It will make your system sound bad. Timwat's delightful description is right on the money. I tried a high quality $1100 home theater sub with my $9K audio physic speakers and the result was terrible. They were completely out of sync speedwise. The sub did sound good on my television with some $500 midfi speakers. They had drastically different voicings - one made for muddy boom, the other made for knife edge definition.
Later I aquired a rel storm I and found that to be light years ahead. I have since upgraded to some full range avalons, so I don't use the sub very often anymore. Sometimes it's nice for blues music.
If I wanted to go cheap, I would consider:
- an older rel,
- velodynes and vandersteens
- Some of the much older smaller subs such as Prosound or spendor.
- The smaller HSU that stereophile/TAS raves about ($500 new)
- DIY sub from madisound or adire audio.
Note that older subs may need woofer surround repair.
Later I aquired a rel storm I and found that to be light years ahead. I have since upgraded to some full range avalons, so I don't use the sub very often anymore. Sometimes it's nice for blues music.
If I wanted to go cheap, I would consider:
- an older rel,
- velodynes and vandersteens
- Some of the much older smaller subs such as Prosound or spendor.
- The smaller HSU that stereophile/TAS raves about ($500 new)
- DIY sub from madisound or adire audio.
Note that older subs may need woofer surround repair.