Best Subwoofer for $500 or less

[kexodusc]

Yeah, what was I thinking! That Tumult is for wusses.

If you REALLY want to be a menace to your neighborhood, get a look at Adire's Parthenon driver. This is the driver that with a simple 24" diaphragm can power down to 20 Hz at reference levels with no box or baffle. No one I'm aware of has built a practical application for this monstrous motor, but it seems geared for serious bragging rights. Adire claims that this motor is powerful enough to achieve a 12" stroke with 450 liters swept volume while driving a 48" diaphragm. So, if you got a $3,000 DIY project coming up, this has got your name all over it!

http://www.adireaudio.com/TextPages/...eFrameText.htm

Okay, I'm selling me right kidney on ebay now...any takers...it's in near mint shape, has some minor wear and tear, but is far better condition than my liver. Never driven hard, from a non-smoking home...selling to finance home theater upgrade.

Maybe some day, Wooch, this looks more like something Sir Terrence would use for center channel or something...I have a nut bar Uncle that has a 31" Fostex driver in his subwoofer that cost more than any speakers I've ever owned. Just when I get feeling good about my system, I pay him a visit and get served a slice of humble pie.

There must be a point where a subwoofer becomes overkill in a given room...I don't know where that is, but I'm pretty I'll be close enough.

[46minaudio]

Kex and wooch,These drivers are based on adires xbl2 technolgy..The 15 does not have as much xmass as the 15 tumalt ,but its a $170 less expensive..
http://www.ascendantaudio.com/Avalanche%2018.htm
Here are some graphs for the sealed 18...
http://www.ascendantaudio.com/Avalan...ed%20graph.htm
Wooch if you ever want to try DYI, give me a call I will build you a box with driver cutout for the cost of the MDF and shipping...(yea I love building this stuff).

[kexodusc]

46minaudio: mmm...yummy, $300 for the driver, this is a bit more reasonable...Any recommendations on a good plate amp to go with it? I think the 1000 watt bad boy at PE is still a good buy. They seem to recommend the standard 0.707 Q alignment, but a small 2.2 cubic ft. With a 15.5" diameter that's kind of an odd shaped box. Not really that big, though...all right, you've got me interested...

Wooch: Let's do it...46minaudio's given you a pretty good offer...MDF is cheap, and you could probably ship it flat and glue it yourself. Next we'll get you trading the Studio's in....You're going to need a table saw, dado blades, a plunge router, belt sander, orbital sander, a soldering iron, and of course a spectrum analyzer (can't build without testing)...I'd give you my kidney, but I'll need it.

Give in to your feelings, join the Dark Side...

[46minaudio]

46minaudio: mmm...yummy, $300 for the driver, this is a bit more reasonable...Any recommendations on a good plate amp to go with it? I think the 1000 watt bad boy at PE is still a good buy. They seem to recommend the standard 0.707 Q alignment, but a small 2.2 cubic ft. With a 15.5" diameter that's kind of an odd shaped box. Not really that big, though...all right, you've got me interested...

Wooch: Let's do it...46minaudio's given you a pretty good offer...MDF is cheap, and you could probably ship it flat and glue it yourself. Next we'll get you trading the Studio's in....You're going to need a table saw, dado blades, a plunge router, belt sander, orbital sander, a soldering iron, and of course a spectrum analyzer (can't build without testing)...I'd give you my kidney, but I'll need it.

Give in to your feelings, join the Dark Side...

I bought the 500 watt version with a single band PEQ for 198$ while on the deal of the day..You think it will be under powered with the standdard .707Q.This will replace my HSU VTF 2..Also I just finished a sub using a Dayton 8" DVC in a 1.5 cubic ft box tuned to 30 hz and one of the Audio source plate amps MCM had on sale.I used a 1/2 inch round over on all edges then sprayed it with truck bedliner spray..

[kexodusc]

I bought the 500 watt version with a single band PEQ for 198$ while on the deal of the day..You think it will be under powered with the standdard .707Q.This will replace my HSU VTF 2...

Sorry not sure I'm following (been a long week)...which woofer did you mate in what size cabinet to the 500 watt plate amp?

What were your thoughts on the VTF-2? I wasn't all that amazed with mine compared to other offerings, but I like it just fine.

You've definitely got me second guessing my choice of subs now....
I've got a bit of time, still have the 6th and 7th speakers to finish, as well as a new cabinet for my center channel. It's tough with a job that has me on the road 40% of the time...
Great hobby though, I've learned more in the last year about audio in general than my previous 25 put together.

[46minaudio]

Sorry not sure I'm following (been a long week)...which woofer did you mate in what size cabinet to the 500 watt plate amp?

What were your thoughts on the VTF-2? I wasn't all that amazed with mine compared to other offerings, but I like it just fine.

You've definitely got me second guessing my choice of subs now....
I've got a bit of time, still have the 6th and 7th speakers to finish, as well as a new cabinet for my center channel. It's tough with a job that has me on the road 40% of the time...
Great hobby though, I've learned more in the last year about audio in general than my previous 25 put together.

Sorry Kex..I havent mateded the 500 watt amp with any thing yet..I was wondering if the amp would be to small for the Avalanch 18 with .707 alignment..The VTF2 is what it is.For the size IMO it is a outstanding preformer.There are some room peaks that I hope to fix with the single band peq on the pe plate amp...And yep its time to upgrade...I cannot decide between the 15 or the 18..ANY thoughts on either...

[kexodusc]

Sorry Kex..I havent mateded the 500 watt amp with any thing yet..I was wondering if the amp would be to small for the Avalanch 18 with .707 alignment..The VTF2 is what it is.For the size IMO it is a outstanding preformer.There are some room peaks that I hope to fix with the single band peq on the pe plate amp...And yep its time to upgrade...I cannot decide between the 15 or the 18..ANY thoughts on either...

46minaudio, I couldn't find any sensitivity/efficiency specs for these drivers, but the site seems to imply you can get by with 500 watts. Intuitively, I'd be a hesitant to buy a 18" driver and then mate it to a 500 watt amp, but what do I know? I think you can get buy with the 15" and 500 watts, well enough...but I don't really know. How loud do you like your bass? I'm sure 500 watts would be enough for alot of people...but as your demand for earthquake rumbles increases, that 18" woofer is gonna want lots of juice at 25 Hz and below...I'd hate to have a great driver and not enough power to drive it...you know what that leads too...I think I'd rather have more power than not enough.

The 1000 amp might be a bit overkill for the 15" though, as it is with the Titanic kits. I would think if you're careful enough, you can go either way. My PW-2200 only has 400 watts, I don't have it maxed out, and it does ok in my room right now.

But bigger always = better, right?