subwoofer upgrade?

[okcowboy]

I currently own an older onkyo sk-10w subwoofer 10" 100w low pass crossover freq. 50hz-150, high pass 90 hz. freq. resp 25hz -150.I am possible wanting to upgrade to an outlaw lfm-1 plus.(12" 350w). do you think there will be much of a noticeable difference. thanks

[D1-2005]

Well I can't speak personally from either your current sub or the outlaw but I had a sony 100w 10" sub, and I upgraded to the PA-120 sub which is a 12" 230w sub and i can tell you there is a tremendous difference. First and formost the lows are incredibly better, and the bass is much much tighter than it previously was. I would assume the same for outlaw. Those htib subs are good for what they are, but a real sub makes a world of difference.

[jomari]

welcome to the forum okcowboy,

can we have further specs as to how big the room is? is it a dedicated room, or open, like a living space.

more detailed inquiry, more detailed solution.

quick answer would be yes. any upgrade from a HTIB subwoofer can definitely show signs of improvement, but it can also be used towards creating a dual sub room depending on its size.

[okcowboy]

Thanks. it will be in a main living area 21 by 18 with 11 ft ceiling, opened area.

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by okcowboy

I currently own an older onkyo sk-10w subwoofer 10" 100w low pass crossover freq. 50hz-150, high pass 90 hz. freq. resp 25hz -150.I am possible wanting to upgrade to an outlaw lfm-1 plus.(12" 350w). do you think there will be much of a noticeable difference. thanks

Outlaw subs are designed by Dr. Hsu of Hsu Research. They are excellent and you will notice a big difference.

I agree with Jomari. You can use them in a two-subwoofer setup. Put the newer and more powerful sub up front in a corner, slightly away from the walls and put the smaller sub on the side of your sofa. Adjust their levels carefully so that one subwoofer does not overpower the other one. The bigger sub up front will give you deeper and lower frequency bass sound and the smaller sub will give you upper frequency bass sound. Remember that upper frequencies are louder because our ears are more sensitive to them. You need to turn the level of the subwoofer closer to you down.

Another option is to put the two subs in the middle of the side walls. Again, you need to adjust them carefully. If the two subs were identical, your job would have been a lot easier.

[jomari]

Originally Posted by okcowboy

Thanks. it will be in a main living area 21 by 18 with 11 ft ceiling, opened area.

Whoa! thats big!

Nope. sorry bud. you have to go IB on this one...

seriously tho, id consider going dual subs, as BD has mentioned, due to the size of the room, and how open that amount of area you have.

its also a matter of placement to get the best out of both of em. im sure we have a couple of stickies here care of Big daddy for some fine reading while your having your breakfast.

Read and learn grasshopper... read and learn..

[okcowboy]

Thanks big daddy. Im kind of limited on placement. My entertainment center is quite large. it is against a wall. 2 large book shelves on each side with center console for 65" dlp. all together it is about 11ft across the wall, and the current sub is on the left of one of the bookshelves. I was thinking about placing the other sub on the other side, about 10ft away, next to the other bookshelve. the sectional sofa is directly in front about 15ft away (viewing distance).any thoughts?

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by okcowboy

Thanks big daddy. Im kind of limited on placement. My entertainment center is quite large. it is against a wall. 2 large book shelves on each side with center console for 65" dlp. all together it is about 11ft across the wall, and the current sub is on the left of one of the bookshelves. I was thinking about placing the other sub on the other side, about 10ft away, next to the other bookshelve. the sectional sofa is directly in front about 15ft away (viewing distance).any thoughts?

Study the following diagrams and try your best to choose one of the options. Als remeber that the location of your seat also affects what kind of bass sound you actually hear. For additional information, read A Guide to Subwoofer (Part II): Standing Waves & Room Modes. Please don't read it over breakfast as Jomari suggested. You will definitely get acid indigestion.

DIFFERENT OPTIONS FOR PLACEMENT OF MULTIPLE SUBWOOFERS






Very Good




Good




Best




Best

[primaz]

Originally Posted by okcowboy

I currently own an older onkyo sk-10w subwoofer 10" 100w low pass crossover freq. 50hz-150, high pass 90 hz. freq. resp 25hz -150.I am possible wanting to upgrade to an outlaw lfm-1 plus.(12" 350w). do you think there will be much of a noticeable difference. thanks

I am so impressed with the sound quality, the incredible low frequency output of 16hz, and how strong it can handle music or HT at any volume. Compared to what you have the difference will be night and day! I have two subs the Outlaw was my second. The first which I still use which is a 15" dual voice coil heavy duty sub that I built using a NAD amp bridged mono is strong but the Outlaw to me provides a more impressive range and with the Outlaw I am much more pleased with the clean bass throughout the room.

[Steve]

I'm just throwing this out there because I used to own an Onkyo subwoofer. I recommend against continuing to use the Onkyo in your system once you get a new sub. The Onkyo can make a loud, sloppy "boom" but that's about it. No detail. It's loud and muddy, and IMO you'd be better off without it.

[lojack1976]

Originally Posted by fireman325

I'm just throwing this out there because I used to own an Onkyo subwoofer. I recommend against continuing to use the Onkyo in your system once you get a new sub. The Onkyo can make a loud, sloppy "boom" but that's about it. No detail. It's loud and muddy, and IMO you'd be better off without it.

I've gotta agree. I've owned an Onkyo sub and for a $100 sub its pretty good, but once you hear something that actually has some control and detail you'll never want to hear another Onkyo again. I have a Hardan Kardon sub now...basically an Infinity/JBL design and it blows the old Onkyo I had away in every aspect and my HK is not a high end sub either, so the upgrade you are looking at will be miles ahead of that Onkyo and I doubt that you will want the Onkyo contaminating the rest of your sound.

[okcowboy]

Thanks everyone for the input. I guess at this time the onkyo doesn't sound that bad, as I have nothing to compare it to.

[Driver_King]

Originally Posted by okcowboy

Thanks everyone for the input. I guess at this time the onkyo doesn't sound that bad, as I have nothing to compare it to.

I felt the same way, that is until I got my A2-300 subwoofer. Needless to say, both Onkyo subs are out of comission and currently, I am using one of the Onkyo subwoofer's amps as the amp for my DIY sub and the legs of the same Onkyo subwoofer for the legs of the DIY subwoofer. Before, I thought the Onkyo subs were great little subs.

[Steve]

Originally Posted by okcowboy

Thanks everyone for the input. I guess at this time the onkyo doesn't sound that bad, as I have nothing to compare it to.

I was in the same boat until I moved in an MFW-15. I got it dialed in to my liking, and ran a few test scenes, and now there's no going back.