Subs anyone?

[Gilligan]

Velodyne no questions asked Which one were you looking at?

I was looking at the DPS-12. 500 bucks

But that sony is ONLY 100 bucks...(on sale) ....... is the velodyne that much better???????????

[bjornb17]

I was looking at the DPS-12. 500 bucks

But that sony is ONLY 100 bucks...(on sale) ....... is the velodyne that much better???????????

I used to have a $100 subwoofer.... ended up being a losing proposition since i was never really happy with it and ended up upgrading anyway. I now have the firm belief that its actually cheaper to buy a better component to start off with

[Eric Z]

Gilligan- It depends how good you want your music/movies to sound. Usually Sony, Yamaha, Denon, and other companies that make speakers as well as other audio equipment don't do a great job at both- their speakers aren't nearly as good as speaker only companies. Now, maybe the $100 Sony will do enough for you, however, the majority of the people on this site will tell you to stay away. Maybe you can look at something in between the $100 and $500- if you're concerned about your budget. Definitive Technology makes some decent subs (I have the 8" and 10" and like them a lot), so do many other speaker companies. I'm sure someone's Hsu or SVS can blow my subs away, but my Def Techs are good enough for me- I got them at a good price, too.

[calegrant]

Is there really that much of a difference between a cheap sub and a good one?

Of course. It's like buying a ferrari and a used tempo and going to lamans, the tempo will make it around the track alright but will do it half assed. I have the dps12 and its awesome. If you must buy a cheap sub though, stay away from 12's. Just because it's a larger driver doesn't mean it's better.

[Woochifer]

I was looking at the DPS-12. 500 bucks

But that sony is ONLY 100 bucks...(on sale) ....... is the velodyne that much better???????????

Give it a listen for yourself and tell us. In general, subs in the $100 range cannot extend much beyond ~35 Hz, if they can even reach that point in the first place; and their bass characteristics are typically not especially linear. Good subs require a driver capable of moving considerable amounts of air without distorting, a well designed cabinet that meshes with the driver's performance parameters, and adequate amplification. And you won't get all of that with a $100 sub.

A lot of the LFE information on movie soundtracks nowadays goes well below 25 Hz. If you want to render the bass in that range with some degree of accuracy, then subs in that $100 range simply won't be up to the task.

[paul_pci]

I was looking at the DPS-12. 500 bucks

But that sony is ONLY 100 bucks...(on sale) ....... is the velodyne that much better???????????

I used to have a $100 sub and now I have a Velodyne (1K I got for 1/2 price) and the difference is night and day, but of couse, I didn't appreciate the difference between a cheap sub and a costly one until I listened for myself. Unfortunately, quaity subs begin at about $500. If you want a kick-ass HT system, then I'd do what you can to swing a Velodyne, B&W, Hsu, or SVS. It'll be worth it.

[Gilligan]

ok..........


well i have decided to blow about 500 bucks on a sub......... just cuz i LOVE bass.......

Well......... i still feel lost. There are SO many different "good" manufacturers. I was looking at Velodyne and SVS, and i have a hard time figuring out what i want.

For example..... is the Velodyne DPS-12 better than the DLS-4000???

I have been looking at the subs on www.brand-electronics.com

Is that place any good? It seems to have nice prices.

[paul_pci]

Be careful of obscure online dealers as they may not be authorized retailers leaving any warranty useless; also the product may be b-stock or refurbished as opposed to new.

As for Velodyne, their website does have a sub recommendation feature. As for the difference between the two lines, the DPS might have the edge on the specs, but I imagine they'd sound pretty similar and only a live audtion would help you out there. Another thing to consider is that, unless this is the last sub you'll ever own, you really can't go wrong with choosing between Velodyne, SVS, Hsu, or B&W and the experience with any one of these would give you a better indication in the future what sub is best for you. A lot of times, finding the right equipment is trial and error, at least as much as what one can afford.

[royphil345]

The Sony subs at Best Buy suck. Boomy and not enough power. The dual 10" push-pull Sony SA-WX700 which can be had for around $200.00 online would surprise alot of people. Check the reviews here. Think Circuit City still carries them. Can audition alongside Polk and Velodyne.