Premium Subwoofers From UK Brand MJ Acoustics Now Available In The USA

MJ Acoustics has been making subwoofers (or Sub-Bass Systems, as the company refers to them) in the UK for nearly 25 years. Now, thanks to an exclusive partnership with Playback Distribution, the brand is making its official entry into the U.S. market. The company offers a wide range of subs at different sizes and price points, including one range dedicated to home theater. In general though, the brand is focused on enhancing the HiFi listening experience, so 2-channel performance is paramount. To that end, the brand’s subwoofers are designed to deliver deep bass support without overpowering the main speakers or changing their overall sound character. One of the main selling points of MJ Acoustics is that the company’s products are all manufactured in the UK. The drivers and electronics are “designed, developed, assembled, and tested” in-house. The cabinets are fully manufactured in-house, from raw materials.

We are incredibly excited to embark on this new chapter with Playback Distribution as our exclusive USA distributor. Our subwoofers are engineered to be fast, articulate, and musical — enhancing both HiFi and home theater systems with subtlety and precision. We are confident that this partnership will ensure our customers receive the exceptional support and experience they deserve.

— John Jefferis, Founder of MJ Acoustics

Compared to most subwoofers, MJ subs are designed to work a bit differently. From the way you connect them into your system to the way their crossovers work, MJ subs are a little unusual. But if you are familiar with REL subs, much of what I will describe here might sound familiar, as both outfits espouse some of the same core philosophies that inform their design choices. (Indeed, I read in an online forum that MJ Acoustics was originally started up by a faction of ex-REL employees who wanted to go out on their own, but I was not able to confirm this claim in my own research.) Like most REL subs, MJ subwoofers are designed to operate seamlessly below the primary frequency response of the main speakers, which should be left to run full-range, rather than high-passed. I should point out that this arrangement is counter to what we usually recommend at Audioholics — there are definite benefits to high-passing your main speakers in many situations. But there are many paths to great sound, and anecdotally, I should also point out that I have heard many superb-sounding 2-channel systems that used REL subs alongside speakers running full-range. Care should always be taken to ensure your speakers can handle full range bass without causing overload or damage at the levels you like to listen at.

Another difference from most modern subwoofers — and another similarity to RELs — is that MJ Acoustics subs eschew DSP completely, relying instead on “meticulously-engineered analogue audio filter circuits.” The subs offer precise gain and crossover controls for “flawless integration,” according to the brand, including crossover adjustment in 1Hz increments down to 20Hz, and gain control in 1dB steps, allowing for a “more natural and accurate system blend to deliver true-to-source bass response for both music and cinematic applications.” MJ Acoustics believes that the use of DSP is tantamount to distorting the source signal, and is “not an option for a true audiophile setup,” which involves a pure conversion of electrical signal to cone motion to moving air. Again, we at Audioholics have found that the use of DSP can offer a number of worthwhile advantages, but we have also heard great bass from subs that do not use DSP.

Most subwoofers are connected to a preamp or processor via RCA or XLR cable, whether for home theater or 2-channel duty. MJ Acoustics has a different approach. While the LFE signal for home theater can be connected this way, for 2-channel audio the brand recommends using a high-level cable to directly connect the output of your power amp to the sub’s built-in Neutrik Speakon connector input. (Again, this arrangement will be familiar to REL users.) The subs have a variable crossover filter unique to MJ, called the DAMP 3rd Gen Active Bass Crossover. It is an active circuit with its own buffered, high-impedance input, meaning it won’t have any effect on your power amp(s), according to MJ Acoustics. The company claims that there are many benefits to this approach. Firstly, it reportedly allows the subs to work in any size room with virtually any speakers. It is also said to better preserve the imaging characteristics of the main speakers, and can actually improve imaging and soundstage depth, according to MJ. 

Editorial Note About Subwoofer Connections & LFE by Gene DellaSala

It’s important to note that this connection approach may be fine for a stereo setup, but if you attempt to run a home theater system and send LFE to the main channels where the MJ subs are connected, you risk overloading your speakers with bass they likely can’t reproduce. In multi-channel setups with a dedicated LFE track, we still recommend using line-level connections and proper bass management for your speaker system.

MJ Acoustics Bass Drivers and Crossovers

MJ Acoustics drivers are all designed in-house to reproduce low bass transients, with resonant frequencies that are exceptionally low, according to the company. Woven patterns and impregnated long-travel suspensions are used, resulting in high output for the ideal motor assembly elements, according to MJ. The drivers — or “bass engines,” as MJ refers to them — are reportedly designed to start and stop quickly. “It is the pauses in between notes that define the rhythm of music agility and audiophile reproduction,” says the brand’s literature. The drivers only sound as good as the crossover circuits that come before them in the signal chain, of course, and MJ uses twin independent crossovers, allowing for separate adjustments to LFE effects and the main-speaker bass signal working in tandem with the main speakers. MJ Acoustics says it’s like having two subwoofers in each cabinet. (Most REL subwoofers also offer this, although the brand’s Serie HT models, designed for home theater use, only have a single LFE input. See James Larson’s REL Acoustics HT/1510 Predator II Sealed Subwoofer Review.) Crossover points as low as 20Hz can be set. “Our designs produce truly deep bass, whereas many of our competitors settle on loud middle bass,” says MJ Acoustics.

A second-order variable low-pass filter making use of a combination Butterworth and Bessel functions (was) chosen for the most linear phase response. There are absolutely no group delays in the signal path. An additional fixed second-order Bessel filter follows the variable filter, removing unwanted midrange signals that, if left unfiltered, cause midrange colouration of the main speakers. All filtering is performed in the analogue domain using high-quality, matched components with tight tolerances to ensure the highest possible performance. In the case of Reference and Master-Class Series, we hand pick and performance measure the specs for each component in the circuit. This is a time-consuming process but provides for the very tightest of tolerances and superior performance that is consistent from product to product. When adding multiple Sub-Bass Systems to your setup it is important to be confident in the consistent nature of the filter circuits.

— MJ Acoustics

One feature that you won’t find on a REL is the ability to set everything up and dial in the settings from the listening position. MJ says that it was the first sub manufacturer to provide full out-of-sight remote control in its products, starting with the Reference 200 sub released in 2004. In 2017 the brand released a new remote control feature that would further enhance the setup procedure and enable the integration of multiple subwoofers. This Smart Remote app was reportedly the result of “many years of extensive design study and software programming.”

Unlike some brands, MJ Acoustics doesn’t boast about kilowatt amplifiers, choosing instead to focus on “the perfect combination of low moving mass and strength in our bass drivers, resulting in the overall design being more electro-mechanically efficient.” Thanks to this higher efficiency, the subs do not require massive amounts of power. In addition to reducing the carbon footprint of your audio setup, these subs benefit from “a faster moving cone assembly, which gives us the speed and agility to match the finest audiophile speakers,” according to MJ Acoustics. The cabinets, made from “the highest-grade European-sourced MDF,” are custom-designed for acoustical performance and finished with either wood veneers or “the very same lacquers that are used on the most expensive and highest-quality furniture and automobile interiors,” according to the company.

In a crowded home theater subwoofer market, MJ Acoustics stands apart by focusing on the two-channel music experience. Their products deliver exceptional sonic performance, musicality, and design. We’re excited to introduce U.S. audiences to what we consider a hidden gem in the world of HiFi — it’s not just about creating another boom in the room.

— Rob Standley, President of Playback Distribution

At MJ Acoustics, our unwavering pursuit of audio perfection has led to the creation of subwoofers that redefine the boundaries of low-frequency reproduction. For over two decades, we have meticulously crafted a range of bass systems that deliver unparalleled realism and impact. Handcrafted in the heart of England, our subwoofers are a testament to British engineering excellence. From the selection of premium materials to the precision assembly process, every stage of production is executed with meticulous care. Our dedication to quality is evident in every aspect of our products. Accurate bass reproduction is the cornerstone of any high-performance audio system. By combining advanced engineering with traditional craftsmanship, we have shattered the misconception that subwoofers are merely add-ons. Our subwoofers are integral components that elevate the overall listening experience.

— MJ Acoustics

MJ Acoustics products are now available through Playback Distribution’s network of premium audio dealers and integrators across the United States.

More information: MJ Acoustics