Parts Express subwoofer?

[reyneman]

Anyone have experience with the PE subwoofer kit (I believe they call it the Volcanic)? $350 for full kit with amp?

I'm looking at this for a home theater setup. I am presently using an old SpeakerLab sub (huge box) driven by an NHT amp. Sounding a little flabby lately (sorta like me).

The sub will be theater only, am more than happy with my ACI sub in the stereo system. Want to get a smaller box, a bit tighter bass, price seems acceptable, WAF doesn't appear too bad from pictures

All inputs welcome and thanks in advance:)

[botrytis]

I have heard that PE makes a decent sub for the price - especially at the low end. They are discussed on forums like http://www.avsforum.com . Vance Dickerson has designed most if not all PE subs.

Dave

[Thatch_Ear]

If I had the $$ I would buy the Eminence 12" subs with the flat faced cones to go into my isobarics. These with the proper amp might get you as close to a Sunfire at a resonable price as can be found. I do like having passive subs as they are much easier to tune in to the system.

[Dave 2238b]

For what it's worth, a passive NHT 10" goes for about $100-150 on ebay.
I picked one up for $90 and also use an NHT sub-amp to drive it.
Very happy! And they look great.
NHT makes seriously nice tight bass, and their resale value drops dramatically so they seem like a good deal.
If I remember right it plays down to about 27hz.

[revrun]

Reyneman, the Acoustic Energy sub that's going for a song on Ebay might be worth considering. All of those speakers are worth every penny and more, and would make an incredible system. Were I in need of a surround system, that's the direction I would go.

[botrytis]

AE are decent - but not in your face type of speaker - IMHO - - I think sometimes HT is an in your face type of endeavor. When I was looking for new speakers I really did canvas the state (as best as I could) and AE was one of the candidates.

All of the suggestion are great, but...

the problem is you can't listen to it - in your system. That is what I would suggest. Bring it home and see how it works. Go to a local shop or look on the internet.

Dave

[reyneman]

Thanks for the inputs fellow AKers

I went out to some of the local vendors around here and must say I was NOT impressed with what I heard of their subs, especially for the prices asked.

Since the 'big box' I have is still solid (much more so than the 20+ year old speaker surround, as I just found out today:eek: ), I may take some internal measurements and replace the woofer.

The NHT amp I have is a few years old NHT SA-2 (replced a Soundcraftsman that went out after only 19 years- sheesh, what poorly built stuff is that?)(OK, so I have moved around the world with most of my equipment), and I believe it will be more than adequate for the task.

Besides, I built the sub I have now (OK, it was a kit), and I kinda like the pride you get from a self-built item.

Parts Express may get my business, but only for a driver. Any inputs on good values there?

[botrytis]

I have not heard but - the PE designed sub is really decent.

They may be able to match a woofer to your needs. Call them and ask them.

Dave

[Thatch_Ear]

If I can save enough $$ I want to get the Eminence Lab 12 Gen II to put in my isobaric sub cabinets. With isobaric you get very fast bass as well as deep so the will do double duty and play DVDs and music CDs.
fs is 22 hZ, 6 ohm 2.5" voice coils, kevlar impregnated paper, 2 80 oz magnets ( I guess for bucking) 1 watt/1 meter =87.4 dB SPL, price if you buy 4 is $150 ea.
Oh yea, the have a flat face over the end of the cones so I imagine they can really punch some air at you.

[rhinofly]

I built a sealed sub based on the PE titanic driver and it sounds great. It is essentially the same as their kit except I made it a sealed instead of vented sub. And I used thicker walls. It was 3cubic feet internal volume before bracing and the amp/driver displacements, so all in all it came out to be about 2.7 cubic feet internal. I used 1.5" mdf all around, braced it good, used the PE 250W sub amp with remote. Covered the whole thing in bookmatched elm veneer. Came out looking very nice and sounds great. Made a huge difference when I play music from my home theater reciever. Total cost about $380. It weighs about 130lbs:)

Now I need to make one for my upstairs music system:)