Best Home Theatre Bass Subwoofer for the Bucks

The best known secret in the home audio business, which you will never hear any salesman at any store let you in on, is that spending more money does not necessarily equate to a better product. In fact, generally most people are spending money to own a brand name and nothing more. In many cases the speakers in many home theatre setups are standard fare speakers that quite often are made by other companies who sell them to the manufacturer that stamps them with the brand name that you shell out so many dollars to own. Case and point: don’t be a brand snob, brand names are only names. It’s what’s inside that truly counts.

Take the newest bass subwoofer series to make its debut by The Speaker Company, a leader in providing exceptional speakers at an amazing value, generally half the price of their competitors and more feature-laden. They plan on unveiling the ASW-8 powered subwoofer for home theatres this fall, and you would not be able to find a better deal on subs if you tried.

ASW-8 powered subwoofer
Featuring a flared bass reflex port that will really pound those all too sought after low frequencies around the room like you never have heard before. This 100-watt self powered unit is sure to get the job done on even the most demanding of action films without draining all of the power from your amplifier in the process. Using their signature BASH amplification technology, you will truly hear clear and audible 100-watts of sound that can easily shake the windows in your home. Utilizing internal dynamic compressors to eliminate distortion and thermal protection to prevent overheating, this subwoofer packs a serious punch for the bucks.

An 8” high excursion driver will thump even the lowest tones and 1.0” voice coil will assist. As their website states, “All of these high performance attributes combine to create the magic of a small drive unit operating in a piston like fashion with linear behavior.” This is exactly what you will get with this sleek sub which comes in a nice veneered wood box. Amazingly priced online for about $99.00 – and they are offering free shipping both ways. So even if you change your mind you can send it back within 30-days and they will refund all your dollars, no questions asked, and they will pay the return shipping as well. And you can’t beat that!

Features & Specs:
• BASH® amplifier technology
• 50w RMS/100w Peak power rating
• Vented (Bass Reflex) enclosure
• Rigid MDF construction
• Flared bass reflex port
• High density 5/8” (15mm) MDF construction
• 8” high excursion driver
• 1.0” voice coil
• 18oz. ferrite magnet
• 40-150Hz adjustable low pass crossover
• Independent level adjustment
• 0/180° phase switch
• Selectable “ON” or “AUTO” modes
• Operates on 110VAC
• Free shipping
• Free 30-day in-home trial
• Free return shipping
• 2 year warranty

The Most expensive home theatre system We Could Find!

Think life in the fast lane is expensive, lauded and posh? Yep, you are most certainly right. The lifestyles of the uber-rich are always decadent, lovely and uppity. And the rich have the financial means to enjoy some of the most extravagant toys that one could ever dream or think of. So should it really come as any surprise, to anybody that famous music engineer and producer, Jeremy Kipnis, owns a $6-Million dollar home theatre system? Not really, even though the price tag is a bit steep, hey who is counting when you rake in the dough every month right? Needless to say, we were a bit intrigued and decided to take a bit of a closer look at just what six million smackers can buy you for a home theatre these days, and rest assured it’s pretty damned fine!

Viewing
Let’s start off with the viewing. Using a Sony SRX-S110 Professional Video Projector which offers amazing 4,096-by-2,160 clarity, ten times that of a standard HD TV, and all blasted upon a very large Stewart 18-by-10-foot Snowmatte 1.0 Gain Laboratory-Grade Motion Picture Screen, movies are as big as they are in the theatre and more realistic than ever before. Of course a Blu-Ray player, PS3 console and other goodies compliment one of the largest in-home screens in the world.

Total Viewing Specs:
Sony SRX-S110 Professional Video Projector (4,096-by-2,160)
Stewart 18-by-10-foot Snowmatte 1.0 Gain Laboratory-Grade Motion Picture Screen
Players and Sources:
Sony BDP-S1 Blu-ray Player
Sony PlayStation 3 Gaming Console
Toshiba HD-XA1 HD DVD Player
JVC HMDH-5U D-VHS Recorder
SATA Drive (72 HDTV Hours Total)
Mark Levinson Reference N°33 and N°33H.
Pioneer HLD-X0 Hi-Vision HDTV MUSE Laserdisc Player
Surround Processing and Decoding:
Theta Digital Generation VIII 32-bit 8x Oversampling Dual Processors (13)

Power
Using signature Mark Levinson N° 33h, McIntosh MC-2102 Amplifiers and Crown Macro Reference Gold Amplifiers, the theatre sounds come to live as each woofer, mid and tweeter has its own dialed in amplifier to direct the perfect signal at the right amounts of power. No getting out cheap here, the amplifier setup is worth its weight in gold, actually more!

Amplifiers:
Mark Levinson N° 33h Amplifiers (2)
McIntosh MC-2102 Amplifiers (30)
Crown Macro Reference Gold Amplifiers (3)

Sound
Okay, this is where it gets really crazy. The theater is equipped with count them, 16 Snell 1800 THX Music & Cinema Reference Subwoofers, 8 Snell THX Music & Cinema Reference Towers, 10 MuRata ES103A Super Tweeters and 3 Snell THX Music & Cinema Reference LCR-2800 Center-Channel Speakers. So basically, as you can see in the picture, you are entirely surrounded by some of the highest quality speakers in the world that are being driven by the best amplifiers money can buy.

Speakers:
Snell 1800 THX Music & Cinema Reference Subwoofers (16)
Snell THX Music & Cinema Reference Towers (8)
MuRata ES103A Super Tweeters (10)
Snell THX Music & Cinema Reference LCR-2800 Center-Channel Speakers (3)

The Bottom Line
This home theatre is pricey and very impressive. However for six million dollars, we would much rather own our own real theatre and be earning the big bucks off that venture. But we must say, this is the nicest home theatre system that we will probably ever see, and that it can easily rank amongst the world’s finest. Of course, stomaching the price is quite another story. But when you are uber-rich, who cares, or even thinks about money, right?

How to Select the Right Home Audio System for Your Needs (Part Four) The Run-Down!

To finalize this four-part series on how to select the right home audio system for your needs, and continuing where ‘Part Three’ left off, we will now give a brief summary of everything that has been divulged and what exactly you need to do to find the best deals and the highest quality home audio system for your needs. You always want to take your time when choosing the right home audio system, its going to be in your home for quite some time. So relax, shop confidently and shop easy, and really hunt for the best bargains and deals on the best home audio systems currently available, and you will be happy in the end that you took the time to make the right decisions on the right purchases that will give you years of listening enjoyment in the future.

Assessing Your Needs
Make sure that you read everything in ‘Part One’ and have properly assessed your needs as far as a home audio system goes.  Do you need that illustrious 1000-watt monster for your apartment living room, or will less powerful and less costly system that delivers as much clarity suffice? Don’t over buy. This generally results in a system that is far too powerful for your living room and one that you will never truly be able to utilize the full power of without getting a noise complaint filed against you. Check out the link below, as supplied in ‘Part One’ to better reassess this process. Remember, buy according to your needs, and the size of the room that you wish to place the audio system in.

How to Determine What you Need

Speaker Placement
In ‘Part Two’ we talked about the importance of speaker placement, and indeed it is the deciding factor of how great your system will sound. Remember, the center speaker should be placed above the TV, or beneath it, depending on what type of a TV you have, and should be in the direct center. Left and right front speakers should be placed at least six feet apart and should have equal distance between each speaker and the center speaker. Your rears should be placed at least 2-3 feet above ear level and towards the back of the room, generally above the couch you sit on. Any extra satellite speakers should be placed on the right and left sides of the room in the middle. Use the chart to the right for a diagram on proper speaker placement, or use the link below that was supplied in the previous entry regarding this.

Free Guide To Practical Home Speaker Placement

Shopping for Bargains & Deciding On A System
You never want to rush into a decision to buy a home theatre or a home audio system. Rather, take your time and shop around. Make sure that you purchase only high quality speakers that are encased in wood and match the finish of your home interior. Assure that the domes are made of high quality silver or aluminum and that the speakers provide the maximum amounts of magnetic shielding. Finally, make sure that your speakers provide at least a 125 Hz – 20 kHz frequency range, or better. And lastly, assure that the subwoofer you are purchasing is self-powered and that your speakers match the impedance rating and ohms of the amplifier that you purchase. 

In ‘Part Three’ we also talked about shopping for the best deals on speakers. Do this by taking your time and looking around at the best deals to be had on the internet. Never just buy locally. Generally you will overpay, have to pay sales tax and have to pay for their ridiculous retail markup. Loop for free shipping deals and use shopping comparison search engines to find the deals for you, like this shopping comparison search engine. Finally, our last bit of advice here is to make sure that the system that you buy comes with a solid all-parts and all-labor warranty, so you do not have to worry about it breaking on you in the future.

The Bottom Line
You can easily find and buy the best home audio or home theater system for your needs. But you want to make sure that you know what you are doing and what you are looking for by first educating yourself on the best systems, the best deals and what to look for in speaker quality. By doing this, and by taking your time to shop around for the right system at the right price, you will be able to net yourself an awesome deal on a home audio system that you can enjoy for years to come.

How to Select the Right Home Audio System for Your Needs (Part Three) Deciding On A System

Continuing where ‘Part Two’ left off, this part will help you to determine what the best home theater system is for your needs. Keep in mind, the more money that you spend does not necessarily warrant the best audio system for your needs. Sure there are some brands that are lauded by many, when in reality they deliver similar audio clarity as brands that cost nearly half the price. Your best bet when shopping for a home theatre system is to harness the power of the internet and use it to your advantage. The internet is the largest online mall in the universe, and you can easily find a far greater deal than the traditional 200% retail markup you will be subjected to at the local store.

These systems, found at this great online store in the link below, will deliver the audio power that your ears crave, without draining your wallet in the process. Remember shop smart, save money and get the same thing for less!
High Quality Home Theatre Systems For Less Money

Speaker Quality is a Must
You always want to look for speakers that have the best quality for the money that you are going to spend. First and foremost, look for quality, handcrafted speakers that come in wood finished cabinets, typically white, silver or black, and choose the color that will best compliments your home interior. As far as speaker quality goes, look for speakers that offer maximum magnetic shielding, and use high-efficiency domes in their tweeters for the best delivery of those trebles. For subwoofers and mid-ranges speakers, assure that they are least several inches, 3.5” for mids and 6.0” or larger for subs, and that they are made from aluminum or higher quality metals.

As far as kilohertz is considered, optimal ear ranges span from 125 Hz – 20 kHz frequency range, so make sure your speakers meet that bare minimum before shelling out any hard earned cash. Finally, make sure that the speakers that you buy come with a decent all-parts, all-labor warranty, just in case they malfunction. And last, but not least, assure that you match the wattage, ohms and impedance levels with the power amplifier that you are buying, for the best results. One last tip to offer, make sure you buy a self-powered subwoofer so that it does not drain any extra power from your amplifier, this will greatly increase the power of your other speakers.

Get the real run-down from a large speaker manufacturer

How to Shop For, Buy & Setup a Home Theatre System
We dug around on the video file sharing website, Youtube.com, and guess what, we were able to find this candid video, created by an expert, that details exactly what to look for and how to find those best bargains on a home theatre system. It also will tell you what tools you will need for setup and what cables. Then it gives detailed instructions on how to setup and install your new home theatre system that you just got a smoking deal on because you followed expert advice. So shop right the first time, and take a few minutes to check out this awesome advisory video.

How to Select the Right Home Audio System for Your Needs (Part One)

We have commonly heard people fretting over what the best home audio system is for their residence. Many times we see people run out to the store and purchase an illustrious system that costs thousands of dollars and they will never even get to enjoy half of the features or the true spectrum of sound that the system is capable of. Essentially, we feel, this is money that is wasted. So, instead, we decided to create this multi-part blog about how to select the right home audio system for your needs, and with a budget in mind. No more over-buying that tower of speakers that you will never use half the power of. Learn how to shop for and purchase the right home audio system for your needs, on your budget, and start enjoying true home cinema today.

Determining your needs
Before you run out to the store and spend all of your hard earned loot on the home audio system that you may not really need, the first step is determining exactly what your home audio needs truly are. What type of a home do you live in: apartment, condo, house, mansion and so on? Obviously, those with a smaller domicile are going to need a system that delivers less power and takes up far less space than those whose living room has thirty foot tall ceilings.

How to Determine What you Need

Deciding on the speakers
Take this into consideration. You want at least 50-watts of power per speaker and you want a subwoofer that has its own power supply so that it does not drain power from your amplifier. Generally smaller rooms will be louder than a war with 50-watts pumping out the speakers. But medium-sized and larger rooms and rooms that have vaulted ceilings are going to require a bit more amps to really sound good. For a medium-sized room considered a 100-watts per speaker and a 150-watt subwoofer and for those monster living rooms with vaulted ceilings consider 150-watts+ per speaker and a monstrous, booming 250-watt sub.

More Speaker Tips

The Bottom Line
You never want to spend more than you have to for more than you need, that is just wasting money. Buy assuring that you are buying the power outputs that you need, you will both maximize your listening experience and minimize the impact of your purchase on your budget. We will delve into how to find deals on speakers and equipment in ‘Part Two’ of this blog. For now, just keep in mind that more is not necessarily better. And that name-brands offer about the same quality as less-known brands that charge less and equally deliver.

Get More FREE Home Audio Advice Here

Video Advice and Tips on Shopping for a Home Audio Theatre System
This shopping professional demonstrates the ins and the outs, the dos and the don’ts when it comes to shopping for and finding the best deals on the best home audio and or home theatre systems for your needs. Don’t let yourself fall pretty to the high prices of the local retail juggernauts. Instead, take this guy’s advice and learn how to find the best deals that can ever be found, the highest quality home audio equipment to be found. And kick back, and enjoy the best home audio experience that you money can buy you.

How to Choose a Subwoofer for Your Home Theatre

Many people run out to the store and buy a mismatched home theatre system, not knowing what they may indeed be missing out on. When indeed there are vast differences between all home theatre systems and speakers. The best way to know that you are truly making a smart purchase when you are choosing the best speaker setup for your home theatre system, including the all important bass subwoofer, which can really bring a flare of life to your movie viewing experience, your best bet is to read reviews and know how to buy a good bass subwoofer.

 

Choosing the right subwoofer for your system

When choosing a subwoofer you want to make sure that the impedance and the ohms match the same rating on your receiver and or your home theatre power amplifier. Always read the instructions on the box and look for the required system settings and configurations so you can match those with the bass subwoofer that you are planning on adding to complete your home theatre setup. Improperly matched components can lead to reduced audio clarity, poor signal strength, and or the bass subwoofer not working properly. Always read the matching components and make sure that they meet the requirements set forth by the power amplifier or receiver that you are using.

 

Good bass subwoofers will usually meet these minimum requirements:

• Included crossover that will send the lower frequencies to the woofer cone
• A separate power source on the subwoofer that powers it solely with at least 100-watts and does not take away from the power of the amplifier or the other speakers
• At least an 8” or larger driver in the subwoofer that can really hit those low notes and frequencies and bring your movies to life

How does adding a subwoofer increase your listening experience?

Adding a good bass subwoofer, like these ones, to your home theatre will really add a quality of sound to your setup that you have been missing out on. Imagine hearing action movies with deafening bass booms and real audio clarity? What about gunfire and buildings crumbling, explosions and all other things fantastic in movies? A bass subwoofer will really bring these sounds to life.

 

Check out this cool subwoofer test

This nifty video that we found on Youtube.com is a home video of a duo testing several popular home and car audio subwoofers. Some make the cut and others fail the test. But all in all, it gives you a really good idea of what the top audio nuts are currently lauding as the best subwoofers on the market today, for both home and car.

We Compare Two Home Theatre Speaker Combos, Lower Cost Wins!

When it comes to buying a home theatre speaker system setup you want to look for several things for sure. One, what are the consumer reviews on the current product set and are they favorable? Two, how much does this home theatre speaker system cost and how does the price compare to other home theatre setups. Finally, what warranty does it come with and is the brand reputable? And, how do the speakers stack up to speaker reviews? Well we are pleased to show you two more picks that we found. And while there is indeed a noticeable price gap, we found these two to be our picks of the day.

ACHT-200 5.1 Home Theater Speakers
These slick, black beauties are certain to compliment any home theatre perfectly. Made of finished hard wood, and consisting of a six piece, 5.1 surround sound speaker set that is capable of both clarity and power, but will not drain your wallet. Power 6.5” subs will bring to life the intensity of the movies that you are watching. Magnetically shielded satellite speakers assure minimum inference. And the industry standard warranty covers you on parts and labor, so no worries. Oh yeah, they also come with a thirty day trial period, where you can send them back if you are not happy with the sound; they hook up to any audio receiver. Well priced online from $100-$200.

Specs:
• 6 Piece 5.1 Surround
• 3 3/4 ” Woofer Satellite
• 3 3/4 “Woofer Center Channel (x2)
• 3/4″ Silk Dome Tweeter (per speaker)
• 40 Hz – 20 kHz System Frequency Range
• 6.5″ inch Sub Woofer
• Magnetically Shielded (Satellite’s)
• Industry standard all-parts all labor warranty

Onkyo SKS-HT240 Home Theater Speaker Kit
The speakers are pretty and come in the standard black lacquer finish. Consisting of two front speakers, two surround speakers, a center speaker and powered subwoofer. They come with all of the necessary cables, so hooking this system up is a breeze. Each speaker can blare 100-watts at 8-ohms, and the woofer is monster powered 150-watt juggernaut. A good warranty also compliments these but there is no trial period for returns, so once you buy them, their yours! You can find these speakers online but expect to pay handsomely for the clarity and power: To the tune of $399-$499.

Specs:
• Speaker System includes: 2 x Front Speakers / 2 x Surround Speakers / 1 x Surround Back Speaker / Center Speaker / Subwoofer / Speaker Cables / Subwoofer Cable / Onkyo
• Each of 6 Channel surround speakers is capable of handling up to 100 Watts per channel at 8 Ohms / The subwoofer has its own power, rated at 150 watts
• 2 Front Speakers: 3 1/8″ Cone Woofer x 3, 1″ Balanced Dome Tweeter – 5 1/8″ x 19 11/16″ x 3 9/16″ / 1 Center Speaker: 3 1/8″ Cone Woofer x 2, 1″ Balanced Dome Tweeter – 17 5/16″ x 5 1/8″ x 3 9/16″ / 3 Surround Speakers: 3 1/8″ Cone Woofer x 1, 1″ Balanced Dome Tweeter – 5 1/8″ x 13 3/8″ x 3 9/16″
• Frequency Response: 55 Hz – 35 KHz (Front Speakers) / Frequency Response: 65 Hz – 35 kHz (Center and Surround Speakers)
• Powered Subwoofer: 150 Watt Amplifier, 8″ Cone Woofer, Auto Standby Function – 10 13/16″ x 20 3/8″ x 16 3/16″
• Frequency Response: 27 Hz – 150 Hz (Subwoofer)
• Industry standard all-parts all labor warranty

The Bottom Line
While both speaker systems for home theatre come from reputable brands that offer clarity, high quality construction and decent warranties, the price is the biggest farce we have seen. How can two systems that are so comparable in many features be so differently priced? So while we don’t want to knock the Onkyo system, we will say that if it was our in-store charge card being run up, the ACHT-200 would be what the receipt read.

Learn How to Setup that Brand New Home Theatre System
So you just ran out and dropped a decent amount of your money on a brand new, state-of-the-art home theatre system, only there is one problem: You have no clue on how to hook everything up properly. No worries, we hear this all the time, which is why the below video, courtesy of Expert Village, details exactly how you do this.

Two In-wall and In-ceiling Speakers That Are Nearly Invisible and Cheap!

For those of you who are looking to modify your existing home theatre setup at home and without breaking the bank in the process, there are some nifty ideas that you can toss around in that noggin of yours. One of the most frequented complaints that you will hear about home theatre systems is the amounts of space that they take up in the home and that the speakers can tend to get in the way. No problem. What you need are some handy in-wall or in-ceiling speakers that both pack a punch, offer easy installation and will not break your wallet into pieces. With that being said, here are two alterative options that will allow you to effectively minimize the space that your speakers take up by using these speakers by TSC.

 

IC-8 – Pair 8″ In-Ceiling Speakers
This awesome pair of in-ceiling speakers certainly will make your ears think twice. That is because the sound that emanates from them is so clear you will swear you are hearing sound from a larger speaker. These IC-8s use an 8” polypropylene woofer, which commands loud and resonating booms, complimented by a 1” silk dome tweeter which easily balances the mid’s and the highs. The best part, aside from easy installation, is the price; well priced online from about: $59.99.

Specs:
• Bass Driver(s)
• Mid-Woofer(s) 8″ Polypropylene
• Midrange Driver(s)
• Tweeter type 1″ Silk Dome
• Magnetic Shielding No
• Performance
• Frequency Response 65 Hz – 20 kHz
• Impedance in Ohms 8
• Power handling (watts) 35 – 70
• Sensitivity 87 dB
• Dimensions
• Diameter 10 1/16″
• Depth 3 3/16″
• Weight per speaker 3.75 lbs

 

IW-8 – Pair 8″ In-Wall Speakers
For those who are seeking optimal customization of their home audio or home theatre system, these nearly invisible in-wall speakers will do the job perfectly. Like the above speakers we just talked about, amazing bass clarity is heard through the 8” polypropylene woofers, and the highs are as clear as they come using a 1” silk dome tweeter. These puppies also come with a mounting kit, but the best part is their low online price. Well priced online from about: $69.97.

Specs:
• Mid-Woofer(s) 8″ Polypropylene
• Tweeter type 1″ Silk Dome
• Magnetic Shielding No
• Performance
• Frequency Response 60 Hz – 20 kHz
• Impedance in Ohms 8
• Power handling (watts) 35 – 70
• Sensitivity 87 dB
• Dimensions
• Outer Dimensions H/W/D 14 1/16 ” X 10″ X 3.4″
• Inner Dimensions H/W* 12 6/8″ X 8 6/8″
• Weight per Speaker 4.7 lbs

How to install in-ceiling and in-wall speakers
This awesome video—courtesy Audioholics Magazine—demonstrates how to professionally install high quality in-wall or in-ceiling speakers like the two above we have reviewed. Now that you have your hands on the quality speakers that you need, it is time to get those screamers installed, here is how you do that!

Five Awesome Resources on Wiring a Room for Perfect Home Audio

While the experts on home audio will always tend to disagree on the fact that there really is not an ‘ideal’ room in any home that is just the right fit for the perfect home audio—one that eludes to clarity and resonance—one thing is for certain: wiring a room for perfect home audio, or the best darn audio you will be able to get, is far less complex than most people may think. Perhaps the wires and the speakers, and all of the boxes and inserts, outputs and equalizers are what cause people to become disorientated to the solution. However, there are some rather quick fixes that will yield you clear and robust audio, no matter what room of the house you are wiring in. And there are certain tricks to hiding cables and patching them that you may not know, but which will be revealed here.

Identifying your needs
You want to make sure that you purchase the right home audio system to begin with. The average living room is about 600 square feet and has several walls, not to mention furniture and artwork, and so on, that can disrupt the clarity of an audio signal. You want to make sure that you position your large floor standing speakers in a manner that allows the signal the least amount of interruption and most amount of distribution.

• Don’t place things on or in front of your floor standing speakers
• Avoid placing speakers near an end table or a coffee table that can disrupt the signal
• Angle the speakers inwards slightly to allow the signals to best reach your ideal sitting area
• If the room is awkward, try smaller, wireless speakers for a true 5.1 surround sound flare

Check out this website for more home audio wiring tips.

Too many cables? Go wireless!
If you find that cables are a hassle, or just get in the way of things, there are additional options. Go wireless! You can easily get your hands on affordable wireless surround sound home audio systems that will not require a single solitary inch of home audio wiring. Of course the drawback is that most wireless systems require batteries, which can become a nuisance should they run out of juice in the middle of watching the ‘Terminator.’

Wireless home audio systems like this one: http://www.avtechsolutions.com/s_av_senders.htm —are well priced.

Helpful home audio wiring how to videos

How to setup your own home theatre right the first time! This detailed video—courtesy of Expert Village—demonstrates how to setup your home theatre system right the first time.

Learn how to setup your home theatre subwoofer properly. This excellent ‘how to’ video—provided by Expert Village—demonstrates the most efficient and proper way to setup up your subwoofer for your home theatre.

Now that you have the cables run and wired, how do you hide them? No problem! This detailed video demonstrates the tricks of the trade; the ones that the pros use. Learn how to effectively hide your audio cables when installing your home theatre system.