Re: Sealed or Vented?
Originally Posted by
andygreg
Our listening will be 50/50 music/movies.
I am also limited in where I can place the sub - it will go against the side wall (roughly) about 3-5' in front of the speakers and TV.
The main question is do I get a sealed or vented sub?
Ported, due to the 50/50 mix. If you get a servo sub (Rythmik, Paradigm, Velodyne, etc.) the ported sub(s) will integrate really well due to their lower distortion, so it will sound great for music. And the ported response curve works better for movies (so it can play the LFE channel better).
Many people will recommend sealed for music. And if it's a non-servo sub, I'll concur. But if it's a servo sub it can be surprisingly difficult to tell sealed vs. ported. Even on things like the bottom end of an acoustic piano, the bass section of an orchestra, or low brass.
Originally Posted by
andygreg
Also, a 15" sealed sub would not really fit in the fam room, so may be limited to 8" (like the F8) or 12", and dual subs are a potential option as well.
Looking for feedback on what better option would be.
Sounds to me what you're looking for is a pair of 12" ported servo subs. I was in this same boat a few years ago and bought a pair of the Rythmik LVX12s. They were surprisingly easy to integrate with my Sierra 2s, work a treat with movies or music, and are small enough that even my wife seems to not notice them in the room any more. The only time she complains about them is when they are not active for some reason or other. She really likes the Sierra 2s with the subs.
"If it sounds good, it is good." -- Duke Ellington