apartment subwoofer?(svs, hsu, etc.) help!

[Colglizity]

Hey folks- I live in an apartment on the third floor and towards the middle. After the rest of my DefTech ProCinema 800 that I'm piecing together arrives, my Yamaha subwoofer (10"x100watts) is the only thing holding my system back, not a bad sub by any means, but I'm really missing out on the real low-end levels that I hear when I visit my Dad and his SuperCube II. My questions are: (1) just how bad would my neighbors hate me if I were to step up to something a little more powerful? (2) Do the lower levels pass through walls as much as the big "thumps"? (3) Is it worth it to buy a subwoofer of this caliber where I'm living now, and if I were to move to a condo later with shared walls? I'm looking at the SVS 25-31Pci sub right now and it has me licking my choppas... thank you

[Beta Man]

I'm guessing some things....

1) your place is carpeted right? Even so..... go get a carpet sample (2x2 piece or so) and place it under your sub.....

2) the sub you're looking at is faster, and more accurate than your current one, so I don't think it'll affect the neighbors anymore than your current one does.... I'm assuming you don't keep your current sub turned all the way up, so you'll be listening to the new sub at the same levels, it'll just sound better


I'd get it.... Good sound doesn't have to be loud..... The low frequency stuff will travel through walls though, so make sure you grab an extra piece of carpet, and keep the sub further away from walls etc.... (get some bass traps too)

[MacDaddyOJack]

The SVS will go considerably deeper than your current sub, and the deep waves are the ones that travel better. However, Beta is right. If you listen to it at the same level (or slightly louder!) than your current sub, then your neighbors probably won't notice a difference. Depends on your walls and floors too. Go for it, the SVS is worth every penny. Don't count out the 20-39 either. You sacrifice some output with a port plug on the 25-31. I had this conversation with the guys at SVS when I bought mine. You should email them with room dimensions, they are very helpful. The subs aren't small though, check the link in my sig if you need to see some pics.

[Barnum]

I have the SB12-plus and on the weekend we had a party for out daughter outside. A couple of people wanted to hear the system and the people outside mentioned that they could feel the shaking outside. Not sure if it matters but our house is also brick. For the record there were many jaws hitting the floor with the sound. I love the Flight of the Phoenix sand storm scene.

[kingofgrills]

Originally Posted by Colglizity

Hey folks- I live in an apartment on the third floor and towards the middle. After the rest of my DefTech ProCinema 800 that I'm piecing together arrives, my Yamaha subwoofer (10"x100watts) is the only thing holding my system back, not a bad sub by any means, but I'm really missing out on the real low-end levels that I hear when I visit my Dad and his SuperCube II. My questions are: (1) just how bad would my neighbors hate me if I were to step up to something a little more powerful? (2) Do the lower levels pass through walls as much as the big "thumps"? (3) Is it worth it to buy a subwoofer of this caliber where I'm living now, and if I were to move to a condo later with shared walls? I'm looking at the SVS 25-31Pci sub right now and it has me licking my choppas... thank you

Your in an apartment building? Pure overkill. Your neighbors are going to absolutely despise you with the new setup, let alone if you upgrade your subwoofer. I would recommend saving the subwoofer upgrade until you get a place of your own without neighbors all around you.

I know a guy who bought a Miller & Kriesel MX-70B subwoofer, which has two 8 inch subs in a push/pull configuration and retailed for $1,050, and he tried installing that in his apartment. His neighbors quickly pitched a fit with him. As much as he tried adjusting the levels, he never could get it's output low enough to not tweak his neighbors, so he disconnected it and placed it in his closet. After a while, his wife got tired of it sitting there, so he sold it to me - for $300. It now anchors my 2 channel listening room, and I couldn't be happier.

Anyway, it's easy to go too far in an apartment setting, so it might be better to wait until you move out of the apartment before upgrading your subwoofer. Otherwise you may never be able to use it to its full potential, and that wouldn't be very rewarding for you.

[MacDaddyOJack]

I used to watch 2-3 movies a week in college, I was on the middle floor. The girls upstairs though I would watch Jurrassic Park every week, but it was always a different movie. The guys below us never spoke to us, I might have had something to do with that It's a good thing I didn't get the SVS until after I graduated!

Even with all that though, nobody ever called anyone to complain about me. I guess it depends on how much your neighbors will tolerate. The SVS will floor you though if you do decide to get one.

[Johk]

Originally Posted by kingofgrills

After a while, his wife got tired of it sitting there, so he sold it to me - for $300.

Colglizity: Let me know if you buy it, disconnect it and then sell it for 300$. :P

Seriously I agree with kingofgrills that you'll have a hard time making it work in an apartment setting. Bass is what neighbors complain about.

[MieDan4ever]

Its funny...I live in an apartment as well but a 2 story apartment where no one lives above us but lives down below us and one side of us. I currently running 3 powered subs through my system and never got a complaint since. Why? because my home theater is installed on the second floor that barely reaches the first floor shaking even though it sounds and feel very strong on the 2nd floor. The side neighbors dont complain because I dont play loud movies after 8pm. I can enjoy a loud movie while my neighbors are away from work and school during 9am to 6pm. Mainly my subs makes a deep deep bass where rattling is not necessary. Others are the foundation shaking bass which is ok for those home owners only.

[Colglizity]

Thanks for all the great advise, as usual, and pics(MackDaddy-that 20-39 is a MONSTER!!!) I was wondering how comparable the PB10 would be to the 25-31. Maybe that would be more appropriate for my current situation? Thoughts?

[pacificvibes]

in my apartment complex, we have people playing the piano at 10 AT NIGHT!!!!!

If you install it and they complain, then tone it down a bit but if you dont have any complaints, then your all good, for now.

[jomari]

Originally Posted by Colglizity

Thanks for all the great advise, as usual, and pics(MackDaddy-that 20-39 is a MONSTER!!!) I was wondering how comparable the PB10 would be to the 25-31. Maybe that would be more appropriate for my current situation? Thoughts?

same thing. as long as you are currently living in an apartment, you wont be able to maximize the potential of upgrading your subwoofer.

ive considered this myself , living in an apartment as well, and rethough about it over and over, and decided to save up that money, and keep saving up to get that brick i always wanted, the PB-12...

sure you can listen to it at 'comfortable' levels, and of course you can develop bass traps, et al to 'soften' the impact with the neighbors, but... why?

in summary, id say hold on for a while, until you find a comperable location.

kudos tho, for considering your neighbors before making that purchase!

[saprano]

To the op...why do you have a yamaha sub? you already have a def tech system so why not get the pro sub 1000. its 10" and 300 watts, thats what i have have and it sounds amazing.

[Colglizity]

Originally Posted by saprano

To the op...why do you have a yamaha sub? you already have a def tech system so why not get the pro sub 1000. its 10" and 300 watts, thats what i have have and it sounds amazing.

I bought the Yamaha sub 'cause I needed a sub and it was cheap- $89 new, shipped. Since then I realize I should have waited. My dad has a SuperCube II which sounds great. From what I've been reading searching the forums here and at AVSForum is that bang-for-the-buck wise, DefTech may not be the way to go for me. A buddy of mine has the ProSub 1000, which sounds great, but to me it seems a little boomy (now, he may not have it set up correctly as he is new to the HT scene). I've heard nothing but praise for the SVS subs so I was leaning that way. Also... I was wondering if anyone knew how the effect of a down firing vs. front firing sub would affect my situation?