Active subwoofer or new receiver?

[Chris B]

I currently have a 6 year old Denon receiver which is Pro logic only (no DTS). I have fairly large front speakers, but no subwoofer.

Simple question... if I want to upgrade but am on a budget where is the money best spent.. on a new receiver with DTS (and dolby digital) or an active subwoofer?

[TransformX]

If you have a center and rear speakers, I'd go for the dts/AC3 option.

[gt40]

you have fairly large front speakers, so adding a subwoofer may even cause phasing problems.
are you happy with your current low frequency response?
what will you be listening to the most (music or movies)?
can you give some info on your current setup?

[KvHagedorn]

"Fairly large" means nothing to me. Are they "fairly large" B&W 802s or "fairly large" cheapo Kenwood rack system speakers?

Can you give us more information? Do you have center and rear speakers? do they match the fronts? What brand and model speakers?

[Chris B]

I think I'd need a substantial pay raise to afford a set of 802's

Ok, a little more info...

My current receiver is a Denon AVR1400. It's a 5 X 50 W (8 ohm) pro logic receiver.

My Speakers are:

Front: Dali 8008
1 X 1" high frequency driver
1 X 5" midrange driver
2 X 8" low frequency driver

http://www.dali.dk/Page.asp?MMID=1&MID=3&UMID=9&UUMID=16&PID=41

Center: Dali C1000

http://www.dali.dk/Page.asp?MMID=1&MID=3&UMID=9&UUMID=17&PID=42

Rear: Dali R1000

http://www.dali.dk/Page.asp?MMID=1&MID=3&UMID=9&UUMID=18&PID=43

Center and rear channels are from the same series as the fronts and are build to match them.

I DO listen to music a lot, but currently I'm looking more towards improving the HT performance, so to speak.

[Umfriend]

What DVD (SACD?) player do you have and what is yer budget?

[Chris B]

My DVD is a denon DVD 1000.

My limit for a receiver is 800$, maybe around 600$ for a subwoofer. I figure a 1000$ subwoofer would be overkill in a 4000$ system.

[xortam]

Spend your money on a decent sub for the most impact (literally) for your money. Best bang for your buck.

You don't have a lot of bass coming out of 8" drivers and the movie experience can be greatly enhanced with good deep bass. DTS can sound better than DD but it wouldn't be as much a difference without a sub.

[Chris B]

I just talked to a colleague this morning and he basically said the same thing, that I'll notice a bigger difference with a good sub.

[Umfriend]

I guess KVH, Greebe and Jammrock would know better, but I would wonder whether a sub would enhance your music experience. The cabinets of your fronts seem decently sized for the drivers and quite a bit of bass. I;ve never liked subs, especially when decent bass comes out of yer speakers already. With movies it may be different though. I get the impression it;s not so much that you would get lower frequencies than you currently get, just that between 50 and 80 hz, you get higher volumes.

A good store might lend you a sub to see for yourself perhaps.

[Fluff]

I have heard that REL are quite good for subs . Not sure on price . www.rel.net

I cant remember was pro logic the one that made the surround (mono) and centre and sub from an encoded stereo signal?

[Umfriend]

That's what I've heard as well. I wonder though, the Q series cabinets are small compared to what he has. Is 12" (largest Q-series) in a small case really better than 2 x 8" drivers in a larger case?

[Jammrock]

Get them both!

[Chris B]

*slaps forehead* of course. Why didn't I think of that

[KvHagedorn]

Well, both a sub and a new receiver would be good, but it depends on your priorities. Go ahead and get the sub since you don't have one, but listen to them all first. Good bass doesn't come cheap, but there are some $350 woofers that are alright (B&W ASW300). My pick would be a Velodyne SPL10 or 12, but they are a bit more costly.