Onkyo CR-445 - subwoofer?

[Chrysalis700]

My very own mini stereo system the Onkyo CR-445, which is not a set of of headphones or computer speakers. I know.

First of all, it was a cheap system that puts out enough wattage and the sound is good enough for the small room I have to fill it without it involving the neighbors making a noise complaint.

Still, as I was setting it up I noticed that it had a RCA connector for a sub-woofer.

I asked Onkyo customer support and they recommended any subwoofer in my budget separately powered... which doesn't really say anything. Hence why I am here.

1. Do you have any recommendations for sub-woofers?

I also checked on the forum and have heard that the vanilla speakers with the unit are not that great.

2. Any recommendation for a set that are equal size in terms of dimensions, but better sound quality?

 

[alteclipsch]

I have one of those CR 445 stereos, it's a fabulous little system. The "vanilla" speakers it came with it were worse than awful, I immediately banned them to a storeroom and later sold them for $20. I used a pair of recapped Optimus Pro 77 speakers instead, they sounded wonderful and are roughly the same size, although heavier due to the cast aluminum cabinet. I still use the unit, but these days it's driving a restored pair of KLH Model Seventeens. Plenty of solid, clean power for that ( I think 40 watts ).

I never considered a sub because the Optimus speakers had plenty of bass for small room listening.