750 watt RMS subwoofer - overkill for 11ft x 17ft room?

[F1tech]

Would you say its just a waste of money? Or should I just stick with a 200-300 watt RMS sub? cause just about all my friends (who are very knowledgable about Home audio) tell me its not worth having a 750 watt sub since I wont ever be able to crank it that loud lol, so its wasted potential basically.

I have friends who have 300 watt RMS subs and they all tell me that they have their sub volume on 1/3 or less, or else its just too much bass and rattles everything in the house lol.

What you guys think? Is there any benefit in having a 750 watt sub over say a 200-300 watt one? Talking about for movies AND music AND games.

[JJ]

It all depends, in my opinion, on what subwoofer it is.

[Twitch9]

Typically the more powerful the sub the less chance of getting distortion, because you will never need to push it to the limits, this will give you better and smoother bass.

[F1tech]

Originally Posted by JJxiv1215

It all depends, in my opinion, on what subwoofer it is.

Velodyne DEQ-15R.

Another concern I have is that I've been told that 15" aren't the best for music (my main use for this sub). And that a 10 or 12" will be miuch tighter.

[Twitch9]

Not always true it really depends on the sub. I have used 18" subs for music and they sound as tight as a 10". What is your budget for your sub?

[dobyblue]

My room is fairly similar size to yours and I have a 1500RMS/4500Peak 15" sub that I wouldn't move down in performance at all from.

I keep it usually at 45% GAIN, I love it.

[StimpsonJCat]

No such thing as subwoofer overkill. It is subwoofer headroom!

[F1tech]

Originally Posted by Twitch9

Not always true it really depends on the sub. I have used 18" subs for music and they sound as tight as a 10". What is your budget for your sub?

$600CDN. Ive also been looking at the SVS PB-10 (would be $670cdn shipped), though its only 300watts RMS, 10'' but Ive read nothing but god like praise for it online. Ive been told I need nothing more powerful than this (300watts RMS).

[Rob J in WNY]

Originally Posted by StimpsonJCat

No such thing as subwoofer overkill. It is subwoofer headroom!

Agree wholeheartedly. You can never have too much headroom. If your budget allows, you can enjoy some of the finest sound from such a setup, as long as the sub speaker, box and tuning are all of corresponding quality.

The nice thing about "unused" watts is the abilty for your system to handle dynamic peaks without restraint. There are a lot more transient sound peaks than you may be aware, and with the lossless and uncompressed audio found on Blu-ray discs, it's all the more important to the ardent audiophile.

[Beta Man]

I think my 14" was rated at 1,800 watts (I don't know if it was RMS though, it was the Def Tech Super Cube ref. ) and it wasn't overkill.....but it didn't blend well with my system, which was a bigger issue in my opinion.

My room is 12x12 or so....

[F1tech]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

I think my 14" was rated at 1,800 watts (I don't know if it was RMS though, it was the Def Tech Super Cube ref. ) and it wasn't overkill.....but it didn't blend well with my system, which was a bigger issue in my opinion.

My room is 12x12 or so....

Hmm well my speakers are tiny and put out pathetic bass, should that be any concern?

[jomari]

Originally Posted by F1tech

Hmm well my speakers are tiny and put out pathetic bass, should that be any concern?

somewhat, but thats another topic. give us more detail on the specs, and we can work with you and your current budget to assist...

in regards to the subwoofer, considering your room dimensions, the pb10 could definitely be a great option for you. you can also have a better, fluid room response with dual subs. but thats just me.

[Twitch9]

Originally Posted by F1tech

Hmm well my speakers are tiny and put out pathetic bass, should that be any concern?

what speakers are you currently using and if your looking to upgrade what are you looking at. This will help people suggesting a sub that might fit into your current set up and also be good for a possible upgrade. You don't want to have to buy a sub twice.

[F1tech]

Originally Posted by jomari

somewhat, but thats another topic. give us more detail on the specs, and we can work with you and your current budget to assist...

in regards to the subwoofer, considering your room dimensions, the pb10 could definitely be a great option for you. you can also have a better, fluid room response with dual subs. but thats just me.

Please dont laugh but this is what im using right now. I paid $200 for them 2.5yrs ago.

http://www.biline.ca/spherex.htm

The sub is pretty decent and very happy (if not more than happy) with the sound from the speakers mainly due to the omni sat technology. Only complaint is lack of bass (but i expect it due to the low cost). Ive had them for 2.5yrs now with no problems. Oh and theyre only 50 watts each (but still loud enough for my room). I just dont think i could ever go back to normal directional speakers again when it comes to surround sound. Its really amazing to experience.

Right now with the sub included, I have to turn up the sub past half way because (aside from me being a basshead), the lack of bass capability from my speakers, therefore I cant help but have the sub overpower the speakers with the bass. That being said, when you watch movies in my room, you can totally pin point where the bass is coming from and i dont want that. I want my bass to be so evenly distributed throughout the room that you cant even tell where the sub is located!

[F1tech]

Originally Posted by Twitch9

what speakers are you currently using and if your looking to upgrade what are you looking at. This will help people suggesting a sub that might fit into your current set up and also be good for a possible upgrade. You don't want to have to buy a sub twice.

Well here is what im looking at.

SVS PB-10 ($670cdn shipped to my door)
velodyne DEQ-15R (only cause its $500 this week at a local retailer on clearance, and it wont last at this price so if i do, I better act fast!).
Paradigm DSP-3100 (same place as above has it on sale for $400cdn).

I would totally love to run 2 subs but I just dont have the room for it.

I just dont know where to go from here. I have some people tell me the Paradigm 3100 with 200 watts RMS should be plenty of juice and to get 2 of them. I have some tell me to pay more and get the PB-10 which is capable of hitting 5hz lower and 100 more watts.

the sub I have now is only 100 watts RMS and its a lot of juice for my room! It even shakes the hard wood floors upstairs and the fireplace. But most of the time when I crank my music, the sub is going at about 75% of its output (dont want to go past as it will distort). So thats why having a more powerful sub would be ideal for me. But the thing is, my sub (even though it goes really deep for a cheap sub), doesnt make me feel it in the movies if you know what I mean. Its close, but comes up short. Just doesnt hit low enough. And the reason why its close to making me "Feel" it in the movies is mainly because of the omni sat speakers."

[Driver_King]

Are you looking for a sub that will kick you in your stomach and shake your clothes when asked to or just a musical sub? Have you looked at the offerings from AV123 or Elemental Designs?

[Twitch9]

If it was me i would go with the Paradigm very under rated subs, i have been using them for 10+ years and love them, plus if you look at upgrading your speakers, the Paradigm monitor series are amazing and fairly inexpensive and will blend very good with the new DSP subs from Paradigm, also you will save a bit of money going with that sub. Are you shopping at East Hamilton Radio.

[Twitch9]

Originally Posted by Driver_King

Are you looking for a sub that will kick you in your stomach and shake your clothes when asked to or just a musical sub? Have you looked at the offerings from AV123 or Elemental Designs?

I agree with Driver_king but living in Canada the shipping and duties are a killer shopping online in the USA.

[F1tech]

Originally Posted by Driver_King

Are you looking for a sub that will kick you in your stomach and shake your clothes when asked to or just a musical sub? Have you looked at the offerings from AV123 or Elemental Designs?

Well this sub will be mostly used for music and then games and movies. Id say 50-25-25 or so. I want it to sound great with music and when I watch movies and play games, make me feel it in the gut when those explosions and gunfire go off. Like I said, my current sub is very VERY close in achieving that but fails a wee bit short. For a cheap sub, it does surprisingly put out more than decent bass. I have a 10yr old Energy ES-8 in the kids room and my sub easily matches that in terms of performance.

Oh and Im in Canada (would explain why it would cost me $670cdn shipped for a SVS PB-10). I was told at this price its still worth it. Yes/ no?

[Dase]

Originally Posted by F1tech

Well here is what im looking at.

SVS PB-10 "

Get the PB-12