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Best active 8 inch sub to mate with JBL 305's

H

Huck

Active Member
Hi:
I am looking at subs,around $500.00 that would match well with my 305's, other than the JBL 10 inch mate,only because I need a small footprint,possibly an 8 inch would work in my small room..I am currently checking the Fluid Audio F8S here: http://fluidaudio.net/products/fader-series/f8s/black because it has all my requirements...small 10 inch footprint,front volume control,foot switch,RCA ins and XLR outs...just have to listen to one!......anyone like to comment good or bad on this sub if you are using one?.Thanks,Huck
 
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Never heard the sub but two things I notice and like right away;
The controls and their locations are very well thought out - volume on the front, low pass crossover pot going all the way up to 200 Hz, and bass boost on/off. This is going to make for easy system and room integration.
The founder's resume - years at JBL and M audio. Experience = learning from your mistakes and he's got a ton of experience.
 
Yeah...I like all those features and I just want to add a touch more bottom end to the 305's,that's why I want a smaller woofer...don't need any boom,boom or whomp,whomp....I like my bottom-end to sound like a tight sounding kick drum and this is just for my small room when surfin' the net and listening.
Maybe gonna have to take a chance and just buy one?! Huck
 
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To me the variable phase control is the big plus with this sub.
That to me makes integration much easier.

Both my current subs (Celestion S20 & Canton AS85-SC) have a variable phase control,so it's a feature I like to have.
Same with the front port,both mine are front ported as well,the Celestion like this one is slot ported,the Canton has a port tube.

For a small sub like this,I'd definitely consider this FS8.
Price seems decent enough too.

JM2¢ ~ FWIW

Bret P.
 
Don't know what your budget is, but I use a REL T0 in my office and it's a great little sub. Musical and tight sounding. Really nice for just pushing down the HZ a little bit. I use it with my Audience The Ones.

- Woody
 
ictwoody said:
Don't know what your budget is, but I use a REL T0 in my office and it's a great little sub. Musical and tight sounding. Really nice for just pushing down the HZ a little bit. I use it with my Audience The Ones.

- Woody
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Can't go too crazy...just bought the 305's,so have to keep the CFO(wife),happy...after all,it's only for my computer room listening.
I really like the front volume control,plus the RCA in's and XLR outs,also small 10" footprint to go right next to my desk.Huck
 
I know nothing about this sub. I doubt if it makes it to 30 hz. It weighs 17# and it is plastic. My 10" Polk PSW weighs 45# and has a 200 watt bash amp in it with a 24 db pre octave crossover. the cube is 15 x 15 x 17. It takes a lot of power to produce a well controlled bass output cleanly. It is not just BOOM BOOM BOOM!
 
Freddymac2 said:
I know nothing about this sub. I doubt if it makes it to 30 hz. It weighs 17# and it is plastic. My 10" Polk PSW weighs 45# and has a 200 watt bash amp in it with a 24 db pre octave crossover. the cube is 15 x 15 x 17. It takes a lot of power to produce a well controlled bass output cleanly. It is not just BOOM BOOM BOOM!
Click to expand...
Yeah... almost everything now adays is plastic..plastic wood (car trim inside),plastic chrome(car trim outside)...prit near everthing.! Huck
 
I have a M&K Dual 8" sub in my RV and it sounds better than I would have expected. I am not a sub fan, but this one works very well. With all the controls and flexibility it integrates very well with the 5 satellites.
 
Freddymac2 said:
I know nothing about this sub. I doubt if it makes it to 30 hz. It weighs 17# and it is plastic. My 10" Polk PSW weighs 45# and has a 200 watt bash amp in it with a 24 db pre octave crossover. the cube is 15 x 15 x 17. It takes a lot of power to produce a well controlled bass output cleanly. It is not just BOOM BOOM BOOM!
Click to expand...
It's actually made from vinyl-laminated MDF.Huck
 
Huck said:
Hi:
I am looking at subs,that would match well with my 305's, other than the JBL 10 inch mate,only because I need a small footprint,possibly an 8 inch would work in my small room..I am currently checking the Fluid Audio F8S here: http://fluidaudio.net/products/fader-series/f8s/black because it has all my requirements...small 10 inch footprint,front volume control,foot switch,RCA ins and XLR outs...just have to listen to one!......anyone like to comment good or bad on this sub if you are using one?.Thanks,Huck
Click to expand...

Huck, there are two things I do NOT like about that sub. First is flexibility. That sub does not support high level inputs which is my preferred for two channel music. Next it is a ported sub. For music I prefer sealed units.

SVS makes both and you can read about the advantages of each here:

https://www.svsound.com/blogs/svs/75367747-sealed-vs-ported

The sub I like for two channel music is this one:

https://www.svsound.com/products/sb-1000

It's flexible (supports both high and low level inputs), sealed and reasonably priced. It is bigger in footprint, however.

Regards,
Jerry
 
I not dissing anyone's choice but a $750 sub with a pair of $250 bookshelves seems to me that should be turned the other way around. I'd get better mains and a filler sub especially in a small room. The F8S seems like a good choice for your setup
 
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Huck said:
Can't go too crazy...just bought the 305's,so have to keep the CFO(wife),happy...after all,it's only for my computer room listening.
I really like the front volume control,plus the RCA in's and XLR outs,also small 10" footprint to go right next to my desk.Huck
Click to expand...

Well... to be fair you did say BEST. And the $499 new REL T-Zero is only 8.5 x 9.5 x 10.5 in. It was my reccomendation based on the fact that’s what I use in the same situation. Also, mine was purchased off Audiogon for $220. Deals are out there. I believe REL makes great high quality subs. I also own a T5... but it’s far too big for your use.

- Woody
 
ictwoody said:
Well... to be fair you did say BEST. And the $499 new REL T-Zero is only 8.5 x 9.5 x 10.5 in. It was my reccomendation based on the fact that’s what I use in the same situation. Also, mine was purchased off Audiogon for $220. Deals are out there. I believe REL makes great high quality subs. I also own a T5... but it’s far too big for your use.

- Woody
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Yeah...my mistake. Really no more than 5 hunnit$. This is only for computer listening upstairs..I have a dedicated main room downstairs for watching and listening. Huck
 
sanford12 said:
I not dissing anyone's choice but a $750 sub with a pair of $250 bookshelves seems to me that should be turned the other way around. I'd get better mains and a filler sub especially in a small room. The F8S seems like a good choice for your setup
Click to expand...

That could be why many seem to have a bad taste in their mouth about subs. They get these great mains then some, relatively speaking, cheap sub and get soured on the whole deal.
 
whoaru99 said:
That could be why many seem to have a bad taste in their mouth about subs. They get these great mains then some, relatively speaking, cheap sub and get soured on the whole deal.
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Yep.

A great sub can also open up a whole other realm of possibilities when it comes to speaker selection as well.

With just a few quick adjustments I've used mine with everything from big Magnepans to Cambridge Audio stand mounts with success.

I'd love to hear a pair of those JBLs with a nice sub, I think the op is in for a treat with whatever they decide.
 
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