Overview

A common misconception is that subwoofers are loud, boomy thump machines that simply make a lot of noise in dramatic movie action scenes, or shake your insdes with the very loud beat emanating from the car next to you at the lights, or to add some boxy upper bass to a tiny tinny sounding mass market satelite system --nothing should be further from the truth.

A true subwoofer faithfully extends the music/sound on your cd, dvd, etc. in the frequency region below the reach of your normal speakers (or the crossover point set on your home theatre amplifier). It should simply continue the bass down, and down, without being too loud, too slow, too uneven in response or boxy. A good subwoofer is musical, accurate, has a fast response and is uncoloured, it enhances the realism of your music/movie, and your listening pleasure, and does not stand out like the throbbing of a sore thumb!

Here are five models. All have been carefully designed with musicality and affordability in mind. The Control 880 and 1080 are for smaller systems; the Deep Ex 1024 (our most popular) and 1524 are for medium to large systems; the Mammoth 1535ib has the power for large to very large systems, but is so musical, accurate and controlled that it performs beautifully and delicately at low volume levels as well.

Remember, the power of the subwoofer should be approximately double the power of one channel of your main amplifier. However, you can vary that up or down, depending on your actual listening levels. For instance, the 880 or 1080 subwoofers would suit an amplifier of 30 -- 50 wrms per channel; or if you never use a more powerful amplifier to levels above 30 -- 50 watts per channel, and never need to.

Control 880

Price: $350 (or $240 kit less cabinet)
Finish: Aust Oak, Jarrah and/or black and/or ceramic
Cabinet: 440h x 230w x 440d bass reflex 26 litres
Amplifier: 80 wrms
Controls: on/auto/off; level; crossover; phase switch
Crossover Frequency: adjustable 50 -- 160 hertz
Frequency Response: 36hertz --> crossover +/-3db
Inputs: low level and high level (speaker leads)
Driver: 200mm double magnet long throw subwoofer
Comments: This sub has amazing bass weight and authority for its relatively compact size; very suitable for small/medium room systems; very satisfying sound for value

Control 1080pr

Price: $480 (or $360 kit less cabinet)
Finish: Aust Oak, Jarrah and/or black and/or ceramic
Cabinet: 340h x 540w x 340d passive radiator 40 litre
Amplifier: 80 wrms
Controls: on/auto/off; level; crossover; phase switch
Crossover Frequency: adjustable 50 -- 160 hertz
Frequency Response: 28hertz --> crossover +/-3db
Inputs: low level and high level (speaker leads)
Driver: 250mm bucking magnet long throw subwoofer
Comments: The sub allows placement along a side wall; passive radiator design gives very good control od sound; also very satisfying and suitable for small to medium rooms

Deep Ex 1024

Price: $600 (or $470 kit less cabinet)
Finish: Aust Oak, Jarrah and/or black and/or ceramic
Cabinet: 440h x 440w x 440d bass reflex 52 litres
Amplifier: 240 wrms
Controls: on/auto/off; level; crossover; varied phase
Crossover Frequency: adjustable 50 -- 160 hertz
Frequency Response: 25hertz --> crossover +/-3db
Inputs: low level and high level (speaker leads)
Driver: 250mm double magnet extra long throw die cast basket subwoofer
Comments: fantastic deep and clean bass for a sub of this price; does not have any extraneous overtones; huge power, especially in the low end where you want it; performs like a much bigger driver

Deep Ex 1524sb

Price: $650 (or $500 kit less cabinet)
Finish: Aust Oak, Jarrah and/or black and/or ceramic
Cabinet: 440h x 600w x 440d sealed box 85 litres
Amplifier: 240 wrms
Controls: on/auto/off; level; crossover; varied phase
Crossover Frequency: adjustable 40 -- 150 hertz
Frequency Response: 38hertz --> crossover +/-3db (slower sealed box roll off gives -12db @ 18 hertz!)
Inputs: low level and high level (speaker leads)
Driver: 375mm double magnet extra long throw subwoofer; ultra stiff cone
Comments: The 15 inch driver used in this subwoofer (and the 1535ib) has a delightfully free and natural audio response in a slightly larger cabinet (you can not achieve this easily in a small cabinet at any price); the sealed box design is simple but still one of the best for a tight responsive bass that does not get lost
Mammoth 1535ib

Price: $890 (or $700 kit less cabinet)
Finish: Aust Oak, Jarrah and/or black and/or ceramic
Cabinet: 540h x 900w x 440d bass reflex 130 litres
Amplifier: 350 wrms
Controls: on/auto/off; level; crossover; phase switch; remote control
Crossover Frequency: adjustable 50 -- 160 hertz
Frequency Response: 20hertz --> crossover +/-3db
Inputs: low level and high level (speaker leads)
Drivers: 2 x 375mm double magnet extra long throw subwoofers in isobarik allignment; downward firing
Comments: This is an amazing performer, one of the best subs you will ever hear, especially at this price; on request an even larger box can be designed in coffe table balanced shape that is flat in its high quality very musical response right down to below 19 hertz

SRW 1535

Price: $890/ each parts kit (or $1090 in basic cabinet)
Finish: black standard cabinet with Oak or Jarrah top
Cabinet: 640h x 500w x 450d bass reflex 95 litres
Amplifier: 350 wrms
Controls: on/auto/off; level; crossover; phase switch; remote control of level and crossover frequency
Crossover Frequency: adjustable 50 -- 160 hertz
Frequency Response: 26 hertz -->crossover +/-3db
Active Inputs: low level (phono) or high level (speaker leads)
Drivers: 375mm large magnet extra long throw 4 ohm subwoofer with large ventilated voice coil, rigid composite cone and strong die-cast basket (actual driver rating is over 700 wrms)
Comments: this is the same sub as the SRW 15 (in the sound reinforcement range) but with its own active 350 wrms active amplifier; use two in very large systems; has remote control if needed; smooth integration with the other SR model full range speakers or other Ascension Loudspeaker models for large home systems.