moderately-priced subwoofers?

foxmike6s -- Sun, 06/25/2006 - 02:07

I'm a first time member and would like to ask the forum's advice. I'm considering aadding a subwoofer to my beloved Audio Physic Virgo speakers ,hopefully under $ 1,000 and nearer to $500. I have a 35x15ft
living room and dining room space in which the ceiling goes from 7ft to 15ft [A- frame]. Other equipment I have includes a GAS Son of Ampzilla
amplifier, an arcurus L11 preamp[line],and a Denon CD player. I like classical music, including piano,organ and full orchestral music. I would appreciate very much any suggestions you could give me. Thanks in advance.

Robert Harley -- Sun, 06/25/2006 - 09:25

I have two recommendations in subwoofers in that price range. The first is the REL Q-108 at $749, and the second is the Epos ELS Active at $800. The REL connects into your system differently from other subs in that it doesn't high-pass filter the signal driving your main speakers. This keeps additional electronics out of the signal path. REL also believes that the signal connected to the sub should come from the same amplifier as drives the main speakers. REL subs, in my experience, are extremely musical and integrate well with the main speakers. They are at the opposite extreme of subwoofers that move lots of air but sound boomy or thick.

Robert Harley
Editor-in-Chief
The Absolute Sound
The Perfect Vision

Chris Martens -- Tue, 06/27/2006 - 13:20

I'd like to second Robert's recommendations; both are excellent audiophile-grade subs with good pitch definition. At the same time, let me offer a small word of caution. Your room is quite large, so that--depending on your preferred listening levels--you may find you need two subs rather than just one.

Elsewhere on the forum you will find a thread discussing this very issue vis-a-vis the Epos sub as used in a large room (it turned out that one sub was not entirely adequate for the space). The forum participant in question eventually bought a second Epos, which solved the problem. You might want to email that forum participant to compare notes and get feedback on the Epos.

I will also ask TAS writer Sallie Reynolds if she might comment on this discussion, since I know she sometimes uses the REL sub in her reference system.

Best,

Chris Martens
Audio Editor, The Perfect Vision
Senior Writer, The Absolute Sound

Chris Martens
Editor, Avguide.com/Playback/The Perfect Vision

neil.gader -- Tue, 06/27/2006 - 15:30

If you might consider busting the budget by a couple hundred bucks, REL's new R-205 will give you more power and a couple extra inches of driver for $1200. Like Chris mentioned, you've got a big room and that will put a lot of pressure on the subwoofer. Anything less than a ten inch driver is going to be at a disadvantage unless you play your music fairly quietly.

Neil

Neil Gader Associate Editor The Absolute Sound