Intro/Our Approach:
WATCH VIDEO BELOW:
We do NOT intend our shootout to be a Âfinal word in determining a king of $1000 Internet Direct (ID) subs. We approached our shootout from a totally different perspective than has been normal for these things. We feel itÂ's something a lot of you have been wanting from a review or shootout. So here it is: We arenÂ't trying to answer the question of ÂWhich of these subs is best?Â, but rather, we are trying to be helpful in determining ÂWhich sub is best for YOU personally, the readerÂ. The answer to that question will differ from reader to reader, so we canÂ't answer it for you - just maybe help you reach a more informed decision and have a little fun along the way. We know some of you want us to make the decision for you, but we canÂ't. And we wonÂ't so please no PMÂ's asking us Âwhich sub is best or Âhow would you rank the sub?Â
Some of you have remarked to us you are interested in 2 or 3 of the subs in the shootout. Do yourself a huge favor and read about all five. Each one is impressive in its own way, so you might find one of the subs you werenÂ't considering will fill your needs the best.
NOTE: We donÂ't mind a difference of opinion, but making comments just to ruffle feathers is trolling. We donÂ't approve of trolls jumping on every and any thread they can, just to bash certain manufacturers or their personnel. So first time someone decides to troll we ask you to leave the conversation. Second time it happens weÂ'll ask a mod to warn the offender. Hopefully it stops there.
NOTE..again: I think we might've confused some of you by posting the way we did. Although this thread is posted under Adam's screen name "madaeel", Ethan (below90hz) actually put it together. So Ethan is "below90hz", Adam is "madaeel".
Frequently Asked Questions:
Before moving on, letÂ's address some questions that have been raised:
Q: How did you guys calibrate the subs and do room EQ?
A: We used only what came with the sub at the $1000 price point, and weÂ're fairly confident that testing the subs like that will make this shootout relevant to more readers. In fact, Sound and Vision magazine (among other pro reviewers) also test subs in a normal listening environment, so we're not doing anything new here.
To explain: If Reader A has no intention of, or no capability to EQ the sub they wish to buy, our results are relevant to Reader A's situation. If Reader B plans on using Audessey, our results are still relevant to him as well because he knows that the sub will at least perform as well as we say it does, maybe even better once he uses room correction. But if we only test the subs after doing some room EQ with Audessey, Reader A has no idea if the sub will sound as good as we say it does. And what about Reader C, who has room EQ capability but its not Audessey? He'll be left guessing as well. So testing the subs as they come straight from the manufacturer ensures that, whatever the results, each sub's performance can mostly only be improved on, and therefore leaving little room for doubt as to its performance capabilities as posted in this thread.
NOTE: Although we've received several comments stating our impressions on sub's performance are exactly how some of our readers would describe it, your own experience with the sub may be different. There are many variables involved in how a sub performs. Take a look at our test setup/methodology to get an idea of how your listening environment and usage may differ or be similar to ours.
Q: You guys arenÂ't pros, you donÂ't have a laboratory-grade listening environment, nor do you have laboratory-calibrated testing equipment. What makes anything you have to say worth reading?
A: Well weÂ'll answer that question with a question of our own: How many of you are going to listen to your sub in an anechoic chamber (or outside), calibrated by $10,000 worth of equipment, and use it mostly to listen to test tones, pink noise and sine waves? Two regular dudes sitting on their couch listening to the subs and taking measurements with a rat shack meter is far closer to how youÂ'll actually use any of these subs then say, measurements from a lab or taken outside at 1m. That is why we feel what we have to say is at least worth taking a peek at.
Q: You guys did do the shootout blind, right?
A: Well, think about the reasons for making any product comparison blind. It is to eliminate bias. So what part of this shootout requires us to be unbiased? The part where we list the specs? No, the specs are what they are. How about output? Again, it is what it is. The aesthetics? Well, commenting on a subÂ's looks requires we know which sub weÂ're looking at Â- thereÂ's no getting around it.
The only aspect of the shootout that may require us to be Âblind (if you really think its necessary) would be the sound quality portion. However, since weÂ're not going to create a ranking system Ã* la CraigsubÂ's legendary thread, we donÂ't need to do that portion blind either. WeÂ'll report on our impressions of accuracy and post FR charts, but really all five subs sound awesome and its not like we can take measurements anyways. Therefore, our approach is to include a ÂWho should consider this sub category for each sub. A different approach for sure, but we believe more or less just as helpful.
Q: WeÂ've seen the intro video - are you guys that ridiculously attractive in real life too?
A: We would love to answer that question, seriously, we would. However we are incredibly busy with our modeling careers and being body doubles for Jason Statham so we just donÂ't have the time to answer.
Q: How did you two determine max output?
A: With the sealed subs, it was pretty easy. We started at a high but safe volume level, and then kept increasing the volume level on the receiver (AVR) by anywhere from 5 to 1 decibel increments until increasing the volume no longer made the sub get any louder. With ported subs, itÂ's a bit more tricky since itÂ's typically a lot easier to accidentally take a ported sub to xMech (bottoming out) than a sealed sub. So we did the same as we did with the sealed subs, but as an added precaution Ethan also sat right next to the sub and listened very carefully for audible distortion as a sign we had passed xMax and were approaching xMech.
Q: So you guys really just bought some subs and tested them for fun?
A: Well, technically AdamÂ's wife bought the subs. But yeah, thatÂ's what we did.
Test Setup/ Methodology:
This section is IMPORTANT. If you read nothing else, read this!
photography is © Elena Jasic. Check her out www.elenajasic.com and her photography blog (some parts of site are nsfw)
WATCH VIDEO BELOW:
We do NOT intend our shootout to be a Âfinal word in determining a king of $1000 Internet Direct (ID) subs. We approached our shootout from a totally different perspective than has been normal for these things. We feel itÂ's something a lot of you have been wanting from a review or shootout. So here it is: We arenÂ't trying to answer the question of ÂWhich of these subs is best?Â, but rather, we are trying to be helpful in determining ÂWhich sub is best for YOU personally, the readerÂ. The answer to that question will differ from reader to reader, so we canÂ't answer it for you - just maybe help you reach a more informed decision and have a little fun along the way. We know some of you want us to make the decision for you, but we canÂ't. And we wonÂ't so please no PMÂ's asking us Âwhich sub is best or Âhow would you rank the sub?Â
Some of you have remarked to us you are interested in 2 or 3 of the subs in the shootout. Do yourself a huge favor and read about all five. Each one is impressive in its own way, so you might find one of the subs you werenÂ't considering will fill your needs the best.
NOTE: We donÂ't mind a difference of opinion, but making comments just to ruffle feathers is trolling. We donÂ't approve of trolls jumping on every and any thread they can, just to bash certain manufacturers or their personnel. So first time someone decides to troll we ask you to leave the conversation. Second time it happens weÂ'll ask a mod to warn the offender. Hopefully it stops there.
NOTE..again: I think we might've confused some of you by posting the way we did. Although this thread is posted under Adam's screen name "madaeel", Ethan (below90hz) actually put it together. So Ethan is "below90hz", Adam is "madaeel".
Frequently Asked Questions:
Before moving on, letÂ's address some questions that have been raised:
Q: How did you guys calibrate the subs and do room EQ?
A: We used only what came with the sub at the $1000 price point, and weÂ're fairly confident that testing the subs like that will make this shootout relevant to more readers. In fact, Sound and Vision magazine (among other pro reviewers) also test subs in a normal listening environment, so we're not doing anything new here.
To explain: If Reader A has no intention of, or no capability to EQ the sub they wish to buy, our results are relevant to Reader A's situation. If Reader B plans on using Audessey, our results are still relevant to him as well because he knows that the sub will at least perform as well as we say it does, maybe even better once he uses room correction. But if we only test the subs after doing some room EQ with Audessey, Reader A has no idea if the sub will sound as good as we say it does. And what about Reader C, who has room EQ capability but its not Audessey? He'll be left guessing as well. So testing the subs as they come straight from the manufacturer ensures that, whatever the results, each sub's performance can mostly only be improved on, and therefore leaving little room for doubt as to its performance capabilities as posted in this thread.
NOTE: Although we've received several comments stating our impressions on sub's performance are exactly how some of our readers would describe it, your own experience with the sub may be different. There are many variables involved in how a sub performs. Take a look at our test setup/methodology to get an idea of how your listening environment and usage may differ or be similar to ours.
Q: You guys arenÂ't pros, you donÂ't have a laboratory-grade listening environment, nor do you have laboratory-calibrated testing equipment. What makes anything you have to say worth reading?
A: Well weÂ'll answer that question with a question of our own: How many of you are going to listen to your sub in an anechoic chamber (or outside), calibrated by $10,000 worth of equipment, and use it mostly to listen to test tones, pink noise and sine waves? Two regular dudes sitting on their couch listening to the subs and taking measurements with a rat shack meter is far closer to how youÂ'll actually use any of these subs then say, measurements from a lab or taken outside at 1m. That is why we feel what we have to say is at least worth taking a peek at.
Q: You guys did do the shootout blind, right?
A: Well, think about the reasons for making any product comparison blind. It is to eliminate bias. So what part of this shootout requires us to be unbiased? The part where we list the specs? No, the specs are what they are. How about output? Again, it is what it is. The aesthetics? Well, commenting on a subÂ's looks requires we know which sub weÂ're looking at Â- thereÂ's no getting around it.
The only aspect of the shootout that may require us to be Âblind (if you really think its necessary) would be the sound quality portion. However, since weÂ're not going to create a ranking system Ã* la CraigsubÂ's legendary thread, we donÂ't need to do that portion blind either. WeÂ'll report on our impressions of accuracy and post FR charts, but really all five subs sound awesome and its not like we can take measurements anyways. Therefore, our approach is to include a ÂWho should consider this sub category for each sub. A different approach for sure, but we believe more or less just as helpful.
Q: WeÂ've seen the intro video - are you guys that ridiculously attractive in real life too?
A: We would love to answer that question, seriously, we would. However we are incredibly busy with our modeling careers and being body doubles for Jason Statham so we just donÂ't have the time to answer.
Q: How did you two determine max output?
A: With the sealed subs, it was pretty easy. We started at a high but safe volume level, and then kept increasing the volume level on the receiver (AVR) by anywhere from 5 to 1 decibel increments until increasing the volume no longer made the sub get any louder. With ported subs, itÂ's a bit more tricky since itÂ's typically a lot easier to accidentally take a ported sub to xMech (bottoming out) than a sealed sub. So we did the same as we did with the sealed subs, but as an added precaution Ethan also sat right next to the sub and listened very carefully for audible distortion as a sign we had passed xMax and were approaching xMech.
Q: So you guys really just bought some subs and tested them for fun?
A: Well, technically AdamÂ's wife bought the subs. But yeah, thatÂ's what we did.
Test Setup/ Methodology:
This section is IMPORTANT. If you read nothing else, read this!
- All numbers are straight from an analog SPL meter. We bought a second brand new SPL meter to verify numbers; the two meters almost always matched each other exactly and were never more than 1db apart. Some of you might assume that the actual SPLs are higher than what we state based on the popular rat shack meter conversion chart; however from what weÂ've read, it is entirely possible the numbers are fairly accurate as posted.
- Unless otherwise noted, all numbers we post are always taken at listening position, 8Â'-6Â from the corner-located subwoofer.
- The Âlistening position in this case was where Adam always sits on his couch: directly centered on his TV.
- Ethan always sat at his left, about 24Â-30Â farther away from the sub.
- AdamÂ's listening position is not the Âsweet spot in his room. Ethan was probably sitting in the/a sweet spot, which we verified with both meters that it typically hit 3-6db higher than at the listening position. Keep that in mind as you consider the SPLs we post.
- We put each sub in the exact same location and orientation (in a corner, driver facing front, including CS18.1 and Empire), using painterÂ's tape to mark the spot for consistency. It is possible that a sub-crawl test mightÂ've revealed a more ideal location for none, some, or all of the subs. However, based on some quick tests the location and orientation we chose yielded very good, if not the best results.
- Test tones played to generate FR charts were all played at the exact same volume (at -15) after channel leveling the LFE to the other speakers. We channel leveled each sub several times to make sure the results were consistent.
- The listening environment is AdamÂ's living room which is open to the rest of the first floor. It about 4000 to 4500³ft. It also sits on floor joists above his basement.
- Here is the list of test material we used:
- Music:
- ÂBass, I Love You by Basstronics
- ÂLow Roads by Bass Mekanik
- Movie:
- Cloverfield Â- Qwik-E-Mart Walk-by scene
- Cloverfield Â- Bridge destruction scene
- Flight of the Phoenix Â- Plane crash sequence
- Kung Fu Panda Â- ÂSkadooshÂ
- Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen Â- Intro
- The Incredible Hulk (2008) Â- Sonic Cannon scene
- Music:
- Music was played in 2-channel Stereo. All sample scenes from movies were in 5.1 DTS except Kung-Fu Panda which was in 5.1 Dolby Digital
photography is © Elena Jasic. Check her out www.elenajasic.com and her photography blog (some parts of site are nsfw)
