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Which one is better-Velodyne Servo FSR-18 Sub or OPTIMUM 12

post #1 of 7
5/21/12 at 11:54pm
Thread Starter 
Hi all I finally stepped it up a notch and I am considering purchasing one of 2 subs for my movie room, can you guys tell me what to expect and which will be better bang and quality sub-woofer based on your impressions and experiences if you have used any of these.

First One is-Velodyne Servo FSR-18 Sub-woofer its Servo Based and incorporates a 1250 Watt Amp The latest version retailed for 1,999

Second- Velodyne Optimum-12 Sub-woofer
First one being offered to me somewhere between 7-750 and second in the 800-850 range what do you guys suggest....
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post #2 of 7
5/23/12 at 6:24am
So for a HT setup you want to know which sub would be better, one with an 18" driver or one with a 12" driver? I suspect you already know the answer...

How used are they? That would be my only question. The FRS-18 must have been at least 3 grand when new.
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post #3 of 7
5/23/12 at 1:50pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by EVERY1ELECTRONIC View Post

Hi all I finally stepped it up a notch and I am considering purchasing one of 2 subs for my movie room, can you guys tell me what to expect and which will be better bang and quality sub-woofer based on your impressions and experiences if you have used any of these.

First One is-Velodyne Servo FSR-18 Sub-woofer its Servo Based and incorporates a 1250 Watt Amp The latest version retailed for 1,999

Second- Velodyne Optimum-12 Sub-woofer
First one being offered to me somewhere between 7-750 and second in the 800-850 range what do you guys suggest....

The FSR-18 is an older subwoofer with limited support from Velodyne. It is a great subwoofer musically and can hold its own for Hometheater. The thing to remember is it was designed, sold, and went out of production prior the multi-channel digital surround sound we have today. Prior to 1997 we did not have the same demands on a subwoofer in Hometheater that we place on them today.

The Optimum however is a current production model, fully supported, and specifically designed for the rigors of high end hometheater. It is still a beast musically, despite not having the active feedback servo present in the FSR-18. The Optimum 12 will not play as deep, though it will still hit down to 21Hz at +/- 3dB, and it may not move as much air as the 18, however a single Optimum 12 will fill a room up to 4300 cubic feet.
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post #4 of 7
5/23/12 at 2:32pm
Thread Starter 
I am really unsure as to which sub to go with and I know that the servo sub had an amp replaced recently by velodyne however it is no loger under warrnty as opposed to the Optimium 12 which is.

Im thinking with a new amp in it it should be go for some time to come as I have heard these are very efficent and reviews are excellent for this sub when it was released. I have a small room so either sub would be more than sufficent in temrs of bass output but which one has a better low end and will do the best with home theater?

The room is 11x10 so anything would shake it, I just want the cleanest bass and low end offered by the better of these subs, what should I do guys my main thing is home theater everything else comes second and I mix it up every now and than listening to music on occasion?
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post #5 of 7
5/23/12 at 2:38pm
Thread Starter 
Here is the specs on the 2 SUBS.. Im not certain about this but how come on paper it seams like the older FSR18 smashes the Optimum 12? What do you think?

SPECIFICATIONS FSR-18


•Cabinet (incl. legs)
•Frequency Response
•Harmonic Distortion
•Subsonic Filter
•High Pass Crossover
•Low Pass Crossover
•Phase
•Amplifier
•Woofer
•Magnet
•Magnet Structure
•Voice Coil
•Inputs
•Outputs
•Warranty
•Weight

•21-1/4" x 23-1/4 x 18-1/2" (W,H'o)

•16Hz - 120Hz +/- 3 dB

•< 1 "10 (typical)

•15Hz or 35Hz

•80Hz or 100Hz (6 dB/octave)

•40Hz - 120Hz (12 dB/octave initial. 48 dB/octave ultimate)
•0 - 180

•Class D, 1250 watts RMS, 3000 watts peak

•18" forward firing, high-excursion 2" max.

•2200z. (13.7Ibs.)

•3800z. (24Ibs.)

•Tandem 3" push-pull

•Line-level. Balanced & speaker-level
•Line-level & speaker-level
•Two years (parts & labor)
•105 Ibs. (approx.)


SPECIFICATION-OPTIMUM 12
Accessories Remote Control, Microphone, Mic. Stand
Amplifier 2400 watts Dynamic, 1200 watts RMS Power
Auto On/Off Yes
Cabinet Design Sealed enclosure
Color Black Gloss Lacquer
Dimensions: (H/W/D) 15.5" x 15" x 18.5" (39.4 x 38 x 47 cm)
HiPass Crossover 80 Hz (6 dB/octave)
LoPass Crossover 40-135 Hz 12 dB octave intitial, 24 dB octave ultimate
Phase Control 0, 90, 180, 270 Degrees
Removable Grille Yes
Shipping Weight 49 lbs. (22Kg)
Voice Coil 3" Dual Layer inside/outside wound
Warranty (N. Am.) Two years (electronics & drivers - parts & labor)
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post #6 of 7
5/24/12 at 2:28pm
From Sound&Vision:

"The Optimum-12 delivered its optimum punch in the second octave of bass, from 40-80Hz, reaching a peak output of 114.2 at 63Hz. In the bottom octave, from 20 to 40Hz, it averaged about 95 db output at 10% THD and delivered usable output down to 18Hz. It's obvious who the buyer for this Veldoyne model is: the person who needs a small yet powerful sub. If that's you, you can choose the Optimum-12 with the confidence that you are giving up very little in performance with its larger competitors."

I would skip both of these Velodynes. The FSR-18 has limited support and you don't want to have to deal with a driver that may have a deteriorating surround. Eventually, the surround will deteriorate.

The Optimum 12 is hampered in the deep bass by the small size.

You would do very very well with a brand new Epik Empire with its dual 15 inch drivers.



http://www.epiksubwoofers.com/empire.html
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post #7 of 7
5/24/12 at 3:31pm
Yeah, nothing against Velodyne, but spyboy is right on the money. My friend has an Empire in a room that's a little larger than yours by about a foot in each direction and it is amazing. I've seen a large number of movies in that little room and the Empire has never failed to be highly impressive. There have been times when we've looked at each other like something had stomped on the room itself yet the Empire stays totally composed.
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AVS › AVS Forum › Audio › Subwoofers, Bass, and Transducers › Which one is better-Velodyne Servo FSR-18 Sub or OPTIMUM 12