http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/subwoofers/rss.xml We tackle the problem of super deep bass by reviewing those bone-rattlers: subwoofers. hourly 12 2006-12-01T00:00 http://www.audioholics.com/static/logo.jpg http://www.audioholics.com/ http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/subwoofers/titanic-mk-iii The Titanic T1503 MK III kit is a good smart design that is very easy to put together. I could really crank up the volume on this sub without the same fear that I have with my current subwoofers or other vented systems of bottoming out or overstressing. For under $750, you get a 15 inch subwoofer in a small cabinet, a 1000 watt amplifier and very good performance. For any handyman searching for a great sub at a great price, you should take a hard look at the Dayton Titanic MK III. ken 2008-11-26T11:11:35+00:00 Pro Review http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/subwoofers/high-output-subwoofers While scouring CEDIA, it was pretty impossible to get away from the boom generated by all the active demos competing to get noticed in a crowed noisy show floor. Since bass waves travel through walls, you can rest assured that those companies engaged in bleeding edge design will get most noticed by folks walking by. That being said, companies such as Paradigm and JL Audio put forth elaborate demo rooms to showoff their new product lines. We took the time to take a listen and did not walk away disappointed. Check out new high excursion subs from Paradigm JL Audio, Monitor Audio, Velodyne, Boston Acoustics and many more.. Gene 2008-09-07T00:00:00+00:00 Tech Article http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/subwoofers/in-wall-subwoofer In-wall subwoofers seem to really be evolving this year. Gone is the mentality of simply having an in-wall subwoofer solution as a compromise for aesthetic purposes. Manufacturers are taking these solutions more seriously for upscale high performance installations. Granted they aren’t all cheap, but to get the kind of output and performance we are seeing involving little engineering marvels that simply weren’t a reality only a few years ago. JL Audio, and Velodyne showed us some impressive in-wall subs and Paradigm apparently has a not so unique prototype in development as well. Gene 2008-09-06T21:40:33+00:00 Tech Article http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/subwoofers/photon-8-subwoofer Chrysalis Acoustics - a subsidiary of Velodyne has introduced a new high performance compact subwoofer line called the Photon Series. The Photon-8 outputs some unexpectedly deep bass at very respectable SPL levels while still maintaining a characteristically musical sound quality. If one is in the market for the smallest subwoofer possible but demands big subwoofer performance, this is a solid solution and is highly recommended. david 2008-08-05T16:49:47+00:00 Pro Review http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/subwoofers/sunfire-hrs-12-subwoofer To get good monster bass, usually some fairly mongo subs are required. It is rare to find a sub this small that can not only provide copious bass output, but also can provide deep and accurate bass output as well. While not cheap by some standards, the HRS-12 subwoofers do an excellent job balancing the design and providing outstanding performance without skyrocketing the price. . Considering that the HRS-12s can easily provide better than two thirds of the performance of subs like the Fathoms at a mere one third of the price, the HRS-12s are a well engineered, high value product that represents a very good bargain for anyone looking for extreme levels of bass performance at less than extreme prices. david 2008-03-24T11:45:29+00:00 Pro Review http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/subwoofers/vtf-3-mk3-sub The Hsu Research VTF-3 Mk3 is a well designed product, packing a terrific driver, obviously crafted with an emphasis on the basic features that are important to deliver maximum bang for the buck in a product in its price class. Within its limits, it did a number of things exceptionally well. Add to all that product support, a very useful, interesting manual and small enough to fit comfortably in all but the tiniest locales and in the VTF-3 Mk3 you find a truly top-flight product and an excellent investment for the discerning movie and music lover. I was consistently surprised by how well Dr Hsu managed to get this thoroughbred with a 12” driver to perform on a consistent basis. I’ll close with a strong buy recommendation; buy two if the budget allows for it! mark 2007-10-22T22:25:50+00:00 Pro Review http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/subwoofers/velodyne-sc-iw-in-wall-sub Overall, the SC-IW subwoofers performed well beyond my expectations and erased any preconceived notion that I had about in-wall subwoofers. It rivalled the performance of many good 10-12-inch freestanding box subwoofers making it the best in-wall subwoofer system I have heard or installed to date. I highly recommend the SC-IW subwoofer and SC-1250 amplifier to home owners, custom installers, and designers that wish to maintain the minimalist design trend without performance sacrifice. –Bravo Velodyne! ray 2007-07-27T00:00:00+00:00 Pro Review http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/subwoofers/hsu-research-vtf-1-subwoofer-review The Hsu Research VTF-1 has proven to be a solid performer that, relative to its price point, does most everything well with very little wrong. I found it to be both musical and responsive to the source material I threw at it while still capable of very respectable output levels. Sonically, the VTF-1 is similar to the STF-1, retaining the best qualities while making sonic improvements with key differences consisting of the larger driver, an increase in amplifier power, and the ability to play lower. The end result is that the VTF-1 sounds like a heftier sub, sonically, than the STF-1 with a similar price to performance ratio. If you are in the market for a high value subwoofer then Hsu should be on the list of products to investigate; the VTF-1 is a good sub that is hard to beat at the price. david 2007-07-09T23:44:11+00:00 Pro Review http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/subwoofers/jl-audio-fathom-f112-subwoofer-review The JL Audio has produced a very serious subwoofer in the Fathom f112, the smallest sibling in their home audio line.. This is a powerful sub capable of prodigious deep bass output. Make no mistake; if you have loose objects in the house, this sub will locate them and point them out. Also, be prepared to find interior partition walls complaining into adjacent rooms. For the best possible listening experience, find all loose items and secure them. For those who have not experienced a subwoofer capable of generating bass to the limits of human hearing, one with substantial output capabilities down into the subsonic range, the JL Fanthom f112 with acquaint you nicely. Add this sub to your auditioning shopping list if you are after ultra high performance, reasonable box size and cost. david 2007-03-24T12:30:24+00:00 Pro Review http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/subwoofers/velodyne-dd-18 The DD–18 is a big sub that delivers truly big sub sound. It does so with a driver packed with performance-enhancing features, as well as a sophisticated digital drive control system. In every way that is important, the DD – 18 excels, making it a benchmark product in every category. mark 2007-01-19T00:00:00+00:00 Pro Review http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/subwoofers/sonic-immersion-technologies-i-beam-vt300-transducer There are many very good and effective tactile transducers on the market today. Sonic Immersions Technologies recently introduced their high tech I Beam VT-300 transducer stating it has the capability to produce “High Definition Bass”. We don’t proclaim to know what exactly the meaning of “High Definition Bass” is, but being dedicated Audioholics, we were certainly eager to find out. Ray Adkins 2006-10-31T08:22:27+00:00 Pro Review http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/subwoofers/sv-sound-pb2-isd As a teenager living in Orlando , I remember parking out near the International Airport to experience the jets as they came in for a landing – Wayne’s World style. Anyone who has lived in Orlando knows the “ Jet City ” is plagued with an almost non-stop barrage of aircraft coming in from all directions to land at what is arguably the world’s nicest airport. Trouble is, the surrounding area is naturally pummeled with the constant overhead noise of McDonnell Douglas/Boeing engines and the steady ring of planes on final approach. But up close, the jets take on an altogether different feel. Noise becomes power. clint 2006-10-31T08:22:27+00:00 Pro Review http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/subwoofers/svs-sb12-plus SVSound is no stranger to the hallowed pages of Audioholics.com. Building their reputation on products with a high bang-for-the-buck value (and this small sub is one impressively big bang-for-the-buck product), they are renowned for their comparatively large products, such as the mighty SVS PB12Plus-/2 reviewed earlier in this web page. mark 2006-10-11T00:00:00+00:00 Pro Review http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/subwoofers/onix-x-sub Yeah budget subs! Personally, my first real speaker purchase (one that took place after research done on my part and not just buying a friend’s hand-me-downs) was a budget sub. And it sucked. Big time. I read a lot of the “reviews” available – mostly reprinted press releases and the occasional testimonial from an owner, and thought I was getting a pretty good product. What I got was a product that people who own HTiBs or worse think is a pretty good product. Well, I promise to give you the real scoop on this budget sub so that you’ll know its limitations and strengths. Better you know what you are getting yourself into from the outset then get surprised I always say. tom 2006-10-09T00:00:00+00:00 Pro Review http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/subwoofers/sonic-immersion-technologies-2600T-A Pre-wiring a complex multi-speaker home theater system in an existing single-family home, condo or townhouse can be a daunting task even for the highly trained professional A/V installer. Obstacles such as tile floors, no attic or cellar access, two story homes, and location of windows and doors in your future home theater room can compromise locations of speakers. The last thing that many new homeowners want to do is demolish wall plaster or ceiling sheetrock in their new home to install wire for speaker and subwoofer locations. ray 2006-07-21T00:00:00+00:00 Pro Review http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/subwoofers/crowson-technology-motion-actuator Motion actuators and tactile transducers can be a quick, easy and effective way to add fun and excitement to your home theater system. ray 2006-05-06T00:00:00+00:00 Pro Review http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/subwoofers/svs-pb12-plus-2 SVSound is a relative newcomer to the home audio arena and has quickly made a name for itself. In the relatively short time they've been in existence they’ve earned an enviable reputation for building products that deliver exceptionally high value for the price. My experience with the PB12-Plus/2 has shown that reputation is richly deserved. This is one impressively big bang-for-the- buck product. mark 2006-01-05T00:00:00+00:00 Pro Review http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/subwoofers/hsu-research-stf-1 The STF-1 is the entry level subwoofer from Hsu Research. At a retail of $379 and a direct price of $249, this is a product that is sure to please both your pocketbook and ears. david 2005-11-05T00:00:00+00:00 Pro Review http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/subwoofers/buttkicker-lfe-kit In the never-ending quest to upgrade our home theaters, sometimes it becomes difficult to find cost effective upgrades that actually enhance our systems. We all know that we want our systems' audio and video to appeal to our senses (sight and sound) and we want our lighting and seating to be just right. So, what are we missing? There is one sense that remains untapped for the majority: feeling. ray 2005-09-20T00:00:00+00:00 Pro Review http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/subwoofers/onix-rocket-ulw-10 Rocket is a brand of Onix Audio, a 20 year old British hi-fi manufacturer. Onix is currenty owned by a partnership between Mark Schifter and a Chinese entity. Onix owns a factory in China where Onix, Rocket and many other speakers are made under Mark’s personal supervision. Reportedly, Mark spends about nine months a year in China and is very involved with all aspects of manufacturing. This is a considerably different setup from the current trend, of designing a product in North America or Europe and outsourcing production to a third-party in China. Mark actually goes to China to oversee manufacturing and design aspects of the product. Arvind Kohli 2005-07-15T00:00:00+00:00 Pro Review http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/subwoofers/axiom-ep500 On my reference subs the bass was authorative and well-tempered, but with the EP500 thrown in the mix, slam and “felt” response was elevated to a new level. There were times I felt as if someone had installed tactile transducers under my couch and I actually had to convince myself otherwise. No matter what movie or music disc I threw at the EP500, it provided a newfound sense of realism and enjoyment that I didn’t even know was missing. Gene 2005-06-21T00:00:00+00:00 Pro Review http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/subwoofers/velodyne-hgs-15x Velodyne helps audiophiles and videophiles assemble their dream home theater or music system with a satisfying subwoofer. The HGS-series appeases the musical side of the audiophile as well as the videophile's need for SPL. ray 2005-06-11T00:00:00+00:00 Pro Review http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/subwoofers/velodyne-dps-10 Velodyne was founded in 1983 by David Hall, who currently is the CEO and Chief Engineer. The company is still privately owned with a head count of about 55 employees. David has had an engineering bent since childhood (there is a claim on their website that he built an amplifier at age four), and he formalized that innate ability with a degree in Engineering. He has eight amplifier design patents, and is even known to be a robotics enthusiast participating in those 'robot battles' seen on TV. Under David, Velodyne patented their high gain servo-controlled subwoofer, in 1984. Arvind Kohli 2005-04-10T00:00:00+00:00 Pro Review http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/subwoofers/av123-rocket-ufw-10 Even though I'd heard ahead of time about the piano black lacquer and rosewood finish of the AV123 speakers (the other option is Birdseye Maple) I was not prepared for what awaited my eyes as I opened the UFW-10 subwoofer. At 52 pounds in the carton, the UFW-10 package seems quite heavy for its rather diminutive outside dimensions. To protect its products AV123 uses a double-box technique more commonly found in the pro-audio field for shipping amplified studio monitors. patrick 2005-02-01T00:00:00+00:00 Pro Review http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/subwoofers/axiom-audio-ep500-ep600 When Axiom invited us out to their facility to show us their latest EP500 and EP600 subwoofers, I knew it must be big news. Knowing Audioholics' reputation of testing manufacturers' claims (especially regarding cables) the folks at Axiom must have been pretty confident with their new designs. The email Amie Colquhoun (lovely wife of Ian) sent me regarding the SPL capabilities of these new subs left us wanting more information, pictures and specifications, and more importantly opportunities to hear them first hand. Being the bass nuts we are, you could imagine our level of anticipation waiting for this to happen. Gene 2004-10-04T00:00:00+00:00 Editorial http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/subwoofers/outlaw-audio-lfm-1 As a teenager living in Orlando , I remember parking out near the International Airport to experience the jets as they came in for a landing – Wayne’s World style. Anyone who has lived in Orlando knows the “ Jet City ” is plagued with an almost non-stop barrage of aircraft coming in from all directions to land at what is arguably the world’s nicest airport. Trouble is, the surrounding area is naturally pummeled with the constant overhead noise of McDonnell Douglas/Boeing engines and the steady ring of planes on final approach. But up close, the jets take on an altogether different feel. Noise becomes power. clint 2004-07-08T00:00:00+00:00 Pro Review http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/subwoofers/velodyne-spl-1200-series-ii What makes a good subwoofer? For some, it’s heart-stopping bass with the ability to topple small children. For others, it’s reproduction of such low frequency waves that ocean mammals are summoned to beach themselves during intense passages. For myself, however, I like a “musical” subwoofer that blends well with my reference speakers and doesn’t sound like a tone generator capable of reproducing only a single note. Musical subs are fun to listen to and provide definition and quality to low frequency content. Without a musical sub, you end up with “thump” and little definition below 80Hz. clint 2004-04-14T00:00:00+00:00 Pro Review http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/subwoofers/velodyne-spl-800 Subwoofers have been conventionally known for their deep bass extension and wow factor, essential for today's home theater systems, usually requiring a big heavy box loaded with large woofers to achieve ultimate impact and performance. Until my experience with the Velodyne SPL-800, I was happy with this stereotype about subwoofers as until that point, I haven't heard a small subwoofer that could do both music and movies justice. Enter the SPL-800. Gene 2003-04-20T00:00:00+00:00 Pro Review