My Wharfedale Diamond 8.3s go to 40hz, is a Velodyne VX-10 worth it?

[SUN]

Hullo,

Title says it all really,

The GeeF has sanctioned and will be funding my first subwoofer as a Christmas present. I have read stacks over the last few months about HC and general opinion is that something like a cheap Eltax just won't do!! :nono:

£200 and certainly no more than £250 inc del will be an absolute maximum and for the level I consider HC to be worth to me personally I feel is more than adequate. I will never be the kind of person who spends £400 on a sub, not this side of a lottery win anyway. I know of my alternatives, MJ Pro 50, 2nd Hand Rel etc etc but I am keen for brand new and that all important sub (hoho) £250 mark.

I have a complete Wharfedale Diamond Cinema package

http://www.iagamerica.com/wharfedale/d8broch.pdf

This is powered by a Yamaha HTR5640. The Wharfedale 8.3 fronts go down to 40hz according to the website although I don't know at what DB this is measured. There is bass certainly and I feel my floorboards vibrating when they're cranked up but I still feel that I am not getting the real deal that only a dedicated sub can provide.

So forumites considering what I have said is a Velodyne VX-10 going to make a huuuuge difference against my Wharfedales? Its frequency response is apparently 36-120 Hz +/-3dB .

All opinions are greatly received :)

Cheers

[Mattie F]

As you say, Wharfedale don't quantify the frequency range they quote e.g. what +/-dB rate is used, is it in room or not. All these things can make a huge difference. They may well get down to 40Hz in room but I doubt any lower.

What's not in doubt though is the Velodyne figures - not only is the quoted response at +/-3dB but it is also "anechoic" i.e. it does not include room loading which can make a big difference.

Once you got a sub like that in room you'd almost certainly be talking a flat resonse down to at least 30Hz and maybe a bit lower. You've only got to look at the size of the driver, the cabinet and the amp to see that this thing is going to go at least as low, and probably a bit lower than the likes of the Quake and Pro 50.

Whichever way you look at it, it's going to go a lot lower than your main speakers and will therefore reveal a lot more of what's on the the LFE channel on DVD's. You should also find that it plays the deeper bass a lot cleaner that your main speakers (to the point where it might even be worth setting your main speakers to "small" - you'd have to try this and see though).

So, I'd sum up by saying, a sub's pretty much essential for a serious home cinema set up and that the VX10 is the cheapest decent sub that I know of. In other words - get one - you won't be disappointed.

Matt.

p.s. you should also be able to pick one up for more like £225 ish.

[SUN]

Mattie F, the Oracle of Subwoofers :)

I have seen your posts on stacks of sites mate including this one natch and have read your advice to others with great interest so I thank you for answering this and many other questions I have had that you indirectly answered.

The sub is going to be in essentially a 4x4x4 room So I don't think there should be a problem filling it with sound. Am I right in thinking that an "anechoic" room is an empty room?

I think I know where they can be had for less, I have mailed a dads certain brother. We talking about the same guy?

I am planning on using it for music as well and I'm told it's not quite so good for that but then I have nothing to compare it too so I doubt I will be too aggrieved...

If you have any answers to the above that's cool but I think I will go ahead and buy one anyway :)

Cheers!

[Mattie F]

No worries mate - glad to help.

Anechoic isn't like an empty room - it's more like a vacuum - the nearest effect you or I could get would be to put the sub in an open car park/field and then measure it's output. As you would imagine - if you do this the sub get's no help at all with it's output - put the same sub in a smallish room and all of a sudden it's output will look way better.

And, yes, I think we're talking about the same person.

On the music side of things, I would expect it to be pretty good but if it isn't to your liking for music then, as you've got a decent sized pair of main speakers, it's not the end of the world - you can simply use the 8.3's on their own for music.

Matt.

[dtsrules]

Try the powerbuy section over at avtalk.co.uk as they were doing the vx10 for £199 a while ago as i bought one and am more than happy with it for the price.

[Malabbey]

If you can't pick up a VX10, how about one of these (http://www.hifi4less.com/Vibe_Alpha_1_Active_Subwoofer.htm) as an alternative. I bought one last month from there for only £200 [ex demo] and I've never heard anything like it. Granted that my room is only about 3.7m x 3.7m but it doesn't half shake the room and that's it set at only the 10 o'clock position. Or you could buy from here (http://www.homecinemaheaven.com/prod_info/speakers/subs/alpha1.htm) for £9 less.
A little more info on it here (http://www.henleydesigns.co.uk/vibe1.htm) and here (http://www.homecinemachoice.com/testbench/index.html)

[SUN]

Mattie F - cheers for the extra info, anechoic is now added to my :dork: vocab, sounds like the VX-10 is definitely the best choice for me indeed.

Dtsrules - yeah I am aware that they were going for less as recently as 2 months ago I think althogh sadly Velodyne powerbuys have stopped on avtalk :cry: Luckily though the same source has quoted me £220 delivered to my door which I am happy with :)

Malabbey - I did consider the Vibe Alpha as well actually, at least on paper it seems every bit as good as the Velodyne, however on looks.... :eek: god its a minger :D when I see the outside of it I instantly think of them 80s like trousers that weightlifters used to wear :nuts: but thanks for your input anyway, if there is a hitch with the Velodyne I may have to get the Vibe and just squint a bit.

Cheers