and have no actual experience with the PE subwoofers. I do have a fair amount of respect for PartsExpress and the value of many of their components.

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Partnumber=300-633
http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Partnumber=300-635

RuSsMaN

Onix X- Series $199

Canton AS-15 - $209

KEF PSW1150 - $179

Mordaunt Short MS907W - $199

Athena Audition AS-P4000 $149

Cambridge Soundsworks Basscube 8 - $199

noimposse

Thanks a lot for the offer anonymouse, but I honestly might look further into the x-sub. Seems to be a pretty good deal.

And thanks for the links Russman, Ill look into these. The x-sub actually looks a bit promising considering my budget.

John K.

Yes, noimposse, you might give particular attention to the X-Sub which Russ linked and which has gotten some very good reviews.

noimposse

I read a bit of the community forum on av123 about the x-sub. Not a bad thing about it. That bleach maple looks really nice, its too bad that wouldn't match any component I have though...guess Id have to stick to the satin.

Well I'm going to take one last stab today and go to tweeter to see what they have on closeout of openbox before I make a decision.

If anyone else has any ideas though, feel free. Thanks.

noimposse

Alright, so I just stopped to Tweeter a little while ago to check. I was looking at the small selection of overpriced subs when the sales rep asked if I needed help and told him I was only looking with an annoyed tone. I think he noticed I was looking at the "cheap" end of the line of subs and took a last stab at trying to get my attention by telling me he had a Velodyne vx-10 on sale for 200. 200 was a number that made my ears perk up so I let him go through his crap...

I had him bring it into the sound room from the main showfloor and hook it up to a pair of rti4's with a mid level yamaha. For being suck a large room, and being such a inexpensive sub, it sounded pretty good. Now I personally have just about 0 experience with subs except for some a few car audio subs I've worked with, but it was nice. And its one of the few times I've heard a sub but haven't been able to localize the bass. It was pretty nice.

Now after all that rambling. Has anyone even hear the vx-10? Or more specifically has anyone heard both the vx-10 and x-sub? I thought I was almost set on the x-sub. It's cheap, it seems to be able to hit pretty deep and the cabinet is still nicer than the Velodyne. I guess the single thing holding me up is the fact that the Velodyne is a 10 at the same pricepoint...possibly less considering I wont have to pay shipping. Incase you can't already tell, Im pretty indecisive.


And just to add...not that Im looking online. The I can pick up the Velodyne for just over 150.

Zen Dragon

You have the benefit of having heard the Velodyne and you liked the sound. While there may be better deals out there on many of them you risk the chance you may not care for the sound (not having heard the unit)
If you can get it online cheaper and cost is an issue, go for it. Just make sure you factor the shipping into the cost, and that the retailer you use is authorized by the mfr so you get the warranty.

mrbigbluelight

If you're down to your last $149 (Amazon has it for $149 with free shipping not infrequently), and you get the Athena, you won't be kicking yourself in the butt for making that purchase.

.....oh, you may feel like giving yourself a little pinch now and than, but no major butt-kicking regrets.

I'm on the low-end of the scale around here, but the Athena placed on a piece of onyx marble is .....well, for $149 truly amazing. It has a down-firing port and driver, and also a front-firing port. Sitting on that marble, and not thick carpet, the sound distributes around the room like a butler serving it on a silver platter.
Good attack and quick correction, great for HT and very musical.
Considering the price, it definitely falls into the "How can they do that for that price ?".

Sitting on something solid and reflective, and I'm able to rattle the slats on the house exhaust fan vents located down the hall.

Just speaking from the factory floor here. That partsexpress speaker sounds like a good deal, too.

Good luck, and don't be afraid to be cheap !

AzN_plyR

put out 50 bucks more ( 250 total ) for an Acoustech H100, should go lower than anything in it's price range.

noimposse

I must just have really bad luck or something. After a lot of reading and thinking, I decided to still go with the x-sub. As soon as I grab the credit card to order it....load up the site and it's out of stock. Awesome.

I called to make sure, but it's good friday. Sweet.

I'll try again on monday. If not, I'm done looking, I know what I want now and I'll just have to learn to be patient. It's going to suck until June.

ward91

make one ? if you have skills (proberly better than mine and im more than happy with my sub. the pics i posted made it look mutch worse than it is.