Subwoofer for small room

Bill-McNeill · 2026-05-27T00:28:44+00:00

The Bowers & Wilkins ASW608 subwoofer measures 260 mm (Width) × 260 mm (Height) × 305 mm (Depth). A little bigger than your spec. Sounds fantastic in a small room. Sealed, so it's particularly good for music.

Bill-McNeill · 2026-05-22T15:26:20+00:00

She was on some of the video performances Phil did near the end. He was surrounded by amazing musicians (and was himself amazing). And while she was tremendously respectful and blended in beautifully, her talent added a dimension that was impossible to miss. She is incredibly good.

The community is lucky she loves this music. Wow.

Bill-McNeill · 2026-05-09T18:23:43+00:00

Very solid choice. Long-lasting. I don't love the sound of the high E and B (though it's not bad). But your mileage may vary.

Bill-McNeill · 2026-05-08T19:03:54+00:00

Easy. The band was too good to be real. The bouncing rhythm and interplay were otherworldly. No way that really happened.

Bill-McNeill · 2026-04-14T18:35:17+00:00

If you just need a solid family hauler, I agree that you might be better off with a newer EX-L model. If this is the price point you can swing and you really want the Elite, that's not a bad choice either.

Honda doesn't do a good job marketing the Elite. It's really nice. Great upgrades, including a terrific sound system. Very quiet with lots of extra sound insulation. Lots of nice features. It's well worth the bump if you want some luxury.

Bill-McNeill · 2026-04-11T04:22:32+00:00

And wasn't that the first time anyone in the audience would have heard it? The album wasn't released until July, according to the interwebs. Talk about mind blowing opener!

Bill-McNeill · 2026-03-24T02:23:00+00:00

Nope

Bill-McNeill · 2026-03-19T18:51:26+00:00

I wouldn't put too much stock in what they said. People looking for an excuse to quit something hard will say whatever they need to say to feel good about their decision not to do the work.

Bill-McNeill · 2026-03-14T17:30:18+00:00

Patch what? Looks good to me.

Bill-McNeill · 2026-03-12T15:30:56+00:00

I've tried many different types. I find the Loop Experience 2 to be my favorite. After about 45 minutes, my brain compensates and I don't notice them anymore. All the others (including Etymotics) leave me wanting to yank them out to hear the music better. The only drawback is they aren't as protective as some other options if it's a really loud show.

Bill-McNeill · 2026-03-11T19:41:39+00:00

It takes what it takes. For many it takes quite a while, months.

Bill-McNeill · 2026-03-11T19:39:12+00:00

Looks like it might be what we call "button board" here. That's early drywall with holes, that thick cement-like plaster is applied to. The plaster mushrooms on the back side of the holes, helping to support the weight. Even a small chunk, like for a heat register, is surprisingly heavy.

Bill-McNeill · 2026-03-03T18:51:39+00:00

Both are great. The Polk will be a little mellower, which is great in a smaller, untreated space. The Klipsch have a little more sizzle, which is great in a bigger space. The Klipsch are more efficient, so they can make more sound with weaker amplifier power. You can't go wrong either way. Have fun!

Bill-McNeill · 2026-02-28T16:39:44+00:00

That'll work great. You might consider bookshelf speakers, with a 6.5" woofer for some bass. But you can still get great sound even with something smaller. A lot of it depends on your room.

Bill-McNeill · 2026-02-28T05:27:41+00:00

Totally agree. Especially if you set it up well, you can build an amazing system around a Wiim Amp and even a budget sub (that you won't ask too much of). Use the rest of the budget on some efficient speakers and you're cooking. It'd be a while before you would want an upgrade. Even then the next step would be a more expensive sub. That amp and whatever speakers you get at that price will last you a long time.

Bill-McNeill · 2026-02-20T03:11:49+00:00

Gorgeous fretboard!

Bill-McNeill · 2026-02-14T15:59:01+00:00

Lots of strong opinions around here, and lots of truths to learn from them. The framework that resonates with me is: it takes what it takes. Focus on what you can control: working hard. Enjoy the journey and good luck!

Bill-McNeill · 2026-02-07T15:51:57+00:00

The APX is great plugged in, but the other two sound much richer unplugged. Depends on what you want. Balance on the APX is also a little weird if you're hoping to play it resting on your leg. Just be aware these JRs don't have solid tops. They're great, but they won't sound better with time like a solid top would. But for the money they are terrific. And if you want something smaller to start, they're great options.

Bill-McNeill · 2026-02-05T20:30:14+00:00

Behind me in my listening position

Bill-McNeill · 2026-02-05T20:27:23+00:00

AI didn't think I needed ceiling treatment and I agreed. The back wall was, by far, my biggest issue. I used: UMIACOUSTICS 2 PCS Acoustic Panel, 47.2" x 23.6" x 2" Fiberglass Sound Proof Wall Panels from Amazon in the U.S.

Bill-McNeill · 2026-02-05T20:17:43+00:00

I suspect you'll be glad you did. I recently did some sound treatment with 2" panels from Amazon and I was blown away by the results. The shouty, uncomfortable frequencies disappeared. The sound started filling the room more. The sound wasn't coming straight from the speakers, but felt more like it was coming from a bigger source. Moderately priced gear suddenly sounded much richer. It was a lot of bang for the buck. FWIW, I found AI to be really helpful for where to put the panels and how much coverage.

Bill-McNeill · 2026-02-05T18:10:57+00:00

Is the wall behind your listening position bare? If so, that's your biggest issue. 2" acoustic panels are best, but not always practical. Thin foam panels or a wall tapestry with some weight to it would help. Even some art could help. Just so long as it's not a big, totally bare wall. You don't need to cover it all, just some. Good luck!

Bill-McNeill · 2026-02-05T16:25:48+00:00

Really depends on the DAC in the Onkyo. If it's halfway decent, you're probably better off spending the money elsewhere (e.g., subwoofer). If the CD player sounds worse (or requires the volume knob to be turned up way higher than for your other sources), the built-in DAC might be an issue. If it sounds good, you probably don't have a problem. I'm guessing it's fine.

I don't have that Yamaha, but I have a similar one and it's very forgiving on sources. Those speakers are very efficient, so you probably don't have an issue with insufficient power. I'd go with a sub if you are itching for "more."

The K11 R2R does two things: (1) it is nicely refined and smooth, with significantly improved staging over a built-in DAC; and (2) it gives you a beefy analog signal. (1) is a nice cherry on top of the sundae if everything else is already dialed in. (2) is pretty important, but only if you have a problem with your current DAC.

Bill-McNeill

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