Small Subwoofer Recommendation

[DancingSea]

Aloha,

 

I'm looking for the smallest subwoofer possible that's still considered musical and not limited to the home theatre ilk.

 

Preferably with high level connection ability.

 

Suggestions welcome.

 

Thanks

[elcorso]

This is a good brand with a lot of choices:

 

http://www.hsuresearch.com/subwoofers.html

 

But do not expect a sub to be very small...!

 

Roch

[sockpit]

Get a small REL.  you won’t be sorry.

[DancingSea]

15 minutes ago, sockpit said:

Get a small REL.  you won’t be sorry.

 

 

Is it necessary that a sub be front firing to be of audiophile music quality?  Is down firing ok?

 

Like this one?

 

https://www.musicdirect.com/speakers/rel-t-5i-subwoofer

[sockpit]

I have an older T1.  It fires downward.  REL makes subs for audiophiles.  They recommend high level connections and are good at them.  Call ‘em for a recommendation based on your needs and room size.

[sockpit]

P.s.  they have a philosophy you’ll want to buy into.  It’s a “sub-bass” system, not just any subwoofer.

 

 They’ll tell you to put it in a corner.  That’s right.  Set up is key.

 

I think they know their stuff. 

 

 

[wgscott]

3 hours ago, DancingSea said:

 

 

Is it necessary that a sub be front firing to be of audiophile music quality?  Is down firing ok?

 

Like this one?

 

https://www.musicdirect.com/speakers/rel-t-5i-subwoofer

 

I had a very similar Rel.  Sounds great when it works.  Eventually I got them to warranty-replace it, but they made me suffer.  The replacement lasted a few years, and then it started burning.  Fortunately I was home so it didn't burn the house down.  For some crazy reason I had a third one lined up, waiting in the garage, so I am on it now.  The down-firing sub configuration is an asset.  Just don't let it kill you.

[skatbelt]

11 hours ago, DancingSea said:

Aloha,

 

I'm looking for the smallest subwoofer possible that's still considered musical and not limited to the home theatre ilk.

 

Preferably with high level connection ability.

 

Suggestions welcome.

 

Thanks

 

A few years ago I was on the same quest. I can highly recommend the 10 inch models from JL audio. I wouldn't go smaller than 10 inch. No personal experience with this one but I it is supposed to be very good. Intended to place against a wall or in a corner: http://lyngdorf.com/bw-2/

 

[DancingSea]

4 hours ago, skatbelt said:

 

A few years ago I was on the same quest. I can highly recommend the 10 inch models from JL audio. I wouldn't go smaller than 10 inch. No personal experience with this one but I it is supposed to be very good. Intended to place against a wall or in a corner: http://lyngdorf.com/bw-2/

 

 

Thanks. Looks great. Did you buy in the US?  If so, where?

 

What’s the price?

[left channel]

The PSB SubSeries 100 is amazingly small and powerful. 6 3/8" x 6 3/8" x 7 7/8”, 39Hz - 150Hz. I have one under my desk.

[skatbelt]

I live in the Netherlands. I don't know exactly what I paid but the price for the JL audio e110 now is 1850 euro (including VAT) new here and 1500 dollar in the US. You can find a lot of (very) positive reviews. Goolgle 'review JL Audio e112' or 'review JL Audio e110'.

[agladstone]

17 hours ago, skatbelt said:

 

A few years ago I was on the same quest. I can highly recommend the 10 inch models from JL audio. I wouldn't go smaller than 10 inch. No personal experience with this one but I it is supposed to be very good. Intended to place against a wall or in a corner: http://lyngdorf.com/bw-2/

 

The JL Fathoms are great subs!! 

[beerandmusic]

depends on what is small and what is budget

 

I like Velodyne DD10+ with DSP, servo controlled  and remote.

 

• Patented accelerometer based High Gain Servo System
• The industry's lowest distortion bass—under .5%
• One-Touch Auto-EQPLUS automates the seamless blend of subwoofer, system and room
• Use your PC for manual adjustments and real time feedback of your bass performance
• Sophisticated cone design for fast, accurate motion
• Six-layer, custom wound voice coil assures better heat dissipation
• Massive motor structure for amazing low-frequency energy

 

http://velodyneacoustics.com/digital-drive-plus-10.html

[Benji]

MK Sound V8 "Movie" is a good little subwoofer.  About $300 and is an 8" sealed subwoofer.  Very good for music. 

[buonassi]

I am pleasantly surprised by this little marvel.  Tannoy TS10 Active 300W 10" Subwoofer.  Have it in my mixing studio.

[Amused]

I would consider nothing less than a REL or JL Audio for what you're asking for. If your budget can handle it, it's worth the investment. Before I downsized considerably, I had owned a REL Studio II, Storm III, and JL Fathom f110 over a 15 year span...all awesome units and primarily used for music with some HT duty.

[buonassi]

Buy speakers for their technical abilities, but don't underestimate the effect of acoustic treatments on overall SQ.  

 

I know that nobody wants to hear this (especially wives), but bass traps placed in the corners where bass amplifies most will do wonders for your SQ.  And I mean real bass traps, 2'x4', and 4" thick rock wool or rigid fiberglass.  Bass traps need to straddle where walls meet each other (optionally where wall meets ceiling to be most effective.  The difference is striking.  Be prepared to lose a little liveliness in the sound, but I feel the tradeoffs are well worth it.  

 

Treating flatly with corrugated foam on side walls at primary reflection points can really help with imaging and localization.  Ceiling as well.  Don't go overboard or you will deaden the sound and it will sound eerie when you're in the room.  

 

You can read up on it here:  http://ethanwiner.com/acoustics.html

 

I found similar traps described for a very good price - actually, I think I paid more 5 years ago than they go for now.

 

https://www.atsacoustics.com/item--ATS-Acoustic-Panel-24-x-48-x-4--1008.html

 

 

[GeneZ]

On 2/14/2018 at 12:46 AM, wgscott said:

 

I had a very similar Rel.  Sounds great when it works.  Eventually I got them to warranty-replace it, but they made me suffer.  The replacement lasted a few years, and then it started burning.  Fortunately I was home so it didn't burn the house down.  For some crazy reason I had a third one lined up, waiting in the garage, so I am on it now.  The down-firing sub configuration is an asset.  Just don't let it kill you.

   Were you using a Class D amplifier when this happened?  REL now has since found this out and devised an alternative hook up specifically for Class D because they can burn out RELs.    I have a NuPrime ST-10 and had to learn about this factor recently. 

 

REL explains it here: https://relsupport.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/115004486607-Class-D-Amp-Connection-Methods

 

[Emcee]

My experience with a small Rel was that it was OK with classical, ambient, etc but with more fast paced music such as rock or jazz it just couldn't keep up. I tried different placement, low level, speaker level and even DSPeaker sub equalizer but in the end had to get rid of it.