Trying to decide what subs to go with

[ChopShop1]

Well, just like the title says...I can't decide what subs to go with. I have just purchased a 9 channel ED cinema custom setup, but haven't bought subs yet. I have been going back and forth between dual VS18.1, dual ED A7-450, some Diy options, etc. The catch is that the setup is going in my family room and must have good looks as well. Not fine furniture good looks, but certainly not "home made" looking. Any help, adivse or suggestions are greatly appreciated!

[dguarnaccia]

Chop,

Can you describe the room you are putting this into, and how much are you do theater vs 2 channel. Is the room sealed? Open to a large space?

What kind of music are you listening to?

[ChopShop1]

Family room set up...20x26 with almost 14ft ceilings. The room isn't quite sealed, but has a 6ft open with closable french doors and is open to a staircase. Mostly HT use, like 90%, but will need to perform for eclectic music taste when called upon. Thanks!!

[boober]

Either way you go, you'll get a great sounding sub setup either way.

For me this would be an extremely easy choice.

I'd go with the dual VS18's.

Here's why. I've never owned an eD sub. But over about a 2 year period of trying to figure out what my next and hopefully FINAL sub purchase would be, I looked at just about every bit of customer feedback I could find on an eD sub. I did the same with CHT subs. Here's the issues I found on a pretty much regular basis with eD subs, and apparently these issues are still going on.

Their ability to even have the sub you want in stock is just absolutely ridiculous! I've read to many horror stories of people having to wait as long as 3-4 months for just 1 sub. Only to just cancel their order out of frustration. There's been so many stories like this. There have also been a story here and there of certain people only having to have to wait a week or 2. And that's even for a custom built job. Now how the hell does that manage to happen? 1 person waits months for 1 of their more popular subs to be shipped to them, when another costumer has np getting their sub (even a custom built one for that matter), within a couple of weeks or so? I can't help but wonder if certain customers just get preferential treatment. If there's a forum member who's always talking about how great eD subs are, say at a popular forum like AVS, and they happen to have lots and lots of posts under their belt, and they go on and on about how great eD subs are, they seem to be able to get their subs within a reasonable amount of time.

Yet there seems to be lots and lots of AVS members with only a few posts under their belt, going on and on about how they've waited 2 months already and they have no clue what the status of their eD sub even is.

So that's the main issue with eD. Even stuff that's supposedly in stock on their site can take months to get out. I just don't trust eD anymore.

The other issue eD has had over time was their in house amps. They had some that would die on people, and people had a helluva time getting a replacement. This is an issue that had been on going for a long long time as well. eD seems to have gotten around this by no longer selling their subs with their in house amps in em I guess. :angel:

The other downside that you might run into with the eD subs you want is the price. Looks like for a pair of A7-450's, you're looking at around $3300.00 shipped to your door. Whereas the dual VS18's are just under 2 grand.

I'd love to hear an A7-450 as the driver that's used in that thing just looks like a total absolute monster of a driver. :eek:

With CHT subs, you're dealing with a company that seems to have gotten all of it's growing pains out of the way. The 2012 models, at least the VS18's that you're looking at, have a very nice finish. With CHT you know you can get a good feel for when your subs will be shipped to you. You can get a hold of the owner Craig pretty much anytime you want it seems. Either on the phone or here on the site.

I bought a dual VS18 sub set up a few months ago and still love mine. If you haven't already, you should check out my overall impressions/review I did on em here awhile back. I think I put alot of info in it that might help you out.

Here it is for you if you'd like to check it out.

http://www.chasehometheater.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4705

I spent years trying to get a sub setup that would just leave me not feeling like I need more bass, and my CHT subs have finally done that for me.

[dguarnaccia]

I think you'd be happy either way with the sealed or ported. A pair of 18.1's look very nice, and deliver a lot of slam, and aren't too big and ungainly. The 18.P's are a bit bigger though, but might be the way to go given the volume of the space you are filling. Assuming you can live with a pair of 40 in tall monoliths.

[dvenardos]

I have had good experience with ED with DIY flat pack orders but no experience with their pre-built products. If you are looking at options other than CHT than Outlaw has good offerings as well as HSU Research.

http://www.outlawaudio.com/products/lfmEX.html

http://www.hsuresearch.com/subwoofers.html

[Sandbagger]

I still have some UFW cabinets ( Piano Black, Madagascar Ebony and Piano Birds Eye Maple) I can load with a real nice 15" and 1000w plate amp

[tesseract]

Family room set up...20x26 with almost 14ft ceilings. The room isn't quite sealed, but has a 6ft open with closable french doors and is open to a staircase. Mostly HT use, like 90%, but will need to perform for eclectic music taste when called upon. Thanks!!

Dual VS-18.1 would be perfect for that room. Other options to consider would be four 18.1 sealed subs, or two of the upcoming sealed 18.2's. Any of these three combos should fill your room with bass.

The finish is very easy on the eyes, the sound quality for music is outstanding (I am a 2 channel guy), and the output is insane.

[ChopShop1]

All good suggestions guys, thanks!

I am still having a hard time deciding what to do, I have even considered asking the ED guys to build me 2 A7-900 subs:eek: I wonder if anything out there could really top them for output in a huge room. It sounds like the sq isn't lacking either. It seems the more I ask, the more confused I get. It just stinks because I can't listen to any of these options.

[boober]

Remember what I said about eD though.......!

If you're planning (or hoping) on having these subs anytime soon, that might not happen with eD.

A house can be built alot quicker than a sub can get built by eD.......! :angel: :biglaugh:

So if you're ok with potentially waiting, a long LONG... time, and paying that much money, than the eD sub is an excellent choice.

[mfeust]

I still have some UFW cabinets ( Piano Black, Madagascar Ebony and Piano Birds Eye Maple) I can load with a real nice 15" and 1000w plate amp

Hi Kevin, YGPM

Thanks
Mark

[boober]

So you made up your mind yet? :D