15" vs 18" subwoofer - which to buy?

Bagend is the only way to go, the bagend infra sub 18 is not a sub you look at and say that's a great looking sub. The velodyne is a looker, but in sound!! does not compare to bagend. When you put one or two in your system you will "here" why it is so special. Dave

Dgw7000

Did you hear the DD-15 or 18? What do mean when you say "does not compare"?

Tim

Yes, I have heard both the dd 15 and 18 at my local hifi house, I feel the Velodyne is great for HT. I like the dd-18 much better than the dd-15, but for 2 channel the bagend with it's time alignment just becomes part of the music. The infra sub 18 blends so well with anying speaker, your speakers just open up and the bass is just there, so tight so controlled. When you turn off the bagend you say to yourself holly shit!!! This is what really good bass is all about, the music becomes very real. I would say the bagend is the most musical sub I have ever heard. The Vel. to me is one notey!!! Not Musical, but I love the way the Vel. looks!!! The sound is what really matters though!!
I also like 2 REL strada's, which at one point I had in my system. In the end the 18 inch bagend is the only way to go, if you can get it past your wife as your lugging in the room!!!

Dgw7000

I would have to say the local hifi house did not have the Velodyne subs setup correctly. They should call tech. support and get them running the right way.

Tim

Greetings Dgw;

Your sure to stir up some heated debate in your assessment of the Bag Ends comparative performance, yet Ill consider your remarks valid based on your previous equipment, all high quality stuff, money not being the issue.

I must also confess not to care to be misleading in my comments about products to other posters looking in however, that being said, I concur that the Infra 18 is a sealed {not tuned} enclosure that is both time and phase coherent that delivers bass information that's very controlled, detailed with excellent timing and pitch, just does its job and gets out of the way of the important mid range while disappearing into the stage when no low bass information is there, totally integrated into my system yet never, ever, letting you know its position --geographically speaking.

This really is a reference product that should be on anyone's short list for those seeking a low bass frequency specialist sub that has seamless integration, effortless speed, extremely low frequency output, ie. thinking about how realistic the huge pipe organ music with sustained continuous low frequency shuddering/energy is utterly and effortlessly reproduced not to mention stand up acoustic bass like that from the Ray Brown trio or Michael Arnopold from Patricia Barbers catalogue etc.. that's done seemingly with nadda missing, not a note!

Just wanted to add in that last little comment about the sense of spaciousness this sub imparts to better recordings, its almost the same sort of dimensionality tube seekers enjoy in their playback, my thoughts as to whats causing this is perhaps this sub picks up reverberation trails or echoes in studios and venues that most other subs seem to miss, thus contributing one more subtle spatial cue that will greatly enhance the visual glimpse into recorded performances-- most surprising in addition to the terrific bass . " other writers have also commented on this effect in professional reviews"

In my unbiased opinion - YES - one of the very best.

Regards /// Tim W...