Inexpensive subwoofer?

Bingenito · « **on:** 31 Mar 2005, 08:26 pm »

I sold my line arrays which had bulit in subwoofers. Does anyone know of a decent inexpensive sub that I could look for on Audiogon that would list for around $300 used? I would prefer small and black.

I am just considering buying something to fill in the bottom octave of my monitors until I get new speakers. At that point I would sell the sub. Output of the sub is not a concern I would just want tuneful bass and no boom.

If I cannot find something at that price I guess I will have to use one of my 500 watt sub amps, buy a TC Sounds driver and build it myself.....

That might be my best bet anyway. Just looking for suggestions.

Thank you

doug s. · « **Reply #1 on:** 31 Mar 2005, 09:33 pm »

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?homesubw&1117371360
http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?homesubw&1117052319

dunno if these are reasonable prices, but they will do what yure wanting...

also, if this is anything sonically like the yst sw-305's they replaced, this one will also work:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=3275&item=5763902023&rd=1
but, my pair of 305's have two 8" forward-firing drivers, not one 10" down-firing driver... a buddy of mine got one of the 315's for his non-audiophile friend, & he said it was really good...

doug s.

jackman · « **Reply #2 on:** 31 Mar 2005, 09:39 pm »

The Rava just sold on Audiogon for that price. That's a nice little sub for the money. You could buy a new one and sell it without losing your a$$. They seem to hold their value very well and sell fairly quickly.

Another one is Danny's new subwoofer from GR Research. That's cool looking and I believe performs well in a small enclosure. AV123 makes a little sub that is very tight and tuneful also. I forgot the name but I've seen and heard it and it sounds very good. The cabinet is also like furniture. All of AV123's cabinets are very nice. It's a bit above your budget but I've seen a couple used ones for around your price. For music, any of the above would work well.

rosconey · « **Reply #3 on:** 31 Mar 2005, 10:10 pm »

if you have a amp -i would buy danny's driver and matching pr- and build a ugly box

ellogan · « **Reply #4 on:** 1 Apr 2005, 05:22 am »

Hi:
Try to see if you can get a Titanic 10" sub. It is about $350 new in kit form from Parts Express (see http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Partnumber=300-760) including shipping. You can get one used for about $275 in Audiogon. This sub is great, particularly for music.

KKM · « **Reply #5 on:** 1 Apr 2005, 04:12 pm »

Check out Orbs compact sub, very well built 12x12x12" and tight and musical. Their satelites also sound phenomenal.

http://www.orbaudio.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=7

Parnelli777 · « **Reply #6 on:** 2 Apr 2005, 04:08 pm »

This is an excellent subwoofer, BG makes their own drivers, and supplies to many others. I've heard it with my Magnepan 1.6s, as well as Alon, Opera and Martin Logan speakers. About $800.00 USD.

Radia Z SUB Powered Subwoofer

http://www.bgcorp.com/index.html

Bingenito · « **Reply #7 on:** 2 Apr 2005, 06:36 pm »

Quote

About $800.00 USD.

Thanks for the suggestion but this is 3 times the price of what I was asking for.

If I was going to spend around $1k I would pick up a used Velodyne DD series and keep it. This would be a throw away sub because it will not be needed in a few weeks.

doug s. · « **Reply #8 on:** 2 Apr 2005, 06:49 pm »

Quote from: Bingenito

Quote
About $800.00 USD.

Thanks for the suggestion but this is 3 times the price of what I was asking for.

If I was going to spend around $1k I would pick up a used Velodyne DD series and keep it. This would be a throw away sub because it will not be needed in a few weeks.

i'd choose the def-tech sub i mentioned in the audiogon ad over the velodyne, even if i had $1k to spend...

doug s.

Bingenito · « **Reply #9 on:** 2 Apr 2005, 07:07 pm »

As with anything in this hobby people have differences of opinion. For the life of me I cannot think of any reason to buy a Definitive Technolog PowerField PF 12TL over a Velodyne Digital Drive 12

I have heard both and if you are into music or movies the Velodyne not only has more output it is much more accurate and offers FULL room correction in the subs utilized freq range.

Taking a 6 yr old Def Tech sub that wasn't state of the art then over a DD series would not be a choice I would ever make.

Then again to each their own. I asked for suggestions and got them

The PE kit seems like the best suggestion so far. Resale on that would be tuff.

If the cabinet was a little nicer I would just give the sub to my parents when I was done using it.

ooheadsoo · « **Reply #10 on:** 2 Apr 2005, 07:50 pm »

I don't think the resale on the dayton sub will be THAT tough. Someone will come around wanting it eventually if you sell it for under PE.com's price.

doug s. · « **Reply #11 on:** 2 Apr 2005, 07:54 pm »

Quote from: Bingenito

As with anything in this hobby people have differences of opinion. For the life of me I cannot think of any reason to buy a Definitive Technolog PowerField PF 12TL over a Velodyne Digital Drive 12

I have heard both and if you are into music or movies the Velodyne not only has more output it is much more accurate and offers FULL room correction in the subs utilized freq range.

Taking a 6 yr old Def Tech sub that wasn't state of the art then over a DD series would not be a choice I would ever make.
...

bingenito, my opinions were based upon comparing a 12" def-tech sub in my vaulted-ceiling 26x28 kitchen, w/a 10" velodyne dd sub. music only. not critical listening. the velodyne was pretty worthless. the def tech is a *lot* better. it is actually worth listening to. the velodyne was ~$1200, iirc.

if i wanted audiophile-quality 2-channel bass for $1200, i'd opt for neither; i'd go for a pair of megawoofered vmps smaller subs, a marchand 2-way x-over, & an art sla amp. shop used, & yure likely able to do even better.

regards,

doug s.

Bingenito · « **Reply #12 on:** 2 Apr 2005, 08:59 pm »

Quote

bingenito, my opinions were based upon comparing a 12" def-tech sub in my vaulted-ceiling 26x28 kitchen, w/a 10" velodyne dd sub. music only. not critical listening. the velodyne was pretty worthless. the def tech is a *lot* better. it is actually worth listening to. the velodyne was ~$1200, iirc

Please define worthless.

Based on all of the ultra clean subs I have built or heard I notice a trend.

The less distortion and room modes the less apparent it is that a sub is in the room. To me that is the way it should be. Flat response to 20Hz but unless you see the sub in the room you should not even know it is there because it draws no attention to itself.

I should also note that really clean subs hardly ever sound loud. A different way of putting it is they can sound like they lack output because you are not hearing what you are used to hearing (distortion and room modes).

In summary there is perceived output and there is measurable output/distortion/ in room response. In most cases the two will be very different.

Use a sub with multiple low distortion drivers (TC Sounds, Peerless, Lambda, Adire), little to no port noise, cabinet resonance and a 3 band PEQ to get in room response flat (I.E. eliminate room modes). Once that is done use an RTA to get the sub(s) aligned perfectly with the main speakers.

I will bet that the sub (s) does not sound as loud but will shake the structure of your home and you will feel the low end response in your furniture.

doug s. · « **Reply #13 on:** 2 Apr 2005, 10:50 pm »

Quote from: Bingenito

Please define worthless.

Based on all of the ultra clean subs I have built or heard I notice a trend.

The less distortion and room modes the less apparent it is that a sub is in the room. To me that is the way it should be. Flat response to 20Hz but unless you see the sub in the room you should not even know it is there because it draws no attention to itself.

I should also note that really clean subs hardly ever sound loud. A different way of putting it is they can sound like they lack output bec ...

perhaps "worthless" is a bit harsh. but perhaps not.

the 10" velodyne yust dint add much worthwhile low end to the party. and, what it *did* add was kinda like one-note thump. mebbe it was asked to do too much in the huge room in which it was being used. the def-tech sub, on the other hand adds worthwhile bass. it only draws attention to itself when ya turn it up too loud.

regards,

doug s.

Zero · « **Reply #14 on:** 3 Apr 2005, 02:21 am »

For a medium sized room, and for not a lot of coin, I have yet to experience a sub in the same class as the Rocket UFW and ULW. I try not to tout gear around and make large claims, but I am just THAT impressed with their sub's.

Bingenito · « **Reply #15 on:** 3 Apr 2005, 02:24 am »

I am checking out a Rocket UFW in Ebony.

Good suggestion.

Thanks