need to find subs with lots of slam for HT


hi all, i have a small theater room. it is 12x14 with an 8 foot ceiling. i currently have 2 velodyne cht-10 (10 inch $650 each) subs. i use a svs pb 13 ultra set in 10hz mode to handle the super low frequencies that the velo's cant. i set the svs's x-over as low as possible. it shakes the room which i love, but... only from about 30 hz and below. i want to leave the svs as it is because if i allow the svs to accept higher frequencies while tuned to 10hz, the bass becomes sloppy at the higher frequencies. i have a integra dhc 80.1 with audyssey which calibrates all my subs.

i have not tried different subs in my theater room. many years ago i tried a dahlquist 12" ($900 sub) and i remember i could feel the bass more. i'm sure it had a bit better low freq. extension but maybe it was just more powerful? moves more air? 12 inch perhaps? i dont know how all these factors come into play when choosing a subwoofer. i got rid of that sub and got the 2 velo's mentioned above. there doesnt seem to be as much slam from the velo's. are they too low end i wonder? now i want that HT chest slam, as i have upgaded pretty much all my equipment but still have those velo's.

so this is where i am confused. i want the tightest bass with possible with alot of chest caving slam. i dont know if a couple of small 8 inch(say sunfire super juniors for example) would give me the result i'm looking for due to its small woofer size. i'm not necessarily looking for low frequecy extension because my svs handles that.

do i need to get into the 12 or 15 inch subs for the slam? possibly super highend 10 inch like the jl fathom f110. i dont want big if they produce flabby/sluggish bass. i should mention that i have bass traps in my room as well.

however, my room is 12x14 with an 8 foot ceiling so i dont want to throw money away on subs that would be overkill. i definately dont want bass overhang (sloppy bass) that some big subs may produce in small rooms.

can anyone suggest what subwoofers (model and size) i would need to achieve alot of clean bass with alot of HT slam for my small room?
i dont necessarily need the most exspensive...i just want to be happy with tight clean bass and enjoy the punches on my chest!!!

thanks and much appreciated,
cheers

nineballg

Showing 1 response by avgoround

Just throw in an Outlaw ICBM crossover, set at 40hz cross,and drive the bigger sub(s) under 40hz, and the smaller 8 to 10" subs at 40-80hz, leaving your pre/pro or receiver to cross over at 80hz on up to the speakers! Of course, you still have WAY WAY WAAAAAAAAY to much bass energy in that room, which isn't being absorbed well enough by the room to balance out the rest of the midrange and trebble (then again sounds likel you go for the boomy bombastic earthquake bass sound, with about an hour or two of reverb and undecayed bass energy,overpowering the rest of your system, sounds like). This is all not to even mention the fact that your room won't properly support anything much bellow 20 hz anyway, and will never sound anything like a large space will, offering speed and inpact to the sound through proper decay and lack of bass modes. Basically, you're stuck with some small room acoutics issues that only radical acoustical renovation can help.
All that and how well do you know how to place all those speakers in the room to actually balance out and sound good in the room / setup? Lots to go wrong there, regardless of how many cute little subs you throw in there.
For you I'd be getting one large M&K MX5000 or perhaps some Earthquake 15" sub, and stick in rignt in the middle of the front wall of the room, anchored between the mains, and forget about it! Otherwise, find a better deal on a Paradigm Studio 15, and EQ the crap out of the the whole thing.
Wow...bass freaks...all of ya.