System

I second the Velodyne Optimum 8. That's what I have and it is highly musical and the auto room correction is a must for a music sub. Also, I think a smaller woofer will integrate better with the main speakers. With the OPs budget they would need to find a used one.

There are basically two types of subwoofer sound. The under $1000 home theatre boomers and thudders and the over $1000 (probably more like $1500) for real subs like Velodyne, JL and Martin Logans that can actually integrate well into a music system. Physics and your budget relegates you into the former category, so my advice is to skip it altogether until you can do it right. Otherwise, you're throwing your money away and you will not be satisfied. Trust me, I've still got my old sub in a box somewhere collecting dust....

Thanks Spinaker, I will keep you advice in mind and searching for used stuff. Everyones commnts have useful.

12-31-11: Spinaker01
There are basically two types of subwoofer sound. The under $1000 home theatre boomers and thudders and the over $1000 (probably more like $1500) for real subs like Velodyne, JL and Martin Logans that can actually integrate well into a music system.

That's true up to a point, but there is a third kind of sub--the <$1K subs that are fast and lively and blend well for music because they're not trying to do HT's crashes and explosions. I have a pair of them in Mirage MM8's. It's a sealed 9'' cube with an 8" driver and two passive radiators, and a 300/1200 w rms/peak amp. Helping to make for a complete blend with the mains, it has a 0-360deg. continuous phase knob, a 50-200Hz crossover control, and of course volume.

They're only good to about 35 Hz placed against a wall, but there are so many speakers that start rolling off at 100 Hz, these MM8s are nice for fleshing out the 35-60Hz region, and they will *not* lag behind your main speakers. The best proof I have is how they make a great upright bassist like Ray Brown sound. The bass is full and extended, but when set up correctly completely sounds like it's all coming from Brown's single instrument. The fundamental, all the overtones, and the bass body resonance all sound as one. Ditto for drums. These subs really help in the dynamics and impact of percussion.

I really lucked out because sometimes Vann's sells these at really low prices. I got one at $269 and the other at $279. At $550/pair they're a steal if you just want the music to sound fuller. Furthermore, somehow their addition made the soundstage more 3D and lifelike.

If I could afford anything it would probably be a pair of JL F113's. That would serve up the deep low fundamentals, the dynamic range, *and* the speed and blend you need for music.

I admit I was speaking in generalities, and I freely concur that exceptions do exist, they are just rare. Glad you found some. I think a key to your happiness in this situation may be that you have a pair. This always seems to give better results to smooth out the room responses. Sub guru's (which I am NOT) will tell you that they would prefer two cheaper and smaller units of lesser quality than a larger single of higher overall quality due to the way they interact with the room. Happy New Year all!