I wonder if Rythmic sells a sub that would be right for you at the price range you want. I made mine for $700, minus the cabinet that I just happened to have, but it is a 12" model. They may have a put together kit or assembled in your price range.
Subs And The Downstairs Neighbors
I live in a brownstone in Fort Greene, Brooklyn. The building has the usual suspended hardwood floors but there must be magic insulation because I can listen at 90-plus decibels and remain quite friendly with the couple downstairs. Nor do I hear anything from upstairs.
I have an Arcam A19 and a pair of LS50s. The system sounds great but one wouldn’t call it chest-thumping. So I’m thinking about a subwoofer.
In traditional New York style, my apartment is both small and expensive. So I’m looking for a cheap, low profile, downfiring sub that will fit under the couch. Monoprice? I’d rather get something used but the only other low profile model I can find is a $1200 Focal.
The secondary question is whether I’ll be defiling the sound of the LS50s by using a cheap sub. I haven’t heard the Monoprice but it’s probably doesn’t sound REL-like. Supposedly it reaches 30 db. Is that low enough? The sound doesn’t have to be great, it just has to be better than it is now.
The primary question is whether the sound will break into the downstairs apartment. Just a gut reaction but it seems like I’d be asking for trouble.
There’s an similar thread from 2008. The poster only got two responses from people with actual experience. One nearly got evicted, the other had two subs and reports that all went well. I thought I would check to see if anyone in a similar position has joined since then. Anyone?
I have an Arcam A19 and a pair of LS50s. The system sounds great but one wouldn’t call it chest-thumping. So I’m thinking about a subwoofer.
In traditional New York style, my apartment is both small and expensive. So I’m looking for a cheap, low profile, downfiring sub that will fit under the couch. Monoprice? I’d rather get something used but the only other low profile model I can find is a $1200 Focal.
The secondary question is whether I’ll be defiling the sound of the LS50s by using a cheap sub. I haven’t heard the Monoprice but it’s probably doesn’t sound REL-like. Supposedly it reaches 30 db. Is that low enough? The sound doesn’t have to be great, it just has to be better than it is now.
The primary question is whether the sound will break into the downstairs apartment. Just a gut reaction but it seems like I’d be asking for trouble.
There’s an similar thread from 2008. The poster only got two responses from people with actual experience. One nearly got evicted, the other had two subs and reports that all went well. I thought I would check to see if anyone in a similar position has joined since then. Anyone?
22 responses Add your response
I used to wonder if putting a floor standing speaker on spikes, as opposed to no spikes, reduced the amount of noise transmitted to the floor. Living in an apartment with neighbors below is what prompted that thought. I think the answer is no. It's the same amount of energy regardless of the speaker's contact with the floor. Spikes wouldn't help but something like the SVS isolation product would. |
No soup for you... I put my 70lb subs on extra soft rubber caster dollies topped with a two inch layer of open cell foam which greatly reduced the the low frequency transmission through my homes structure. Decoupling the subs and the substantial recalibration needed actually improved the subs low frequency presentation. You'd satisfy your neighbors but a DIY cabinet with signal processing and a couch with futon like space might take you way over budget. There are some in wall or contractor models that may give you some ideas. In my experience I would never consider 'sound REL-like' a goal. Good luck with it. |
This is a bit late, but check out the KEF KUBE 10b subwoofer. It certainly won’t fit under the couch, but it’s an excellent subwoofer. |
If I had the money for the reference series, lots of things would change. Aren’t those $10K? I would really have an issue spending that kind of money on a stereo. Morals? Inborn sense of frugality? I don’t know. I do know that I just hit 96 db on “The Headmaster Ritual” from Meat Is Murder without incident. I’m measuring from about 10 feet back from the speakers. Dig out Meat Is Murder. It’s as good as ever. “Belligerent ghouls/Run Manchester schools . . .” |
SOmeone above mentioned replacing the LS50 with Reference 1. That is a big jump in price but I think will provide the missing bass. In fact, I will be upgrading my LS50's to the Reference 1 when it goes META. Someone who I know that has heard the LS50 (maybe owned it) and now has bought the KEF R3 tells me that it has much more bass than the LS50. He likes the R3 a lot more. It is also not expensive if the OP sells the LS50. The R3 is something like $2K. My plan is to use the new KEF KC62 + the Reference 1 (or R3). |
Showed up in my inbox. Perfect timing. https://rel.net/blog/2021-07-22/principles-of-sound/using-subwoofers-in-small-spaces/?utm_source=Kla... |
Low profile subs for cheap are available from Parts Express: https://www.parts-express.com/Dayton-Audio-SUB-1000L-10-100-Watt-Low-Profile-Powered-Subw-300-639 For not so cheap from Bluesound: https://www.bluesound.com/products/pulse-subwoofer/ |
The new SVS 3000 Micro is $800 and will get you down to 23Hz (-3dB), and at only about 11” square I don’t care how small your NYC apartment is (I used to live on the upper East side) — it’ll fit. For $50 they also sell their SoundPath subwoofer isolation footers that will not only minimize transmission to the floor but will improve the quality of bass you hear as well. SVS offers a truly risk-free and generous in-home trial (including shipping both ways) so if for some reason it doesn’t work out you’re out nothing except a little time. Hope this helps, and best of luck. |
Subwoofers are all about placement. I have 4 SB-1000’s in the living room which is open to the dinning room. 130db in the living room 70db in the dining, it’s a dead spot. The kids room shares the front wall of the main speakers and is about 120db. I would get an sub with dsp and play with placement and different heights. |
a pair self-powered, front firing: two 8", locate with the pair of mains. Rockville’s are inexpensive, you can upgrade later https://www.rockvilleaudio.com/rock-shaker-8-wood/ I just bought a Rockville single 12" for my office, blends with my bookshelf speakers very well. IF you can’t set them up to give bass directionality with the mains, a single, perhaps this 12" Klipsch https://www.ebay.com/itm/254917585179?epid=7037012869&_trkparms=ispr%3D1&hash=item3b5a45a91b... if properly balanced at normal listening levels, at low volumes, you will need to boost ANY bass due to properties of our hearing, so don’t think 8" is too small, just boost the bass as per fletcher-munson curve https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equal-loudness_contour this has auto correction when you listen at low-levels, and gives you remote volume, remote balance, I wouldn’t want to be without one https://www.ebay.com/itm/274870895426?hash=item3fff950342:g:iiEAAOSw0tJg8tiE |
Thanks to all those who tried to answer an impossible question. A few reactions: -The new KEF mini-sub is the answer to all my problems. But $1600? I just don’t have it. Same issue with the larger KEFs. -I’m sure the sub dude is a good product but if it can’t go under the couch, it’s just not going to work. -Theater Solutions Sub 8 must be the Monoprice model with a different name tag. That’s what kicked off this post in the first place. And it’s still a possibility. I’d get it from Amazon and be able to return it if there’s a problem. Have you heard it? How is the sound? -Rocray: Right? And I mean listening in the mid-90s, peaks over 100. The husband and wife downstairs are both computer engineers and both are working from home. She first bought up the noise subject by apologizing for their newborn, who she said cries all the time. I told her that I’ve never heard a thing—true—and that if anyone should be apologizing, it’s me. She also said that she’s never heard a thing. In the stairwell, you can hear the sound clear as a bell, both up and down. If the windows are open, you can hear it on the street. My landlord, who is a contractor, bought a building that was crumbling into the street and rebuilt himself, brick by brick. I’m sure that he’s done very well on his investment, as this four story brownstone is probably worth close to $2MM. Whatever he put under the floors must be magic. I’d ask him but I don’t want want to even bring up the subject, don’t want to go anywhere near it. Living in the city means all kinds of trade-offs. I guess chest-thumping bass is one of them. |
My tendency in a situation like this would be to sell the LS 50's and get larger Kefs that go lower. If you put a sub that goes down below 40 Hz the people down stairs will definitely hear it at 90 dB. They might even notice light fixtures rattling. The Kef Reference 1 bookshelf speaker would be perfect. You will have a little more impact without frequencies that will cause trouble. |
OP, the sub dude suggestion (manufacturer is Auralex) is a wise one. While I live in a standalone house and have my system in the basement, I bought sub dudes when I bought a pair of Rythmik F8 subwoofers. I wanted to avoid vibrations, and those platforms do the trick. I wouldn’t recommend them with a down-firing sub though, as I expect that they would absorb some of the sound. If you are open to a front-firing sub, consider the dudes. |
I just bought the KEF KC62 for my LS50’s. This sub has a apartment setting for people such as yourself. I have not received delivery of the sub yet. Check out the reviews. It is supposed to be a very impressive musical performer. SoundStageNetwork.com | SoundStage.com - SoundStage! Home |