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Need a new subwoofer for music > HT in main room

Room is 24' x 15' with an opening for 2 hallways at one end. 9' ceilings.
NAD T760 powering Monitor Audio Silver 7i with Gold Center, no rears.
Room is far from empty (plenty of sound damping). Hardwood floors.
Currently have an old M&K 8" sub that should be relegated to less-demanding work - honestly it's fine for music - I just noticed it get a little unhappy recently during a movie, and later with some loud music. I need a little more, but not a TON. I do not want a situation where the bass carries throughout the house far exceeding the carry of the MA speakers.
Since I listen to mostly music and don't care about the whole extreme-home-theater bass-shaking experience so much, I'm thinking about the following subs:
  • SVS SB-2000
  • Hsu ULS-15 MK2
  • Rythmik F12-300
I was originally thinking about something from Monitor Audio (W12?), but from some reading it sounds like I can get a better sub for the same $$$, or as good of a sub for less $$$ (latter preferred).
There are a couple on the classifieds that caught my eye, but I know nothing about them.
Would appreciate being able to save $$$ and buying used if the sub meets my needs. Options include:
  • Axiom Audio EP500 v3 $375
  • NHT B-12d $395
  • NHT CS-10 $325
  • REL Acoustics R-205 $350
TIA!
erikkellison

Showing 2 responses by mzkmxcv

mzkmxcv
777 posts
 
If you want better than full range performance, the Rythmik is the best choice.

The SB-2000 is good, Audioholics rates it for a medium sized room based on its volume output, your space is a bit larger. The Rythmik is about the same in loudness.

The HSU is good (keep in mind shipping costs is an additional $80 on top of the $780 price tag, so $160 more than the Rythmik), gets ~6dB louder than the SVS (same difference as going from 50W to 200W), just doesn’t go as deep as the Rythmik.

I’d say the HSU would be the best for your sized space unless you really care about subsonic performance, where Rythmik is king.
mzkmxcv
777 posts
 
@big_greg

PSA’s owner didn’t just come from SVS, he’s literally the V in their name. He makes good subs too; for wanting subsonics I would go Rythmik, but if you only care about 20Hz and above, PSA is a excellent rival.

SVS’ higher end models are not as good for the money due to the digital screen, room correction, mobile app, etc. that they include, so if you don’t need those (I already have DSP upstream), then PSA and Rythmik are more bang for buck.
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