Quote:
Originally Posted by Perpendicular 
Apparently, you have never owned or done research on the actual measurements of the Energy Sub. It's - 3 db point was tested as being 35 Hz. Sure, it drops off significantly below this point but will still have plenty of energy down in the 26 Hz range. How do I know this? I own two of them. It is a very capable Subwoofer in small to medium size spaces.
Quote:
Originally Posted by batpig
Meh deal. This sub is good quality but it's TEENY TINY and doesn't do anything below 40Hz. If you specifically want a sub that is as small as possible (e.g. for a small apartment or condo) then it's fine, but it's not a serious HT sub.
Meh deal. This sub is good quality but it's TEENY TINY and doesn't do anything below 40Hz. If you specifically want a sub that is as small as possible (e.g. for a small apartment or condo) then it's fine, but it's not a serious HT sub.
Apparently, you have never owned or done research on the actual measurements of the Energy Sub. It's - 3 db point was tested as being 35 Hz. Sure, it drops off significantly below this point but will still have plenty of energy down in the 26 Hz range. How do I know this? I own two of them. It is a very capable Subwoofer in small to medium size spaces.
Actually, I have read several reviews with bench tests of this sub and its Mirage "twins" (MM-6 and MM-8). That review and bench test linked support what I said -- it starts rolling off at 50Hz and goes down steeply below 40Hz.
Perhaps I was being a bit hyperbolic by saying it "doesn't do anything below 40Hz" but the fact of the matter is you aren't going to get powerful output for those "sub bass" octaves below 40Hz from a 8" cube, no matter how nice. Notice that I did acknowledge that the sub is "good quality" -- I'm sure you would have a difficult time finding a better sub for the price that is THAT small, or even close to that small. You'd probably have to double the price to the $500 SVS SB-100 to surpass it for bass quality/output in nearly as small of a package.
I don't think though it's particularly controversial or ignorant to suggest that this sub is as I said -- designed to be "as small as possible" for use in a small apartment or condo. Even the reviewer who provided those measurements noted:
Quote:
I’ve gone into some detail about this because when I used the Energy ESW-M8 to play a variety of CDs that I know have considerable musical energy below 40Hz—Famous Blue Raincoat (35Hz), Dark Side of the Moon (27Hz) and Telarc’s Great Fantasy Adventure Album (10Hz)—it didn’t seem to translate this energy efficiently into my listening room. There was certainly some deep bass output, but not quite enough to satisfy my yearnings for deep bass. However, what these auditions proved to me was the Energy’s ESW-M8 is very efficient at delivering musical energy is in the two adjacent (higher) octaves: that is, the octave between 40Hz and 80Hz, and then the octave between 80Hz and 160Hz. Because of this, I’d be more inclined to regard the ESW-M8 as a superwoofer than a subwoofer.
(snip)
But the bottom line really does come down to the physical size of the bass driver and the cabinet. You will get deeper, louder bass and a more linear low-frequency response from any of the larger subwoofers in Energy’s range, so if cabinet size is not absolutely critical, I’d recommend passing by the ESW-M8 and getting something bigger—preferably much bigger. However if for whatever reason it is essential you buy a subwoofer that is as tiny as possible, then I’d wholeheartedly recommend Energy’s ESW-M8.
(snip)
But the bottom line really does come down to the physical size of the bass driver and the cabinet. You will get deeper, louder bass and a more linear low-frequency response from any of the larger subwoofers in Energy’s range, so if cabinet size is not absolutely critical, I’d recommend passing by the ESW-M8 and getting something bigger—preferably much bigger. However if for whatever reason it is essential you buy a subwoofer that is as tiny as possible, then I’d wholeheartedly recommend Energy’s ESW-M8.
So basically, my statements were pretty much accurate. Even you implicitly acknowledge this by caveating your remarks with "in small to medium spaces".
It seems that you take issue with the sematics of "serious HT sub", but I think you are in the wrong thread to argue that issue. The point is that this sub fills a specific niche -- excellent quality bass in as small a package as possible, with the compromise being limited ability to hit those lowest octaves below 40Hz for "serious HT" use. You are obviously cool with that compromise, and that's fine. Let it be known that I only have an 8" sub (the Mirage Prestige S8) which I also wouldn't qualify as a "serious HT sub", but it fits my needs perfectly. I, like you, don't really need "subterranean bass" in my current living situation.
But for someone who comes to this thread looking for advice on finding the best bang for the buck on a subwoofer purchase, I think it's important to point out the limitations of this model. If size limitations aren't an issue, anyone would be much better served getting something like the Klipsch RW-12d which will absolute crush the little M8 in overall output and sub 40Hz extension.
instead? It's about the same size as the PSW505, yet it's $50 less.
