Suggestions for smaller SUBS???

B

Brian Murphy

Freshman
Jun 18, 2012
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After considering a LOT of different scenarios I've come to the conclusion that I'll need to compromise somewhat on a sub purchase. I could probably fit 1- UCS1 in my Jeep, leaving room for my other equip, but I'd have to slide it in on an angle and push it to the back of the front seats. It's too wide to fit at the back of the tailgate and sliding it straight in length wise takes up to much room. Not an ideal packing/unpacking scenario.

So, I figure my best bet is to look at a sub(s) that are smaller but NOT too heavy. I'd like to keep the weight at 80lbs or less if possible because I'll have to lift them up to the Jeep deck. The LS720P, Ksub, PRX418S, DXS12, and a few others seem to fit the bill and are not too expensive. I saw used Nexo LS400's for < $1000 for the pair but I haven't found any individual reviews.

So, I'd like suggestions from those with experience using the smaller subs.

Thanks,
Murph......
 
Re: Suggestions for smaller SUBS???

So yes the size is an issue. It appears that price is also an issue.

Does the performance matter?

Are you willing to give up performance for cost? Or would you be willing for spend more-if you got greater performance?

And when I say performance-there are different needs. Do you need it to go low? how low? Or is loudness more important than low freq response?

Starting to answer those questions will start to guide you towards a sub that meets your needs and still fits in your vehicle.

Maybe if you gave some size limitations-that would help. If it were narrow-but long-would that work? Or does it need to be more square? How large of a square?

Or do you care-as long as you get some bass performance and it fits in your budget and size? Without knowing more details-such as what the rest of the system is-what type of material you play-how loud you play it and so forth-there is no real way to give an accurate answer to your question.
 
Re: Suggestions for smaller SUBS???

Music is varied. Electric 5 pc band and another a 5 pc acoustic/elec both with at least 4 vocals. Neither band needs to play loud.
Pumping a pair of 2-way EV cabs with a Mackie 1400i and we're no where near pushing them. I'd be surprised if we're pushing more than 200W and the crowds say it's too loud...even outdoors. My stage volume is NEVER loud. I like my ears, I like to hear what's going on, and I like to hear the harmonies when I sing. Volume is not an issue.

I'm trying to keep my sub budget at no more than $1K total for a sub(s). Tough I know. Used is OK.

Frequency response is more important than volume to me.
As far as size? Long and narrow is OK as long as I could keep it to a max of 36" X 26" X 18". A cube/rectangle is OK as long as they weigh 80lbs or less.

I live in a gated community. No, not rich, it's very common in TX and I can NOT have a trailer parked in my yard or driveway, which means if I get a trailer I'd have to park IT in the garage instead of my Jeep.
 
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Re: Suggestions for smaller SUBS???

Some used JBL SRX718's wouldn't be a bad idea. Though, if you don't need to go super low(like below 50hz), the Yorkville LS608 is my favorite "budget" compact sub. A pair of those will run you $1000ish new, and if you can find them used, you'd be looking at about $600-$800 for a pair. They get loud, sound pretty good and are pretty easy to move around.



Evan
 
Re: Suggestions for smaller SUBS???

Brian Murphy said:
I live in a gated community. No, not rich, it's very common in TX and I can NOT have a trailer parked in my yard or driveway, which means if I get a trailer I'd have to park IT in the garage instead of my Jeep.
Click to expand...

Simple solution, buy a cargo van. If its registered as a personal vehicle, there is your loophole in the community.
 
Re: Suggestions for smaller SUBS???

The Jeep was a recent purchase. A compromise between cargo space, mpg, and looks. I didn't want to get a van or large SUV and pay more for gas to use it for a part time band. I should be OK if sub(s) don't take up too much room.
 
Matt Vivlamore said:
I'm having a tough time visioning a PA system packed into a Jeep. My friend has a Jeep and he packs his 5peice drum kit and there is very little room to spare.
Click to expand...

A very small PA will fit. Stands, cables, wedges, etc. won't really without some careful planning. I used to do a lot with a pair of KV2 (KX Audio) subs and some FBT maxx 4a's. I could fit a DJ kit OR an 01v with room for a couple other things. This was usually in store demos, private parties, galleries that wanted a DJ etc.

Real PA requires real transport, but factor in parking and the hassle of a cube/van/trailer for the OP and he might be able to make something workable fit in the Jeep.


Posted via Tapatalk app - lower standards may apply.
 
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Re: Suggestions for smaller SUBS???

Evan Kirkendall said:
Some used JBL SRX718's wouldn't be a bad idea. Though, if you don't need to go super low(like below 50hz), the Yorkville LS608 is my favorite "budget" compact sub. A pair of those will run you $1000ish new, and if you can find them used, you'd be looking at about $600-$800 for a pair. They get loud, sound pretty good and are pretty easy to move around.



Evan
Click to expand...

I'd second either of these suggestions. The SRX sub is not very tall so it should squeeze in there somewhere.

I haven't seen a yorkville LS700p that wasn't blown up, and the QSC K-Sub is "IMHO" probably one of the worst subs I've ever seen or heard. Avoid those 2 options.
 
Re: Suggestions for smaller SUBS???

Have a look at the RCF 905as sub. 75lbs, powered 1,000 watt 15 driver, goes way loud and sounds great.
cheers,
Mike
 
Re: Suggestions for smaller SUBS???

Not completely clear on what your musical repertoire includes, but if frequency response is more important than SPL I think a single sub is going to sound better than 2 smaller subs that add up to the same packing volume. If you can find a used PRX618S-XLF in decent condition, it goes low for its size, sounds pretty musical, is a pound and a half over your limit, and is a bit smaller than an SRX718S plus amplifier and crossover.
 
Re: Suggestions for smaller SUBS???

[TABLE="width: 869"]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl65, width: 127, bgcolor: transparent"]Mfg.
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, width: 135, bgcolor: transparent"]Model
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, width: 155, bgcolor: transparent"]Freq. Range Hz -10db
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, width: 157, bgcolor: transparent"]Freq. Resp +/-3db Hz
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, width: 64, bgcolor: transparent"]SPL
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, width: 137, bgcolor: transparent, colspan: 2"]Power RMS
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, width: 64, bgcolor: transparent"]Active
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, width: 64, bgcolor: transparent"]Weight
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, width: 192, bgcolor: transparent"]Dimensions In Inches
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, width: 64, bgcolor: transparent"]Price
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl67, bgcolor: transparent"]JBL
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, bgcolor: transparent"]PRX618-XLF
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, bgcolor: transparent"]30-105
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl66, bgcolor: transparent"]39-93
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, bgcolor: transparent"]133
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, bgcolor: transparent"]500 x 2
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, bgcolor: transparent"]Y
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, bgcolor: transparent"]81.5
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, bgcolor: transparent"]32.1 x 25.5 X 28.5
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl66, bgcolor: transparent"]1299
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"]JBL
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"]PRX418S
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"]35-250
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"]52-120
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"]130
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"]800
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"]N
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"]79
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"]26.7 X 21.1 X 24.2
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"]749
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl67, bgcolor: transparent"]JBL
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, bgcolor: transparent"]SRX718
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, bgcolor: transparent"]31-220
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, bgcolor: transparent"]34-220
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, bgcolor: transparent"]130P
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, bgcolor: transparent"]800
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[TD="class: xl66, bgcolor: transparent"]N
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, bgcolor: transparent"]79
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, bgcolor: transparent"]20 X 23.5 X 29.5
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl66, bgcolor: transparent"]929
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"]Yorkville
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"]LS608
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"]50-300
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"]132
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"]400
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"]N
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"]86
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"]26.2 X 23.1 X 24.6
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"]675
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl67, bgcolor: transparent"]Yorkville
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, bgcolor: transparent"]LS720P
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, bgcolor: transparent"]40-150
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, bgcolor: transparent"]128
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl66, bgcolor: transparent"]360
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, bgcolor: transparent"]Y
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, bgcolor: transparent"]74.5
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, bgcolor: transparent"]21.5 X 18.1 X 22.75
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, bgcolor: transparent"]824
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl68, bgcolor: transparent"]Danley
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"]TH-Mini
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"]48-200
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"]129
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"]700
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[TD="class: xl66, bgcolor: transparent"]N
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"]76
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"]24 X 15 X 22.5
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl66, bgcolor: transparent"]1250?
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"]QSC
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"]KW181
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"]34-143
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"]38-124 (-6DB)
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"]135P
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"]1000
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"]Y
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"]83
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"]20.1 X 23.4 X 29.9
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"]1050
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"]QSC
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"]KSUB
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"]44-148
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"]48-134
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"]130P
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"]500 X 2
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"]Y
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"]74
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"]26 X 14 X 28.1
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"]1050
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"]Yamaha
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"]DXS12
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"]47-160
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"]131P
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"]600
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"]Y
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"]72.8
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"]15.625 X 22.125 X 23.375
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"]700
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"]YAmaha
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"]DXS15
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"]45-160
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"]132P
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"]600
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"]Y
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"]83.8
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"]18.875 X 24375 X 24.5
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"]800
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"]Yamaha
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"]DSR115
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"]45Hz-20Khz
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"]136P
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"]850
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"]2-WAY
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"]Y
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"]62
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"]17.375 X 29.75 X 16.625
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"]1000
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]


Above are specs I gathered on subs and one 2-way Yamaha DSR115. The Yamaha specs are hard to compare, as others have stated as well, because they list a -10db rating and most of the others are at -3db. Speakers that list both don't seem to follow a pattern. The red highlights stand out in one way or another.

Some of these subs get rave reveiws and others don't. Some specs say one thing while listeners say another. I have not been able to listen to Yorkville or Danley but with a good amp to power it the Danely would come in about double my budget. Looking as spec/price the QSC subs don't seem to cut it compared to some of the others. The PRX618-XLF spec seems a bit low at 93Hz @ -3db and it's higher priced. All of the prices are "New" from eBay except the TH-Mini which is a ballpark.

Any other subs I should include?
Any subs defy the specs, good or bad?
Thanks
 
Re: Suggestions for smaller SUBS???

The PRX618-XLF FR really does drop off steeply above its non-defeatable 90 Hz LPF corner. Good sound quality to my ear, low distortion, musical. Also, it is 21x27x28, much smaller than the dimensions you posted. And there is no way it does 133 dB, unless you drop it off a roof onto someone's car, and then it only does it once.

Two others I had considered but was not able to hear before I bought the PRX. Both are made in China.
EAW SB150zR 25x20x19 76lb 15" front loaded passive, goes lower than size would suggest, SPL also lower than SRX or PRX. http://www.eaw.com/info/EAW/Loudspe...nt_Loudspeakers/SB150z/SB150zR_SPECS_revA.pdf


Community VLF208LV-BP 11x22x22 48 lb dual 8" front loaded, nice FR down 6 dB at 40 Hz, 2 of them would produce 125 dB continuous according to specs. Call Community to see if they have them in stock yet, seems to be a delay. I was quoted well under $500 each. http://www.communitypro.com/files/l...f?phpMyAdmin=c9cc5b3953d87385dc22218d669e7aab
 
Re: Suggestions for smaller SUBS???

Everything I've read about the TH-Mini has been positive but when you add the price of the unit, shipping, and a better amp than my Mackie 1400i to power it I'm guessing that the cost would be closer to $2K.

At 94lbs the SBA760 is pushing it.

When I look at the specs v passive/active v price there is no real stand out and it's difficult to know how close to stated specs any of these cabs will perform in the real world.
 
Re: Suggestions for smaller SUBS???

Brian,

I know the JTR Growler was reviewed on this forum (past or present…not sure, but it should show up in a search) and I'm almost certain that the TH-Mini was, too.
 
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