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Subwoofer recommendation needed ($500 or less)

lattiboy

lattiboy

Well-Known Member
Hi there,

I am looking to get a very tight and fast subwoofer to match with Vandersteen Treo CTs. The CTs have extraordinary bass down to 30-35Hz which I wouldn’t want to change much at all, but that last 10-15Hz I am used to just isn’t there.

My budget is $500 or less, used or new (I generally do used)

PS I know the Vandys SHOULD have a SUB300 like the Quatros, but that is wildly out of my budget and my ownership of the Treos is pure, dumb luck. I am the audio equivalent of a bum who gets a free meal at a five-star restaurant, but now he has to tip….
 
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Fast musical sub... Janis W1

Beautiful too!

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Love the analogy. :thumbsup:

You might also do a google search for *vintage subwoofers audiokarma*. That brings up several threads, from which you might glean some good info.
 
You can get two Dayton Audio SUB 1200 12-inch powered subs for $179/pc (don’t make me do the math, it’s been a long day). They are surprisingly good, particularly for the money.
 
SVS SB-2000 used would be my choice of what I see available, but I haven't heard that SVS model. My Rythmik F12 blends better than any other sub I've owned, goes deep, and is musical. I would try to stretch for their budget model L12. They don't pop up used too often.
 
I LOVE my Pinnacle baby boomers. I have 2 of em. It's the only sub I actually like and I've tried a bunch. Not in the LEAST muddy
 
Hsu VTF2s go flat to 16 hz for $679 (on sale). I don't think you'll get performance near them for that price. It will be tough to get below 20 hz for $500 but hopefully someone will have a suggestion.
 
Easy DIY sub kit from Parts Express with DSP and free shipping. Don't know how you could do better and it's $100 under your budget.

Used subs make little sense unless you find one locally. Shipping a used sub would be too costly. You don't need a sub to plumb the depths but rather one that reinforces the bass that you already have. The majority of recorded music does not go much below 40hz.

https://www.parts-express.com/Power...pact-Subwoofer-Kit-with-Built-In-DSP-300-7150
 
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If you can DIY, my experience is you get more performance for the dollar. I built a pair of sealed passive subs using 12" Dayton Titanic drivers (v. III or IV, can't remember) and was very pleased using those in my main rig for years (and with speakers that were rated down to 20Hz). About five years ago, I decided to add a few subs to the system in the living room (was using Klipsch Chorus II at the time) and happened on some decent deals on used SVS SB-12NSD. These got very favorable reviews for music playback, and they are nice sounding and capable subs. But when I tried them in the main rig in place of the DIY Dayton subs, it was no contest. The DIY's just did everything better. Period.
Also, I can't stress enough how big a difference a digital room correction device makes on a sub's overall performance and ability to integrate with mains. I use a DSPeaker Anti Mode 8033 and swear by it, but there are others that are equally as good. However, not all DSP/DRC devices are created equally. I've heard and used some that aren't as good as the Anti-Mode.
 
tomlinmgt said:
If you can DIY, my experience is you get more performance for the dollar. I built a pair of sealed passive subs using 12" Dayton Titanic drivers (v. III or IV, can't remember) and was very pleased using those in my main rig for years (and with speakers that were rated down to 20Hz). About five years ago, I decided to add a few subs to the system in the living room (was using Klipsch Chorus II at the time) and happened on some decent deals on used SVS SB-12NSD. These got very favorable reviews for music playback, and they are nice sounding and capable subs. But when I tried them in the main rig in place of the DIY Dayton subs, it was no contest. The DIY's just did everything better. Period.
Also, I can't stress enough how big a difference a digital room correction device makes on a sub's overall performance and ability to integrate with mains. I use a DSPeaker Anti Mode 8033 and swear by it, but there are others that are equally as good. However, not all DSP/DRC devices are created equally. I've heard and used some that aren't as good as the Anti-Mode.
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Would a minidsp be a good idea? They’re quite a bit cheaper, but I’m unsure how they work with just subs. I wouldn’t want to put the Vandys behind DSP, just the sub.
 
lattiboy said:
Would a minidsp be a good idea? They’re quite a bit cheaper, but I’m unsure how they work with just subs. I wouldn’t want to put the Vandys behind DSP, just the sub.
Click to expand...

Parts Express actually has an inexpensive little DSP/DRC unit that a friend of mine has in his system and he's been very pleased with its performance. He had to work through some UI glitches (you control it with an app on your smart phone), but after he ironed all that out it was smooth sailing. I listened to his system, which uses a 12" Velodyne sub and pair of Acoustat Spectra 22's I sold him, and where that sub was intrusive and clumsy before, it's now very nicely and seamlessly integrated.
 
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