need a non-pro subwoofer

[guitarist]

Well, that's just a really BIG home/computer subwoofer.

ha.

I guess if you have a really big house...or live in a cathedral...or are hard of hearing?

[mikebw]

Well it IS very big, but there are not many similarities between a pro sub and a typical home/computer sub.

A pro sub will generally be defined by having very high sensitivity (dB/Watt/Meter), very high power handling (1,000 to 4,000 watts) and thus very high output (+130dB). The main goals are to be as loud as possible and as reliable as possible. Reproduction of low bass notes (20-40Hz) is not a reality in most live-sound environments as the amount of power and number of speakers required to reproduce these notes at the same level as all the higher notes would be too high to be feasible.

A good home sub will typically be able to play down to the mid 20's within a few dB of the higher range (100Hz or so). Of course there are always cheap home subs out there that cannot do this, but a high performance subwoofer can be assembled by a do-it-yourselfer for a fraction of the cost of a retail unit.

[guitarist]

A "pro sub" isn't even an option here, we're talking about someone's home computer sound system.

Speaking of computer sound systems...

I can't be the only person here who's connected their mac to a real stereo system (via Griffin iMic) it's commonly done, and very easy to do. Instead of buying and connecting "computer speakers", or "a computer sound system"--no matter how good the various brands claim to be, Logitech, Bose, Altec Lansing, you name it--connecting a normal home stereo system will have more going for it than even the best "computer" stereo system.

I've used computer speaker systems, and have tried different brands, and eventually came to prefer to simply connect my mac to a real receiver/amp, connected to actual speakers and an actual subwoofer.

The "desktop" speakers can sound okay, even pretty good, but it always sounds like what it is, a nice, lightweight little mini system with something like 20-40 watts of power (compared 100 watts or more with an average home stereo receiver) and some of those computer systems do, yes, sound very good, and the subwoofer can be a key part of the system.

My point is, the "subwoofer" of these computer speaker systems could never be mistaken for a home stereo system's subwoofer in the first place. Much less a "pro" subwoofer.

(who's going to install and connect a giant pro subwoofer--designed to be used for live performances on stage--to a home computer in their apartment bedroom or living room? It's not even an option)

Beerman's original post title was aimed at distinguishing between a typical full-weight 10"--12" home stereo system's subwoofer (referring to it misleadingly as a "pro" subwoofer) and a recommendation for a good computer speaker system's subwoofer, the kind he could use for his kids' Altec Lansing im600s.

My vote? Get 'em real home stereo subwoofers! Big ones! 15", 300 watts! The kind that'll blow their bedroom doors off!

Just kidding. Hope you find the type you need.

[mikebw]

I was just posting to explain what the differences were between pro and non-pro subwoofers.