What Subwoofer should I buy?

stangjason
stangjason Posts: 341
edited August 2007 in Speakers
I currently have two (front) Polk R300, two (rear) Polk R150, one (center) Polk CSR and an old JVC 10" subwoofer. I'm looking to replace the subwoofer with something better and wanted your opinions on a good subwoofer to replace it with. I'd prefer to keep my budget less than $200 but can maybe wait till Christmas if I choose to go over that.

Oh and little info on the room. The TV is in the corner with about 14 foot between it and the center channel from the viewer with the subwoofer behind the TV. Also the den is part of an open floorplan with the kitchen and dining room behind it which has apparently made my subs lack of power a glaring weakness.

Thanks,
Jason
Pioneer vsx-1120k, B&K Sonata series video-5 amplifier, Polk Rti8, Fxi3, Csi5, and HSU VTF-1
Post edited by stangjason on
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Comments

  • McLoki
    McLoki Posts: 5,231
    edited August 2007
    For $200 - all I can suggest is DIY.

    You can build a box (or end caps for a sonotube) and purchase a nice 12"-15" sub (maybe $150??). Then for now, you can use the amp from your JVC to run it. (in a large enough box, you would not need a ton of power).

    If DIY is not an option - I don't think your budget is high enough to justify the upgrade. (then again - I could be wrong, maybe you can find a good deal on a nice used sub)

    Michael
    Mains.............Polk LSi15 (Cherry)
    Center............Polk LSiC (Crossover upgraded)
    Surrounds.......Polk LSi7 (Gloss Black - wood sides removed and crossovers upgraded)
    Subwoofers.....SVS 25-31 CS+ and PC+ (both 20hz tune)
    Pre\Pro...........NAD T163 (Modded with LM4562 opamps)
    Amplifier.........Cinepro 3k6 (6-channel, 500wpc@4ohms)
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  • mlemieux
    mlemieux Posts: 1
    edited August 2007
    Save a little more cash and get a Polk PSW505. I just picked one for $320, and I am really please so far with it. Nice little sub for those of us whose's wife won't let them get a SVS. :(

    I also seen thw PSW404 for $269 this past weeked(no clue how it compares to the 505, but I bet its better than other subs in that price range)
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  • patrickj
    patrickj Posts: 52
    edited August 2007
    I started off aiming at the same budget, but ended up buying a BIC H-100 off of eBay for $239. It's great for the price... I don't think you'll find better. Do a search for that and you have to send the guy an offer of $200. Shipping will be $39 I believe.
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  • Early B.
    Early B. Posts: 7,900
    edited August 2007
    Wait until Christmas and increae your budget. Don't waste your time and money on a sub-par sub.
    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."
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  • Shizelbs
    Shizelbs Posts: 7,433
    edited August 2007
    Save your money until you can afford a worthwhile subwoofer.
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  • Ron Temple
    Ron Temple Posts: 3,212
    edited August 2007
    The Bic H100 is an excellent budget sub. Not many have heard it here, but it competes quite well with retail subs like the Velo DPS10 & 12 or Klipsch Sub10 or 12 in the $4-500 retail pricepoint...sound quality and output. While saving for a $500 ID sub will get you twice the performance. It's a good first step and will match well with the Rs.

    Combo rig:

    Onkyo NR1007 pre-pro, Carver TFM 45(fronts), Carver TFM 35 (surrounds)
    SDA 1C, CS400i, SDA 2B
    PB13Ultra RO
    BW Silvers
    Oppo BDP-83SE
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  • Pepi28
    Pepi28 Posts: 248
    edited August 2007
    Shizelbs wrote: »
    Save your money until you can afford a worthwhile subwoofer.

    **** is right, save for an HSU sub.
    58" Samsung Plasma (on wall)(calibrated)
    LSi15's front (modded xo's)
    LSic center
    LSiFX's sides
    LSi7's rears
    Sunfire Sig. 600 amp for 15's
    Sunfire Sig. Cinema for C,S&R
    Sony ES 3000 pre/pro
    SVS 2039 PC Plus sub 12.3 (16hz tune)
    PS3
    Wii
    Signal and Audioquest ic's
    12 awg monster speaker-cable (bi-wired)
    Belkin PF60 power conditioner
    Monster power conditioner for sub
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,576
    edited August 2007
    The current PSW10 falls into your price bracket. You could probably find one on closeout/special from a number of online sources or local brick and mortar.

    Good luck.

    Christmas is overrated, buy now, repent later.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • KMART121951
    KMART121951 Posts: 1
    edited August 2007
    I would recommend the Velodyn brand. The quality is very good.

    Thank You
    Ken Martin
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  • Phasearray
    Phasearray Posts: 437
    edited August 2007
    How BIC crams an at least $200 Bash amp into that H100 and still sales it for so low is beyond me.
    Receiver - Onkyo HT-R340
    Front - Pioneer S-HF21
    Center -Onkyo SKC-340C
    Surround Back - Polk R15 <--Ticket to club polk
    Subwoofer - Onkyo SKW-340
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  • stangjason
    stangjason Posts: 341
    edited August 2007
    What about this Velodyne from frys.com?

    http://shop2.outpost.com/product/4674948?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG
    Pioneer vsx-1120k, B&K Sonata series video-5 amplifier, Polk Rti8, Fxi3, Csi5, and HSU VTF-1
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  • engtaz
    engtaz Posts: 7,669
    edited August 2007
    +100 Velo
    engtaz

    I love how music can brighten up a bad day.
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  • WilliamM2
    WilliamM2 Posts: 4,807
    edited August 2007
    I tried a few budget subs last year, because I wanted a cheap sub for my garage.

    Polk PSW-10 - Absolutely the worst performing sub I have ever witnessed.

    Dayton Sub-100 A little better than the Polk, not musical at all though.

    Velo VX-10 - Again a little better than the Polk, but not much output.

    Yamaha YST-SW315 - This little sub suprised me, plenty of output, very tight, and seems imposible to bottom.

    http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=203025474&listingid=3853401&dcaid=17902

    You may be able to do better on the price, I got mine from J&R last August for $184 delivered, through Amazon.
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  • Phasearray
    Phasearray Posts: 437
    edited August 2007
    stangjason wrote: »
    What about this Velodyne from frys.com?

    http://shop2.outpost.com/product/4674948?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG

    Average price for that unit it seems.
    http://www.google.com/products?q=VELODYNE+VX&btnG=Search+Products Less power than the H100
    Receiver - Onkyo HT-R340
    Front - Pioneer S-HF21
    Center -Onkyo SKC-340C
    Surround Back - Polk R15 <--Ticket to club polk
    Subwoofer - Onkyo SKW-340
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  • Ron Temple
    Ron Temple Posts: 3,212
    edited August 2007
    Jason,

    The only budget subs I'd recommend are the Bic H100, as mentioned or the Cadence XSub12...they are very similar in output, but the Bic's better. You really don't need to look any further. If you can increase your budget to $275, get the Elemental designs A2-250, flat to 20hz and quite a bit better.

    Combo rig:

    Onkyo NR1007 pre-pro, Carver TFM 45(fronts), Carver TFM 35 (surrounds)
    SDA 1C, CS400i, SDA 2B
    PB13Ultra RO
    BW Silvers
    Oppo BDP-83SE
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  • icehouse1
    icehouse1 Posts: 37
    edited August 2007
    +1 for the PSW 505.
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  • Serendipity
    Serendipity Posts: 6,975
    edited August 2007
    +1 for DIY. With a little bit of work you can get a nice sub for very little $$$.
    polkaudio RT35 Bookshelves
    polkaudio 255c-RT Inwalls
    polkaudio DSWPro550WI
    polkaudio XRT12 XM Tuner
    polkaudio RM6750 5.1

    Front projection, 2 channel, car audio... life is good!
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