HTPC / Powered Sub question.

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Ideon

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I’m not sure if I am posting this in the right spot or not (if not please move to proper thread) but I currently run my HTPC through my 5.1 Yamaha receiver (through HDMI) and I have been thinking about getting a second powered sub to really kick up action movies explosions ect. My question is can I run a Y splitter off from my current receiver and run 2 subs off from it or will I need to pick up a 5.2 / 7.2 receiver?

I’m currently running a Klipsch KSW-10 and it doesn’t seem to really have enough behind it.

Thanks in advance!
 
Y-splitter should be fine because it's just audio data being sent to two different subs. If the subs were passive and got power from the receiver, then I would say that you have a problem with splitting the power. But that isn't the case.

Alternatively, I would like to suggest selling your current sub and putting that money towards a more powerful single sub.
 
Thanks for the answer on the Y-splitter. I have also looked into the Klipsch Reference RW-12d As a possible upgrade. Polk Audio has a 12" that is usually ~50 bucks or so less but I'm not 100% sold on that one either. Anyone have a good suggestion? roughly in the 250 - 500 ish range?
 
I have 2 of the RW-12d and I have nothing but good things to say about them. I have them behind my 120" screen, calibrated and working like a champ.

Good luck with your purchase!
 
Subs depend entirely on the space you're putting them in. How big's the room (cubic footage). Is it open-plan? Do you have neighbors to annoy, and do they live below you?
 
The room is IIRC 14' wide by 18-20' deep. The room has two doorways on one of the walls. The TV is placed on one of the 14' wide walls with all the furniture in a U shape around the other 3 walls. My current sub is placed by the TV and the left wall kinda by the corner. I'm at work at the moment so i can't get the real figures until later tonight sorry. As far as people above or below me that is not a factor, but I've had my current system pretty loud and i haven't heard any complaining from my neighbors but I don't think they are home much any ways.
 
Ideon said:
The room is IIRC 14' wide by 18-20' deep. The room has two doorways on one of the walls. The TV is placed on one of the 14' wide walls with all the furniture in a U shape around the other 3 walls. My current sub is placed by the TV and the left wall kinda by the corner. I'm at work at the moment so i can't get the real figures until later tonight sorry. As far as people above or below me that is not a factor, but I've had my current system pretty loud and i haven't heard any complaining from my neighbors but I don't think they are home much any ways.
Click to expand...

So, assuming 8-foot ceilings, that's about 2000 cubic feet. You should be able to fill that reasonably with ~200W RMS in a well-designed sub. That Klipsch RW-12d should be adequate. I'd also recommend the Bic PL-200, Lava LSP12, or -- probably best of all -- the Hsu Research STF-2. All should be in the ~$350 range, give or take shipping.

As for neighbor complaints, I don't think existing history is relevant -- your current sub is so anemic (55w RMS, 30hz floor) that I doubt it could penetrate decent wallboard. Proper low end with proper power...well my Hsu VTF-2 mk.4 (response calibrated flat down to 18hz) can cause the far wall of the house 35 feet away to resonate, rattling wall-hangings. You know it's good bass when testing the sub causes the gas line to the dryer to start leaking. -_-;
 
Are you saying the HSU VTK-2 mk4 or the HSU Research STF-2 to give a go? I quickly googled the Mk4 and its $549.00 which if its that nice of a sub the extra 50 bucks means nothing when it comes to the performance of it. I'd like to upgrade my entire sound system but lack of funding has that on hold at the moment so i am looking to slowly work at it. My over all goal is a crisp clear sound with bass that makes you feel like you are really there in the movie.

And also thanks for all the advice, half of these manufactures I've never heard of so it's nice to get more opinions and see what else is out there.
 
Ideon said:
Are you saying the HSU VTK-2 mk4 or the HSU Research STF-2 to give a go? I quickly googled the Mk4 and its $549.00 which if its that nice of a sub the extra 50 bucks means nothing when it comes to the performance of it. I'd like to upgrade my entire sound system but lack of funding has that on hold at the moment so i am looking to slowly work at it. My over all goal is a crisp clear sound with bass that makes you feel like you are really there in the movie.

And also thanks for all the advice, half of these manufactures I've never heard of so it's nice to get more opinions and see what else is out there.
Click to expand...

The STF-2. It's $350 (plus $45 shipping) and should be a major upgrade over your current sub.

The VTF-2 is a phenomenal sub, but it runs about $615 shipped, and it might be overpowered for your space. For reference, while my family room is 2000 cubic feet, it's open plan to the rest of the first floor, which basically means it's energizing a 6000 cubic foot space. I only had to set the sub's volume to about 10% to shake the floors, and I had to track down our supply of those little adhesive foam feet to stop knickknacks from rattling against their shelves. I'm trying to figure out how I can move it so that it's less efficient (it's currently corner-loaded) so that it might propagate through the house less -- 40 feet away and one floor up, I can tell when an action scene is playing.
 
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