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Is JL best sub for the money?

Looking for a sub to complete my fathers system, Vandersteen Quatro Signature speakers, Audio Research Ref 3 pre, Aesthetix Atlas amp. System is in a 13x22 room with treatment but no bass traps. The JL 113 is what has my fathers interest and used it comes at a good price, so for around $2500 is there other models I need to check out new or used? I do admit I like the idea of a calibration mic the JL offers so that or a EQ with test disc would be huge bonus.............thanks for all ideas.
PS While the Vandersteens dig low with his Organ playing and Classical music collection that bottom end is something we will only get with a sub, I have hooked up a Def Tech 15in sub to show him benefit of air and slam so just need something more musical and tunable. again thanks
chadnliz

Showing 3 responses by albertporter

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albertporter
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Good to see you posting Chadnliz, I agree with Shadorne about hard to beat at any price.

I recently installed JL Audio subs in my system. This is the first time I've successfully integrated a sub for music playback.

After calibrating, the Fathoms disappear into the image of my main speakers. No hint of their presence except for the very deep bass that was not there before.
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albertporter
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Albert-did you play with any subs when you had your soundlabs;just wondering as I have M2's.

Yes, had REL, Signet and Fosgate with Sound-Lab and the only way any worked were for LFE from home theater decoder.

It's very difficult to match subs with Sound-Lab because they are as close to perfect phase of any speaker ever made (in my opinion).

The big Sound-Lab may not even require subs. My U-1s went deep into the teens or 20 HZ region and with great weight and lots of air. If you crave more bass you could upgrade to big Sound-Lab for same or cheaper than cost of my two JL Audio Fathoms.

Just a thought.
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albertporter
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Might want to have a look at the Zu Audio Method sub woofer, too. In a recent article, the reviewer, who had previously sworn his allegiance to JL's Fathom F-112 quickly switched to the Zu after hearing it. Zu is slightly more pricey, coming in at 3200.

That's a great review, thanks for the link.

Note though, the review compares a single driver JL to a dual drive Zu. My JL Audio subs are the F212, meaning I have twin woofers like the Zu but retain the ARO feature for my music system.

I would like to hear the Zu based on the review, twin 15" can't be bad and at $3200.00 each, twin Zu come in at $5800.00 a pair less than Fathom F212s.

I love my JL but there are going to be a lot of people interested in Zu at that price.
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