Cheap sub for music - any recos?

[adam2434]

I'm thinkin' about adding some small speakers and a sub in another room for occasional casual music listening.

I'm looking for recos on a cheap sub ($200 max) that would do a decent job for music only at low to moderate levels (really don't need extension below 40 Hz or wall shaking capabilities).

I know that cheap subs are typically known for boom and not accuracy, but I'd thought I'd ask around. I also realize that, generally, you get what you pay for. But, there are always bang for the buck products out there.

I've seen a 150 watt 10" JBL for $150, but have know idea what it would sound like for music. Also, I think the smallest Polk is around $200.

Thanks,

Adam

[anonymouse]

Look at the Dayton's from PartsExpress. You could surely buy a used Polk for around $200 if you ask in the FM.

[BIZILL]

this is what i used before the $1200 svs. it's not a bad soundin' unit for the price. sony sawm500. 150 watts to a single 12" woofer. mine cuts out at about 25 hz.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=5378913&type=product&productCategoryId=cat03045&id=1051806317490

[adam2434]

Thanks for the replies so far.

Dayton has a 10" 100 watter for $100, and Titanic kits that start at $350. Anonymouse, I'm assuming you're talkin' the $100 one.

I actually live about 30 min from Parts Express and plan to go there in the next 2 weeks. Maybe I'll check one out.

[tryrrthg]

Dayton has a 12" sub now for $149, and there is free shipping right now.

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Partnumber=300-635

[bvette94]

I have a polk psw 550 with an 8 in driver. this is in the black piano gloss finish. $225.00 excellent condition .

[Shizelbs]

I might just have to get that Dayton sub here real soon. After the Carver Amazings, I don't get an SVS this year.

On a totally unrelated note, guys, don't get married until you are done buying all the toys you want.

[RuSsMaN]

AR PR808 (http://www.accessories4less.com/cgi-bin/item/ARPR808) Closeout $109 - as cheap and musical as one can get. 8 inch active, 8 inch PR, 150w amp, the usual bells and whistles.

The Dayton 10 and 12's are supposed to be an incredible value, for the entry level market.

Polk is always a safe bet for tonality. Not bottom feeders, but very tuneful.

Cheers,
Russ

[Schris22]

Have you heard that AR one before?

I was looking into a cheap sub before and that was one of my choices.

Anyway just wanted to chime in and vouch for my dayton. It's a great value for the money. and well at your price point though you could get more if you wanted to spend more than that 150 dollar one (i have slightly less powerful sub, though but i'm sure it's similar to it's big brother besides the obvious differences)

Chris

[audiobliss]

That AR PR808 caught my attention. Sure does seem to be a nice sub for the money. But I find it interesting that it has a passive radiator and a slot port. I thought passive radiators were always used in sealed enclosures. :confused:

[aaharvel]

Velodyne CHT-10 ~ $179.00

1 left.
http://www.consumerdepot.com/products.asp?id=CHT-10

If you can find a better sub for the money than that, I would love to see it. (jmo)

http://www.hometheatermag.com/subwoofers/177/

[shack]

Add $150 to your budget and get the Dayton Titanic 10". Hard to beat for a "musical" sub. I've had mine for three years now and would buy it again in a heartbeat!

[RuSsMaN]

Re: the AR 808 ->

Bottom firing active woofer, fires into a slot at the bottom of the enclosure - it is sealed.

[reeltrouble1]

Sealed subs are the most musical, if that is what you want go for it.

RT1

[ward91]

eltax are cheap but my experience of them was naff.

[adam2434]

Thanks to all for the recos.

The AR is out of stock. So is the Dayton 12" - it's really to big for the "stealth" I'm going for anyway.

I'll wait to see if the AR comes back in stock or check out the Dayton 10", although it has mixed reviews for music - hell for $100 I wouldn't expect it to be stellar for music.

As a side note:
For the satellites, I thinkin' about a pair of mission M70, which can be had for $80. They're about the smallest speakers I would want to pair with a sub. I actually prefer full range speakers without a sub for 2 ch, but I want these speakers to be heard and not seen in this particular room.

I'm leaning towards the missions because (in addition to being cheap), I picked up the $200 Mission M3 5.1 system from Parts Express mentioned in another thread, and was pretty impressed with the little satellites for the money. They have no bass by themselves, but paired with the little sub, performed above my expectations in terms of dynamics and composure at relatively high volumes. They have the typical sub-sat pitfall of lean midbass and the little sub was nowhere close to my LS90s bass output. But these things disappeared during a few tracks with nice depth and detail. I only listened in a 2.1 configuration, but I bet they sound decent for 5.1 in a small room. I really picked them up out of curiosity and don't plan to set up a 2nd 5.1 system. I'll return them if I can't convince a friend or family member that these would make a hell of an upgrade over their TV speakers for minimal cash.

This experience has me curious to check out other Mission stuff, although I won't be getting rid of my Polks.

Adam

[adam2434]

I'm also looking at the PSW10.

Does anyone know if there is a high pass filter on the speaker level outs? If so, is it fixed or variable?

Polk doesn't provide any info on this on the website. I sent this question to CS, but was wondering if anyone here knew.

Looks like these can be had for around $115 shipped from E-bay (cringe). They're about $180 in local stores.

I'm still lookin' at the Dayton 10" too, but I'm a little concerned about the fixed 125 Hz high pass on the speaker outs. Seems a little high and may localize the sub. I'll be mating the sub with Mission M70s, which are pretty small with a 4.5" woofer, but are spec'd at -3dB at 68 Hz (although that seems a little ambitous).

Adam

[adam2434]

I just learned from CS that the speaker outs on the PSW10 are just a pass through with no high pass filter. So, the sats would run full range and the low pass crossover would be dialed in to blend with the sats.

Does anyone have an opinion on this scenario vs. using a sub with a fixed high pass on the speaker outs (like the Dayton 10" with the 125 Hz high pass)?

Would it be better to remove the bass with a high pass filter when using relatively small sats like the Mission M70s I'm getting?

I'm thinking that the sats may be able to play louder without strain when using a sub with a high pass filter. The downside is that a 125 Hz highpass will require a higher low pass on the sub (probably somewhere in the 100-125 Hz range), which forces the sub to play higher freqs and could localize it more.

Thanks,

Adam

[Ricardo]

Hey Adam...I see you are local... I have an old Sony that came with my HTIB that could do very well for music. Yours for $20.00. Let me know.