Subwoofer for my HT System.

I have recently been putting together my HT system and I'm now looking to close out the seal with a subwoofer. My current list of components are as follows:

NAD T743 receiver
Paradigm Monitor 11 fronts
Paradigm mini monitor surrounds
Paradigm cc370 center

Thanks in advance for your help.

It would probably help if the fellas had a room size and budget to work with.

What room size( sq.feet) is your HT in? I do not need to know it but, you do not want to buy a huge (above 12" ) powered subwoofer for a small area.For example my room HT room is 40 sq.feet so,I bought a Sony 8" 150 watt peak powered subwoofer I have the cut off set at 80HZ..It works fine for small HT area.The BEST powered subwoofer to EVERY is a BOSE powered subwoofer.Although,they cost a lot. Larger subwoofers do not make it better.They just cost more.If you want to know which is best.Get information on the subwoofers specs. The lower the HZ & higher peak the better.Also,you want to buy a good grade/type of subwoofer cable. I am a 20 feet THX grade cable nut! EVERY WIRE/CABLE I own for my HT is THX grade.

Sorry guys. The room is 20x14 9ft ceiling.

One of my friends hasa paradigm set-up in a room similiar in size of yours and the seismic 10 works great, for your system the 12 could be a little over powering.

I would use a 10" powered subwoofer.On the dts & THX website there are room set up examples to show where to set your speakers esp. your subwoofer to have the best sound possible for your HT.I set up my HT room based on the dts set up & it sounds really cool.I am a Sony geek but,if you want to spend over $ 400.00 buy a BOSE 10" powered subwoofer or the whole BOSE 7.1 set up for a little over $ 1000.00

Hey Blackadder4th, Welcome to AR.

I'm wondering if you could benefit more by adding more power. I think that NAD is capable of producing 50Watts all channels driven, so I think that's as good as 100wattish Denon(can't comment on their newest receivers though).
I say this because Monitor 11 are capable of playing fairly low freq. But if you just need added slam for hometheater purpose, How about asking GMichael and L.J. about their subs from partexpress? You dont need to match brand for subs. With your front speakers, I dont see the point of getting a 10" sub for dramatic differences.

I'm still not sure about swwdts. Maybe he's not a troll, but I really havent been able to figure him out.

JRA

budget?

I'd go with a sub (parts express, Outlaw, Hsu, etc) to take the strain of covering bass away from the rest of your speakers. But we don't know how wealthy you're feeling.

swwdts seems trollish to me. Nobody recommends Sony or Bose and has an ear for audio, that I know of :)

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Originally Posted by emorphien

swwdts seems trollish to me. Nobody recommends Sony or Bose and has an ear for audio, that I know of :)

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SWWDTS is a trollish a$$ hat. A 10" Bose? Your trying too hard SWWDTS. You gotta make it more subtle.

I have Monitor 11s and they benefit greatly from a sub. JRA is right about power. I have a separate amp for the towers, but they still need a sub. I only use a small Velodyne 8" sub and its a huge difference. The 11's simply weren't designed to do what a sub does. Surprisingly, my recs don't include Paradigm subs:

Bang for buck: Dayton Titanic:http://www.partsexpress.com/webpage....up_ID=536&SO=2

Small and pretty: Velodyne SPL series. Price 800 to 1500 depending on size.http://www.velodyne.com/velodyne/pro...3&sid=912w321l

Big and impressive: Axiom http://www.axiomaudio.com/subwoofers.html

Wife Upsetting:http://www.svsound.com/products-sub-cyl-pcultra.cfm

I heard the Martin Logan Depth model recently and was duly impressed.

I'm always amazed by the response to these type questions. Common sence tells us not to buy any product unless you have listed to it, tweeked it, compaired it to other gear and understand its limits. Yet, folks here often recommend products that are only available direct from the manufacturer, which precludes all the above with the added disadvantage that if its unsatisfactory you have a limited time to repack it, ship it back and wait for a refund. While its often tempting to order gear on-line, don't do it.

I'm always amazed by the response to these type questions. Common sence tells us not to buy any product unless you have listed to it, tweeked it, compaired it to other gear and understand its limits. Yet, folks here often recommend products that are only available direct from the manufacturer, which precludes all the above with the added disadvantage that if its unsatisfactory you have a limited time to repack it, ship it back and wait for a refund. While its often tempting to order gear on-line, don't do it.

Okay so what is your suggestion to Blackadder4th besides "dont do it"?

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Originally Posted by The Tahitijack

I'm always amazed by the response to these type questions. Common sence tells us not to buy any product unless you have listed to it, tweeked it, compaired it to other gear and understand its limits. Yet, folks here often recommend products that are only available direct from the manufacturer, which precludes all the above with the added disadvantage that if its unsatisfactory you have a limited time to repack it, ship it back and wait for a refund. While its often tempting to order gear on-line, don't do it.

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What could possibly be better than hearing the gear in your own system? I agree with your premise, but completely disagree with your conclusion. This is the new business model, get used to it.

I love that sites will provide you with free return shipping within a generous window if you don't like it. I don't like that it still means you have to buy them if you want to compare them to something else you can only get locally. It also exposes you to the possibility that you have to go through the return and wait for refund mess for something you just don't like at all. It's nice to go to a store, listen to several speakers and be able to easily eliminate the ones that just don't do it for you.

Who the heck is swwdts?!!

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Originally Posted by swwdts

but,if you want to spend over $ 400.00 buy a BOSE 10" powered subwoofer or the whole BOSE 7.1 set up for a little over $ 1000.00

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does bose make a 10" powered sub for pa systems or what???

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Originally Posted by Rock789

does bose make a 10" powered sub for pa systems or what???

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I don't know, but you can hardly call what they pass off to the consumer as a bass module a sub.

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Originally Posted by emorphien

I don't know, but you can hardly call what they pass off to the consumer as a bass module a sub.

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what size speakers are in their bass module? 5.25"?

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Originally Posted by Rock789

what size speakers are in their bass module? 5.25"?

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I think so. My parents have in their home the stereo pair of the twin cube speakers along with the bass module. It's awful but I've never said anything about it. They may have noticed though, I don't think they even listen to it any more.

[I have Monitor 11s and they benefit greatly from a sub. JRA is right about power. I have a separate amp for the towers, but they still need a sub. I only use a small Velodyne 8" sub and its a huge difference. The 11's simply weren't designed to do what a sub does. Surprisingly, my recs don't include Paradigm subs:

Bang for buck: Dayton Titanic:http://www.partsexpress.com/webpage....up_ID=536&SO=2

Small and pretty: Velodyne SPL series. Price 800 to 1500 depending on size.http://www.velodyne.com/velodyne/pro...3&sid=912w321l

Big and impressive: Axiom http://www.axiomaudio.com/subwoofers.html

Wife Upsetting:http://www.svsound.com/products-sub-cyl-pcultra.cfm[/QUOTE]

I have Studio 20 v.3s up front, CC370, and Titans in the rear, and drive them with the new 3806 (still not setup--but it's going to a nice upgrade from the AVR 1804 that I've got). I finally buckled and got the Velo SPL 800 and man, it is a serious piece of equipment. I was frankly blown away. It's a little pricey ($1k) but worth it, IMHO.

For your setup, i would recomend a velodyne 10'' PS, and dont go out and waste your money on a 8'' PS because in the end it will NOT in any way shape or form be able to produce the bass that a 10 or 12 will.

To jrhy and Dusty.

My advice to Blackadder is to shop his local audio/video stores. Some will often loan out open box/demo gear for a day or two. Most have a return policy and most have a used gear section where good gear can be had at a fraction of the new price. He should find enough subs to compare and find the right one for him.

I understand that some people will be satisfied ordering equipment on-line without hearing what it sounds like. I'm in that group that needs a test drive to confirm what I've been told is an outstanding product or a great value. While I agree that ordering softgoods on line is easy and often cost effective, when it comes to audio/video the average consumer still wants to see or hear it before plunking down hard cash.

Just my opinion....others disagree and thats what makes this forum interesting.

Happy Holidays

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Originally Posted by blackadder4th

I have recently been putting together my HT system and I'm now looking to close out the seal with a subwoofer. My current list of components are as follows:

NAD T743 receiver
Paradigm Monitor 11 fronts
Paradigm mini monitor surrounds
Paradigm cc370 center

Thanks in advance for your help.

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Do you like action movies with lots of LF effects? If so then I would recommend at least a good 12" sub. Unlike speakers that have unique sonic signatures, subs for the most part are interchangable. A well made 12" sub is usually more than enough for a room of your size.

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Originally Posted by The Tahitijack

I understand that some people will be satisfied ordering equipment on-line without hearing what it sounds like. I'm in that group that needs a test drive to confirm what I've been told is an outstanding product or a great value.

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You're not responding to what I wrote, you're just repeating an incorrect stance again. People will not have heard the equipment before they receive it, yes, but as soon as they receive it, they will have a chance to hear it. That's my point.

I agree that hearing equipment in one's system is the only way to achieve satisfaction. This is not mutually exclusive with buying online, as long as the dealer is reputable and is willing to receive returned equipment.

Heck, even if you buy and sell used equipment, you're still taking the time to hear the equipment in your system. To me, this seems a perfectly logical extrapolation of hearing the equipment.

Now, it might be a different stance that you don't want to plunk down any money without hearing it first, but I consider that a fair trade-off, from a business perspective on the seller's part. I'm just saying that it's a new business model to hear the equipment in your own setup, and with the option to live with it for an extended period of time. You might take a loss if you sell it used, rather than return equipment to a seller within the allotted time. But you might not, if you bought the equipment used at a discount as well.

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Originally Posted by Dusty Chalk

Now, it might be a different stance that you don't want to plunk down any money without hearing it first, but I consider that a fair trade-off, from a business perspective on the seller's part. I'm just saying that it's a new business model to hear the equipment in your own setup, and with the option to live with it for an extended period of time.

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Good shops will often loan you their floor model to try something out at home too, which is really nice. No big money involved but a chance to try it where it counts.