[CapeCodDon]

I am looking for a sub to work well with the HTS series salksound speakers. My room will have apprx 24-2500 cubic ft and with be 95% home theater. Budget under $1500. Any thoughts?

[evan1]

Did you try calling Mr. Salk and ask ?

[Bill@LakeGeorge]

Jim offers a Salk sub using a Rythmik kit and his cabinet in standard veneer for right about your budget.

[CapeCodDon]

Thanks! I will check with Jim. I didn't see any subs for HTS eing offered on his web site but the Rythmic subs are appealing. I'll check with Jim.

[gkinberg]

While the Rythmik sub has gotten very positive reviews, I regard it as more of a “musical” sub. If your needs are primarily (95%) HT, I would suggest a sub with more “slam” like one of the SVS offerings. No disrespect intended toward Jim Salk or Rythmik, it is just that movie tracks frequently have intended distortion effects. The Rythmik servo control prevents the sub from distorting. Just my two cents. Good luck with your decision.

Garth

[Jeff B.]

I designed the Songsub specifically for this purpose. Have you looked at it?

I am looking for a sub to work well with the HTS series salksound speakers. My room will have apprx 24-2500 cubic ft and with be 95% home theater. Budget under $1500. Any thoughts?

[Mr_Superstar]

I have the SongSub along with a full SongTower setup and I absolutely love it. It performs great with both music and movies. A quote from my wife while watching Kung-fu Panda (during the Skidoosh scene): "Is that going to hurt the foundation?".

Yes, it really did shake the house... or at least the basement..

[Nuance]

As mentioned, SongSub or Rythmik.  I'll also add the SVS PB13 Ultra.

[CapeCodDon]

Interesting comments!
Jeff, I looked and thought it was speced more for music. The low end is around 22hz and maybe 18 in a home. Its sealed and low distortion like the Rythmic. How does it differ from the Rythmic and there 15" goes pretty low (14hz). The point of designed distortion for home theater is something to think about but that be more a personal preference rather than a necessity. I have thought about the SVS 13 ultra and others.

I do have an older Mirage BP-150i that is dual 8", sealed and goes to around 25 hz. Its good for music with good mid bass. I was thinking of running it in the newer home theater to smooth out my bass but wanted another sub for more impact to perform for demanding HT needs. I am not sure if thats a good idea though and am wondering if I sould stay with a sealed sub if I follow my intentions or go ported like the svs 13 ultra. Thanks for the comments.

[Big Red Machine]

For that kind of dough I'd get two SongSubs or one Seaton Submersive.  Better choice than a single SVS anyday.  I've had an SVS in the room with the Submersive - no contest.  Sold the SVS.

[jsalk]

Perhaps I am missing something, but "designed distortion for home theater" does not make any sense to me.  If the track contains distortion, say in the form of noise of some sort, any great sub should reproduce it very accurately.  If that is not the case, then the sub is adding something that is not in the soundtrack to begin with (which you would never want). 

Also, I should point out that the SongSub is not a sealed design.  It uses a 12" passive radiator to accomplish basically the same response as a ported design, but without the potential for port noise (chuffing), which can be considerable at lower frequencies.

On a side note, I should also point out that performance claims of some subs can be misleading.  Most speaker manufacturers rate frequency response in terms of +/- 3db.  This is because only -3db and above is considered usable bass response.  There is output lower than that, but it is not "usable." 

Subwoofer manufacturers, to the contrary, often quote low end bass response of -6db or even -10db, factoring room gain into the equation.  (We typically quote performance based on the F3 (-3db) of the design.) 

So any frequency listed (20Hz, 15Hz, etc.) is really meaningless unless you know if it represents the F3, F6 or F10 of a given design.

Very often I see subwoofers marketed at having extension to 20Hz or below.  The problem is, there is no way the drivers, cabinet, etc. could possbily acheive an F3 of 20Hz.  It would defy the laws of physics.  But there is no law preventing them from claiming 20Hz if that is the F10 of the design (and they often fail to mention that it is F10).  So they do.  Buyer beware!

On a related note, we just got in a batch of 12" drivers and very well-engineered passives from TC Sounds.  These will make for some very capable subs.  We have enough on hand for 10 subwoofers and can easily get more.  15" drivers and passives are also available.  With a good plate amp, these drivers and passives will make unbeatable subwoofers with great low end extension, extremely low distortion, no port noise and very musical to boot!  (And they will reproduce all the distortion designed into HT tracks in the first place.)

- Jim

[ctviggen]

I've used anywhere between one and three subs for HT applications (one SVS and two VMPS) and have never heard distortion in any movie. 

[ctviggen]

I should also note that my SVS never really had chuffing that I could hear.  However, I'm not sure how low it played, either. 

[Jeff B.]

Jim gave an excellent answer, so I won't reitterate all of that, only to say I agree completely with his comments on the topic. What I wanted to say though is that I don't necessarily feel a subwoofer is a "music sub" or a "home theater sub". There is no reason why a good sub can't do both and do them well. With the adjustments available on the plate amp of the Songsub you can essentially get about any response shape you want from it. We spec it as flat, but adjustments are available. One more thing - two Songsubs cost about the same as some single "high end" subwoofers out there, but offer significantly better performance potential that most single subs can offer. Something to consider.

Jeff B.

Interesting comments!
Jeff, I looked and thought it was speced more for music. The low end is around 22hz and maybe 18 in a home. Its sealed and low distortion like the Rythmic. How does it differ from the Rythmic and there 15" goes pretty low (14hz). The point of designed distortion for home theater is something to think about but that be more a personal preference rather than a necessity. I have thought about the SVS 13 ultra and others.

I do have an older Mirage BP-150i that is dual 8", sealed and goes to around 25 hz. Its good for music with good mid bass. I was thinking of running it in the newer home theater to smooth out my bass but wanted another sub for more impact to perform for demanding HT needs. I am not sure if thats a good idea though and am wondering if I sould stay with a sealed sub if I follow my intentions or go ported like the svs 13 ultra. Thanks for the comments.

[Nuance]

For that kind of dough I'd get two SongSubs or one Seaton Submersive.  Better choice than a single SVS anyday.  I've had an SVS in the room with the Submersive - no contest.  Sold the SVS.

Isn't the Submersive $2000?  If the price was lowered or the OP's budget was increased, I also vote for the Seaton Submersive.