You have $2500 for a pair of subs. What do?

[syzygetic]

The discussion here went a little sideways (in a constructive way!), so I'm running a poll, since that should focus things a little. If you wanted to spend < $2500 on a pair of subwoofers to integrate with a 25ft(l)x22ft(w)x14ft(h) room, and a trifield of Meridian DSP5200.2, which would you buy?

 

[617]

SVS for app control. Psa has B&C drivers which is cool, but integration and eq are everything.

 

[antcollinet]

Well being in the UK - for that money, I'd get three of these

Monolith+ DF+ and FF+

 

[DonH56]

For that large a room I'd get a couple of Rythmik F15HPs. With the 10% quantity discount it is close to your $2.5k target.

 

[Sancus]

The 15" PSA and HSU subs will have the most output for sure.

 

[Martin]

There is no replacement for displacement holds true even more for subs than cars. I voted HSU and PSA. I own a pair of Reaction Audio Echo 15 subs and couldn't be happier.

 

[jhaider]

SVS for app control. Psa has B&C drivers which is cool, but integration and eq are everything.

I look at app control in a powered subwoofer as a demerit, not a benefit.

First, bass management and processing belongs at the system level, not the subcomponent level. Otherwise it's just too cumbersome to bother except in the most basic setup. The processing also adds delay, which may make integration trickier. Lastly, an "app" for a durable good is an obsolescence time bomb.

As for the sub choices above, realistically all of them are going to be sufficient to keep up with relatively small towers in all of the above cases. So it boils down to size, finish, and price. Which means the relevant variables are not something that can be addressed from the original question: room layout, subwoofer visibility, finishes of other furnishings in the room. I can't personally envision using subs painted matte/satin black or covered in "black ash" alongside sleek Meridian towers when there is plenty of performance available in better looking packages. But that's not my call. And maybe the plan is to conceal them anyway.

 

[Ata]

I'd get not two, but four SVS SB-1000Pro subs and have a holiday with the remaining half a grand!

 

[JSmith]

If you wanted to spend < $2500 on a pair of subwoofers

TBH I wouldn't... I'd buy one excellent sub rather than two lesser performing subs.

You could get one of these and still have $200 - $400 in your pocket.

SB16-Ultra Subwoofer | SVS

Immense power, bottomless low frequency extension, pitch perfect accuracy and pinpoint speed in transients.

www.svsound.com

JSmith

 

[muad]

TBH I wouldn't... I'd buy one excellent sub rather than two lesser performing subs.

You could get one of these and still have $200 - $400 in your pocket.

SB16-Ultra Subwoofer | SVS

Immense power, bottomless low frequency extension, pitch perfect accuracy and pinpoint speed in transients.

www.svsound.com

JSmith

This makes no sense. Two subs will provide a more even in room response. Plus the two subs can be played at a lower level, therefore lower distortion and output is necessary per sub.

 

[JSmith]

This makes no sense.

Maybe to you, each to their own and all that, was my personal opinion on what I would do with the dollars and a different viewpoint for the OP to consider... it's not always as simple as you espouse either;

The Pros and Cons of Multiple Subwoofers - HomeTechnologyReview

How much benefit can you get from using multiple subwoofers in your system, in terms of both maximum bass output and a smoother frequency response? Brent Butterworth explores the topic in this week's featured news story.

hometheaterreview.com

However, if you think about it, you might get the idea that some of the energy from those extra subs is spent cancelling out the first sub’s errors instead of increasing the total output of the system.

https://www.harman.com/documents/multsubs_0.pdf

JSmith

 

[jhaider]

Maybe to you, each to their own and all that, was my personal opinion on what I would do with the dollars and a different viewpoint for the OP to consider... it's not always as simple as you espouse either;

The Pros and Cons of Multiple Subwoofers - HomeTechnologyReview

How much benefit can you get from using multiple subwoofers in your system, in terms of both maximum bass output and a smoother frequency response? Brent Butterworth explores the topic in this week's featured news story.

hometheaterreview.com

I’m not sure what you’re saying here: forget fidelity, go for output?

However, it is worth asking the question, why multisubs? The answer is less bass variation around the room. If you only care about one seat, a single equalized sub may be just fine.

 

[Senior NEET Engineer]

I would use Meridian DSW.2

 

[Webninja]

Save another $500 and get two Monolith 13s.

 

[abdo123]

I would get Monoprice Monoliths if you don't need all that digital processing.

 

[617]

I look at app control in a powered subwoofer as a demerit, not a benefit.

First, bass management and processing belongs at the system level, not the subcomponent level. Otherwise it's just too cumbersome to bother except in the most basic setup. The processing also adds delay, which may make integration trickier. Lastly, an "app" for a durable good is an obsolescence time bomb.

As for the sub choices above, realistically all of them are going to be sufficient to keep up with relatively small towers in all of the above cases. So it boils down to size, finish, and price. Which means the relevant variables are not something that can be addressed from the original question: room layout, subwoofer visibility, finishes of other furnishings in the room. I can't personally envision using subs painted matte/satin black or covered in "black ash" alongside sleek Meridian towers when there is plenty of performance available in better looking packages. But that's not my call. And maybe the plan is to conceal them anyway.

I guess I see your point. I use a minidsp.

 

[syzygetic]

I really appreciate the feedback, all, this is helpful. I ended up going with the SB-3000 pair, they'll be to my house in a couple days, and I will be sure to make a thread about how I set them up. The commentary here was super valuable, and @jhaider made a good point that tipped the balance in favor of something at least somewhat reasonably sized and piano gloss finished.

Regarding the implementation and DSP, I will just ignore the SVS app if I want, since I do have both a MiniDSP at my disposal (not in chain now, but could be) in addition to Roon DSP, and the Meridian Processor / G61R DSP and crossover functions. More than enough DSP in these parts to make things super complicated. I'll give the app a chance, but if it's no good, I have a fallback plan there.

Thanks everyone!

 

[Harmonie]

TBH I wouldn't... I'd buy one excellent sub rather than two lesser performing subs.

You could get one of these and still have $200 - $400 in your pocket.

SB16-Ultra Subwoofer | SVS

Immense power, bottomless low frequency extension, pitch perfect accuracy and pinpoint speed in transients.

www.svsound.com

JSmith

No, like for every man, 2 are surely better than a lonely one.

 

[Futility]

Shoot the hostage

 

[Epos7]

I just purchased two Rythmik F12SE myself, but my room is smaller. Given the size of your room, going with the larger subs seems like a good decision.