Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion The Water Cooler Sub for a "small" application

An unfortunate result of upgrading my main system to the Denon/Axiom combo and having that old tube system in my office is my wife and her rapidly-maturing ears. She is becoming less and less satisfied with the computer speakers in her office. Right now she has a set of Altec-Lansing sub-sats. You can imagine. So, I have a pair of Bose 301's gathering dust in the garage. I want to pair them with a sub and run her computer through my old HK AVR-25. I want to spend just a little on this, and I don't need a supersub of any kind. The question I ask: Has anyone heard/bought/played with those Dayton Audio subs you can get for $120? They have speaker level in/outs that I need, price is right. But for a "trainer" system do you think it would be good enough? The EP125 is just too expensive for this app I think ($360 FO) and the Hsu STF-1 is pretty close ($299). Any comments/suggestions are welcome. Which is of course why I posted this to begin with.

Anyone? Bueller?

You said the B word. That must have scared folks away.

I've actually heard good things about Dayton subs. Pretty good for the money.

Hey Mark,

The one thing that came to my mind was "intervention" when you mentioned those... things. Seriously, couldn't you just buy a new 2.1 setup of some kind for about the same amount of money, have cuter speakers for the missus, and have greater peace of mind knowing you're not employing the Blowes? Are you sure they'd be an upgrade over the Altecs?

I'll bet the Dayton sub is fine. I think the Hsu would be massive overkill.

How certain are you that adding a sub to the 301's would be better than two high-quality, full-range bookshelf speakers? If she's not gaming or watching DVD's, perhaps a pair of M3's (or something of that type) would be a better choice.

Stop it, you're hurting me! Can you imagine how hard it was to mention Those That Should Not Be Mentioned? Urrrp! But like I said, this is a training setup. If I can spend $120 and have her be happy I win! Now, if I HAVE to say upgrade to M60 or M80's and an EP500 and move the M22's and the EP350 into her office I will. But that might could cost a little more, no?

I use a pair of M2i's on my computer and it's a LEAPS and BOUNDS improvement over any "computer" speakers. Tons of bass? No, but it's so much better than "computer" speakers, she'll likely not mind it.

I agree! I just ordered some 3's for that very purpose. Though I think the Bose 301 might be nice enough for that application as well.
oz

What Oz said.Give the 301s a try and see if she is satisfied with them by themselves.

But but but

Then Mark wouldn't be buying ANYTHING.

Ahem. One of the things The Wife likes about the big system is the whump when she plays her atrocious 80's dance music and "rave mixes." Even the little logitech rattlebox approximates bass to an extent. Nope, the 301's alone won't do it. I do think they sound reasonably good though, as far as that goes. Closer to either of my sytems than to the little satellites if you put them on a scale.

Like I said, I want to be done with it, quick and cheap. But now that she's spoiled I have to give her an approximation of a decent system. And believe you me I will have M3's in my office before she'll have them in hers!