Debating on which sub I should get

[PS3FAN]

Hey guys, I've chosen a subwoofer to replace my dead one but I am at a loss.

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-HD-SUB12-Che...ht_4197wt_1139

I've heard good things about this sub (mainly from this site) and pretty much fell in love with it, but I believe it's only front firing. Now I'm not really sure if there's a difference between front firing and down firing (I have only experienced down firing). If there isn't, that's great. But if there is, there's another sub that caught my eye.

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-12-Powered-S...ht_5513wt_1162

I haven't seen any real reviews for this sub (which concerns me). Anybody know the quality of this sub? I really want the hd sub 12 but I need things to be put in perspective first. Which brings me to another point...





(Pay no attention to the weak Polk sub)

This is honestly the only real place I could put the subwoofer. With my old downfiring sub, you could feel the LFE in any seat. If I were to put the hd sub 12 there would it have the same effect or would it get bass blocked by the seat? If it does get bass blocked should I stick with a down firing? Please help me out guys. I haven't experienced any real bass for awhile.

[Big Daddy]

Acoustic Audio sells both front-firing and down-firing subwoofers. Their down-firing subs are a little cheaper. If you wait until the last minute to bid on one of their subwoofers, you may be able to buy one at a good price. A few months ago, I managed to win a 15" HD-SUB 15 for $169 plus free shipping.

AA PSW Down-Firing Subs:
http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_kw=acou...oofers&_sop=12

AA RW Down-Firing Subs:
http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=Aco....c0.m270.l1313

AA HD-SUB 12 Front-Firing Subs:
http://shop.ebay.com/items/?_nkw=HD-...-SUB&_osacat=0

AA HD-SUB 15 Front-Firing Subs:
http://shop.ebay.com/items/?_nkw=HD-...UB12&_osacat=0


The question of down-firing and front-firing subwoofer has been asked before in multiple threads. I copy my answer from one of those threads.

A subwoofer's performance depends on many factors:

1. Size and construction of the enclosure.
2. Design, number, and size of the ports.
3. Quality of the amplifier as well as its true power rating.
4. Quality and size of the driver.
5. Dampening material such as polyfill.
6. The placement in the room with respect to your listening area.

As a general rule, down-firing or front-firing subwoofers do not matter. The placement in the room is by far the most important factor. Normally, subwoofers play loud in a corner or against the walls. The worst position for a sub is in the middle of the room. There are scientific reasons for these.

For the same reason, if you sit against the wall, the bass sound will be too loud and boomy and will make you tired. If you sit exactly in the middle of the room. You can hardly hear any bass. That is the main reason people use two subwoofers so that they get a more even and smoother bass sound across the room.

If you have wood floor or tiles, it is a good idea to put an area rug under the sub. A rug makes the sub more stable and will absorb any noises coming out of the port.

If you have children or pets, buy a down-firing subwoofer. If you don't have children or pets and enjoy looking at a woofer, buy a front-firing subwoofer. In general, the quality of the bass sound is not affected by the driver's orientation.

This is a quote from Sunfire, a manufacturer of high-end subwoofers:

The woofer cone can be mounted one of two ways. The first way is called, down firing and the second is called front firing. Subwoofer cones that are down firing are typically on the bottom of the subwoofer cabinet. When they are front firing they are on the side of the cabinet. One of these is not necessarily better then the other. It's just a matter of design and your own personal taste.

Here is what Dr. Poh Hsu of Hsu Research said in an interview by GoodSound:

SE: I've noted that many subwoofers with good reputations for music applications use down-firing rather than front-firing drivers. Is this just coincidence or does it reflect a particular design philosophy?

PH: I feel that's just a coincidence. In the case of the VTF-2, the down-firing design was chosen to save money. A down-firing woofer doesn't need a grill to protect it. The upcoming VTF-3 will have a forward-firing woofer because the box is larger. We feel it would look too plain and large without a grille.

And finally, a discussion of down-firing versus front-firing subwoofers in the Hsu Research forum:

http://forum.hsuresearch.com/archive...php/t-540.html

[PS3FAN]

Thanks Big Daddy. I have one question though...

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Acoustic-Aud...item588e787766

Would you recommend this sub?

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by PS3FAN

Thanks Big Daddy. I have one question though...

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Acoustic-Aud...item588e787766

Would you recommend this sub?

Their HD subs are a little better than PSW and RW subs. They are not bad subs for the price, considering that they don't charge for shipping.

Instead of buying the subwoofers at the asking price, be patient and make a bid for subwoofers that are auctioned. Make you first bid with about 5-10 minute minutes left for the auction to end just to get yourself started. Then wait until the last minute and make a maximum bid that is at least $20 more than the current maximum bid. Chances are that you will win the bid at a good price as the time will run out for others to outbid you.

As I said before, I used the same strategy and ended up paying $169 for an HD-SUB 15 a few months ago. The regular price was $269.