Stereo RTi6 setup - which sub to get...

stardrek

I have a basic RTi6 stereo setup and was looking to have a nice complement, subwoofer wise, for them. I have a Technics SA-GX710 receiver, you older guys may know this one, and just need something for music and basic gaming. This system is hooked up to my computer for games such as Prey, Fear, CS, and other FPS so I'd like to be able to feel explosions. But music is of primary concern. I listen to the following kinds of music:

Baroque/Classical/Romantic:
J.S. Bach
Mozart - e.g. Symph. 41 (Jupiter)
Beethoven - e.g. Symph. 9, 5, & 6
Tchaikovsky - e.g. 1812 Ov. (who doesn't love cannons?)
Borodin
ect.

The specific pieces I list convey the range I'm hoping to fill that my current RTi6's don't really have. The warmth that should be there from violins, cellos, oboes and such are missing and critical to really enjoying the pieces.

Metal (and subsequent subgenera’s):
The Absence
Dark Tranquility
Testament
Lamb of God
Iced Earth
Arsis
Between the Buried and Me
ect.

Double bass from the drummers and the actual bass guitar get lost in much of the music, which is very disappointing for an studying bassist such as myself. I need that tight sound that a double bass is supposed to have and the warmth that the bass guitar brings.

Electronic:
Robert Miles
Sasha & Digweed

The range needed for these artists is fairly low and is not really there with my current RTi6's. Again, tight (not too boomy) bass is needed for sounds like that of an udoo.

I am looking to do this for around $300. I have a wooden floored room that is about 12x20x12 but do not need to "fill" the room, only enough for being right near the speakers (within 6 feet from the front of the RTi's). I'm perfectly happy buying second hand. I'm also thinking that a sealed box might be best...I'd rather it be tight then be able to feel it (but both would be nice). Thanks in advance!

aaharvel

http://www.svsound.com/products-sub-box-10nsd.cfm

Just so I could beat everyone to it. :cool:

Welcome to the forums Stardrek.

KrazyMofo24

A new SVS sub will help out, but music being your primary concern, the sub won't add the warmth. I had the same problem with my Rti10's which is why I moved up the Lsi's. Even the smallest bookshelfs in the Lsi series outperformed my towers in music. Which makes me hate buying those 10's.

stardrek

KrazyMofo24 wrote:

A new SVS sub will help out, but music being your primary concern, the sub won't add the warmth. I had the same problem with my Rti10's which is why I moved up the Lsi's. Even the smallest bookshelfs in the Lsi series outperformed my towers in music. Which makes me hate buying those 10's.

That is kind of sad to hear. I guess I should say that outside of the warmth that I would like (but I guess I won't have) is the need for something in the bass department at all. I've been reading about SVS PB10-NSD but read that it was better for movies then for music.

aaharvel wrote:

http://www.svsound.com/products-sub-box-10nsd.cfm

Just so I could beat everyone to it.

Welcome to the forums Stardrek.

Thanks for the welcome!

One of the biggest problems I think I'm going to have with my subwoofer search is that I do not have the RCA style output on my reciver that is made for subwoofers. It is an older receiver that uses standard wireing for the sub.

Can you think of any other options?

wallstreet

I recently hooked up my rti6's to the HT setup which includes an svs 25-31. I can fully recommend the combination. The only catch you might have is at a standard 80hz xover, I am able to zero in on the sub which I find distracting. With my LS90's, I'm able to xover the fronts at 60hz which helps considerably.

aaharvel

A Velodyne DPS-10 would work, and if you look around, will meet your budget.

I'm sure it's no SVS but Velodyne is known for their musicality in the 30-62hz region over a solid 20hz rumble, rumble for movies. I can testify to that. Most importantly, it has speaker-level ins and outs.

That seems to be a good bet. Stay away from Polk subs.

http://www.audioholics.com/productreviews/loudspeakers/VelodyneDPS-10SubwooferReviewp1.php

stardrek

I must say this is very nice having such a welcoming and open forum about speakers such as this. The responses are fit for my questions and actually go on to explain reasoning from the point of experience or understanding that is lost at so many other forums. Along with further explanations that answer obvious secondary questions that many don’t want to bother with.

e.g.

wallstreet wrote:

I recently hooked up my rti6's to the HT setup which includes an svs 25-31. I can fully recommend the combination. The only catch you might have is at a standard 80hz xover, I am able to zero in on the sub which I find distracting. With my LS90's, I'm able to xover the fronts at 60hz which helps considerably.

I will have to look into this one also.

aaharvel wrote:

A Velodyne DPS-10 would work, and if you look around, will meet your budget.

I'm sure it's no SVS but Velodyne is known for their musicality in the 30-62hz region over a solid 20hz rumble, rumble for movies. I can testify to that. Most importantly, it has speaker-level ins and outs.

Very good to hear…I’ll look into this. From what I have read from places like audioholics I really wanted the Onix Rocket ULW-10 and found someone that would sell it for $350, which seems like a good price (correct me if I’m wrong) but it only has that LFE, RCA style input, that I can’t use without a bridge that is going to be another $50-100 I’m guessing.

anonymouse wrote:

I actually think Polk subs are quite musical. I have a PSW404. It does not go terribly low or loud, but it blends in extremely well with both the RTi6's and 10's, both of which I have used as fronts at one point. I do agree with the comments about the LSi series being streets ahead for music. My LSi9's blow away the RTi10's. In the RTi series though, the 6 is my favorite speaker. I am getting a Dayton Titanic sub soon which is rumored to be excellent for music because of its sealed design. That may work for you too.

A very good friend of mine has the LSi 9’s and I listen to them a lot. I love their range, and there is a reason that pairing them with HDCD/SACD players is a good idea. Please tell me if you think the Dayton Titanic complements the RTi6’s well.

Thanks for all the great advice. I’ll look into the suggestions with more research and hope I find what is right. If there are any other suggestions please feel free to post; I love to do the research, the looking, reading, and learning as much as the purchasing.

I will post my final selection, whenever that happens, with thoughts, just in case anyone else doing a similar search, who finds this, will get some use out of it.

EricBurg

Is there a certain price range you are looking to stay around? Personally, one of the best all around subs that I have heard are the Martin Logans Depth and Descent subs. They are very "musical" as well as able to produce low bass for movies. The only drawback is the price, but maybe you could swing a used one on audiogon.

Otherwise, I would check out the online offerings from SVsound, Hsu and Outlaw. They have pretty flat responses and will play low enough. If you have the Telarc recording of the 1812 overture, then you will need the extra extension.

Eric

stardrek

EricBurg wrote:

Is there a certain price range you are looking to stay around? Personally, one of the best all around subs that I have heard are the Martin Logans Depth and Descent subs. They are very "musical" as well as able to produce low bass for movies. The only drawback is the price, but maybe you could swing a used one on audiogon.

My price range is very limited, you'll see my price range at the very bottom of my first post which is in the $300 range. I know it isn't much but this is not a very serious setup, so I'm just trying to get the best for this kind of setting.

EricBurg wrote:

Otherwise, I would check out the online offerings from SVsound, Hsu and Outlaw. They have pretty flat responses and will play low enough. If you have the Telarc recording of the 1812 overture, then you will need the extra extension.
Eric

Indeed I do have the Telarc recording :

It is sitting in the SACD player right now.