Looking for a good small subwoofer...

Here is a link to a great buy.

 

 

I have an older Hsu sub in my system. They don't get much press here, but are well designed and easy to dial in. Very musical. The founder, an MIT grad, started the company engineering and building subs.

Love my REL t9x.  IMO can't go wrong with REL.  But, recently listened to a Kef kc62 and was very impressed.  Goes down low with no muddiness and is tiny!  Thinking of one for my living room.  Not cheap though.

REL are truly amazing I use a Carbon Fiber with my Harbeths seamless match🤩

Had a dynamo 800x from Martin Logan.  Did the job, sounded good and wasn’t huge. 

I also have the mk10 speedwoofer . Paired with elac 2.0 unifed ub52 speakers  love the sound. 

Am presently quite satisfied with a pair of REL Strata III’s, 100 watts each, 10 inch driver, rated to 18Hz (though when I tested them I got a response at 16Hz), made in the 1990’s.

They’re accurate with no muddy, sloppy boom.

It took a little while to find two good deals, but I eventually rounded up two for less than half the price of one new.

RELs in my system 

I wouldn’t use the crossover in a budget sub unless sound quality not important.

I’d run the sub full-range using either a line-in (RCA) or speaker wire coming off the main amp’s speaker connection posts. Use the sub’s volume control to blend things and the frequency knob to eliminate higher-frequencies.

You can get away with a single sub in a small room.

Personally, I’d always go with a 12" sub over an 8 or 10 inch.

What is the budget?

Here’s one…

https://www.svsound.com/products/sb-1000

In this system there is a separate preamp and 40 watt (20/20) EL-34 tube amp currently powering a pair of Kilpsch RP-600M speakers.

Ideally the setup should work like this:
Preamp out (line level) to the sub or subs. 

Stereo line level crossover inside the sub, around, say 100Hz. Lows goes into its internal solid state amplifier, high-pass filtered audio to output jacks which then connect to the tube amp and to the full range speakers.

I'm not sure which of the subs suggested here will accomplish that.

The cost should be around $500 or less so some of the excellent subs suggested here will not fit the bill.
8'or 10" would be more than enough.
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So far these have been suggested:
Thank you all.

 mijostyn: Kef KF92 and KC62

psf4972: KEF KC62

aggregatebuzz: BIC America F12

waytoomuchstuff: Small B&Ws

balooo2: RSL 10 MKII

dbphd: KEF KC62

dwest1023: B&W DB3i

jjss49: rel t5i/x or t7i/x

sunshdw: SVS 3000 Micro

dweller: Polk Audio PSW505

musicaddict: The SVS SB-2000
    
jayctoy: Pioneer, $349
    
tweak1: GoldenEar ForceField 30 - 8" or 40 - 10"
    
fuzztone: SVS micro or KEF KC62

rocray: Rythmik,REL,or SVS

lak: small REL's

grislybutter: Kef, (not a fan of SVS, REL)

hilde45: Rythmik subs

bigshutterbug:  Totem Kin

soix: SVS SB1000 Pro

The Kef KF92 and KC62 are two of the best subwoofers available today. They are balanced force designs which means the enclosure will not shake and they have full two way crossovers. With the OP's horn speakers I would want to see two KF 92s. Good for Kef!! 

Pleased to see three supports for KC62.  I have been looking at these a while.  Any more opinions please?

KEF KC62 - recommended by a composer - studio producer friend to enhance the impact and bass weight of my full range single driver horn loudspeakers: one unit does precisely that. 10" cube, potent, works great.

kef kc62

BIC America F12 makes good solid bass,very nimble for musical use and a toggle switch for line or rca input,$300us at big river

Small B&Ws do a nice job of adding power and authority to the bottom end without bringing attention to themselves.

Surprised no one here mentioned the RSL speedwoofer 10 MKII.

Best value at $450.00 shipping included I own 2 and is an outstanding value for the price nothing mentioned comes close for the $$$.

I use a pair of KEF KC62 subs to augment KEF LS50 Wireless II speakers with excellent result.  The KEF app makes set up easy.

Not cheap, but the B&W DB3is excellent. Very musical.

there are often pairs of rel t5i/x or t7i/x that appear used.. they are terrific

I've got a pair of these and I'm very happy with them.

 

 

Polk Audio PSW505 12". Price varies on Amazon. Currently $428. I paid $250 a few years ago. Decent performance.

re: hmmm small horn speakers...is that like jumbo shrimp or a minor catastrophe...?

Like so:

Klipsch RP600M II

 

The SVS SB-2000 sealed subs were $499 del'd again just recently and a superb steal for that. I have two from a year or so ago and and they're great. There are some other great inexpensive sub mfrs out there as well. Two small SVS sealed subs would be nice I think.

(Also have one SVS SB-3000 and REL Storm III in the room for 4 ttl, D.B.A.)

There is a pioneer sub modified listed here, $349 . This pioneer sub is superb.i  bought two.

GoldenEar ForceField 30 - 8" Compact Subwoofer - Black $900.00 Add to Cart GoldenEar ForceField 40 - 10" Compact Subwoofer - Black $1,200.00

This combination of art, science, and scoping out the competition is one big reason they have been able to consistently produce so many award-winning products, including mammoth subwoofers, over the years.

Excellent review in Stereophile

hth

Small is either the SVS micro or the KEF KC62. Only one of Dem has a remote app for easy blending.

Most other suggestions here are inappropriate.

Rythmik,REL,or SVS should fit the bill. I run a pair of SVS SB2000 pro in my main system. They work great. I run older HSU’s in my secondary system,but HSU is probably too big for what you’re looking for. Good luck with your search, and let us know what you end up with.

I agree with REL, but do they have active crossovers?  I would think that the quality of the crossover would be key.  That would most likely require spending a good bit of money on the subwoofer, or external crossover.  The advantage of the REL is the ease of high level inputs.  

One or two small REL's I've seen several on the used market or purchase new.

I am not a fan of SVS, REL or KEF are better quality

@jjss49 Nah, he’s just a little horny, that’s all.  

hmmm small horn speakers...is that like jumbo shrimp or a minor catastrophe...?? 🤣

Very happy with Rythmik subs. 

 

Steve:

I would strongly suggest a Totem Kin powered sub. They have them on sale right now at the Totem website for $500 ( regular price is $800). Sound and build quality are off the charts. Probably the smallest sub I have ever seen too. Sealed enclosure, 8" rigid carbon fiber woofer, magnetic grills. One of the most un-colored subs I have owned. Does not muddy up the lower midrange like most subs priced below $1000, even when the crossover is set above 100hz. This sub actually improves the lower midrange when used with small to mid size main speakers. A true audiophile subwoofer for those who appreciate music and not "boom"!

He could get a pair of SVS SB1000 Pro subs for only $1350.  They’re basically 13” cubes with 15” depth, are sealed with a 12” driver, will get down to an honest 20Hz (-3dB), and includes integration software that lets you dial in the subs from the listening chair with your phone.  Also, they offer a completely risk-free, 45-day trial period including shipping both ways so if they don’t work out for some reason he can just send’em back no problem. 
https://www.svsound.com/products/sb-1000-pro-subwoofer

Best of luck.