DD Audio Loudspeaker Lineup Preview

If you’re a car audio buff, DD Audio might be a name you recognize thanks to a history dating back to 1986, not to mention their comprehensive lineup of gear including drivers, amplifiers, and enclosures. In the world of home audio…not so much, until now that is. Unleashing a lineup consisting of a bookshelf speaker (which can come as an active model), an on-wall speaker, an in-wall/in-ceiling speaker, and a powered subwoofer, the Oklahoma based company is hoping to take the value segment by storm. So what exactly do these offerings bring to the table?

M-151 Bookshelf Speakers

Priced at $229/pair, the M-151 looks to be a typical two-way bookshelf speaker. The driver compliment consists of a 1” silk dome tweeter and a 5” aluminum cone woofer in a rear ported enclosure. DD Audio notes the use of premium crossover components including metalized poly capacitors and air core inductors, which is a nice touch at a price point where every dollar counts. The enclosure is composed of MDF with “unique interior reinforcement”, which I would take to mean “we used bracing”. As far as specifications go, things are a bit sparse; however, it is worth noting that these are 4 ohm speakers, meaning you’ll probably want to pair these with something a little more capable than bottom of the barrel amplification for spirited listening.

PM-151 Powered Monitors

Largely similar to the aforementioned M-151, the PM-151 adds a 60W RMS plate amplifier to the mix, as well as some helpful features. The menu includes a USB output for charging mobile devices, standard unbalanced RCA inputs as well as two 3.5mm AUX inputs, a subwoofer output low passed at 80Hz as well as a corresponding high pass switch, and an auxiliary AC output. What’s the price for all this additional functionality? $279/pair. Hardly shabby in our books. It’s also worth noting that for an additional $49, you can add DD Audio’s S-Link, a Bluetooth receiver that connects to one of the PM-151’s 3.5mm inputs, allowing you to wirelessly stream music from mobile devices.

LS-241 On-Wall Speakers

If you’re not a fan of ugly black boxes, the LS-241 on-walls might be right up your alley. Boasting a curvaceous cabinet finished in gloss black, the LS-241 sports a 1” silk dome tweeter mated to a pair of 4.5” woofers. Frequency response is rated from 75Hz-24kHz +/-3dB, indicating (as one should expect) that these speakers are made to be used with a subwoofer. Impedance is again stated to be 4 ohm nominal. What about the million dollar question? In this case, it’s a question of $119 apiece, plus an additional $19 for a mounting bracket. Our humble opinion would be that the sleek cabinetry looks to be worth the price of admission on its own.

ABC-10 Subwoofer

There’s one thing that should jump out at most bass-heads right away when looking at the ABC-10: a -3dB point of 25Hz, which is specified up to the full rated power of the subwoofer. You don’t see that every day on a subwoofer priced at a relatively modest $429. So what’s the full story here? The ABC-10, as you might guess, utilizes a down-firing 10” woofer in a moderate sized dual ported enclosure; power is supplied by a 300W RMS amplifier. Controls are fairly typical, but one unexpected bonus is an adjustable crossover which utilizes a better than average 24dB/octave slope; while not a big deal for folks who will mate this with an A/V receiver with bass management on board, it’s a helpful tool for simple two channel setups.

IW6.5 In-Wall/In-Ceiling Speaker

For those looking to purchase “invisible” speakers on a budget, the IW6.5 might be just the ticket. For $149/speaker, you get dual 20mm silk dome tweeters and a 6.5” dual voice coil woofer, along with the same high quality crossover components of the IW6.5’s more conventional siblings. Frequency response is rated from 60Hz-20kHz (no tolerance provided), and impedance is specified at 8+8 ohms. The driver configuration does allow the use of mono or stereo mode from a single speaker, which can provide a more room filling sound when used in singles for distributed audio.  The IW6.5 also comes with round as well as square grills, both of which attach via neodymium magnets for a secure fit.

Summary

I’ll admit it, I’m not into car audio, so DD Audio was foreign to me. However, with respectable hardware and impressively low prices, it’s not hard to imagine these guys making a name for themselves in the near future. The LS-241 on walls definitely caught my eye, and the PM-151 powered monitors look to offer a fully featured system in an inexpensive, no-nonsense package. Meanwhile, the ABC-10 subwoofer looks to have the mettle (and extension) needed to compete in the hotly contested budget subwoofer segment. Anybody interested in giving the new kids on the block a try? Let us know on our forums.

For more information, visit: DD Audio

Unless otherwise indicated, this is a preview article for the featured product. A formal review may or may not follow in the future.