Bullsh*t

Enjoyed reading your responses, and can't disagree with anything you said. When I was referring to those 3 terms, I was simply repeating the ones that seem to be most often used.... but your description of what constitutes GOOD bass was spot-on!

Well, actually, it's too soon for me to say, because it's still in the box! But from what I've read, this is how I envision myself utilizing the Sprout: Since it has an integrated Bluetooth receiver, I imagine that MOST of the time I'll leave the selector knob in that setting because it will leave me with a quick and easy way to get my tunes playing simply by using my Smartphone. That's certainly what I'll be doing in the very beginning, because I've still gotta learn a lot more about high-def streaming. But when I do eventually get "lossless" audio figured out, I anticipate that most of the time the selector knob will be left in the "Digital" position, and then the primary source of input will be a dedicated laptop via a USB cable. Also, I'm not sure about this yet, but I hope there will be a time when I am able to control what's streaming into the Sprout from the laptop utilizing my home WiFi network, and if so I think that an interface app on my Smartphone should allow me to control the system. Don't know if I'm making any sense, or not... but I basically one day I hope to be able to control my system from any room in my house via my WiFi network... THAT'S what my ultimate goal is. In writing this, I have just realized a potential weak link in the system I'm putting together, and that is the lack of an integrated "trigger" to power on the Yamaha amp via detection of an input signal from the Sprout. Which means that I am going to actually have to walk over to the system and physically flip a switch with my finger. How... primitive! That's so... yesterday! So, I think those auto-on triggers might well be one of the biggest advantages of going with a plate amp for a sub. Is there an add-on trigger that can be used to turn on an amp like the Yamaha P5000S? Not sure.... But I'm betting that this is a fairly common issue that's already been figured out.

Many thanks to wvu80 for pointing out the "gaping hole" and also for offering me the good deal on the Yamaha P-5000S amp! I have graciously accepted. The Yamaha P5000S should certainly provide all the power I will need for my 15" DIY sub. I ultimately decided to go with an external amp for the added flexibility it will give me should I want to use it with a different sub / speakers in the future. I will simply return the Dayton 250 plate amp which I ordered from Parts Express. My overall goal is to build a system strictly for listening to my music – this will NOT be used for my home theater. More specifically, I plan to use a laptop to stream high-resolution music files from a service like Tidal. I don't really have any experience yet with this kind of setup, but I find it appealing on the surface. Anyone have advice on how to get started with streaming high quality, "lossless" music files from a PC into my audio system would be greatly appreciated - I've had very little experience in this area... And speaking of the Yamaha amp, it's a bit older unit, and of course doesn't have integrated DSP... Does anyone have a recommendation for DSP software (for Windows 10)? Or a standalone DSP device? Just how necessary / beneficial is it to have DSP? The integrated amp that I recently acquired to power my La Scalas is the PS Audio Sprout 100. After reading / watching as many reviews as I could find on the internet and YouTube about this unit, the general consensus is that it offers a lot of bang for the buck: https://hometheaterreview.com/ps-audio-sprout100-reviewed/?page=2 http://www.audiophilia.com/reviews/2018/5/17/ps-audio-sprout100-integrated-amplifier The Sprout 100 delivers 50w per channel which should be more than plenty for the La Scalas. It has a USB port for connecting to a laptop, a decent integrated DAC, and also a sub-out terminal that I will connect to the Yamaha P5000S. I have no doubt that it will sound 200% better than the el-cheapo AV receiver to which the La Scalas are currently connected. One day I will upgrade to a tube amp... but that's another story.

Well, I decided to go for it after talking to the guy I referenced in my original post, as well an email exchange between myself and a tech support at Parts Express... Regarding the HO vs HF question, both recommended the HO version for installation into a smaller sealed box. So, I ordered the Dayton RSS390-HO and Cabinet bundle. For only $267. Not too bad, I don't think. Now, in terms of the amp, I ultimately decided to go with the Dayton SPA250-DSP. I know, I know, I know.... the driver is capable of handling MANY more watts of power. However, given my intended use, and intended location (our family room, which is just average-sized, maybe 20'x25'), the tech at Parts Express agreed that it should provide more than enough power. Some have recommended the Dayton 300W w/ +6dB boost (but no DSP) for this driver when installed into a sealed box. I also considered the Dayton SPA500-DSP, but it was over $10O more, and reviews were frankly not as favorable; several folks mentioned that it didn't seem to actually be putting out that much power. I am hoping that I will be able to take advantage of the DSP software to "dial things in" to the sealed box, and to better compliment my La Scalas. Hopefully all of the parts and pieces will have arrived by the middle of next week. I will try to take plenty of pics during the build process and work up a little "how-to" guide to post on the forum. If any of you see a gaping hole or huge mistake in the making, please speak up and let me know! If someone has an extremely compelling reason to go with something else, I would certainly welcome such advice. The components can easily be returned / exchanged. Later...

Ok, finally settled in for the evening after a long work week... Now I can focus on what's actually important: subwoofers! But first, regarding the controversial word I used in my initial post in reference to subs, "MUSICALITY".... I was only trying to emphasize how I intend to use whatever sub I wind up building.. that is, what I want/need it to DO. Nothing more, or less. Perhaps I should have left that word out... certainly didn't mean to stir the pot. I'm still learning the vocabulary about all this stuff. But surely I'm not out of line to use such adjectives as "tight" or "accurate" or "fast" when referring to the sound and performance of a subwoofer? And I've noticed those words most commonly being used to describe the sonic properties of a driver mounted in a sealed box vs. other types of enclosures. The same driver mounted into a (comparatively) massive folded-horn type of enclosure WILL have different sonic characteristics... not right or wrong, just different. Truth be told, the number of times I'll actually get to crank up the volume on my system to, let's say, the average used in a movie theater - and then leave it up there while I sit and enjoy a favorite album start to finish - will be few and far between (this is sometimes referred to as "Qw" or "wife coefficient"). I'm trying to say that maybe sometimes less is more... more ideal for a given situation... and that smaller can still be sufficient. Now, I'm sure that there are some really good folded horn designs out there that really do achieve the best of both worlds: still sound tight, accurate, & fast - but don't necessarily take up a huge amount of space. That's what I'm here to learn about. But one can easily go overboard with a sub, no? Is bigger necessarily always better? I have heard some BIG subs in the past that were most certainly LOUD, and literally shook the entire room/rattled windows/etc... but to me, they didn't sound "musical"... (oops, I said it again... I guess I just don't know of a better word...). Regardless of my choice of words, I know what I mean. I've heard LOUD subs- but at the same time they sounded mushy/muddled. They basically sounded like crap. Subs CAN be disproportionately large, even to the point of being humorous... sort of like the time I was with my brother-in-law at the lake on his nice Rinker, and he commented as a 40' Scarab roared by, "there goes another poor guy showing off his penis extension." (Sorry if I offended any cigarette boat owners out there... I personally think they're pretty awesome to watch! 😎)

I just checked back in and appreciate all the replies; am still at work so will have to wait until this PM to jump back in... but I definitely have a few more thoughts... and questions! In the meantime - how does one customize your icon on this forum? And indicate geographic location, etc? I've scrolled through all the "account settings" pages but haven't found it yet...

Hello to all, I am a newbie to this forum... and this is my very first post. I have a pair of La Scalas, late '80s vintage, stock configuration, and I'm currently on a quest to find a decent sub to fill in the low spots. I'm most interested in a DIY project - and there are seemingly countless options available for DIY sub kits and plans. So now I'm here, hoping to benefit from others who've been down this road. I'm looking for something that will bring the most out of my music, and which will nicely compliment the La Scalas. This is NOT going to be part of a HT system... not interested in trying to shake pictures off the wall while watching Jurassic Park... Whichever sub I ultimately build, musicality is the number 1 goal. I want to hear tight, accurate, fast bass. I have recently been communicating via e-mail with another gentleman who also has a pair of La Scalas, and he recently built a 15" Dayton sub kit from Parts Express with which he has been extremely pleased: https://www.parts-express.com/dayton-audio-15-reference-series-ho-subwoofer-and-cabinet-bundle--300-7093 Like me, he was also looking for something strictly for listening to music. And further, he's a serious 20-30 year audiophile with lots of experience with lots of different equipment over lots of years. Right now, I'm thinking of following his lead, and getting the same kit from Parts Express. But alas, I am just an audiophile wannabe, and I still have lots to learn. So if any of you have a different suggestion for a DIY sub that would sound good with LaScalas, please let me know! Thanks!