Best Inexpensive Subwoofer



SVS, HSU, Outlaw Audio, Aperion are some of the current manufacturers of fairly inexpensive subs.

I'd like to get a consensus on what AGon'ers think is the best of these subs.
worldwide
Maybe it's my imagination, but we seem to be living in the golden age of subwoofers. IMHO, the economics of high end loudspeakers are really being transformed by these developments.

I agree things are getting incredibly cheap now that most everything is made in China but I am not sure that the sound is all that good on these cheap subs. The physics of LF sound reproduction determines that a good subwoofer that has meaningful output at 20 Hz, a good transient response and less than 1% harmonic distortion will remain large and rather expensive compared to a regular speaker that lacks LF extension.
Partsexpress has a Hsu designed subwoofer for 199.00. No conflicts of interest and haven't heard it but struck me as a gret deal.

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=309-175

They also have a Dayton 8" sub for 75.00.
Shadome

I understand the skepticism - total bass output from a sealed volume + given radiating surface is certainly limited by physics. I just don't think that this limitation has been the practical problem.

I have a radiating area just under that of a 12" sub + two small enclosures + high power/long excursions. The total output from that combo is more than sufficient for my largeish ( app. 6,000 cu ft.) space even at the highest spls I'd personally require. It is powerful, clean, punchy and -to my knowledge - obeys the laws of physics. It is also nearly, but not quite, ruler flat (in room) to 25hz at typical listening levels

Presumably the audible distortions associated with that combo of box volume, radiating area and excursion have been significantly reduced due to better drivers, more rigid boxes, and more powerful amps. Real world performance is getting closer to theoretical limits. That's why I don't think that the laws of physics were ever the real limitation. I imagine that there's plenty of room for further improvement which will likely come primarily in the form of even smaller boxes rather than greater output or reduced distortion since those parameters have already been (IMHO) adequately addressed for (all but the largest) rooms out there by the better subs on the market. While I am certain that many people will disagree with that statement, that has been my experience.

The other real improvement has come in the area of integration. Modern devices provide room analysis + PEQ + a flexible crossover, allowing far better integration of subs to mains.

IMHO, the result has been eye (ear?) opening. I'd say the performance I'm getting from 25hz to 150hz would be difficult to improve, given the ultimate limits of my ability to discern improvements in this area beyond this level. Of course, I'll acknowledge that, if you heard the system, it's certainly possible that you might reach a different conclusion.

Marty
I am not saying these amazing bargains do not sound great and punchy - I am just pointing out that reproducing 20Hz at reasonable SPL without copious amounts of distortion is nigh impossible from a small device -it is usually tough to achieve even with several large subs.