Need Help Choosing a Sub

Brian131

What's a good sub for a RM75 and v465 receiver? My room is pretty small, and I am looking at the 110 and 111. I know that the DSW are a lot better, however, I am on a limited budget and just want some decent bass for watching movies. Thanks

packetjones

^^^^^ +1

the 505 is well regarded around here and is a good budget Polk sub. There are also a few BIC subs that are highly thought of as well.

Brian131

Thanks. I checked out the 505 on newegg. What do you guys think about that paired with some rm speakers? It definitely looks good.

Ohioste

I know it's not a polk sub...but the BIC F12 I've been told is a good sub as well. A little cheaper than the PSW 505, just have to find a place that has it in stock.

Here's a thread from AVS: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1116093

And a link to a dealer: http://www.shopblt.com/cgi-bin/shop/shop.cgi?action=enter&thispage=01100400U0213_BT46359P.shtml&order_id=!ORDERID!

maximillian

From what I have read around here, Polk's PSW series subs aren't that great. For the price they may be OK. What do you guys think about the HSU STF-2 compared to the PSW505? It sells new for $350. Maybe not as loud but probably more musical/accurate. I have a used one that I like for music. For HT it is a little lacking for LFE. Still, it was a budget purchase for me at the time.

Brian131

Wouldn't the 505 kinda be overkill for a small room with rm75s? I guess it's up to me to decide. The power rating on that sub is kinda high.

wutadumsn23

Brian131 wrote: »

Wouldn't the 505 kinda be overkill for a small room with rm75s? I guess it's up to me to decide. The power rating on that sub is kinda high.

I was thinking the same thing when I saw this thread, but honestly, it isn't a bad idea. You can always turn it down and in the future if you decide to upgrade your speakers, the sub will be one less speaker you have to worry about.

-Jeff

Brian131

True Jeff. I was also thinking along those lines. But what's your opinion on the pws111? It's simply for mp3 playback and movie watching.

Brian131

I can get a new psw111 on ebay for 143. shipped, new.

wutadumsn23

The PSW111 will get the job done as well, but it costs as much as the 505, and the 505, IMHO is a better sub. Like you said though, it is up to you in the end, this is just my $.02. I have a PSW125 and have been very happy with it, but to be honest I have had a very hard time staying away from the 505 with the deals they have had on it recently.

-Jeff

Edit: Didn't see the post about the 11 until after I submitted this, that is a pretty good price for the 111, so I guess it is a coin flip. Cheaper up front for the 111, but the 505 would be more "future proof"

Brian131

Yeah, this site is going to be the death of me; or my savings, I guess. Once I get a sub, I may take a break from this site for a while and just enjoy my system. The first night that I joined, I was like "I want a new avr, new towers, new center...) and a divorce to go in there, too.

I guess cause i've read about the 111 being better for music is why I am leaning towards it. But anything has to sound better than the advent that was given to me. I think that thing was 80. bucks about 5 years ago. It was given to me for free so i've been using it until I could buy one.

wutadumsn23

LOL, this site will do that to you. It is kind of a joke we tell necomers, that we can spend your money as fast as you can make it, or leave your wallet at the door!! I have resisted the urge to upgrade most of my equipment mostly because I put together a pretty decent entry level HT before I joined this site, that and I am not the richest guy in the world either, lol. My wife has been very understanding/supportive of me and my habit so am pretty lucky.

-Jeff

Brian131

OK, found the 111 yesterday on sale and was about to purchase. Talked to an associate and he talked me out of it, saying that with the RM75 system, I would not even be able to hear the sub. Do you agree with that? I don't, but did not purchase because I want to be sure.

Also, keep in mind that although our living room is fairly large, it is elongated which causes us to configure our couch/loveseat in a 90 degree angle, with the HT within the angle. So, the listening area is rather limited and I am not sure that another sub, such as the 505, will be too powerful.

wutadumsn23

I am going to have to call shenanigans on this one. I don't see how a set of satellite speakers could possibly drown out an 8" sub with 150W contionious, 300W max power. I have no experience with either of them, but I think that guy was smoking the drugs.

-Jeff

Brian131

Got a psw111 on a price match at BB today for 199. It erked me to even pay that. I followed the directions and hooked it up via the LFE. Are there any major things that I need to be aware of in terms of tuning? For some reason, I get anxious when trying to hook up/fine tune subs compared to other speakers. I ran the ypao test again on the receiver to tune all of the speakers. Also, I am assuming that this thing needs to break-in?

Brian131

Ok. Maybe I am never satisfied, but I am seriously considering returning the psw111 this week and getting something that hits harder. I have been moderately satisfied with its performance, however, we're now getting laminate flooring in our living room, and i'm worried that the 111 will sound even worse.

I am considering picking up either a 505 or a yamaha 315. Any thoughts on this?

punk-roc

I recently got a 505 and was pleasently surprised by how hard it hit on some random BR movie.. I had cranked it up to halfway (even though my Pioneer AVR told me to turn it down in the auto-tuning) and it would have shaken all the pictures off the way (if i had any). For $250 from newegg, its hard to beat the 505.. i think you'd be happier with it. Also need to consider your sources though.. a poor movie source might be get you the bass you crave

Jason

EDIT; I was replacing some lame Kenwood 12" I got from a friend about 10yrs ago.. and it never impressed me.. liking the 505 now though

wutadumsn23

+1, for $250 shipped from Newegg the 505 is hard to beat. With 86 total customer feedback votes, it has 4 eggs or higher from 99% of those customers, and 94% gave it five eggs.

-Jeff

edit: it is now $249.99 with $4.99 shipping, lol. Still can't beat that with a stick.

Brian131

Just pulled the trigger on the 505 from newegg. 249.99 with free shipping!

wutadumsn23

Congrats, I have heard nothing but good things about that sub. Wish I had know though, they are running a sale for a few days on it for $229.99 w/ free shipping, lol. Posted a link in the deals of the day thread with the promo code, but oh well, you will love it, let us know how it sounds all hooked up.

-Jeff

cnh

+1, you'll enjoy the 505 over the PSW111 or other lower end Polks. That's also a nice price. If you're in the market for a new budget sub 250 is pretty darn cheap for what you get!

cnh

Brian131

Just got the 505. The manual recommends hooking up using speaker line inputs as opposed to the single sub cable. I have no experience with this. What should I set the crossovers at on the back of the sub? I have the receiver set at 120hz for the satellite speakers. Thanks

cnoat

The lfe is much better for movies.Just my .02

Brian131

Cnoat, Not sure if it's a typo in the sub's manual, but it is showing the L from receiver going to the R on the sub, and R on receiver going to the L on the sub. This is even more confusing!

cnh

Stop driving yourself 'crazy'! Get a good sub cable and just hook it up to the Yamaha via the LFE in on the sub to the LFE (or Sub) out on the Yammie! The Yammie will the handle the crossover and all the bass management.

cnh

wutadumsn23

cnh wrote: »

Stop driving yourself 'crazy'! Get a good sub cable and just hook it up to the Yamaha via the LFE in on the sub to the LFE (or Sub) out on the Yammie! The Yammie will the handle the crossover and all the bass management.

cnh

+1, IMHO LFE is the best/easiest way to run your sub.

-Jeff

Knucklehead

Dont skimp on your sub my friend as the upgrade bug bites often, like Jeff said, its on less speaker you will have to worry about down the road.

David