Big Subs: Worth it for "sub"-reference listening?

[McPanse]

I'm looking to replace my Cambridge Soundworks Newton PS500 8" dual driver sealed sub with something bigger and better.

I'm leaning toward an SVS PC-12-Plus for my home theater, which takes up half of a 26' x 16' x 7'8" in my finished basement.

I don't do a ton of reference-level movie watching -- I tend to keep the volume down in the 60-65 dB range.

What does a sub like the SVS PC-12-Plus bring to the party when listening at these more moderate volumes? Should I expect it to do something my 8" sub does not?

Anybody have any experience upgrading from a starter sub who can share their impressions of what their bigger, better sub added to their music and/or home theater experience when the goal was something less disturbing the neighbors with an oh-so-real T-Rex stomp?

Anybody find that their bigger,better sub produced more boom and bass then you wanted to feel or hear?

[McPanse]

Here's a pic of the room. I'm thinking of putting a cylinder sub in the front right corner.

[brokenthumb]

Originally Posted by McPanse

I'm looking to replace my Cambridge Soundworks Newton PS500 8" dual driver sealed sub with something bigger and better.

I'm leaning toward an SVS PC-12-Plus for my home theater, which takes up half of a 26' x 16' x 7'8" in my finished basement.

I don't do a ton of reference-level movie watching -- I tend to keep the volume down in the 60-65 dB range.

What does a sub like the SVS PC-12-Plus bring to the party when listening at these more moderate volumes? Should I expect it to do something my 8" sub does not?

Anybody have any experience upgrading from a starter sub who can share their impressions of what their bigger, better sub added to their music and/or home theater experience when the goal was something less disturbing the neighbors with an oh-so-real T-Rex stomp?

Anybody find that their bigger,better sub produced more boom and bass then you wanted to feel or hear?

I upgraded from a JBL 10" sub to the SVS PC12-NSD. Here are some of my impressions after owning it for a week. I usually listen at 68dB. https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...&postcount=210

[Fors*]

Originally Posted by McPanse

I'm looking to replace my Cambridge Soundworks Newton PS500 8" dual driver sealed sub with something bigger and better.

I'm leaning toward an SVS PC-12-Plus for my home theater, which takes up half of a 26' x 16' x 7'8" in my finished basement.

I don't do a ton of reference-level movie watching -- I tend to keep the volume down in the 60-65 dB range.

What does a sub like the SVS PC-12-Plus bring to the party when listening at these more moderate volumes? Should I expect it to do something my 8" sub does not?

Anybody have any experience upgrading from a starter sub who can share their impressions of what their bigger, better sub added to their music and/or home theater experience when the goal was something less disturbing the neighbors with an oh-so-real T-Rex stomp?

Anybody find that their bigger,better sub produced more boom and bass then you wanted to feel or hear?

I went from my Polk PSW10 10" sub w/50 watt amp tp my SVS PC12-NSD and it is night and day. The SVS can easily handle the very low frequencies with plenty of headroom. The Polk sub will create port noise and "chuffing" when it tried to get down that low. It would bottom out around 35hz-40Hz, which is just when the bass response gets going. The SVS sub can easily handle that and down below 20hz, which is incredible. It is totally worth it, as my SVS sub (the smallest of the cylinder subs) has a 325 watt amp, can get down to 18Hz and it even haves a smaller footprint than the box subs. Throw in the cylinder look that is awesome to look at, it is the top one or two audio investments I ever made, as a sub of this caliber should easily last for 5 or more years.

You can always calibrate a sub of this size to keep it from bothering neighbors and for a balanced sound with your entire system, so to me, the size or power of the sub is irrelevant. A sub adds sooo much to your HT audio experience, so don't go on the lower end with a sub, spend the extra $$. as it is a great investment and they will last a lot longer within your HT set-up than your speakers probably will.

Cylinder subs =

[McPanse]

Thanks for the feedback, fellas. So many posts about sub upgrades emphasize the new gear's ability to (literally) rock the house.

[Fors*]

Originally Posted by McPanse

Thanks for the feedback, fellas. So many posts about sub upgrades emphasize the new gear's ability to (literally) rock the house.

Please keep us posted as to which way you decide to go and with what sub manufacturer. It will be interesting to see what you end up with......

[Beta Man]

Size isn't the only factor.... build quality, RMS, etc. all play an important role, but the size of the driver plays an important role in the frequency the sub can reach (not concerned with decibel level at this point) and larger drivers are easier to power and design for lower frequencies, and it's pretty hard to fight the physics of it.... Many smaller subs are very capable at the lower end, but their lack of size is made up for in the way they were designed/built.

You want the low frequency to be felt/heard, even when listening at moderate levels.

[McPanse]

Originally Posted by forsberg21

Please keep us posted as to which way you decide to go and with what sub manufacturer. It will be interesting to see what you end up with......

Will do. Although at this point I'm pretty sure it will be the SVS PC-12-Plus.

The discontinued -- but still available -- 25-31PC-Plus at 32" tall is about $200 less and would be a better fit, aesthetically speaking (short enough to hide beside the bookcase in the same corner).

It has the 12.3 driver instead of the 12.4 and doesn't dip down as low (25 Hz vs. 20 Hz).

SVS recommended the PC-12 Plus, for what that's worth.

Any thoughts?

[Steve]

I think you will be very happy with the SVS. I upgraded from an Onkyo HTiB sub to an MFW-15 and there is no comparison. The bigger sub can play much lower frequencies, and it also plays tighter and cleaner. You don't have to play at super loud levels to appreciate the improvement in the way it will sound.

[Big Daddy]

Size matters up to a certain point. Generally speaking, the 12" sub is a good size for home theater. The 10" can also work, but the 8" may be too small.

I prefer two quality 12" subwoofers to one very large and expensive 15" or 18" subwoofer. Two smaller 12" subwoofers will probably have better transient response, will give you more even and smoother bass across the room, and will be more satisfactory for both movies and music.

[Steve]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

Size matters up to a certain point. Generally speaking, the 12" sub is a good size for home theater. The 10" can also work, but the 8" may be too small.

I prefer two quality 12" subwoofers to one very large and expensive 15" or 18" subwoofer. Two smaller 12" subwoofers will probably have better transient response, will give you more even and smoother bass across the room, and will be more satisfactory for both movies and music.

Big Daddy I'm curious to get your opinion on something. I don't disagree that two subs will usually provide better results than one. However, in a case like mine, where your room can only accommodate one, do you recommend a bigger 15" or 18" sub then? Assuming that the person's budget can cover a sub this big, of course.

[Drew664]

This thread title reminded me of something over at the AVS forum.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=756408



Loved reading through that thread, and if you are a DIY kind of guy - you'd really enjoy yourself.

[Steve]

Originally Posted by Drew664

This thread title reminded me of something over at the AVS forum.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=756408

Loved reading through that thread, and if you are a DIY kind of guy - you'd really enjoy yourself.

You can't accuse that guy of taking the cheap way out I guess.

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by fireman325

Big Daddy I'm curious to get your opinion on something. I don't disagree that two subs will usually provide better results than one. However, in a case like mine, where your room can only accommodate one, do you recommend a bigger 15" or 18" sub then? Assuming that the person's budget can cover a sub this big, of course.

Don't go any higher than 15" subwoofer. Unless you are willing to spend a lot of money, a low-end 18" sub is too sloppy and wasteful.

[Steve]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

Don't go any higher than 15" subwoofer. Unless you are willing to spend a lot of money, a low-end 18" sub is too sloppy and wasteful..

Thanks for the response. I was already under that impression regarding an 18" sub, but wanted to see what you thought about it. I have an MFW-15 (15") that I'm very happy with.

[Drew664]

Originally Posted by fireman325

You can't accuse that guy of taking the cheap way out I guess.

Ya know, I never did find a price associated with what it cost him to build those. The way they talked about prices when they came up, it seemed like that only cost him around $1,000 for all the pieces.

[McPanse]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

Size matters up to a certain point. Generally speaking, the 12" sub is a good size for home theater. The 10" can also work, but the 8" may be too small.

I prefer two quality 12" subwoofers to one very large and expensive 15" or 18" subwoofer. Two smaller 12" subwoofers will probably have better transient response, will give you more even and smoother bass across the room, and will be more satisfactory for both movies and music.

What do you think of running a new 12" sub with my existing 8" sub?

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by McPanse

What do you think of running a new 12" sub with my existing 8" sub?

That can work. Put the 12" subwoofer up front in a corner and put the 8" sub on the side of your sofa. Adjust their levels very carefully so that one subwoofer does not overpower the other one. If you calibrate them properly, the sub up front will give you deep and lower frequency bass sound and the smaller sub closer to you will give you midbass to upper bass frequencies.

[McPanse]

I'll probably give it a try, if only for grins. Unless it makes a dramatic difference, I'll relocate the 8" sub to my home office or living room, where I know it will make a positive contribution.

[BillCinLR]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

Don't go any higher than 15" subwoofer. Unless you are willing to spend a lot of money, a low-end 18" sub is too sloppy and wasteful.

Big Daddy,

I don't believe that you have listened to any of the new EPIK 18" subwoofers ... I have the sealed 18" EPIK Dragon and it is neither sloppy nor wasteful.


Bill C