2-channel subwoofer recommendations please

Discussion in 'Audio Hardware' started by crestwood23, Feb 15, 2017.

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  1. crestwood23

    crestwood23 Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    North Jersey
    I don't know a thing about subwoofers so I'm looking for a little advice. I have always been a "no subs ever" type 2-channel snob, but I would now like to give one a shot.

    I'm looking for something that will work seamlessly with my restored Quad 57 ESL's. They have nice tuneful bass as is, but being the greedy audiophile I am, I'd love "just a bit more". :)

    My concrete bunker basement man cave is approx 14'x 26' with 7' ceilings. I have basstraps in all four corners, and a few OC 703 panels on the walls and ceiling. Also a few thick area rugs on the floor.

    My budget is $1500, and I am open to buying used.

    A fellow Quad owner suggested a Velodyne DD12. Looks like a contender, but I don't have a TV in my listening room so I wouldn't be able to use the setup software, also looks like this sub is a bit old/outdated, although Ive found a few that are within my price range at about $1200 used. Are there better, more modern options out there anyone could recommend for me? TIA!
     
  2. F1nut

    F1nut Forum Resident

    Location:
    The Mars Hotel
    Velodyne Optimum 10 or a REL T7i.
     
    Dennis0675 likes this.
  3. Jose Imenez

    Jose Imenez New Member

    Location:
    USA
    Can you vent the Sub to the outside?
     
  4. davidb1

    davidb1 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Atlanta, GA
    I have an SVS sub that I really like and bought on the recommendation of a friend who has two.
    They have outlet deals upon occasion. I would look for a sealed unit like this.
    SB-2000
    In order to make the best of it, I have one of these as well.
    DSPeaker-Anti-Mode 8033
     
  5. crestwood23

    crestwood23 Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    North Jersey
    Not sure what you mean? "Outside" as in outdoors?

    Wow thats a cool little unit, looks like that might be a required purchase with any sub I go for.
     
  6. F1nut

    F1nut Forum Resident

    Location:
    The Mars Hotel
    The Velodyne has DSP built in and comes with a mic, so no need for anything like that.
     
  7. crestwood23

    crestwood23 Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    North Jersey
    Very cool, one of the Velodyne DD subs I was looking at requires a TV to set the eq- does the one you recommend need a TV to use the DSP? My listening room doesn't have a TV. :(
     
  8. F1nut

    F1nut Forum Resident

    Location:
    The Mars Hotel
  9. Kyhl

    Kyhl On break

    Location:
    Savage
    I don't know how the DD subs connect but could you drag a computer monitor into your room during setup? If setup correctly it shouldn't need tweaking as you listen so take it back out after setup. Just a thought.
     
  10. Randy Goldberg

    Randy Goldberg Forum Resident

    Location:
    NY
    Totem Storm. I love mine.
     
    LarryP likes this.
  11. crestwood23

    crestwood23 Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    North Jersey
    I only have a MacBook Pro, maybe it could hook it up to that somehow?
     
  12. Kyhl

    Kyhl On break

    Location:
    Savage
    Sorry, I don't know anything about a mac.
     
  13. crestwood23

    crestwood23 Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    North Jersey
    Both get very good reviews, love that the Optimum 10 has the built in auto EQ. Thanks!
     
  14. Drew769

    Drew769 Buyer of s*** I never knew I lacked

    Location:
    NJ
    No contest in my book - Vandersteen 2WQ. Two of them if possible. They are a subwoofer for people that don't like subwoofers. They are fast, they perfectly blend with main speakers, and they are musical. Their sound can be contoured from tight to more boomy (but never home theater style). The integration begins with how they get their signal - from the main speaker terminal. A clever high pass is used between your preamp and power amp. The sub gets the high passed signal and recreates the bass notes (some kind of Vandersteen voodoo but it works).
     
    Vinyl Richie likes this.
  15. F1nut

    F1nut Forum Resident

    Location:
    The Mars Hotel
    How is that any different than the high pass on most subs?
     
  16. Linger63

    Linger63 Forum Resident

    Location:
    AUSTRALIA
    IMHO as far as fully optimising STEREO bass performance goes..............

    2 x DD10's should clearly outperform 1 x DD12

    2 x DD12's wouldn't hurt!!!.......( maybe one now.....and if you like it.......another one later)
     
  17. crestwood23

    crestwood23 Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    North Jersey
    LOL yeah for sure - but that's just a bit over my budget!

    Also, the more I read the more I like the Velodyne Optimum 10 (or 12). Seems like the best parts of the DD series without the fiddly EQ - more of an autiopilot EQ situation which appeals to me.

    Does the Velodyne Optimum take any bass load off my speakers, as in, will the speakers still be running full range or is it the type of situation where the sub makes it so the speakers aren't working so hard on reproducing bass frequencies and can instead devote more power to the rest of the frequency range?
     
    Linger63 likes this.
  18. Still

    Still Well-Known Member

    Location:
    Colorado Springs
    Check out Rythmik. Many sealed options under $1000. Several connection options including speaker lever, single ended and balanced. They also have unique crossover options that allow more customization of crossover (adjustment of order as well as breadth of bandwidth over which the slope occurs). They certainly have a focus on 2 channel systems. They don't get the same press as others but personal accounts are consistently positive. I am looking at the F12.
     
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  19. Gibsonian

    Gibsonian Forum Resident

    Location:
    Iowa, USA
    No DIY? I'd build my own with AE drivers and use an active crossover to cross between the subs and your mains. You could probably use precut sub assemblies that you only need to assemble and finish if you wanted to make it really easy. The AE drivers sound very very musical.
     
  20. Glen Rasmusssen

    Glen Rasmusssen Active Member

    Location:
    cornwall ontario
    When I was shopping for a sub a few years back I did a quick check on most of the HiFi review blogs, and came across very good reviews on Outlaw Audio subs, they have a new one that gets great reviews. Ultra-X12. I have it mated with a pair of K-horns and only have to run it at 4 to keep up and fill in the low end for sound tracks. I have been very happy. $659. I do not think you need a pair of these matched up to your Quads. Here is the conclusion from HomeTheater. "Conclusion
    There are many outstanding, affordable subwoofers available today. Many of them perform very similarly and look practically indistinguishable. It seems to me that it's not a matter of choosing the best subwoofer, it's a matter of choosing the best for your budget, tastes, and application. So where does the Ultra-12X fit in? It's for two types of enthusiasts: 1) those who want true high-performance subwoofing but want to keep their investment to a minimum; and 2) those who want smooth bass response across several listening positions (i.e., for multiple listeners) and who thus plan to use two smaller subs instead of one larger one."
     
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  21. Helom

    Helom Forum member

    Location:
    U.S.
    I think Rythmik subs work off a similar principle, but they don't have multiple drivers per cabinet.

    Whichever brand you choose, go with a sealed sub that can get its signal from the amp's speaker terminals. Some RELs also have this feature, though not their cheaper models.

    I'm currently getting by with a cheap Paradigm sub with my Maggie 1.7s. Plugging the ports with foam definitely helped.

    When I used SVS's online Merlin speaker/ sub matching feature, they recommend one of their largest subs that has 3 ports. This seems contrary to all recommendations I've read for matching panel speakers with subs.

    I'm heavily leaning toward Rythmik for my upgrade.
     
  22. F1nut

    F1nut Forum Resident

    Location:
    The Mars Hotel
    Your speakers would still be full range with any sub unless you use an AVR or pre amp that has bass management.
     
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  23. crestwood23

    crestwood23 Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    North Jersey
    There's an SVS SB13-Ultra for sale on the local CL - $1200. Apparently very highly rated by a Quad loving Stereophile editor. Maybe that's worth a shot?
     
  24. Kyhl

    Kyhl On break

    Location:
    Savage
    That looks like a great sub. I suggest you think about how you plan to integrate the sub? The SVS comes with the ability to integrate it seamlessly but do you have the desire to measure and set it?
    A Velodyne DD will come with the ability to set itself.

    Personally, I'm frugal and want to know how this stuff works so I opted for a less expensive route combined with learning how to set things using measurements. I know that is not for everyone. It is time consuming. Are you a person that wants to invest the time and energy to set it up, or do you want to plunk it down, push a button and go? Also, do you have the ability to place the sub in the best location, or is it going to hide out of the way? If the plan is to hide one it in a corner under a plant, then I'd recommend the automated setup.
     
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  25. crestwood23

    crestwood23 Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    North Jersey
    Great points to consider. I am the twisted type of person who savors the finicky and often times painfully frustrating task of cartridge setup and alignment, measuring VTA, VTF, azimuth and overhand to the Nth degree until I'm blind and exhausted - all in the effort to get the maximum fidelity out of my turntable setup. Same thing with every other component in my chain, tube selection, speaker placement, and room treatments, all thoroughly overthought and tweaked to within an inch of its life. I don't mind (and actually enjoy) learning about new technical aspects of the hobby, all in the quest for better sound.

    It's a dedicated listening room, and the sub can go wherever it needs to go to perform its best. So overall, I supposed I'm by nature more of a measurer who's a bit OCD about getting the most out of my chosen gear. If there's a smoking local deal on a sub that requires more time/effort to set it up I wouldn't have a problem with that, and would make the effort to get the best out of it.
     
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