Best Sonosub for the $$$ (1 Viewer)

[Jasons_B]

Hey, i have been to many pages about building Shiva (especially) Sonosubs, such as http://members.tripod.com/~terryctheater/shivaphotoalbum/page12.html

Reminds me of a REL sub
Another I like is the Shiva Sonotube...
http://terryctheater.tripod.com/shivaphotoalbum/index.html
and the largest... http://www.nwlink.com/~ericj/ht/subf.html

 

[Joe Hsu]

Hmmmmm, I'm also interested in what people have to say, as I'd like to have a new sub later this summer, and it doesn't seem that building one would be too hard, nor too expensive.
Thanks for the thread.

 

[ThomasW]

In that price range a Tempest tube sub is certainly the best bang for the buck.

I hope the $250 doesn't include the amp....

 

[Jasons_B]

no, just wondering the cost of the enclosure. i have a marantz amp to power it, or some tubes.
i don't know how much the speakers cost, i have seen them (the shiva's and the other popular speaker for this job) go from $70-150 each.
i really don't want to break the bank on this
thanks.
also, i plan to use this for music 99% of the time. it will be used in a 2.1 setting with two University Horn speakers, in the future I will add three more to a 5.1 system of the University Horn's and this sub, this will be the change from music to movie, so eventually, 50/50 music and movie. will this sound good? The University Horn speaker sounds very similar to a Klipsch Lascala or K-Horn, just FYI. I probably don't REALLY need one, one being a sub, but I never seem to get enough bass
So, which would you do of those three? or do you have another one in mind?
thanks!

 

[ThomasW]

The 'sub for music vs movies' idea is nonsense. A properly designed and built sub will work fine for both.

Like I said in my other post start with a Tempest tube sub. It doesn't get any better than that for the money.

 

[Jack Gilvey]

Agree, a Tempest is the way to go. An ideal mix of parameters, enough output for almost anyone, and works quite well with inexpensive plate amps.

 

[Jasons_B]

how about an SVS SS driver? I would like the top of it to be smooth, no speaker or a cover a few inches over it because of my room look. that is why i choose those first two, mostly the first one, and then the last one has speaker on the top... i think. the top one would look the best in my room, especially with the two university horns and hopefully another tempest and two to three more university horns by this time next year, or sooner.

so, i would have 5 university horns and two sonosubs, hopefully the tempest if you guys think it will not be incredibly hard to build or too expensive and will match my university horns sound style.

if i made the the tempest i could stain it to look JUST like the university's since i will be building them at the same time.

how does this idea sound? a 2.1 system of University Horns and a Tempest and then later on a 5.2 (speakers, not channels of course) university Horns and Tempest. What do you think you could compare the value and sound quality and loudness to? I want to have a system that can compete with the big boys, but cost the same or close to the little guys.

THANKS!

(do i repeat my random thoughts too often? haha, do I? really, come on now, am I ran----- look at the pretty colors...............)

 

[Angelo_Petralba]

And according to Dan W., the Tempest in a 214L vented cab meets the criteria for an "exceptional sub".

Words of Wisdom!

 

[Jasons_B]

here are the apparent specs for the SVS woofer, it is the T/S or something like that, not the SS...

Fs/21hz

Qts/0.38

Qes/0.39

Qms/6.6

Vas/4.6

Re/3.2

 

[Jack Gilvey]

Why would you choose that one over a Tempest?

 

[Jasons_B]

Why would you choose that one over a Tempest?

I can get this for a terrific, really terrific deal, a donation. Just wondering what you guys would think about using this.
also, fwiw, this is not really for me. hard to explain kinda, my friend is very sick, or has been lately, and this is for him... he is building the university horns etc, this sub is something that I am going to do for him as a get well present. basically posed as him, really sorry, but it was just easier to post that way... :b how embarassing...
sorry about that, just thought i would let you know.... don't hate me

 

[Mike_A]

the SVS SS driver is an incredible unit, but certainly not a $150 driver. in fact i believe it's well over $500 from SVS directly *IF* you already on an SVS ultra or SS sub. we don't have the T/S paramaters for that unit either, which is what you need to design a sub properly. the T/S numbers you quoted are for the original SVS driver in their original CS/PC line.

 

[Jasons_B]

I was incorrect, it is the Plus Series Woofer.
SVS "dB-12" Subwoofer Driver
We could, but we don't specify standard, "off-the-shelf" drivers in our subwoofers. Taking the easy way out sure would save us much time and money, but where's the fun in that?!? Instead, work went on for months with the leading maker in the business. The goal? Build the best, most affordable super-woofer that can possibly be made. Anything that added to performance was included, nothing that didn't was left in. SVS's "skunk works" first maxed out the performance of this driver, and as a secondary consideration kept the cost as low as possible. Using "Finite Element Analysis" to guarantee exceptional flux symmetry and low distortion, our partners at TC-Sounds drew from the best designs in the world. These folks are famous for coaxing the last dB out of a woofer. This is just more proof. It's no ordinary speaker element. It's something no one has ever used before. It's pure SVS. Stealthy, devious... our latest secret weapon.
While our entry level CS/PC drivers remain the high-performance budget choice, if you can afford to step up a bit to the CS-Plus, you will get far more "bang for the buck" than you ever imagined with this amazing achievement in woofer design. Affordable performance doesn't get any better than this. What sort of driver does your old subwoofer have?
Link Removed Link Removed Link Removed
Revolutionary hyperboloid basket is extra deep, allowing exceptionally long excursion
Huge strontium ferrite magnet assembly (designed with "Finite Element
Analysis" to guarantee exceptional flux symmetry and low distortion
Custom vented pole piece
Extra thick, aluminum former and 2" voice coil (VC) exceeds electromotive capacity of typical 3" VCs
Rigid aluminum cone
Inverted dust cap
Dual stacked, mirrored image spider with sewn-in tinsel leads for force symmetry
1" Santoprene surround will not degrade over time
Industry leading performance at an affordable price
that is the propaganda on that sub, and the specs,
Fs/21hz
Qts/0.38
Qes/0.39
Qms/6.6
Vas/4.6
Re/3.2
should 99.9% be the right specs, coming from an SVS guy himself.
knowing all this now, will i still be able to use the Tempest design? >>>hopes he can, make it work he thinks, make it work!

 

[Dustin B]

Jason, I can see you getting your hands on the original SVS driver as those who have upgraded to the ISD were selling their old drivers for around $40. However, I don't think there are many, if any left.

SVS does not sell drivers separately. The only reason the ISD, CS+ and Ultra/SS drivers are listed on the SVS site are as replacement parts. You have to own the respective sub in order to buy the replacement part. If you don't SVS won't sell the driver to you. And I can't see anyone stripping the driver out of there CS+ or Ultra/SS to sell you the driver dirt cheap.

Also those specs you listed are for the original driver, not the DB-12 or Ultra/SS driver.

Edit:

Oh, and I forgot. It appears from your one post that you think T/S is a driver. T/S stands for Theile (sp?) and Small. I'm not really familar with the history, but it's my understanding that these to guys are the ones who did most of the major work on speaker measurement and development. T/S specs are the set of measurements they defined that allow very good guesses on how a driver will perform.

 

[Alexis]

The posted specs are for the original SVS driver, not for the plus series or the new driver.

 

[Jasons_B]

will this driver work? i need some positive input here haha. i want to do the tempest, which i think had a 15 inch woofer... so maybei will have to find another driver and pay full price? :frowning: but i could still use this in another, smaller sonosub. right? or will it be enough for the tempest?

 

[Dustin B]

The Tempest is a great driver. Can be used to make a sub that puts the vast majority of commercial subs to shame.

You need to start talking a little more concrete here. We've gone from Shiva - Tempest - SVS SS/Ultra - SVS Original - SVS CS+ back to Tempest. And you haven't given any specific information on the type/size of enclosure you are thinking about and what you are planning on using to power it.

 

[Jack Gilvey]

I don't even know what you're asking. You can use the SVS driver in a DIY, try a search.

 

[Jasons_B]

this is the one i want to make, it uses a tempest sub, thus its name is the tempest.
Personally I like the Tempest Subwoofer... http://my.starstream.net/mk/tempest_webphoto/index.htm

Reminds me of a REL sub
that is the one I want to build, unless you think i should do otherwise.
i only wanted to use the SVS sub that is being sold around for $40 because it is available.

 

[Dustin B]

Go for it, you won't be disappointed.