Subwoofer advice

Nick1881

Nick1881

Nick1881

Soldato
Joined
4 Feb 2007
Posts
9,899
Location
Nuneaton, UK
My current set up is

Sony STR-DB930 AV amp
Front L&R Monitor Audio BR1
Centre Celestion

Sub-woofer is a passive Polk Audio sealed enclosure driven by a Technics stereo amp.

It sounds great for music but I don't feel like I'm getting all the ground shaking effects in films.

Would I be better buying an active subwoofer say a 10" ported type of thing.
I would spend about £200-250, a quick search found me a few different options of subs that were up to £700 new.

Would I actually gain anything over this already big sub? My room is quite small and the floors concrete with laminate. I'm a big bass head and just want more lol.
 
The BK Gemini 2 is probably the best option within your budget. I've got one and it's great quality and is capable of shaking the walls if that's what you want. :D
 
BK subs are good for the money, but if a tactile experience is what you're after then your budget needs to be bumped up a touch if buying new. A Gemini isn't bad but it's a small sub, so isn't going to have the reach and outright grunt of its bigger brothers. An XLS400 or Monolith would be great but virtually double the price and the space taken in a small room can put people off.

Second hand is a good idea, old REL's go for your kind of money and won't be bad either. What size is the room?
 
Nick1881 said:
My current set up is

Sony STR-DB930 AV amp
Front L&R Monitor Audio BR1
Centre Celestion

Sub-woofer is a passive Polk Audio sealed enclosure driven by a Technics stereo amp.

It sounds great for music but I don't feel like I'm getting all the ground shaking effects in films.

Would I be better buying an active subwoofer say a 10" ported type of thing.
I would spend about £200-250, a quick search found me a few different options of subs that were up to £700 new.

Would I actually gain anything over this already big sub? My room is quite small and the floors concrete with laminate. I'm a big bass head and just want more lol.
Click to expand...

How powerful is the tecnics amp? You can buy the monolith driver for £90 from Bk and the monolith port for £10, then you "just throw it in a 100L box" and you're done. Mdf should be around £30, £15 for rattle cans and you've got around £50 left for a reckhorn b2 off amazon for a bit of EQ and a 20hz subsonic filter so you don't bottom the cone out.

Thats what i did. It was fun, gave me a project and performs brilliantly. Goes so low its unreal.
 
I would definitely second the BK Monolith recommendations, priced way below it's ability imo, definitely worth saving the extra finances to get one. Mine still manages to surprise me even after 2 years of ownership, once you've got one watch War Of The Worlds (2005) on blu-ray.;) Your neighbours will either move out or buy one!!!:D
 
Sorry I didn't make it clear, was looking at buying something used, I will have a look at the BK range though.

My current sub is 20" x 13" x 12" (LxWxH) with my amp sat on top of it.

Building something had already crossed my mind but I didn't know what sub to put in it, will have a look at the monolith driver.

Technics amp is a SU-V470 rated at

Power Output (DIN): 90Wx2 (4 ohms), 50Wx2 (8 ohms)
Continuous Power: 30Wx 2 (20Hz - 20kHz, 0.03%T.H.D.) (8 ohms)

Anyone heard of this - MJ Acoustics REFERENCE 1 Mk2


Edit - Room is 12' x 9' I have no attached neighbours to worry about.
 
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Ive got a BK Gemini 2 and its awesome

+1 for BK subs

im not sure if they have a 1 month w8ing list still, but they did when i ordered mine
 
Nick1881 said:
Anyone heard of this - MJ Acoustics REFERENCE 1 Mk2


Edit - Room is 12' x 9' I have no attached neighbours to worry about.
Click to expand...

If I remember correctly then I'm sure BK supply some of the parts for the MJ subs.

Why pay extra £££ when the BK will be a handmade sub straight from the manufactuer and probably better than somethign like an MJ.

I love 2nd hand kit but the BK subs are just such good value brand new!
 
Well the MJ is at auction for £180, the BK Gemini is £210 new but the higher range are a bit too much, unless I make my own with the BK sub, though that is much more effort lol.

MJ = 250 watt
BK Gemini = 150 watt
 
The MJ auction ended so that is out the window.

I dropped into a local Hifi shop and they have Monitor Audio BXW10 ex display for £250 (£410 new)

I'm going to have a listen to it on Wednesday, I'm not going to rush into anything though (famous last words :p)
 
-Ad- said:
If I remember correctly then I'm sure BK supply some of the parts for the MJ subs.
Click to expand...

They make them (or they used to)

I got an email from someone who worked there via AV forums when I bought my old pro 50 saying that they made their own version & could have bought one for half the price of the pro 50. :mad:

I'd have a look a getting the XLS200 as its been a popular sub with AV forum members for a fair few years now.
 
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I borrowed a mates REL sub to see what its like, much better than my sub for film effects, though mine is better for music.

I may have to upgrade my fronts next too lol.

Would like to have a listen to a BK Gemini.
 
The Gemini is a little cracker.

Didn't give me the oomph though in the tv room, but it is about 8x4x2.5m. Still, good effort to the gemini!

Monolith sorted that out!
 
I'm now thinking of upping my budget a little to the BK XLS200, worth it for the extra power?

People do seem to rave about BK, only heard bad things about the Monitor Audio subs so I may be wasting my time there.

Still that B&W is calling me though, very local too lol.
 
Another vote for ww.bkelec.com

I have the XLS200, it's really nice in my 7x4m room. Musical too as it's sealed, and you can use high and low inputs simultaneously if you so choose (good for 'direct' mode on amps, allow use of a sub without digital filtering).
 
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