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15" vs 18" subwoofer - which to buy?

If price and room space/aesthetics were not a big issue, is there any reason to get a 15" subwoofer over an 18" one? My main issue is not disturbing the neighbors too much. I'm confused about the difference between a 15" and 18" subwoofer. I want to get the best sound quality possible for low-to-medium volume use.

I've heard that an 18" subwoofer can be played at low decibels and provide good bass resolution and fullness of sound, while to achieve the same volume with a 15" subwoofer, the power has to be much higher. So for any given sound volume, the main difference is in distortion- and higher distortion sound may be more obtrusive. Is this true? it seems counterintuitive that an 18" subwoofer could be better for neighbors than a 15" subwoofer.

However, I compared a B&W800 (12") vs B&W850 (15"). I listened from the other side of the store wall (not as thick as my apt), and at minimum levels which I found satisfying for HT, I found the 12" more obvious and 'boomy' sounding while the 18" produced a more subtle (though actually more powerful), lower frequency vibration, like a very low-level rumbling background earthquake. The 15" subwoofer did seem more of a disturbance because of it's 'obvious' sound. However, I worry that an 18" won't even start producing quality sound until a certain volume that was much higher than a 15", and consequently potentially more disruptive for neighbors. Is this true? What is the relationship between subwoofer size, low sound volume, and subjective listening experience?

Unfortunately, it will be difficult to get an opportunity to hear both the DD-15 and DD-18 which I am considering, so I hope someone can help out here.
no_slouch

Showing 2 responses by dgarretson

dgarretson
2,609 posts
 
As a DD-15 owner with a 2ch system, I'm with Flemke that the Vel was probably not set up correctly in the showroom. Few systems ever are, and this is particularly important with a sub. The DD has great setup utilities, but it still takes time & experimentation and a careful choice of connections & cabling to get it right. At this high level of performance, I'd bet that setup variables account for more variations in listening sessions than the choice of sub manufacturer.

As an extreme example, I was at a Magnolia the other day watching a couple listen to a demo of DSOTM through a basic REL sub. The setup was so bad that the sub was bloated horribly and way out-of-time with the main speakers to the point of laughter. But the customer & the salesman both seemed impressed, and the salesman just kept repeating "REL makes the best sub." Of course we are more discerning...

It's interesting how much passion gets into the sub debate regarding which hi-end piece to buy. I suspect that with fewer options to choose from (relative to the dizzying array of manufacturers building main speakers) the mind comfortably polarizes (ergo the tiresome REL vs. Velodyne debate). Much like in our presidential election, where the country polarizes with all its passions around a simple choice between two candidates at the top of our political system-- either of which will in fact probably end up business as usual.

Dave
dgarretson
2,609 posts
 
Flemke, the DD auto setup is a good starting point that can be refined considerably using manual utilities. I believe the auto setup also requires 2.0 software.

Dgw7000, the Bag End ELF sub is intriguing & I hope to hear one someday. From what I read in the reviews, the design entails the unusual choice of a resonant frequency above the operating range of the sub. As a negative result, there is significant roll-off at low frequencies, requiring compensation from the amp that may limit headroom and increase distortion. But in return one gains the advantage of negligible phase shift throughout the sub's operating range. Sorry you don't care for servo controlled subs. The DD servo is variable and user-controlled and the servo is essential-- particularly with large-diameter, hi-mass cones-- to achieve the very low distortion measurement referenced by Flemke. As one reduces servo control on the DD, the bass gets warmer, looser, and less delineated--perhaps delivering more charge to the room, but short on the articulation and speed that I prefer in a high-quality 2CH system. As has been observed, most listeners (particularly in the showroom) tend to favorably perceive high distortion in the bass region as warmth and musicality. Very few systems offer the alternative of clean, extended bass, and this quality can be a little underwhelming at first. But once you get used to it you won't go back.

Dave
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