Non Powered subwofer

[ggans2 0]

Can anyone point me in the right direction for non powered sub's , I have a Polk 10 inch and it does Ok but when I looked to see what the amp was I learned it was only 100 watts, that did not seem like a lot.

 

And I do need an excuse to look for another amp..hehe  really which is the better way to go? and is two better than one..

[BillD 239]

Well, I have two powered subs.  One is a Sunfire True Subwoofer Mk.II with the infamous 2700 Watt plate amp with a 10" woofer and passive radiator, and the other is an M&K MX-125 Mk.II with a 150 Watt amplifier with two 12" woofers in a push-pull configuration.  Both are loud and low.  I also have a pair of AR3a speakers that have blown midrange and tweeters, but I use the two 12" woofers as a subwoofer driven by an M-400 Cube below 80Hz.  They sound really good.

Normally the manufacturer sizes the amp to be enough for the sub.  YMMV

[RichP714 3,163]

..... and is two better than one..

 

and four is better than two.......

 

The more bass drivers you have, in different positions, different room modes will be excited and you'll have more even bass.  Most people put subs in the corners or near walls; in the 'pressure zone' of the room, where room modes will cause reinforcement of the driver output.

 

In a car you'd call this 'cabin gain' and be good with it.  In a room, the augmentation of certain notes over others , the ragged response, is troublesome.

 

A really good way to minimize room modes is either to excite different freq's (with more subs) or place a high output sub (like the Carver) off the floor, about chest high; you'll get a much more even response, you'll lose some efficiency (which was mostly room gain anyway, and ragged) but the truesubs pack a wallop anyway.

[thuffman03 3]

I think you have the Polk PSW10 which is their entry level sub.  This is not a very good sub even when you talk to the Polk guys on their forum.

 

How much do you have to spend and are you willing to go used?

 

Sunfire True subs kick butt.  I now have two of them.  I have one and just bought a second to put in my HT.  Though I might try two subs on my 2 channel system for a while and see what that sounds like.

 

If you go used, you can get a great deal.  I just snagged an original Sunfire True Sub for $440 shipped.  I also have a Sunfire True sub MKII which I got in the mid $500 but it was local so I did not pay shipping.  There are several out on eBay right now which might drive the price down a bit but we are close to Christmas which the last two years drives the price up.

[ggans2 0]

I'll check them out, Good point, not a good time to shop, I'll wait until after the holidays. I may end up with a spare amp so thats why I am asking..

[ggans2 0]

It seems to me the better subs just have gobs of power, whats the difference between the polk $120 ten inch and the $550 ten inch  sub, about 1100 watts, maybe a better driver? I dont know..  is all that cash going into the amp.

 

Are the part express sub kits any good, If a had a spare amp mono block at say 500 watts could I build something good? Just ideas..

[thuffman03 3]

I have heard a lot of subs over the last two year.  IMO best bang for the buck is a used Sunfire.

 

I have several reasons for this.

 

1.  It uses Bobs Tracking Downconverter power supply.  It uses only the power needed to power the sub.

2.  Wife friendly being 11"x11"x11"

3.  2700 watts of power that goes down to 18 hz.

4.  It is just an great sub.  Good for music or Ht.

 

I will now have two of them.  The second is on its way.

[RichP714 3,163]

If you don't want to go powered; VMPS is well regarded

[ggans2 0]

Thanks, I never heard of VMPS, There's a sunfire sun on ebay for a 100 bucks right now,,,hum..

[ggans2 0]

Or how about this one, what do these sell for in the store?

 

Sunfire True Sub MK II Subwoofer Speaker
Item condition:	Used
Time left:	3 days 21 hours (Dec 09, 200906:45:31 PST)
Bid history:	7 bids
Current bid:	US $81.00
Your max bid:	US $	Place bidPlace bid
	(Enter US $82.00 or more)
	Now watching in My eBay (55 items)
Shipping:	$39.99UPS GroundSee more services  See discounts  |  See all details

 

[RichP714 3,163]

You can check recent selling prices in the database (in the library section)

[Guest CallMeJoe]

Non-powered subwoofers? 

I have a pair of Altec 411-8A 15" woofers I built 5 cu. ft. sealed cabinets for.  They're driven by an M400a, sourced from a DeCoursey Labs active crossover, run from 120 Hz down; they're good to about 25 Hz.

[myc52002 2]

SVS Sounds offer some outstanding non-powered versions of their powered cylinder units.  Very well regarded as some of the best available for the money.  I have used VMPS in the past as well and having used both brands I can personally suggest you look at the SVS first.  VMPS are also excellent but can challenge the WAF with their size and styling.  Their approach is the basic physics of bigger is better rather than apply equalized power in a smaller box like you see in the Sunfire subs as an example.  Personally I think the VMPS have become dated in their driver technology and just can't keep up with today's serious drivers like what you find in the SVS units. 

[RichP714 3,163]

.....Their approach is the basic physics of bigger is better..... 

 

he he.....wasn't it Paul Klipsch who said 'there ain't no such thing as a small bass note'

 

myc52002; thanks for the SVS info; I've seen their stuff, looks very impressive, but hadn't heard anyone's take on them.  Do you still run a sub of some kind?

[RichP714 3,163]

.....VMPS are also excellent but can challenge the WAF with their size and styling......

 

There's always the infinite baffle approach; very inobtrusive in the listening room at least.  This one's infinite baffle side is the basement underneath, but I've seen them IB'd to the outdoors (outside of the house looks like a small AC air handler attached to the house).

 

[ggans2 0]

SVS Sounds offer some outstanding non-powered versions of their powered cylinder units.  Very well regarded as some of the best available for the money.  I have used VMPS in the past as well and having used both brands I can personally suggest you look at the SVS first.  VMPS are also excellent but can challenge the WAF with their size and styling.  Their approach is the basic physics of bigger is better rather than apply equalized power in a smaller box like you see in the Sunfire subs as an example.  Personally I think the VMPS have become dated in their driver technology and just can't keep up with today's serious drivers like what you find in the SVS units. 

 

I had a chat with them today and learned they no longer offer non powered subs. I am intrested  in there cylinder subs. Down firing , I would like to hear them.

[ggans2 0]

I think you have the Polk PSW10 which is their entry level sub.  This is not a very good sub even when you talk to the Polk guys on their forum.

 

How much do you have to spend and are you willing to go used?

 

Sunfire True subs kick butt.  I now have two of them.  I have one and just bought a second to put in my HT.  Though I might try two subs on my 2 channel system for a while and see what that sounds like.

 

If you go used' date=' you can get a great deal.  I just snagged an original Sunfire True Sub for $440 shipped.  I also have a Sunfire True sub MKII which I got in the mid $500 but it was local so I did not pay shipping.  There are several out on eBay right now which might drive the price down a bit but we are close to Christmas which the last two years drives the price up.

[/quote']

 

 

Yeah The PSW wimp, I took a good look/listen today, been using it for TV only and it seemed to do Ok an normal levels. But I cranked it up and it turned to mud...  I think I'm going to have to do something about this..

[BillD 239]

Yeah, you know, if you had a house that had those floor registers, it would be easy to use the basement as your infinite baffle by giving up one coming from your furnace and using it..

[ggans2 0]

Bummer for me I don't have that , I'm on a crawl, however You now have my interest as to what this infinite  baffle is all about..

[TNRabbit 371]

Bummer for me I don't have that ' date=' I'm on a crawl, however You now have my interest as to what this infinite  baffle is all about..[/quote']

 

http://home.comcast.net/~infinitelybaffled/

[ggans2 0]

Thanks, I'm still reading, I never knew...