Need Help Choosing A Subwoofer


Hey Guys/Gals,
Im looking to get my first home audio/video subwoofer. The room is around 10x10 give or take a little. So far I have looked at the SVS PB12-ISD/V, the Definitive Tech Super Cube II, and the Outlaw Audio LFM-1. What do you think is best so far or what else would you say is worth looking it to? I would like to keep the price below $800 (audiogon prices). Thank you so much for all those who provide help!
Jackson
bartojc
Well, the new Outlaw sub has gotten excellent reviews, and it sells for about $550 as I recall. The sub was designed for Outlaw by Hsu. You should also consider the small subs made by Paradigm and PSB, and for about $800-900, you can also get the Vandersteen 2Wq, which is a very musical sub (I have two of them in my system, and am very pleased with their performance).
For your size room, it will be easy to pressurize it with bass. If it truly is 10 feet by 10 feet, then there may be problems with modes at certain frequencies. Don't go too big, you will waste your money. I have both Hsu VTF-3 Mark 2 (in a big room) and REL Q108E (in a small room) and I like the quality of their bass. Music is paramount to me and these two do it well. I like the trial period that Hsu, SVS and Outlaw give you because you will not know what the sub will sound like until you actually have it in your room and calibrated. If you don't like it, it just costs you shipping back to them. I think you would be happy with the outlaw sub and spend the rest of the money elsewhere. I am a big fan of Hsu subs. Good luck and happy hunting!
With a budget of 800 I'd definitely be looking at a used REL Strata or another model. They are great for HT and music.
I like your Infinity RABOS (EQ) 10 SW10(?) sub to fix your bass mode problems in that room! Otherwise, at the very least, you have to consider placing smaller fast subs at the half way room points (otherwise, a good "subwoofer table stack" in the very middle of the room to tame that serious room mode for 10' boundaries!!!
Otherwise, yes, the Paradigm PS1000 and Outlaws are good little subs for the money. Still, I like fast 8" subs for that small room, over size!
Basically, you other problem in small rooms is "bass absorbption" and too much bass energy/reverb!!!
Small rooms are compromises anyway, unless you know what you're doing, and can deal with the bass challenges, and balance the diffusion in the room (don't use too much absorbtion for mids/highs..hint.)
That all said, getting the right sub set up right (also phase/balance) is where it's at!!! Otherwise, you get what everyone else ends up with, boom and slop!
Good luck