Subwoofer reviews per price range

[Leftclicker]

I have been looking for a while and frankly, am getting a bit tired of reading about subs! lol. I wanted to find a good review list of subs in different price ranges. But then there are categories. Here is where I need a bit of help. I am no expert.

Lets say my price range is $0-$400 for a sub. I obviously want the best bang for my buck. But how to determine that? Well a newbie such as myself would go toward size and power handling. But I also know there is more to it than that. In my price range what would be some key elements to look for?

Should I:
a. get the most power I can for the buck
b. stay above 8"?
c. stay at least above 250W power?
d. get two $200 subs?
e. give up and post this in the subwoofer forum for advice (lol!)

Maybe a stickie could be made of top reviews and top picks per price range like (incomplete info in home theater section and other sites are laborous, this helps provide this site with more info anyway):

$0-$150
-Polk psw10 (what I am looking to replace)
$150-$300
-2x Polk psw10 run 2 of them!
-better single subs
$300-$500
-even better
$500-$1000
-now we are talking!
$1000+
-Who cares it is only money and I want the best!

[Big Daddy]

There are far too many subwoofer manufacturers and I don't believe any member is really in a position to have had a chance to review most of them. As a general rule, people tend to recommend their own equipment and downgrade other equipment that they may never have had a chance to own or hear for an extended period. You need to stop being lazy and do your own research. There are plenty of professional and user reviews available. You can also visit a few stores and take some bass-heavy CD's with you and decide which subwoofer satisfies your taste the most.

https://forum.blu-ray.com/subwoofers...lete-list.html

https://forum.blu-ray.com/subwoofers...rs-thread.html


If you are looking for a budget subwoofer, Bic, Polk, Premier Acoustics, Parts Express, Pinnacle, and Audioholics Store have good value subwoofers. Polk and Bic subwoofers are available from Amazon, Best Buy or other dealers.

http://www.amazon.com/s?url=search-a...203_172&fsc=-1
http://www.bicamerica.com/showpage.p...pe=8&spkrID=43
http://www.polkaudio.com/homeaudio/subwoofers.php
http://www.premieracoustic.com/shop.asp
http://www.parts-express.com/wizards...hCat=620&CFID=
http://store.audioholics.com/section/20/1/


If your budget is more than $300, the following companies sell excellent subwoofers from $300-$400 to over $1,000. They are all factory-direct and reputable companies. The list is in alphabetical order.

http://www.audioc.com/speakers1/speakers.htm#subwoofers
http://www.aperionaudio.com/catalog/...oofers,66.aspx
http://www.axiomaudio.com/subwoofers.html
http://www.av123.com//index.php?page...hk=1&Itemid=37
http://www.cadencehometheaterspeaker...p?idCategory=2
Crystal Acoustics: http://www.amazon.com/gp/browse.html...A3JWKVUUSBLLLF
http://www.edesignaudio.com/index.php?cPath=2_41
http://emotiva.com/ultra_sub10.shtm
http://funkywaves.net/catalog.cfm
http://www.epiksubwoofers.com/products.html
http://www.htd.com/cabinet-speakers/powered-subwoofers
http://www.hsuresearch.com/subwoofers.html
http://www.outlawaudio.com/products/index.html
http://www.rythmikaudio.com/products1.html
http://www.svsubwoofers.com/subwoofers.htm
http://www.tektondesign.com/loudspeakers.htm


If you are looking for non factory-direct subwoofers, Definitive Technology, EarthQuake, Equator, Klipsch, Martin Logan, Paradigm, Sunfire, TBI, Velodyne, and many other companies make excellent subwoofers. You can buy them from Best Buy, local independent dealers, or online from the following dealers:

http://store.audioholics.com/section/20/1/
http://www.amazon.com/s?url=search-a...157_105&fsc=-1
http://search.vanns.com/sitesearch/search?q=subwoofers
http://products.howstuffworks.com/su...ibuteValue=sub
http://www.abt.com/category/296/Subwoofer-Speakers.html
http://www.audioadvisor.com/products.asp?dept=56
http://www.crutchfield.com/g_12300/P...rs.html?tp=187
http://www.wildwestelectronics.net/subwoofers.html
http://www.6ave.com/shop/Category.as...=0129&pti=0100


Subwoofer Reviews:
http://hometheaterreview.com/subwoof...s-information/
http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/maste...ubwoofers.html
http://home.comcast.net/~frank_carter/Nousaine.htm
http://www.hometheatermag.com/subwoofers/
http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/s...rs/allContents
http://www.ultimateavmag.com/subwoofers/
http://www.hometheatershack.com/foru...rer-model.html
http://www.tweakcityaudio.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11
http://www.calibex.com/Home-Audio--z...x2zB7z5---html
http://www.avtalk.co.uk//index.php?t...t=0&rid=0&SQ=0
http://reviews.cnet.com/4566-11312_7...in;contentBody
http://reviews.cnet.com/4566-6449_7-...tag=mncol;page
http://products.howstuffworks.com/subwoofer-reviews.htm
http://www.subwoofer123.com/2-Home_Theater.html
http://hometheater.about.com/od/loud...er_Reviews.htm

[Leftclicker]

Well, I see you hold true to your reputation in providing a thorough response, Big Daddy. But I think you are a bit presumptous in thinking I am lazy in not reviewing articles and our forums. I know- I probably asked for it. But I AM trying. I have put in plenty of hours researching this week alone, maybe just not enough to feel comfortable. These hours are 'after hours' so I am unable to actually hear the subs in a local store. I am asking for more user reviews to help guide my decision. But I 'get' the use 'search' and 'find it yourself' attitude. Because I hate it when people don't look for themselves.
I appreciate the links, I will be sure to use them. I know they are elsewhere in the site as I have seen them- but your list all in one spot is NICE!

Moving on,
I am looking for a sub that will have a bit of upgrade factor. Maybe I am asking for too much, but one that will satisfy while I upgrade other components.

I have considered moving up to another Polk sub like the PSW125. I am unsure if 150W continuous power will keep up with the rest of my system. Another question is 60hz a good gauge to go by for the deep lows, meaning is its peak notes or sweet spots lower than mine (I would assume so just based on the size difference)?

I had been in the impression that bigger is better. When I was younger I loved the sound of a 15" sub in my car with a couple 8"'s to tighten up the bass. The 15" would get the deep bass I love and the 8"'s would give the higher bass range a sharper punch. I view these as providing 'sweet spots' like I would with actual vocal ranges, some musical instruments, and even rpm ranges in a car. There are just better ranges per 'instrument or equipment'.

I know I need more 'research' so I can understand the diagnostic charts I have seen in well written reviews. But reviews like that typically are geared for people who understand them. Often I am looking for summaries and layman's terms. My fear is that the sound I am looking for would require 2 large high end subs followed by 2 smaller more higher end subs with different sweet spots so that I have strong solid, and even sharp sounding bass - which I would never find in a little $400 sub.

I will keep looking at people's comments and reviews and be more inquisitive with people on specific subs once I have a smaller list of subs in mind...

[Big Daddy]

Ok, I will make life easy for you. If you want a better subwoofer and an upgrade from what you already own, look into these 3 companies. They make very good subwoofers that may fit your budget.

http://www.hsuresearch.com/subwoofers.html
http://www.edesignaudio.com/index.php?cPath=2_41
http://www.cadencehometheaterspeaker...p?idCategory=2

[Leftclicker]

Thanks again!

Please check out the October 2010 issue - page 72 - for a tremendous review on the Phase Tech PC 1.5's and new wireless sub. They received a "Top Pick" award and 5 star ratings for Performance, Value, and Build Quality.

Besides sounding great for Music and Movies, they are built in the USA.

If you need any more details, please send me a message. Thanks,

Jack