Which subwoofer should I get?

soix

l have heard a few Paradigm subs many years ago.

l think you have misunderstood my comments on Rels….. All their models offer hi-level AND low level inputs!

l use hi-level for two channel hi-fi and that’s the end of story for me. For home theatre that is a different story because you can only accept multi-channel via RCA line in so l have nothing against low level. Hi-fi 2 channel via Neutrik hi-level is just a better option. Adopting that input method passes on the amplifiers harmonics so the sub receives your amplifiers signature characteristics. You do know the signal is relayed from the amps speaker out terminals?

Rel were the first sub manufacturer to offer this to the market place and some other manufacturers adopted the technology and the reasoning. Rel by offering the two input options allow you to use the sub for two channel hi-fi via hi-level Neutrik (often referred to as Speakon) and low level line in RCA for cinema multichannel. That has to be TWO good reasons to audition the Rel range.

SVS SB3000

BOOM, lots of BOOM, this thing had power, but not accuracy. Would be perfect, if I just listened to Techno, Rap.

It's unfortunate that's what you heard.  Where did you hear it, and who set it up?  There's Best Buy and like stores that try to impress with loudness, then there's an experienced hobbyist's home where they are properly set up and integrated with the room and speakers.  What you described hasn't been my experience, unless I intentionally set them up for maximum effect during movies in a home theater system, which is where I started my subwoofer journey.

@mswale  I agree with @big_greg if you heard boom boom from the SB3000 and highly likely that sub wasn’t dialed in properly.  I’m not saying it’s on the same level as the better RELs or JL Labs subs, but it’s definitely not a boom boom sub if set up properly.  Read any review — they all say it works very well for music and no mention of bloom or bloat.  The cynic in me thinks the dealer may have done that on purpose to make the pricier subs sound better because this just doesn’t sound right.  I’ve got an SB2000 and there’s no boom boom whatsoever when the volume/crossover is set properly.  Something stinks here. 

I have a 12 inch Driver subwoofer that's 25 years old from Bowers and Wilkins, ASW 2000. It's a beast.

Would it be a good idea to replace this thing? It still works but I wonder if the quality is very good at this point.

Hey Matt,

I would be careful pairing a REL with your A5’s, Most if not all REL subs incorporate a passive radiator in their designs. The passive radiator dramatically increases the decay and sustain portion of a note or beat. (The four stages of every note or drum beat are attack, decay, sustain and release) Your A5’s being a sealed cabinet design will not do that, so the bass coming out of the REL will sound much fatter than what comes out of the Magico’s and they may not blend well together.

Concerning the high level input, that was created out of necessity. Most home audio at any level, low, mid or high is not designed for the incorporation of a subwoofer. Unless you have separates, or an integrated amp that has preamp outputs and inputs, it’s pretty difficult to send a secondary line level signal to a second amplifier. So if you are a speaker manufacturer and all you make are subwoofers and you want to increase your market share what do you do? Well you create a high level connection that takes that speaker level signal, convert it back to a line level signal that an amplifier and other circuits can handle, process said signal and re-amplify it. Not the best way to make a connection but if that is the only way you can make it, at least you have an option.

James633 is giving you excellent advice.

You also may want to check out the link below.

https://www.acousticsciences.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Soundoctor-Barry-Ober-sub-integration.pdf