Velodyne Wi-Q 10" and 12" Subwoofer Preview

Wireless has been a keyword to guarantee that your customers take a second look at your product for a while now. If you can slap the wireless name on your product, people immediately see it as superior to those that require those pesky wires. In some products the wireless moniker is misleading. When people open their new wireless speakers they are often surprised to find that they still need to plug the speaker into a wall. Of course, it may be better (and easier) than running a wire to the front of your room but it still isn't completely "wireless".

Subwoofers need power. In the history of subwoofers, very few (and certainly no consumer-level offering) have shipped without the need of AC power and a power cord. Those that don't need to be plugged directly into a wall outlet are often shipped with external amps which, of course, require power and a speaker-level connection to the subwoofer. 

True Audioholics know all this.

Velodyne's name has been long associated with quality subwoofers. They've recently branched out into headphones as well but most people will still associate Velodyne with those boxes that make the bass that pisses off the neighbors. They've had a wide range of offerings but haven't really released much in the last few years. That changed at CES this year.

This is probably the Wi-Q12BV though it is hard to tell. They look the same.

The Wi-Q line of subwoofers incorporates their WiConnect technology that we covered a couple of years ago. The big claim to fame of the WiConnect wireless solution is the range. Rated at 50 feet, it easily bests most of the other wireless solutions on the market. While your initial reaction to this range claim may be skepticism, there is a use for it. Most wireless solutions brag around 30 feet. Like the Velodyne claim, we assume that these ratings assume no interference and a clear line of sight (since the WiConnect operates on the 2.5GHz band, this is a pretty safe assumption). In a real room we expect at least a third shorter usable range. When your rating is 30 feet, that gives you around 20 feet while Velodyne's rating will give you closer to 35 feet. That, of course, is an estimate but is a good rule of thumb. If you plan on locating your sub across the room from your gear, or if you anticipate a lot of interference, you'll want a stronger single. Velodyne is offering that.

The Wi-Q subs come in the Wi-Q12BV 12" and Wi-Q10BV 10" versions. The differences between them are purely related to the driver and amplifier size. The differences in price are pretty minimal with the 10" version retailing for $799 and the 12" for $100 more. While not bargain basement prices, these are certainly well in the reach of many home theater enthusiasts. The 10" comes in a 17.31" by 15.25" by 17", 40 pound box while the 12" comes in a 18.44" by 16.375" by 18", 45 pound box. The 10" has a 390 watt amplifier while the 12" has a 450 watt amp. These aren't the largest subs we've seen but they certainly are bigger than other offerings with the same driver size. They are also quite a bit cheaper.

Enough for the differences, let's cover the similarities.

The Wi-Q subs have Class D amplification that is said to be "green". Unless the amps are actually painted green, we're guessing they are talking about the fact that Class D amps are very efficient. Since nearly every subwoofer manufactured today (certainly every one that we know of) uses Class D amplification, this isn't so much as selling point as clever marketing to those that look for the word "green" or "organic" on the label before they buy.

The Wi-Q subs do have some very nice features that should appeal to home theater enthusiasts. They have extended excursion drivers, digital distortion limiting circuits, and a front-panel display. Those that remember the SMS-1 subwoofer correction system will be glad to know that some version of it is included in the Wi-Q subs. While it isn't user configurable, each sub comes with a mic and an one-touch EQ system. Also, the Wi-Q subs have four pre-sets (named R&B-Rock, Movie, Jazz (reference), and Games.). The drivers are front firing and the Wi-Q subs include a downfiring port for additional bass. The downfiring port will make placement of the subs much more flexible. Velodyne has included a four position phase control rather than the two position control like other subs in this price category. The Wi-Q subs come with a remote for easy adjustment from your listening position. According to the manual, the -3dB point of the 10" sub is 28Hz and the 12" is 25Hz. While users are likely going to use the wireless connection, the Wi-Q subs have both RCA and line-level inputs.

Conclusion

Velodyne has packed a bunch of technology in their new Wi-Q subs for not a lot of cash. For under $800 for the 10" version and $900 for the 12" version, you get a full suite of physical connections, a 2.5GHz wireless connection rated up to 50 feet, and performance down to the mid 20Hz at -3dB. Add on the one-touch EQ with an included mic, a remote, four-position phase control, digital distortion limiting circuits, and a downfiring port for easy placement, and you'll wonder how they can charge so little. We're very curious to see how these subs perform when we get one on our test bench.

For more information, please visit www.velodyne.com.

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