I need a good subwoofer to review, what are your favorites? Help me!

SVS and Rel are two popular choices. SVS range from $399 to $2,500.

 

This will be interesting to me to watch it unfold. I’ve always had a fascination with subs but never had one, other than in a home theater rig, and don’t know much about “musical” ones. You obviously already have a system which doesn’t need one, so how will you integrate it?

 

Pre-manufactured for music? RELis hard to beat. If you are willing to go in a slightly different direction: GR Research OB Servo kits 2x12 per side as a minimum. Kits and flat packs available. not sure how you'd get some for review.....Integrate into rooms with fewer issues IMO, plus very adjustable.

 

REL or SVS

 

Interesting discussion to follow.. as I have contempt for the typical sub, the worst of them "one-note" bass units. My recommendation for two channel, no sub. My recommendation for home theater, don't! .. too many speakers in the room.. go with two channel stereo.

 

I run a pair of SVS SB 2000 in my little studio. They don't get "in the way" of the music, they just add the bottom octave, as they should. When a sub is set up properly, you'll never notice it. BUT... when you take it out, you miss it badly.

 

For you Steve the JL Audio Gotham
Home Audio - Powered Subwoofers - Gotham® v2

Stepping down a rung the Fathom is still unbelievably good. It is musical and sublimely forceful
Home Audio - Powered Subwoofers - Fathom® v2

 

I like the Martin Logan Balanced Force subwoofers, the 210 and 212. I have one of the previous generation, a Depth, with three opposing drivers. It can rattle the walls if you want, but the cabinet hardly vibrates. Very accurate and not tubby at all.

John K.

 

The Vandersteen 2wq is a great sub. It is unique in the way it interfaces with the amp and main speakers. It uses a 1st order high pass filter between preamp and amp and is driven off of speaker taps along side of the main speakers. It lightens the load of the main speakers and amp. It uses 3- 8 inch drivers so it is fast. In fact since it is so fast it's one of few subs that mate well with planar speakers. It also has adjustable Q so you can tailor how tight or floppy it is. It is not cheap at $1850 but compared to a JL Audio Gotham, it is a bargain.

 

Rythmik Audio. Servo subs, with the options of sealed, ported, and metal, or paper drivers. The GR Research subs are based on Rythmik.

 

Interesting to me that many (most?) people don’t run a sub. If properly placed in the room and if you have the ability to eq it so it integrates seamlessly with your speakers, a sub is fantastic for music. One note, tubby, muddy bass is typically from poor placement and lack of eq as opposed to the sub itself (as long as it is not a cheapo htib sub), at least in my experiences.

For music I would steer people towards sealed as opposed to ported, they typically have less extension down real low (30 hz and lower) but feels a bit snappier, punchier than ported.

Other posters have mentioned REL and SVS, I can’t speak to REL but SVS makes some wonderful sealed subs.

 

Hopefully you have the right kind of room for one. I first tried one in a living with a suspended ceiling and lost almost all of the bass. I had much to learn.

 

I've read many reports/claims that the Rythmik subs outperfrom the REL and SVS offerings.

 

How about an Elac subwoofer?

Lots of buzz on the speakers, but I haven't seen much on the subs.

 

Velodyne or Rythmik servo subs.

 

No one has mentioned it, so I will. Neumann is highly regarded for monitoring situations. I would expect it to be accurate but warm.

Georg Neumann GmbH - Professional Monitoring

 

I installed an S12EQ for a friend and was impressed at how fast/easy it was to dial in. It uses an app on your phone/tablet for eq, slick setup.

 

I've never owned any subwoofers so cannot offer suggestions. But I am interested in what you have to say after getting them in.

 

My tube type stereo system actually sounds better without a sub. Problem is the semi flabby tube bass from tube amp gets amplified with the sub playing even flabbier bass. But, my sub is tight on my Marantz AV receiver. So, it gets used for TV. I use a HL15 Velodyne subwoofer.

 

Aa...nnd we've gone off topic.

 

Depends on what the price is.
Best value but still excellent performance, Rythmik or Power Sound Audio. SVSound & HSU close behind. IMO, Rythmik is the best of this bunch.
When you get into the REL, JL Fathom price range it's no contest.
Seaton Sound by Mark Seaton.

Every Sub Head with the cash I know who owned REL, JL, SVS etc. switched to Seaton after hearing them.
Personally if I had the cash I'd buy them but Rythmik more than satisfies me.

 

If we are going to mention Seaton, can’t forget about JTR. They have high output subs aimed more for home theater but I have heard them with music and they are great, they have sealed and ported.

 

Seaton Subs absolutely rock in HT setups! Best LFE I've ever heard (the "After Hours" show at the Audio show a few years back). I only heard it through the HT receiver for music, so I wasn't as impressed, but it wouldn't surprise if it sounds spectacular for that as well. Mark Seaton also know how to set up a room very well for good Bass response.