Kumar442244
Well-Known Member
Hello All,
In the market for a subwoofer. Here are my findings and listening experience.
Please note that the review is completly based on my personal taste of music/movie and there is also no association with any of the dealers in the trade.
The search started a month back and have auditioned 5 subs in 3 weekends.
1) Sunfire SDS10
- Location: Music Ranch, Bangalore
- Equipment: NAD C375BEE, PSB Imagine Bookshelf.
- Source: Bluesound Node2
- Price: 57K (Pre Negotiation)
- Rating: 5/10 (Could be given a benefit of doubt as it was brand new)
Experience:
The visit was not specifically for Sub but for NAD amp. The setup was music intended. Needless to praise NAD+PSB combo. Added Sunfire to the setup. The experience was not impressive. The bass was very localized and could feel the bass from the sub and music from speakers distinctively. There was no sync between the speaker and sub. One reason could be that the sub was unboxed just for the demo and I was listening to sub's first fire. Maybe it needs some break-in period to perform. Overall, Not impressive. Need to hear it again to see its potentials.
2) Emotiva Basx 10
- Location: The Home Theater store, Bangalore
- Equipment: Denon X3300, Tannoy Mercury 7.4, Dali Vocals and Wharfy surround
- Source: Pioneer BDP180
- Price: 33K (Pre Negotiation)
- Rating: 7/10 for music and 8/10 for movies
Experience:
Amazing built quality. Much better than any other sub in the price range. Started off with music from the phone using chromecast. Played Basstronics, Radha Kaise na Jale from movie Lagaan. Found the sub response a little slow. Sounded a bit dull with music. Not impressed at all.
Changed the source to BPD for music and yet again same bass response. Overall not too much impressive for critical music listening. However, decent enough for casual listening.
Switched to movies and there lies its power. The bass response was tight, accurate and heart thumping. Played scenes from Avatar and 2012. Must say, the sub did what its intended to. As told by the store manager that the Basx 12 is much better but can't comment as could not listen as it was not available for auditions. also, Lokesh from the HT store told me that its supposed to be better than velos. Need to audition Velos to validate the claim.
3) Bic America PL200
- Location: Prosonics, Bangalore
- Equipment: Marantz SR5011, front: Bic Americ DV62si , Center: Bic America DV62clr-s, Surround: NHT Superone
- Source: Panasonic DMP-BDT360, Google Chromecast
- Price: 42K (Pre Negotiation)
- Rating: 8/10 for music and 9/10 for movies
Was suggested this sub and Prosnics by one of the FMs. Anyone planning to buy a sub with a <40K budget must audition this. Good for music and amazing for movies.
The setup was residential living room. The experience somehow gave the feeling of a home audition with almost no room treatment done. This is where the actual performance is exhibited.
Started off with 2.1 stereo mode with music from Karunesh. The sub was really engaging. It blended so well with the speaker that I couldn't feel if the sub was even playing. It seemed that all the thumping and tight bass is produced by a not-so-small front speaker. Played back to back music from different genres and it blended very well with all kind of music. Overall, the best-ported sub for music till now specifically from the list of subs that I have auditioned till now.
Now was the turn for Movies and man this was amazing. It produced amazing bass. Not boomy at all. All the frequencies were articulated so beautifully. The Sub is really powerful and will suit best for medium to large rooms.Overall, really impressed by the built quality and performance at the price point. The sub is huge and one can't really call it a drawback. Sub being rear ported, need to be placed min 8-10" away from the rear wall. For me, this can only be a deal breaker as my listening position will reduce to ~4 Feet only if I install this in my setup. Else, I am sold to this sub.
Need advice on some down firing sub within 35-40K range.
About Prosinc and Mr. Santosh: Prosonic is the dealer for BIC America in bangalore. Couldnt find much of the review on the internet about the firm as this is a newly established firm. Mr. Santosh is a software engineer by profession and is into this hobby from more than his age
Very polite, patient and professional. Can contact him on +91 9341112580.
4) Bic America F12
- Location: Prosonics, Bangalore
- Equipment: Marantz SR5011, front: Bic Americ DV62si , Center: Bic America DV62clr-s, Surround: NHT Superone
- Source: Panasonic DMP-BDT360, Google Chromecast
- Price: 33K (Pre Negotiation)
- Rating: 7/10 for music and 8/10 for movies
The sub was more or less similar in terms of performance, however, PL200 is a clear winner. music sounded a bit muddled and slow on response. However, was very good at 32K pre negotiated price. Overall, value for money sub.
5) Dali E9F and E12F side by side audition
- Location: DNI, Bangalore
- Equipment: Poineer Amp (Forgot the model), front: Dali Z5, Dali Vocal, Surround: Dali Z1
- Source: Pioneer BDP180
- Price: 40K For E9F and 53K for E12F (Negotiated price)
- Rating: 8/10 for music and 7/10 for movies (Both the subs).
Started off with music same song as before: Radha Kaise na Jale from Lagaan and Basstronics. Guess there was some issue with the amp as there was no bass response at all. Was flat and unimpressive at all. Then changed the audition room and equipment to another pioneer amp LX series and Z1 as front and Z1 as surround. The overall experience was much better. The bass was precise and beautiful. However, at a point felt the lack of power. Switched to E12F and heard the same track again. The bass was boomy and felt non-immersive.
Switched to movies and played scenes from Hulk. Not impressive with movie.Somehow felt that at the price point of 50K, one can get a much better and powerful sub with better performance.
Still to audition:-
- Velodyne Impact 10 and 12
- SVS SB1000
- Emotiva Basx 12
- Polk Audio DSW 550i and DSW 660i
Please advice any other sub that I should audition in the price range of 35-50K. please note that the upper limit is an stretch and would like to keep it as close to the lower limit as possible.
Hope this helps audio enthusiasts in persuit of a sub.
In the market for a subwoofer. Here are my findings and listening experience.
Please note that the review is completly based on my personal taste of music/movie and there is also no association with any of the dealers in the trade.
The search started a month back and have auditioned 5 subs in 3 weekends.
1) Sunfire SDS10
- Location: Music Ranch, Bangalore
- Equipment: NAD C375BEE, PSB Imagine Bookshelf.
- Source: Bluesound Node2
- Price: 57K (Pre Negotiation)
- Rating: 5/10 (Could be given a benefit of doubt as it was brand new)
Experience:
The visit was not specifically for Sub but for NAD amp. The setup was music intended. Needless to praise NAD+PSB combo. Added Sunfire to the setup. The experience was not impressive. The bass was very localized and could feel the bass from the sub and music from speakers distinctively. There was no sync between the speaker and sub. One reason could be that the sub was unboxed just for the demo and I was listening to sub's first fire. Maybe it needs some break-in period to perform. Overall, Not impressive. Need to hear it again to see its potentials.
2) Emotiva Basx 10
- Location: The Home Theater store, Bangalore
- Equipment: Denon X3300, Tannoy Mercury 7.4, Dali Vocals and Wharfy surround
- Source: Pioneer BDP180
- Price: 33K (Pre Negotiation)
- Rating: 7/10 for music and 8/10 for movies
Experience:
Amazing built quality. Much better than any other sub in the price range. Started off with music from the phone using chromecast. Played Basstronics, Radha Kaise na Jale from movie Lagaan. Found the sub response a little slow. Sounded a bit dull with music. Not impressed at all.
Changed the source to BPD for music and yet again same bass response. Overall not too much impressive for critical music listening. However, decent enough for casual listening.
Switched to movies and there lies its power. The bass response was tight, accurate and heart thumping. Played scenes from Avatar and 2012. Must say, the sub did what its intended to. As told by the store manager that the Basx 12 is much better but can't comment as could not listen as it was not available for auditions. also, Lokesh from the HT store told me that its supposed to be better than velos. Need to audition Velos to validate the claim.
3) Bic America PL200
- Location: Prosonics, Bangalore
- Equipment: Marantz SR5011, front: Bic Americ DV62si , Center: Bic America DV62clr-s, Surround: NHT Superone
- Source: Panasonic DMP-BDT360, Google Chromecast
- Price: 42K (Pre Negotiation)
- Rating: 8/10 for music and 9/10 for movies
Was suggested this sub and Prosnics by one of the FMs. Anyone planning to buy a sub with a <40K budget must audition this. Good for music and amazing for movies.
The setup was residential living room. The experience somehow gave the feeling of a home audition with almost no room treatment done. This is where the actual performance is exhibited.
Started off with 2.1 stereo mode with music from Karunesh. The sub was really engaging. It blended so well with the speaker that I couldn't feel if the sub was even playing. It seemed that all the thumping and tight bass is produced by a not-so-small front speaker. Played back to back music from different genres and it blended very well with all kind of music. Overall, the best-ported sub for music till now specifically from the list of subs that I have auditioned till now.
Now was the turn for Movies and man this was amazing. It produced amazing bass. Not boomy at all. All the frequencies were articulated so beautifully. The Sub is really powerful and will suit best for medium to large rooms.Overall, really impressed by the built quality and performance at the price point. The sub is huge and one can't really call it a drawback. Sub being rear ported, need to be placed min 8-10" away from the rear wall. For me, this can only be a deal breaker as my listening position will reduce to ~4 Feet only if I install this in my setup. Else, I am sold to this sub.
Need advice on some down firing sub within 35-40K range.
About Prosinc and Mr. Santosh: Prosonic is the dealer for BIC America in bangalore. Couldnt find much of the review on the internet about the firm as this is a newly established firm. Mr. Santosh is a software engineer by profession and is into this hobby from more than his age
Very polite, patient and professional. Can contact him on +91 9341112580.
4) Bic America F12
- Location: Prosonics, Bangalore
- Equipment: Marantz SR5011, front: Bic Americ DV62si , Center: Bic America DV62clr-s, Surround: NHT Superone
- Source: Panasonic DMP-BDT360, Google Chromecast
- Price: 33K (Pre Negotiation)
- Rating: 7/10 for music and 8/10 for movies
The sub was more or less similar in terms of performance, however, PL200 is a clear winner. music sounded a bit muddled and slow on response. However, was very good at 32K pre negotiated price. Overall, value for money sub.
5) Dali E9F and E12F side by side audition
- Location: DNI, Bangalore
- Equipment: Poineer Amp (Forgot the model), front: Dali Z5, Dali Vocal, Surround: Dali Z1
- Source: Pioneer BDP180
- Price: 40K For E9F and 53K for E12F (Negotiated price)
- Rating: 8/10 for music and 7/10 for movies (Both the subs).
Started off with music same song as before: Radha Kaise na Jale from Lagaan and Basstronics. Guess there was some issue with the amp as there was no bass response at all. Was flat and unimpressive at all. Then changed the audition room and equipment to another pioneer amp LX series and Z1 as front and Z1 as surround. The overall experience was much better. The bass was precise and beautiful. However, at a point felt the lack of power. Switched to E12F and heard the same track again. The bass was boomy and felt non-immersive.
Switched to movies and played scenes from Hulk. Not impressive with movie.Somehow felt that at the price point of 50K, one can get a much better and powerful sub with better performance.
Still to audition:-
- Velodyne Impact 10 and 12
- SVS SB1000
- Emotiva Basx 12
- Polk Audio DSW 550i and DSW 660i
Please advice any other sub that I should audition in the price range of 35-50K. please note that the upper limit is an stretch and would like to keep it as close to the lower limit as possible.
Hope this helps audio enthusiasts in persuit of a sub.
