Subwoofer for Both Music and HT

My ACI Titan II LE subwoofer has performed marvelously in both roles, though I use my 2-channel system for music 99.5% of the time.

I still have not become acclimated to all the bass and subsonic energy that they put into movies these days, which only became apparent to me after I purchased my subwoofer. The Titan II LE is sonicly unobtrusive but very musically effective, seamlessly filling in the lowest octave (and then some) of music, in concert with my Vandersteen 1C's.

When I play a movie (again through my 2-channel system), things can really get exciting, especially in action films and the work of directors such as Darren Aronofsky ("Requiem for a Dream", "Pi", etc.) who make sound such a viscerally affective element in their work. I'll know that I'm a true HT devotee when I no longer feel the need to reduce the level of the subwoofer during most movies.

I also am trying to balance both. I have had great success with the Paradigm Servo-15. However, no matter what you do, 2 subs will almost always sound better than 1. I am considering 2 NHT Sub Two's or 2 Vandersteen 2Wq or V2W.

Tyler Acoustics makes a Sub that uses the 12 inch Peerless woofer and 200 watt amp. Here's a pic. Its at the bottom http://tyleracoustics.home.mindspring.com/taylo.html

Another really good DIY sub is the Shiva. Here's a pic and a description. Just click on the Shiva sub on the right side. http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=999&gid=1238643&uid=726956

Aerial sw12 , no question , for the money

The best value by far are the ACI subs. They combine musicality, output and looks. They're also backed by some of the finest customer service in the business.