Subwoofer Amp Recommendations

I also think response to DC is important. I have an SVS 20-39CS passive sub. I've tried both a Tandberg 3006A (264W/4ohms) and an Aragon 4004MKii (400W/4ohms) driving it. The Tandberg is DC coupled, the Aragon is not. On scenes with subsonic bass, like the depth charges in U571, the Tandberg shook the house a lot better than the Aragon.

In response to the L07M comment, I own four of them and have NEVER had any problems. Coming up on a 35th anniversary, I'de like to see an amplifier beat that.

your choice will depend on how many watts you need. i currently have two ported 15" subs. they like 300 watts at 4 ohms. i am using 2 channels of a 5 channel sherbourn ht amp. i bought this amp cheap and i have 3 spare channels, i plan to add more subs in the future. if your subs are sealed or need eq you will need more watts.

Room size determines the true freq. responce of ANY subwoofer. There fore common sence dictates that SPL will rise as power output rises in a given room. While you may be able to "feel" something below 20Hz, you certainly will not be able to hear it- the human ear is not designed to do such a thing.

But is this always true? Not to my taste.

For Subsonic duties I use two AB International 1100A's bridged mono, for "stereo-bass". Seems to me your question is about subsonic truth to as low a point as you can get. This relys on far more than just an amplifier. Room acoustics, driver design and enclosure, and source material all provide various challenges for any music system and the listener. What some here refer to as "muddy", to another, may be considered "truth", it's all dependant upon your ears, and this is obviously subject to your own personal taste.

True bass IMO requires high SPL, why? Because most average listeners room size is not the same as that of a music hall, hence a greatly reduced standing wave must be made to "perform" the same in a much smaller enviroment- resolution- SPL. Efficient drivers and efficient amplification- your ears will thank you for it, and so will your pocket book.

Ask any sound engineer, when your at your next concert about setting up subs- you'll have to buy the coffee, and have a few hours of time on your hands.

Since this 1.5 year old thread has been revived, I thought I'd update you guys on my progress:

First, I bought another WBT amp (Bash) to run the subs stereo, but wasn't ever quite satisfied. So I bought a Carver Pro (Tripath) amp, which was better, but decided my Bel Canto Evo (borrowed from another system) sounded a bit better--so it stayed.

Sold the VBT amps and the Carver, and still using the Evo (for now--though I must admit I'm still considering an amp with more current at some point--Crown K2, maybe).

But then I realized that although the VBTs were very detailed and pretty extended, they just didn't move enough air for my taste and sounded a bit lean, even with the Tact equalization/room correction.

So I sold them and bought a pair of RBH 1010s (two metal ccone 10" a side). Now, that was more like it. Not quite as detailed, but definitely more air moved and more lively.

I have recently replaced my Talons with Selah Incredarrays (line arrays with 10 Seas excel mids, 8 Fountek ribbons and two Peerless 12" subs). Right now I'm bypassing these subs and still using the RBHs in the corners. I figure the corner-loading and the separate enclosures can't hurt (time-aligned with the Tact) though I'll probably try them both ways when I get a chance.

Pretty happy, but still wondering if for the same $$ as the Evo, I could get better for these subs.

Thanks for all your suggestions.