Bob has a point here. Trying to do both pieces at your budget is definitely a bit of a stretch. However, if I were looking for best performance for the $, I'd probably try to stretch, anyway. Here's why:
Warning: the words "slow" and "fast" are used in the following paragraphs as they are commonly seen on these threads. I'm not saying such characterizations are valid, just commonplace among those with opposing subwoofer philosophies. We'll call these 2 groups A) the "slow is okay" camp and B) the "distorted is okay" camp.
The first focuses on high output & low distortion. These subs are often ported designs. The downside is that such designs are often underdamped and strike some as "slow". The other side usually prefers highly damped subs and looks to sealed designs. These "fast" subs generally produce lots of distortion at low frequencies (relative to the ported designs).
The specs "distortion' and "group delay" (respectively) that reflect these performance paramaters are hotly debated. Each side points out that poor performance on the "other side's spec" is usually inaudible - even if the numbers look pretty awful. My point is that I tend to agree with BOTH sides. My subs perform relatively poorly on both specs, but sound GREAT! My take away is that most well regarded subs of EITHER design probably perform "well enough" on both specs, even if the numbers look ugly.
The further upshoot is that poor performance (and the vast majority of sub set-ups I've heard would qualify as "poor performers" to me) is probably due to something else - like poor integration. My experience bears this out. As my measured frequency response near the x-over improved, the system sounded better. Since I didn't expect this result when I started the experiment (long story there), I tend to put a lot of weight on this result. That's why I'd go controller first.
OTOH, you also have to remember, that you may hear hear things I don't/can't. People hear things differently, one to the next. Just because high distortion at 25hz or lots of group delay is completely inaudible to me, that doesn't mean it's inaudible to everyone! So, beware, YMMV.
One day, I'll replace my subs with better performers. The SVS SB12+ that Bob recommends actually performs pretty well on group delay AND astoundingly well on distortion (talking specs only here!). For the money, I agree that they would appear to represent unusual value and I'll probably do that - even if the measured performance benefits aren't dramatically audible.
In the end, I suspect there's a benefit to owning better performing subs. It's just that I KNOW there's a great benefit to well integrated subs. Hence, my inclination to go controller first. Other thoughtful posters obviously feel somewhat differently.
Marty
Warning: the words "slow" and "fast" are used in the following paragraphs as they are commonly seen on these threads. I'm not saying such characterizations are valid, just commonplace among those with opposing subwoofer philosophies. We'll call these 2 groups A) the "slow is okay" camp and B) the "distorted is okay" camp.
The first focuses on high output & low distortion. These subs are often ported designs. The downside is that such designs are often underdamped and strike some as "slow". The other side usually prefers highly damped subs and looks to sealed designs. These "fast" subs generally produce lots of distortion at low frequencies (relative to the ported designs).
The specs "distortion' and "group delay" (respectively) that reflect these performance paramaters are hotly debated. Each side points out that poor performance on the "other side's spec" is usually inaudible - even if the numbers look pretty awful. My point is that I tend to agree with BOTH sides. My subs perform relatively poorly on both specs, but sound GREAT! My take away is that most well regarded subs of EITHER design probably perform "well enough" on both specs, even if the numbers look ugly.
The further upshoot is that poor performance (and the vast majority of sub set-ups I've heard would qualify as "poor performers" to me) is probably due to something else - like poor integration. My experience bears this out. As my measured frequency response near the x-over improved, the system sounded better. Since I didn't expect this result when I started the experiment (long story there), I tend to put a lot of weight on this result. That's why I'd go controller first.
OTOH, you also have to remember, that you may hear hear things I don't/can't. People hear things differently, one to the next. Just because high distortion at 25hz or lots of group delay is completely inaudible to me, that doesn't mean it's inaudible to everyone! So, beware, YMMV.
One day, I'll replace my subs with better performers. The SVS SB12+ that Bob recommends actually performs pretty well on group delay AND astoundingly well on distortion (talking specs only here!). For the money, I agree that they would appear to represent unusual value and I'll probably do that - even if the measured performance benefits aren't dramatically audible.
In the end, I suspect there's a benefit to owning better performing subs. It's just that I KNOW there's a great benefit to well integrated subs. Hence, my inclination to go controller first. Other thoughtful posters obviously feel somewhat differently.
Marty