budget subwoofer

[farfromphile]

Man, things sure change with time. In '98 I bought a Polk Audio PSW-110. I'm pretty sure that's the same model name. It cost around $1000! Mind you it was 250 watts rms.
I also bought Polk audio RT-7's at the same time: $750. The sub was great and had a 10 year warranty. Prices have sure dropped since then on equivelant gear.

[02audionoob]

So what do you guys think? should i invest in a subwoofer or is it not really worth it for music listening?

I absolutely believe a sub is worthwhile in a 2-channel music system. I'd just say keep in mind previous comments here about integrating it into the music rather than letting it stand out. In my music setup, no one notices the sub...including me...until I turn it off.

[cgibsong002]

I absolutely believe a sub is worthwhile in a 2-channel music system. I'd just say keep in mind previous comments here about integrating it into the music rather than letting it stand out. In my music setup, no one notices the sub...including me...until I turn it off.

this advice sounds good to me. i'll see if i can find a decent one used or what kind of deals i can find. but if i don't happen to find anything, i'm thinking i won't be too disappointed with just the energy's.

[cgibsong002]

http://www.amazon.com/Boston-Acousti...8823716&sr=1-5

how about this one? its a bit smaller and cheaper than that 10" one with nearly the same power output.

[blackraven]

Skip that BA, look at its freq. response. It only goes down to 45hz, not much better than your energy speakers.

I would still go for the Energy sub. Its at a great price and there's not a whole lot of risk with it. The Polk seems like a reasonable choice as well. These subs should do well as long as you use them right and don't turn them up too loud as most people do. Then they will sound muddy and boomy.

By the way CG, did you get your Energy C-200's hooked up yet and how do they sound?

[cgibsong002]

Skip that BA, look at its freq. response. It only goes down to 45hz, not much better than your energy speakers.

I would still go for the Energy sub. Its at a great price and there's not a whole lot of risk with it. The Polk seems like a reasonable choice as well. These subs should do well as long as you use them right and don't turn them up too loud as most people do. Then they will sound muddy and boomy.

By the way CG, did you get your Energy C-200's hooked up yet and how do they sound?

almost. still at college... will be home this coming week. hopefully i'll be able to try them out then.

[Nasir]

A good sub will easily outperform an average sub, especially at the lower frequency end, so try to get something worthwhile rather than any old sub. I didn´t know what I was missing until now. When using my 2 sub system ( Finalsound and Trevi subs) the lower frequencies seem to be coming from one side, but as one goes up in frequency, a more balanced and enveloping bass sound is the result. I was once a skeptic of 2 sub systems!!!

[Sir Terrence the Terrible]

A good sub will easily outperform an average sub, especially at the lower frequency end, so try to get something worthwhile rather than any old sub. I didn´t know what I was missing until now. When using my 2 sub system ( Finalsound and Trevi subs) the lower frequencies seem to be coming from one side, but as one goes up in frequency, a more balanced and enveloping bass sound is the result. I was once a skeptic of 2 sub systems!!!

Nasir, you might try separating the two subs by placing them in the two front corners of the room. This way they will pressurize the room from two different points rather than one. This is why your subs sounds like low frequencies are coming from one side of the room - only one side is being pressurized by the subs.

[Nasir]

Thanks for the suggestion. Unfortunately, the location of speakers and subs is more or less dictated by the furniture and the Iron Lady. My first sub ( Trevi - I think its Italian) starts after 45 -50Hz, whereas the newer sub is the Finalsound, same as the electrostatic speakers, which seems to go lower still. I have checked them separately with frequency tones...... one of them is much better than the other and was reveiling its location in a one sub system all the time, keeping in mind that the electrostatic speakers only get going above 100Hz . The only way I can have non directional bass is to use both subs.