The best Subwoofer

It's not a regular catalog item, but Sound Lab does build electrostatic subwoofers that are probably the most accurate subs ever made.

This because of their figure-8 dipole radiation pattern, if nothing else - you see, for the same sound pressure level, a monopole sub puts out 5 db more into exciting the room's resonant modes. And it's the room's resonant modes that keep the bass notes from decaying properly, even with an ultra-fast driver. So the room's sonic signature inevitably muddies the bass. All other subs are inherently compromised in this area by their omnidirectional radiation pattern.

And when it comes to fast drivers, how many subwoofers out there use a driver that can also accurately trace a 25 kHz signal? Not many, I'll bet. You know how a good electrostat can let you hear every fiber in the brush as it caresses the cymbal? The Sound Lab subs can bring this kind of articulation down into the ultradeep bass.

Ultimately, it's all about tradeoffs, and the big Sound Lab subs aren't going to play as loud or as deep, dollar-for-dollar, as a state-of-the-art box sub. They are not the ultimate dinosaur-footfall sub. But they do music second to none, because of their room-friendly radiation pattern, their inherent absolute freedom from boxy colorations, and their ultrafast drivers.

Well if this sounds like the ravings of a proud owner, I can only say, I wish! My showroom doesn't have room for these beasts. Maybe some day...

if you dont mind ugly try jbl pro 4719. it makes the termites run for cover. i have one with a krell kst 100 stapped mono in my theater. it will destroy other so called subs . it has awsome detail for music to . i know some of you think i am nuts but every audiophile who has heard it could not believe the sound. 99db at 1 watt . i have heard the krell beast. yes it is bad to the bone. but get out your wallet. i would put the jbl against the krell . most theaters use jbl pro. i was in vegas last jan . i saw the dts setup jm lab grand utopias 5 of them. halcro amps. and guess what subs.

No longer in production but the last version of the Entech LF 20 was quite impressive. Two 10" long throw woofers, each with its own amp built in. The active crossover built into the subs allowed several frequencies and bass boost if desired. I am using stacked LF 20's (two LF 20's on each channel) with Crosby Quads and they mate seamlessly. In my room, they are plus 3 db at 26 hz. As an aside, their external passive crossover was terrible but easily replaced with two Teflon caps and a TKD pot.

I also have Entec LF20s. They are the best I've heard. I'm moving overseas and can't taker mine with me, which I deeply regret, but they are great.

I own a pair of Talon Peregrines and am currently researching subs as well. A great sub that I had the opportunity to listen to while auditioning the Peregrines was Talon's own sub-The Roc. Not cheap, but very powerful and precise.
A conclusion I am arriving at is that a sub must have an amp with an outstanding damping factor. This seems to be achieved only when using a brutally powerful amp, whether you go passive or powered. I think I'd like to go passive. Mainly because of the flexibility and because I could just get a Bryston 4B ST to drive it and be done with it. Outboard crossovers of high quality are not cheap however,and with the extra expense you go through to achieve this , you could have gotten yourself one hell of a pair of floor standers that do not need the addition of a sub. The answer for me is pretty simple, just go with the Roc. System synergy and all that...but for you, I think it may be more difficult. The Muse Model 18 is probably the best way for you to go. Besides, Kevin Halverson is probably giving them away along with the cards.
Best wishes and good luck. Be sure to let us all know how it works out for you.