Lava LSP12 Subwoofer Introduction
Lava Subs are a
relative newcomer to the consumer audio industry whose products are already
attracting attention in various online forums. Currently, they make subs, only
subs and nothing but subs.
Aiming
squarely at that portion of the market populated by budget-minded folks serious
about their sound, the industry veterans who make up Lava have brewed up a
product line that focuses entirely on
what’s important; if its not essential to the function & purpose of a subwoofer,
you won’t find it here.
I was curious to see how a no-frills sub that
retailed for just a bit over $300 was managing to garner the positive attention
that seemed to follow it online. When Gene offered me the chance to review one
of Lava’s products, I jumped at the opportunity.
The Arrival
The Lava LSP12 arrived packed in a carton within a carton within a plastic sock, further isolated internally by styrofoam blocks. The value in the obvious care Lava Subs put into packaging their products was demonstrated by the fact that the exterior carton arrived damaged but the sub itself hadn’t a scratch on it. Included with the sub was a power cord and the usual basic documentation (also available online).
Lava LSP12 Disassembled
It didn’t take long to get it unpacked and ready for action. At right is a photo of the LSP12 disassembled with all major components displayed.
Design Overview
The Lava LSP12 is a bass reflex design featuring a nominal 12” driver, two 3” diameter ducts, and powered by a built-in 250W class AB power amp. The driver is recessed into the faceplate and the two ducts, located directly beneath the driver, are part of (as opposed to bolted into) the faceplate. All, of course, are front firing. The power amp/control panel is bolted into the back of the cabinet. The cover comprises grill cloth stretched across an MDF frame.
The LSP12’s cabinet is made of .75” thick MDF panels, well glued, with plenty of glue blocks in place, but no cross bracing. The exterior of the cabinet is covered with a lightly textured black vinyl veneer. Its not a heavy -duty grade veneer, so care in handling once you’ve got the LSP12 out of its shipping cartons is in order. The interior of the cabinet is neither stuffed or lined, though the amp/driver leads and the exterior of the two ducts are wrapped. Overall, for a product in this price range, fit & finish are very good.
The Driver
This is where Lava Subs put their money when fitting out the LSP12. The sub comes equipped with a nominal 12” driver sporting a composite cellulose diaphragm, heavy-duty butyl rubber surround, stamped frame, woven tinsel leads affixed to the spider (to minimize noise during high excursion moments) and a substantial motor structure. The excursion capabilities of the driver were such that, the LSP12 played clean up to its respectable limits, which were substantial for a product in this price range. (See max. spl measurements below).You could push the LSP12’s gain higher and higher and eventually it would simply stop getting louder, getting progressively more distorted and annoying only at the very edge of its performance envelope.
The Amp & Associated Electronics
The LSP12 features a 250W rms, (500W, peak) Class AB power amp, bolted (along with all system controls) into the back of the cabinet. Control-wise, you get the bare essentials:
- Speaker, low-level & LFE inputs;
- continuously variable volume (gain) control;
- continuously variable LP filter (40 – 200 Hz);
- 0˚ - 180˚ phase control, switchable
- Off/Auto/On control, switchable
- Power switch, power/signal indicator light
The amp can also be switched to run on 110 – 120 Vac or 220 -240 Vac.
Noteworthy here is the care that’s been taken to seal off any air leaks around those points where wind noise could occur when the sub’s being driven hard. Also, there’s a substantial heat sink that’s bolted to the interior side of the control panel and wraps underneath the entire main circuit board. There’s also at the amp end of the amp/driver leads a ferrite placed to keep RFI/EMI noise down.
I was wondering what amp would be the best Option to Buy?
The Lava LSp12 or the GR RESEARCH SA-1 AMP PLATE base ON performance. Thanks.
Using Emotiva UMC-1 and Emotiva 5-channel power amp.
smurphy522;798949
Thank you Mark for a great review of what's out there..............Pursue the TRUTH!
In response to kesando's post I think that the Emotiva Ultra Series 10" sub may be a more comparable one for the Lava LSP12 to go up against. It appears to be more in line performance/rating wise and there is only $9 US separating the two at this date of posting.
Hey Gene, see if Dan can send you one for a comparison test in a "Budget-Sub Rumble"!
The Lava LSP12 and Emotiva Ultra 12 ground plane measurements were not taken in the same environment (the Emotiva outside and the Lava in room), even with a +3db advantage for the Lava the Emotiva kept right up -from what I could tell. Also to note that the Emotiva has a more flexible tuning capability with a variable phase.
Kudos to Lava for offering such a low priced product with high output (in the most usable and noticeable Sub bands) and little port chuffing.
Maybe a small paragraph or two covering the types of speakers these subs would go best with is a nice adder for future sub reviewers to include - just an idea. Also noting what equipment the reviewer used the product with and the room size is always helpful. (I did note the call out of: "All listening tests were done with the LSP12 integrated into a 7.1 HT system, powered by a Denon AVR and EQ’d using the Denon’s built-in Audyssey system. On the sub itself, phase was set at 0˚, gain was at 50%, and signal was fed in via the bass managed LFE jack.)" Still kinda generic for a Audioholics review.
Please note I own none of the products mentioned above.
Now I'm wondering if dual Emotiva Ultra 10s would be better over the Lava LSP12? I'm lookin to pick out dual subs for my brothers HT and I'm really liking the Ultra 12 but I'm not sure if he is willing to spend that much. The 10's would be closer in price to the Lava's. If I had to guess he will do 70/30 music/HT. Mabey 60/40 at most
DId you ever guys get to a review sample of that EMP Tek sub?
The Lava LSP12 and Emotiva Ultra 12 ground plane measurements were not taken in the same environment (the Emotiva outside and the Lava in room), even with a +3db advantage for the Lava the Emotiva kept right up -from what I could tell. Also to note that the Emotiva has a more flexible tuning capability with a variable phase.
Although Mark's measurements were done indoors, he calibrated out room effects as stated in his review. You can see the red/blue curve of his calibration file that track very closely. It's not unreasonable to directly compare Mark's 2 meter indoor GP measurements scaled to 1 meter to my 1 meter GP measurements of the Emotiva sub. You will also note that Mark's 1 meter in-room measurement corner loaded measurement without the mic calibration yields very little usable boost in the 20Hz range b/c the sub is so rolled off at that point.