In the market for a budget subwoofer

Gamefreak501

Gamefreak501

Gamefreak501

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Joined
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Bedfordshire
Hello everyone,

I am after a budget subwoofer - the cheaper the better - between £80-£200 to connect to my Nad c320 bee amplifier.

As it stands, I currently watch DVDs through my PS2 with audio going through my amplifier as oppossed to my television.

I have also found that although my Heybrook HB150 standmounts do put out a bit of bass, sometimes the bass isn't enough, especially for movies and music.

As far as I am aware, I will need to un-link my pre-out and main-in phono jacks and connect these up to the subwoofer with RCA/phono leads.

Specs wise, the size isn't a major issue, but I would like one that does go down to 35-40hz having heard a friends Teac cd player/kenwood av/Wharfedale subwoofer set up!

Thinking of the following:

Pioneer S-W160S-K Active Subwoofer £109.99
WHARFEDALE VARDUS VRSUB SUBWOOFER £124.75
Eltax Liberty Subwoofer £99.95
Cambridge Audio S90 £149.95
Mordaunt Short Premier 308 £107.61

Any others I should consider?

Thank you!
 
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Thank you Hedge - that looks nice - any idea if I am going to have any issues connecting this to my c320 bee, as I don't have a dedicated subwoofer out (just pre-out and main in)?

Thank you!
 
Gamefreak501 said:
Thank you Hedge - that looks nice - any idea if I am going to have any issues connecting this to my c320 bee, as I don't have a dedicated subwoofer out (just pre-out and main in)?

Thank you!
Click to expand...

You could use a nuerik lead too like the one that comes with it, basically that just feeds off your high level speaker left/right outputs as well as your speakers IIRC.
 
If you go for the Gemini you should wait for the MK2. Same price, supposed to be a little better. I think that's why there's no finish options on there.
 
Gamefreak501 said:
As far as I am aware, I will need to un-link my pre-out and main-in phono jacks and connect these up to the subwoofer with RCA/phono leads.

Specs wise, the size isn't a major issue, but I would like one that does go down to 35-40hz having heard a friends Teac cd player/kenwood av/Wharfedale subwoofer set up!

Thinking of the following:

Pioneer S-W160S-K Active Subwoofer £109.99
WHARFEDALE VARDUS VRSUB SUBWOOFER £124.75
Eltax Liberty Subwoofer £99.95
Cambridge Audio S90 £149.95
Mordaunt Short Premier 308 £107.61

Any others I should consider?

Thank you!
Click to expand...

No
No
No
No
No

Hedge said:
http://www.bkelec.com/HiFi/Sub_Woofers/Gemini.htm

close thread ;)
Click to expand...

Yes

Why would you need to use the pre-out, just use the high level leads that come with the sub. Just make sure that your amp doesn't have a voltage through the negative (black) speaker terminals. Check instructions, and look on the back to see if the terminals have an electrical flash type symbol, which you shouldn't have.

Then attach the x3 high level leads the speaker terminals as instructed, set the crossover on the gemini and bobs your uncle.

No need for pre-out or other connections.
 
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Don't want to hijack your thread, gamefreak, but I also have an NAD amp (C352) along with the Monitor Audio BR2 speakers, and have half an eye on a subwoofer. The system is used entirely for music (mainly rock and indie) and generally sounds great, but there are times when I miss my Z-5500 sub. For example, Radiohead's 'Climbing Up The Walls' is much clearer on my hi-fi, but just doesn't sound as convincing without the guttural bass from the sub. I think it's a song that's meant to be felt as well as heard.

If I bought a sub like the Gemini above and connected it to my amp using one of the methods described, do people think that it'd make bassy songs more satisfying? Or would it just ruin the balance of my system and sound awful?
 
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Crossover and volume control it properly and it'll add gut. Decent hi-fi/HT subs are gut, not flab, especially once setup properly.
 
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high level is a pain, it means you have to keep that bass knob flat, otherwise you cut bass to the sub.......

from a 2 channel amp, a tone-defeated pre out thats volume-controlled would be the best bet. dont know if your amp can do that or not.
 
Mattus said:
For example, Radiohead's 'Climbing Up The Walls' is much clearer on my hi-fi, but just doesn't sound as convincing without the guttural bass from the sub. I think it's a song that's meant to be felt as well as heard.
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Oh just to give you some further info on what a good sub'll give you; I've used some test tones today to see what various pieces of equipment I have are capable of.
My RTL3 floorstanders audibly produce the tone at approx 40Hz, my Quad L-ite sub kicks in about 20hz, feels like the low gut rumble when you've got a large engine near you, so yes a sub should definately give you that gut feeling.

Put on anything with a lot of drums, for example orchestral music and ooooohhhhhh.
 
Tried to call BK on friday but they had obviously gone home early / been snowed in.

Tempted by a MK2 gemini and apparently it has a new 10inch driver (vs 8inch on mk1), is a bit bigger, goes lower, and will be about the same price. Could be a nearly xls200 for £100 less.
 
I still find it amazing what the addition of such a small range of frequencies can do to music and movies.
 
Hey everyone,

Thanks for your continued replies - no worries Mattus!

The subwoofer has a crossover adjustment of 50-150hz and a volume adjustment - which should technically allow one to balance the subwoofer with the rest of the system - I have a few Radiohead albums - so will try them out with and without the Sub for you if you want Mattus.

I'm afraid I fell in love with the Mordaunt Short 308 Premier from a looks (as opposed to specs) perspective and had to get it...but I've got half a mind to test out the Gemini MK1 or wait for the Gemini MK2, after I have given this 10-20 hours of run-in.

Connected to my C320 bee amplifier with some very high guage OFC cable that cost me £11 for 2x2m.

First impressions, well, it suits my room, as the picture below shows:

_ICT9905-01.jpg


Bass is produced nicely - more so than with the standard Heybrook HB 150s - funnily enough, I used the Cure Trilogy DVD to test DVD soundtrack performance and noticed a huge difference going from PCM sound type to 5.1 - bass was punchy, distinct and had a lot more depth once I set this appropriately in the DVD Menu.

Another test bed was some music - Just like 1981 by Datafreq which has a very punchy electric drum loop on it - as well as Prodigy - Music for the Jilted Generation (whole album) and the whole of the self titled She Wants Revenge album which also has quite a heavy bass underlying to it.

So far, I have only given it between 2-3 hours of use. I expect the subwoofer to become more 'loose' and prominent after around 10-15 hours of use.

I'm not too pleased about having to wire the subwoofer in series with my amplifier and standmounts through the high level connections but I didn't think of that when I bought the c320 bee some 5 years ago.

At the moment, tone defeat is on so bass and treble is standard and I listen between 9-10 o' clock. The subwoofer is set to 150hz and the volume to around the halfway point.

However - I still need to make adjustments for my preferred sound!

Setup:
  • Nad c320 bee
  • Heybrook hb 150 standmounts
  • Marantz CD 65 II
  • Mordaunt Short 308

I'll continue to report on my findings!!

Thanks again everyone
 
You ideally should turn the crossover down to a little above your speakers or your sub will take on more than it should and your setup could begin to sound bloated. 150Hz is far too high, you should be looking more in the 60-100Hz region I woul imagine, although I dont know the specs on your speakers.
 
Alexrose1uk said:
You ideally should turn the crossover down to a little above your speakers or your sub will take on more than it should and your setup could begin to sound bloated. 150Hz is far too high, you should be looking more in the 60-100Hz region I woul imagine, although I dont know the specs on your speakers.
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Thank you for your reply!

You must be right about the crossover - I did notice a bloated sound after around 100hz. Unfortunately my standmount speakers didn't come with a manual - this had not been included - so I have no idea - I should imagine they respond down to about 60-80hz, so I'll try around these for the crossover.

Thanks again.
 
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