[JA]

Since subwoofers have been mentioned I cannot let it pass without a mention that if it's subwoofers you want (for life) then allow me to suggest the JBL B380 (uses the JBL 2235 15 inch driver) and JBL B460 (uses the JBL 2245 18 inch driver). These were JBL High-end statement products of the 80s and 90s and will still out-perform what's available today. You are unlikely to be able to find original versions today and they would be in the multi thousand $ range due to collectability to some audiophiles, BUT you can still find the 15 inch driver (JBL 2235) and 18 inch (JBL 2245) on which they are based on the second hand market, albeit they are expensive too, just not as much as the complete sub. Both of these subwoofers have highly compliant surrounds, a free air resonance of 20 Hz, high sensitivity (93dB & 95 dB 1W/1m) and giant magnetic structures (The 2235 driver weighs in at over 10kg with a 8.5kg magnetic structure and the 2245 weighs in at ~14kg) If you are very handy or have a friend who is a cabinet maker, then go DIY.

They are not small (JBL B380 is 127 litres and the B460 HUGE) and require use of an active filter, the JBL BX63 which provides +6dB of eq at ~26 Hz. The filter can easily be emulated in many of todays room eq products etc. The BX63 filter provides active equalisation before the driving amplifier and allows in the case of the B380 for an enclosure size of 127 litres instead of something like 225 litres (4.5 ft^3 v 8 ft^3).

Whilst not small, they will do justice to the bottom few octaves like nothing else, with great frequency extension to 20Hz, high SPL and most importantly freedom from distortion and dynamic compression when partnered with a good amplifier.

The B380 and B460 are both vented (bass reflex) designs, but if you like sealed enclosures I can also recommend the NHT1259 subwoofer with active eq in an ~100 litre (? Memory?) cabinet, it has excellent low frequency extension, but is lower sensitivity and has lower power handling than either of the JBL subwoofers and hence lower maximum output.


Best
JA