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Subs And The Downstairs Neighbors

I live in a brownstone in Fort Greene, Brooklyn. The building has the usual suspended hardwood floors but there must be magic insulation because I can listen at 90-plus decibels and remain quite friendly with the couple downstairs. Nor do I hear anything from upstairs.

I have an Arcam A19 and a pair of LS50s. The system sounds great but one wouldn’t call it chest-thumping. So I’m thinking about a subwoofer.

In traditional New York style, my apartment is both small and expensive. So I’m looking for a cheap, low profile, downfiring sub that will fit under the couch. Monoprice? I’d rather get something used but the only other low profile model I can find is a $1200 Focal.

The secondary question is whether I’ll be defiling the sound of the LS50s by using a cheap sub. I haven’t heard the Monoprice but it’s probably doesn’t sound REL-like. Supposedly it reaches 30 db. Is that low enough? The sound doesn’t have to be great, it just has to be better than it is now.

The primary question is whether the sound will break into the downstairs apartment. Just a gut reaction but it seems like I’d be asking for trouble.

There’s an similar thread from 2008. The poster only got two responses from people with actual experience. One nearly got evicted, the other had two subs and reports that all went well. I thought I would check to see if anyone in a similar position has joined since then. Anyone?
paul6001
yyzsantabarbara
4,795 posts
 
I just bought the KEF KC62 for my LS50’s. This sub has a apartment setting for people such as yourself. I have not received delivery of the sub yet. Check out the reviews. It is supposed to be a very impressive musical performer.

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rhljazz
1,253 posts
 
There are subwoofer platforms that isolate from the floor, brand name Sub Dude. You wouldn’t be able to use under a couch, but a more conventional sub placed on one acting as an end table might work for you.
mike_in_nc
1,147 posts
 
It is impossible to know whether the sound will bother the neighbors, so you'd best buy something that can be returned if it does.
Structure-borne vibration can be a problem at low frequencies, like those emitted by a subwoofer.
conlad
36 posts
 
OP, the sub dude suggestion (manufacturer is Auralex) is a wise one. While I live in a standalone house and have my system in the basement, I bought sub dudes when I bought a pair of Rythmik F8 subwoofers. I wanted to avoid vibrations, and those platforms do the trick. I wouldn’t recommend them with a down-firing sub though, as I expect that they would absorb some of the sound. If you are open to a front-firing sub, consider the dudes. 
rocray's avatar
rocray
1,448 posts
 
90db, and your neighbors aren’t bothered? Either really cool people,or they’re hearing impaired!  Either way,it sounds like you won’t have any issues. 
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