Subwoofers
A
B&W DB1: $4500
The DB1 is a powered subwoofer in a handsome sealed enclosure measuring 19.3" H by 18.1" W by 16.2" D and weighing 97 lbs. Its solid construction includes: two mechanically opposed 12" woofers separated by a partially open internal partition, 1"-thick walls of MDF with 3⁄4"-thick bracing panels to minimize vibrations, digital signal-processing circuits to run its menu-based control system, home automation capability, and a 1000W switching amplifier equalized to produce linear output. Also included are a calibration microphone, four connector cables, and a USB-connected soundcard for use with the DB1’s Room Acoustics Compensation program. Setup was quick and easy. Though it lacked the pitch definition of JL Audio’s Fathom f113, the DB1 blended seamlessly with LG’s Quad electrostatics, and produced powerful deep bass and impressive room lock. “The B&W DB1 proved to be a real pocket rocket,” he said. (Vol.35 No.2 Read Review Online) JL Audio Fathom f212: $6200
The ruggedly built Fathom f212 is a powered, sealed-box sub with two 12" cone woofers. It measures 32" H by 15" W by 20" D, weighs 220 lbs, and has an effective cabinet volume of 574 cubic inches. Like the smaller Fathom f113, the f212 provides an automatic internal room optimizer for single-band adjustments, but lacks a high-pass filter. With its clean, well-defined low bass and outstanding three-dimensionality and soundstaging performance, the f212 delivered the full intensity and emotional impact of music, said LG. “The Fathom f212 has raised the performance quality of my audio system, and my enjoyment of it, to much higher levels,” he concluded. (Vol.33 No.4 Read Review Online) JL Audio Fathom f113: $3900 ✩ $$$
The f113 is a small, sealed cube featuring a 13" drive-unit with a prominent OverRoll surround that permits huge cone excursions. All controls and connections for JL Audio’s Automatic Room Optimization are conveniently located across the front of the sub, beneath the removable grille. Setup was simple and sophisticated. “Small as it is,” said KR, “the f113 makes a powerful and musical contribution to the bottom end, even in the context of an already full-range system.” “Remarkably powerful and clean by any standards, it is all the more so considering its compact dimensions,” he sums up. When passing his system’s low-end signal to the f113 below 80Hz, KR also noted “a dramatic expansion of the entire soundstage.” Though installing two f113s in his system required more care and time than LG had anticipated, the improvements in soundstaging and deep-bass reproduction were worth the effort. “My entire system achieved its best performance to date,” he said, also noting that the JL Audio’s Automatic Room Optimization circuit enabled him to tune out an annoying 50Hz mode in his room acoustics. Price is for Gloss Black finish. Black Satin costs $3200. (Vol.29 No.11, Vol.30 Nos.5 & 9 Read Review Online)
Paradigm Reference SUB 15: $3199
The SUB 15 has a 15" drive-unit with a 76mm-diameter voice-coil, and is rated for bass extension down to 12Hz. Considerably more attractive than the austere Paradigm Reference Servo-15, the SUB 15 has outrigger feet, gracefully tapered side panels, and weighs 114 lbs. It accepts balanced and unbalanced RCA input signals, and offers a trigger input, adjustable low-pass filter, phase adjustment, and a USB port for control of its equalizer. Compared to the Servo-15, the SUB 15 produced a flatter, more extended bass response with a smoother upper end, allowing it to more readily “disappear” as a discrete sound source. “The SUB 15 offers all the powerful bass and extension needed for any music and, indeed, for home theater, unless you’re a bass maniac,” said Kal. (Vol.33 No.1 Read Review Online) Velodyne Digital Drive DD-18+: $5999 ✩
The servo-driven DD-18 has a built-in spectrum analyzer and eight-band digital equalizer, which allow the sub’s performance to be optimized for its owner’s listening room, and is one of the most expensive subwoofers on the market. LG’s system gained tight, solid, bass reinforcement with “jaw-dropping increases in definition in the deepest notes.” The soundstage also gained width and depth, while spatial perspective was enhanced. LG: “The combination of its computer installation program and its first-rate servo-controlled drive-unit make it a true breakthrough for aftermarket subwoofers.” (Vol.27 No.6 Read Review Online) B Bryston 10B-SUB crossover: $3595 ✩
The 10B features three balanced configurations—stereo two-way, monophonic two-way, and monophonic three-way—and proved extraordinarily versatile in managing crossover slopes and frequencies. LG heard no electronic edginess and noted only the slightest loss in soundstage depth. “I found the 10B-SUB’s sound clear, transparent, and neutral—as good as I’ve ever heard from an outboard crossover.” (Vol.18 No.5, Vol.28 No.11 Read Review Online)
Editor’s Note: There are no Class C subwoofers listed.
D
NHT Super 8: $349
Physically and sonically a perfect match for NHT’s SuperZero 2.0 minimonitor, the gloss-black, sealed-box Super 8 measures 11" on each side and uses a single 8" long-throw paper-cone driver. It has a 110W class-D amplifier with a switching power supply and offers line- and speaker-level inputs, as well as an LFE input for connection to a sub output. The Super 8 blended seamlessly with the SuperZero 2.0 to dramatically improve bass impact and low-frequency extension without damaging the SuperZero’s extended highs, clean midrange, and excellent image focus, said SM. Package price for SuperZero 2.0 and Super 8 sub is $500. (Vol.34 No.10 Read Review Online)
The DB1 is a powered subwoofer in a handsome sealed enclosure measuring 19.3" H by 18.1" W by 16.2" D and weighing 97 lbs. Its solid construction includes: two mechanically opposed 12" woofers separated by a partially open internal partition, 1"-thick walls of MDF with 3⁄4"-thick bracing panels to minimize vibrations, digital signal-processing circuits to run its menu-based control system, home automation capability, and a 1000W switching amplifier equalized to produce linear output. Also included are a calibration microphone, four connector cables, and a USB-connected soundcard for use with the DB1’s Room Acoustics Compensation program. Setup was quick and easy. Though it lacked the pitch definition of JL Audio’s Fathom f113, the DB1 blended seamlessly with LG’s Quad electrostatics, and produced powerful deep bass and impressive room lock. “The B&W DB1 proved to be a real pocket rocket,” he said. (Vol.35 No.2 Read Review Online) JL Audio Fathom f212: $6200
The ruggedly built Fathom f212 is a powered, sealed-box sub with two 12" cone woofers. It measures 32" H by 15" W by 20" D, weighs 220 lbs, and has an effective cabinet volume of 574 cubic inches. Like the smaller Fathom f113, the f212 provides an automatic internal room optimizer for single-band adjustments, but lacks a high-pass filter. With its clean, well-defined low bass and outstanding three-dimensionality and soundstaging performance, the f212 delivered the full intensity and emotional impact of music, said LG. “The Fathom f212 has raised the performance quality of my audio system, and my enjoyment of it, to much higher levels,” he concluded. (Vol.33 No.4 Read Review Online) JL Audio Fathom f113: $3900 ✩ $$$
The f113 is a small, sealed cube featuring a 13" drive-unit with a prominent OverRoll surround that permits huge cone excursions. All controls and connections for JL Audio’s Automatic Room Optimization are conveniently located across the front of the sub, beneath the removable grille. Setup was simple and sophisticated. “Small as it is,” said KR, “the f113 makes a powerful and musical contribution to the bottom end, even in the context of an already full-range system.” “Remarkably powerful and clean by any standards, it is all the more so considering its compact dimensions,” he sums up. When passing his system’s low-end signal to the f113 below 80Hz, KR also noted “a dramatic expansion of the entire soundstage.” Though installing two f113s in his system required more care and time than LG had anticipated, the improvements in soundstaging and deep-bass reproduction were worth the effort. “My entire system achieved its best performance to date,” he said, also noting that the JL Audio’s Automatic Room Optimization circuit enabled him to tune out an annoying 50Hz mode in his room acoustics. Price is for Gloss Black finish. Black Satin costs $3200. (Vol.29 No.11, Vol.30 Nos.5 & 9 Read Review Online)
The SUB 15 has a 15" drive-unit with a 76mm-diameter voice-coil, and is rated for bass extension down to 12Hz. Considerably more attractive than the austere Paradigm Reference Servo-15, the SUB 15 has outrigger feet, gracefully tapered side panels, and weighs 114 lbs. It accepts balanced and unbalanced RCA input signals, and offers a trigger input, adjustable low-pass filter, phase adjustment, and a USB port for control of its equalizer. Compared to the Servo-15, the SUB 15 produced a flatter, more extended bass response with a smoother upper end, allowing it to more readily “disappear” as a discrete sound source. “The SUB 15 offers all the powerful bass and extension needed for any music and, indeed, for home theater, unless you’re a bass maniac,” said Kal. (Vol.33 No.1 Read Review Online) Velodyne Digital Drive DD-18+: $5999 ✩
The servo-driven DD-18 has a built-in spectrum analyzer and eight-band digital equalizer, which allow the sub’s performance to be optimized for its owner’s listening room, and is one of the most expensive subwoofers on the market. LG’s system gained tight, solid, bass reinforcement with “jaw-dropping increases in definition in the deepest notes.” The soundstage also gained width and depth, while spatial perspective was enhanced. LG: “The combination of its computer installation program and its first-rate servo-controlled drive-unit make it a true breakthrough for aftermarket subwoofers.” (Vol.27 No.6 Read Review Online) B Bryston 10B-SUB crossover: $3595 ✩
The 10B features three balanced configurations—stereo two-way, monophonic two-way, and monophonic three-way—and proved extraordinarily versatile in managing crossover slopes and frequencies. LG heard no electronic edginess and noted only the slightest loss in soundstage depth. “I found the 10B-SUB’s sound clear, transparent, and neutral—as good as I’ve ever heard from an outboard crossover.” (Vol.18 No.5, Vol.28 No.11 Read Review Online)
Physically and sonically a perfect match for NHT’s SuperZero 2.0 minimonitor, the gloss-black, sealed-box Super 8 measures 11" on each side and uses a single 8" long-throw paper-cone driver. It has a 110W class-D amplifier with a switching power supply and offers line- and speaker-level inputs, as well as an LFE input for connection to a sub output. The Super 8 blended seamlessly with the SuperZero 2.0 to dramatically improve bass impact and low-frequency extension without damaging the SuperZero’s extended highs, clean midrange, and excellent image focus, said SM. Package price for SuperZero 2.0 and Super 8 sub is $500. (Vol.34 No.10 Read Review Online)
