Need Wireless Subwoofer Options


I am in the process of minimizing my system footprint and the large boomy Velodyne VA-1215X that hogs the corner of the living room is the bane of my wife's existence. I would like to replace it with a wireless sub I could hide behind the couch. I have found a few solid brands like Rel (T/7i) and JL Audio (d110) that can operate via wireless. Others like Paradigm and Klipsch do as well but I have less confidence in their sound. This is for a two channel system connected to the TV - no surround sound.

Any ideas on brands/models that would fit the bill? My budget is $1K max. No velodyne please.  One concern I have about the Rel is that it does not appear to have a phase setting and I have very limited placement options.  Should I be concerned about this?

Thanks.
treebeard1
Whoohoo!
I was worrying about the signal not being synced with the loudspeakers, but you seem to have no problem with that. Great.
B
The JLINKS system arrived yesterday and I hooked it up last night.  Very easy.  Listened last night and at high volume today.  So far, I'm loving it. Some oberservations:
  • I now need to turn the sub up higher to get the same bass, but I think that's due to its new location.  Before it was in the corner of the room and now it's next to the couch with more space around the sub.
  • It's no longer boomy!  I'm hearing more texture in the bass and feeling more reverberation in my gut.  Probably due to the new location.  I love my sub again.  @m-db  I'm back on the Velodyne bandwagon!
  • No dropouts that I can tell.  
Really, the advantages above are not due to the wireless system but the flexibility it gave me.  And the spousal unit likes the new location.  The corner of the living room now looks empty but that's my wife's problem now :) 

Thanks, though I still want to know how well wireless works with your system. I might consider it for my system, as well.
B
@m-db Thanks, but for now I'm going to stick with what I have and use the wireless JLINK system.  If the spousal unit doesn't like the wireless locations of the sub then I'll look for something smaller that fits behind the couch.

@gdnrbob I'll look those up id it comes to that.
treebeard, I couldn't possibly change your perception. The affect an HT receivers room correction has or the affect built in room optimization has on a subwoofers performance is a substantial reality. 

The ability to mitigate system and room integration as well as to make personal taste decisions is all about the level of control one has with equalization. The low frequency in much of todays recordings can be all over the place. Polarity can change from track to track on a single album. The Wi-Q Velodyne I suggested allows you to make very usable EQ adjustments from the listening position. It's not their top shelf system but it seems to have the functions I use often with my pair of Digital Drive Plus. 

There are vinyl recordings were I mute the subs altogether. When I cue up Prince's "Musicality" it gets preset #3, bumpin'. 

I suggest reading any subwoofers setup procedures which will give you an idea of the products capability. Good luck with it.
You can probably score a pair of Vandersteen 2w's for under $1K, but you do need crossovers. In my opinion, the best way to add subs to any system.
Also, HSU subs are a great value for the money, too.
The JL should probably be a good upgrade, but seeing you are using a Cambridge pre, I think the HSU may be a better match. Plus, you can get a pair within your budget.
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@savdllc
I have already ordered the JL Audio JLINK and plan to try it with my Velodyne. I’ll take it from there.

@m-db
No home theater. TV hooked to 2 channel digital pre (Cambridge 851N). I say no Velodyne because I paid $1k for my VA-1215X 20 years ago and it’s very boomy. Has a paper cone that rotted away. Seems cheap because of those two factors. That may not be the case anymore but perception is reality.
Is your subwoofer connected to a Home Theater receiver equipped with room correction or to the back of your TV?

Why, "no Velodyne please?"

Hi Treebeard,

As others already mentioned, there are wireless kits from various manufacturers (niles, sunfire, etc.) that you can use with virtually any sub, so that may well be a better option than trying to find a dedicated wireless sub as you’ll have much more choices in brands and models.

With your Velodyne being the bane of your wife’s existence (had a good laugh at that one :)), I would say that your best best would be to go with a compact, high excursion sub like the Sunfire HRS12, Definitive Technology Supercube 6000, and JL E112 (a bit above your target price range, but a good option nonetheless) and pair it with one of the aforementioned wireless kits. These are the closest to your price range that I can think of off the top of my head.

I own an A/V integration company in Atlanta and would be happy to assist you further if you have any additional questions - I’ll send you a PM with our contact info.

Take care,

-David
@m-db I see a JL Audio E-110, the next step up, for sale on Agon. Would that get me there? I'm thinking not.
A unit with more equalization options than the D110 would aid greatly with location issues and a remote with volume and multiple EQ settings would graduate you from the set it-forget it world of the low end.

Wi-Q

No, I can't route any cables. I stopped by a local dealer today to audition the JL Audio subs. They told me I could use the JLA JLINK wireless system on any sub because the receiver has RCA out. It's just that if I use their Dominion brand then it connects directly via R45. The JLA website implies the JLINK system is only for the Dominion series. This opens up a many more options, like going used. My first plan of action is to see if I can move my existing sub to a more innocuous location and then hook it up to the JLINK, which is 2.4 GHz. Then go from there.
Both REL and JL are good brands. My only bugaboo with wireless is that few offer 5ghz wireless.
I worked around the Bluesound limitation by buying a Netgear wireless to ethernet device. The 5ghz band is almost unoccupied in my area, so I get very good connectivity and don't have to share bandwidth. Of course, if you live in a rural area, this would be a non issue.
Can you route the cables beneath the floor?
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