Help me decide a subwoofer for music only and high WAF

[Spkrdctr]

Yeah, I need to see a local vendor and play both SB-1000 Pro and the 3000 Micro to see if the extra $ for the Micro is worth it.

Just one question, and this might be a strange on, but since I´ve never owned a sub I dont know. But, lets say that I buy the SB-1000 Pro and its way to powerful for my needs, can I dial it down and still "use" the sub to asatisfactory level?

Yes, you can set up the sub however you want. Once you have it tuned in with the onboard DSP, you can then turn it down to where it seems to disappear. It's just a volume issue. Very easy to work with. Get whichever sub you like the looks of. All of the SVS line is pretty good to awesome. One of the main differences between each model is volume at low frequencies. A PB-1000 will not play as loud down very low as say an SVS4000. But in a smaller room or when you don't want to vibrate your walls, the PB-1000 will work very well. If you want movie explosions to crack the paint on your walls and scare the wife in the next room, you are up to the $2000+ range in price. In high quality subs like SVS you get what you pay for. I think any SVS sub you get will do the job for you in fine style. Buy and enjoy! Good Luck.

 

[Chrise36]

Recently I turned 40 and was gifted with a pair of Dali Oberon 1 and a Powernode Egde.

View attachment 281538

We live in a townhouse with our two small kids. My hifi interest is not shared with my wife hence the modest setup, but I do love it. Aside from one thing .. bass. Our livingroom is about 30m2. I realize that the Oberons are probably to small for the room, but this is a somewhat happy middleground.

We have discussed adding a subwoofer and she has agreed to fit one in if:

• its small
• is white, preferably matte

I thought she would like REL T/5x but she hates how it looks, so thats a no. Probalby to this forums amusment!

When we visited HiFi-klubben (a hifi store i Sweden) and audiotioned the Oberons 1s they plugged in a Dali Sub e-9 f which sounded good to me and she thought it looked good.
I have never owned a subwoofer, so before I clicked buy I did some research and soon it was evident that the dali sub, on paper, wasnt to good. Instead people suggested SVS and RELs (We live in Sweden, Europe).

So, with the above demands, of small, white and our max budget of ~1000 EUR.

Ive narrowed it down to:

• SVS SB-1000 Pro (710€ in Sweden converted from swedish currency)
• SVS 3000 Micro (1050€ in Sweden converted from swedish currency)

Of these two, which one would you suggest for music only? Im no base head and are not looking to rattle our wall paintings or annoy our nightbour but to have a more rich sound and sound quality. Are SVS primarily a home theater sub or can they fill our needs? I´ve read that SVS needs to be played lound to come alive?

I know close to nothing about HIFI-nomenclature but I downloaded a db-app and stod 2 meters from the speakers and it got up to 70db which I would say is a normal listening volume for us at times. Mostly its much lower as background music.

Perhaps Ive missed some brands to consider?

S 810 SUB Subwoofer

The Jamo Studio 8 Series S 810 Subwoofer delivers contemporary design, high performance, and balanced, natural sound.

www.jamo.com

 

[Spkrdctr]

The studio 810 speaker is not in the same league as the SVS PB-1000. It is a very small sub and very low powered. It will excel in the 45hz and up range. It all depends on what you are wanting. Also, it will when turned up be much more likely to sound like a one note sub. It is physics. It is very small and very low powered. But if it is all someone can afford then it will work for many people.

 

[chelgrian]

I am very sorry too, but the OP mentioned some limitations so your proposal is way off.

I wasn't proposing anything to the OP I was pointing out that WAF depends upon the W and some like wood veneer and bass you can feel.

 

[DanielT]

Whichever subwoofer you choose, you will notice a big difference.

Then it's almost a requirement (it's not, but it's appreciated) here at ASR that you then tell us what you've chosen and in connection with that, feel free to post some pictures.

 

[damirj79]

I wasn't proposing anything to the OP I was pointing out that WAF depends upon the W and some like wood veneer and bass you can feel.

Some Ws do, but not all of them.. yours looks very nice though.

 

[StefanSweden]

Darko I ignore and seem Nemo's Propaganda should be ignored also (like many youtubers who do audio "reviews"). B&W/Rel are barely worth consideration for subs in the first place. "Pairing" by brand is pretty silly, did he have an actual rationale? More nonsense that they need to be played at certain volumes. Small is generally just a compromise, maybe a consideration if small boxes are needed. Stop watching/reading silly subjective reviews about subs is a good starting place.

Well, if I were to interpret his answer I would assume its about my main speakers woofers are 5¼" and the SVS being 12", that the discrepancy would make it hard for the SVS to satisfyingly meet the speaker woofers where they roll off? A smaller driver would reach higher with more ease and therefore sound more cohesive?

 

[StefanSweden]

Whichever subwoofer you choose, you will notice a big difference.

Then it's almost a requirement (it's not, but it's appreciated) here at ASR that you then tell us what you've chosen and in connection with that, feel free to post some pictures.

I surely will do that! .. even if I get an REL

 

[StefanSweden]

So far I´ve compiled a list of subwoofers I often comes back to when I need to remind myself of size, price and frequency response. Perhaps I´ve missed any good ones to consider?

Märke/Modell	Driver	Amplifier	Frequency response	Dimensions	Pris
Arendal 1S	12.2”	550W RMS	26-200Hz (+/- 3db)	41,5H x 31,5W x 41,5D	10,990:-
B&W ASW608	8”	200W	32-140Hz (+/- 3db)	27,5H x 26W x 33D	6,998:-
Lyngdorf BW-3	8”	400W	27-200Hz (+/- 3db)	23H x 31,5W x 17,2D	9,998:-
REL T/5x	8”	125W	32Hz (- 6db)	30H x 30W x 31D	8,490:-
REL T/7x	8” och 10” passiv	200W	30Hz (- 6db)	32H x 35,6W x 36,3D	12,490:-
SVS SB-1000 PRO	12”	325W (820W peak)	20-270Hz (+/- 3db)	34,2H x 33W x 37,5D	8,290:-
SVS 3000 Micro	2 x 8”	800W (2,500 peak)	23-240Hz (+/- 3db)	27,8H x 29,7W x 27,1D	11,990:-

 

[sigbergaudio]

It's worth noting that amplifier power tells you next to nothing, and even the frequency response is somewhat misleading these days, as especially smaller subwoofers with a low rated frequency response will likely only be able to do this at low volumes (internal DSP will be limiting it when you turn up the volume to protect the driver). Finally there can be a world of difference between two drivers that are the same size. That being said a single 12" is likely to be way more powerful than a single 8" if they are in a similar price range. But in the end price and size are really the most concrete pieces of information in your table, all the others require more detailed inspection to properly compare.

 

[DanielT]

It's worth noting that amplifier power tells you next to nothing, and even the frequency response is somewhat misleading these days, as especially smaller subwoofers with a low rated frequency response will likely only be able to do this at low volumes (internal DSP will be limiting it when you turn up the volume to protect the driver). Finally there can be a world of difference between two drivers that are the same size. That being said a single 12" is likely to be way more powerful than a single 8" if they are in a similar price range. But in the end price and size are really the most concrete pieces of information in your table, all the others require more detailed inspection to properly compare.

I'm curious. How to choose amp power for X passive subwoofer? Enough to drive the subwoofer driver to max plus a little extra for safety (headroom)?

Or above mentioned PLUS even a little more amp power so that is also enough for EQ of the subwoofer?

 

[MarkS]

Well, if I were to interpret his answer I would assume its about my main speakers woofers are 5¼" and the SVS being 12", that the discrepancy would make it hard for the SVS to satisfyingly meet the speaker woofers where they roll off? A smaller driver would reach higher with more ease and therefore sound more cohesive?

No, absolutely not. Driver size is not relevent for blending a sub, as the sound wavelengths are all much larger than the drivers. The wavelength of a 100 Hz sound wave is about 4 meters.

 

[MarkS]

So far I´ve compiled a list of subwoofers I often comes back to when I need to remind myself of size, price and frequency response. Perhaps I´ve missed any good ones to consider?

You are overthinking this. For your use case (2.1 system, music only, average 70 dB level) the detailed specs are irrelevant, these are all perfectly fine. Decide on size, looks, and cost.

 

[sigbergaudio]

I'm curious. How to choose amp power for X passive subwoofer? Enough to drive the subwoofer driver to max plus a little extra for safety (headroom)?

Or above mentioned PLUS even a little more amp power so that is also enough for EQ of the subwoofer?

Well the driver wont be able to handle any more power just because you EQ it. So yes, what the driver can handle plus some headroom. What the driver can practically handle may require some simulation or testing as well, as it will depend on impedance curve etc.

 

[Timcognito]

So far I´ve compiled a list of subwoofers I often comes back to when I need to remind myself of size, price and frequency response. Perhaps I´ve missed any good ones to consider?

Märke/Modell	Driver	Amplifier	Frequency response	Dimensions	Pris
Arendal 1S	12.2”	550W RMS	26-200Hz (+/- 3db)	41,5H x 31,5W x 41,5D	10,990:-
B&W ASW608	8”	200W	32-140Hz (+/- 3db)	27,5H x 26W x 33D	6,998:-
Lyngdorf BW-3	8”	400W	27-200Hz (+/- 3db)	23H x 31,5W x 17,2D	9,998:-
REL T/5x	8”	125W	32Hz (- 6db)	30H x 30W x 31D	8,490:-
REL T/7x	8” och 10” passiv	200W	30Hz (- 6db)	32H x 35,6W x 36,3D	12,490:-
SVS SB-1000 PRO	12”	325W (820W peak)	20-270Hz (+/- 3db)	34,2H x 33W x 37,5D	8,290:-
SVS 3000 Micro	2 x 8”	800W (2,500 peak)	23-240Hz (+/- 3db)	27,8H x 29,7W x 27,1D	11,990:-

What no column for WAF?

 

[Spkrdctr]

Well, if I were to interpret his answer I would assume its about my main speakers woofers are 5¼" and the SVS being 12", that the discrepancy would make it hard for the SVS to satisfyingly meet the speaker woofers where they roll off? A smaller driver would reach higher with more ease and therefore sound more cohesive?

Almost any 5 to 6 inch driver will go to 100hz easily. Your sub will be able to cross over at 100hz also easily. Pretty much you are just paying for looks, functions and volume down low. For music only, any SVS will do., unless you have a large room. The RELs do not do what subs should do. They are not digging deep at all, so you will get very good 40hz and up. Below 40hz the level they can play at will be restricted. They are just not comparable at all to the SVS and other brands.(Arendal). REL has great advertising and marketing, but performance? it is lacking in the small sub category a lot.

 

[Chrispy]

Well, if I were to interpret his answer I would assume its about my main speakers woofers are 5¼" and the SVS being 12", that the discrepancy would make it hard for the SVS to satisfyingly meet the speaker woofers where they roll off? A smaller driver would reach higher with more ease and therefore sound more cohesive?

No.

 

[HarmonicTHD]

So far I´ve compiled a list of subwoofers I often comes back to when I need to remind myself of size, price and frequency response. Perhaps I´ve missed any good ones to consider?

Märke/Modell	Driver	Amplifier	Frequency response	Dimensions	Pris
Arendal 1S	12.2”	550W RMS	26-200Hz (+/- 3db)	41,5H x 31,5W x 41,5D	10,990:-
B&W ASW608	8”	200W	32-140Hz (+/- 3db)	27,5H x 26W x 33D	6,998:-
Lyngdorf BW-3	8”	400W	27-200Hz (+/- 3db)	23H x 31,5W x 17,2D	9,998:-
REL T/5x	8”	125W	32Hz (- 6db)	30H x 30W x 31D	8,490:-
REL T/7x	8” och 10” passiv	200W	30Hz (- 6db)	32H x 35,6W x 36,3D	12,490:-
SVS SB-1000 PRO	12”	325W (820W peak)	20-270Hz (+/- 3db)	34,2H x 33W x 37,5D	8,290:-
SVS 3000 Micro	2 x 8”	800W (2,500 peak)	23-240Hz (+/- 3db)	27,8H x 29,7W x 27,1D	11,990:-

Subs are no rocket science. Go for either one of the SVS already (big/most driver area) before another 5 pages of this thread. Or change the wife, as people have been know to do in this time frame since the thread started ;-)

 

[DanielT]

Well the driver wont be able to handle any more power just because you EQ it. So yes, what the driver can handle plus some headroom. What the driver can practically handle may require some simulation or testing as well, as it will depend on impedance curve etc.

Hm, I must have thought wrong. If you already have enough amp power from the start, with headroom, you probably don't need more for EQ.

I just thought of this in light of what was discussed in this thread, #43 and #44:
(see attached picture)

How much power does an amplifier need with this type of range of dynamic music

PA has its challenges and you should perhaps not mix PA and home Hifi. Although for home Hifi you can use some PA stuff (I doubt, however, that deiked home Hifi is used in PA). What I mainly think of is the powerful PA amps that power subwoffers for home Hifi use.:) Nobody here is suggesting...

audiosciencereview.com

 

[Bach]

Are there any objective critera for the WAF? Is the WAF a lineair or logaritmic scale? Is there a minimum? Does a certain WAF apply to all women? Is the WAF depending on the man or the relationship? Is the WAF negociatable with other issues like a new kitchen or more visits to your mother in law?