Subwoofer Reviews
B&W PV1 Subwoofer Review
B&W PV1
Price : £950
Rating : 9.8/10
The B&W PV1 has already established an enviable reputation being quite remarkable in many ways. An amazing combination of speed and power make the PV1 an extraordinary subwoofer. Most people are happy for their sub to disappear behind a sofa or anywhere suitable, but B&W think differently. The result of their efforts is a silver sphere designed not for visual aesthetics but from a technical view. The sphere is formed from thin aluminium with the attempt to imitate a pressure vessel, or a soap bubble.
A sphere is inherently strong from an engineering point of view. A sphere is the strongest shape possible from an engineering view being very difficult to excite resonance in a curved surface. Immensely strong, light and free from resonance the PV1 is an extremely competent design.
The advantage of using such a light design is the ability to be freedom from resonance and hangover, and the result is an extremely quick and agile bass. The amplifier used is a 500 watt class D design that uses the aluminium cabinet as a heat sink. Class D amps are noted for their efficiency resulting in very little heat to be dissipated. Most subs employ a port of some description to extend the bass response, but this often creates problems, and in most cases involves compromise. B&W on the other hand have decided to utilise infinite baffle or sealed box that avoids such compromise.
All this sounds ideal from a design view, but the big question is ‘How does it sound?’ Exceptional, in a word, clean, flawless, and impeccable are others that spring to mind.
The ability that this sub has to play a tuneful bass is nothing short of astonishing. When using this for a while makes you dig out old recordings to reveal what the bass should sound like. Unquestionably excellent in so many areas the B&W PV1 has an incredible ability to reveal what previously was masked.
Specifications
Power 500 watts
Driver 20 cm
Cabinet type Sealed
Drive unit orientation Forward
Line inputs 1
Speaker inputs 1
Line outputs Yes
Speaker outputs No
Phase invert Yes
Remote control No
EQ No
Finishes 3
Dimensions 34cm H x 29cm W x35cm D
B&W ASW608 Subwoofer Review
B&W ASW608
Price : £300
Rating : 9.4/10
The B&W ASW608 is very small in comparison to most, and consequently is unable to delve as deep as many of its competitors but still delivers a fine performance. With a 200 watt amplifier driving an 8in unit in an infinite baffle enclosure, this sub has plenty to offer. If it can be forgiven for not quite reaching the depths of some of its contemporaries then the B&W produces a beautifully clean, fast bass.
It’s inability to shake the foundations can be easily forgiven because what it does it does exceedingly well. A fast tuneful punchy bass are its merits. Output is nimble with heaps of attack. Having a choice of 2 EQ settings the ASW508 can be tuned for movies or music. It’s well built and really a quite diminutive size, and as such should appeal to her indoors.
If space is at a premium then the B&W ASW608 is a major contender, if not then still worthy of recommendation.
Specifications
Power 200 watts
Driver 20 cm
Cabinet type Sealed
Drive unit orientation Forward
Line inputs 2
Speaker inputs 2
Line outputs No
Speaker outputs No
Phase invert Yes
Remote control No
EQ Yes
Finishes 4
Dimensions 26cm H x 26cm W x33cm D
REL Acoustics R-305 Subwoofer Review
REL Acoustics R-305 (Piano Black)
Price : £795
Rating : 8.8/10
The REL Acoustics R-305 certainly looks the business in its sleek black finish, and certainly delves deep into the subliminal portion of bass that is rarely perceptible, a remarkable achievement from such a relatively small box. With its well thought out controls on the front fascia, this is a very usable subwoofer that never fails to impress.
To keep control the REL uses a 300 watt amplifier driving a 10in long throw drive unit to pound out the lower reaches. It is well defined with excellent rhythm. The REL isn’t the largest sub but can still add remarkable weight and depth. Occasionally there appears to be a hint of compromise, whereas the lower reaches that it can achieve appear to be at the cost of being at times lethargic.
Perhaps not quite a nimble as its competitors the REL Acoustics R-305 nevertheless still deserves serious consideration in this sector of the market.
Specifications
Power 300 watts
Driver 25 cm
Cabinet type Sealed
Drive unit orientation Forward
Line inputs 2
Speaker inputs 1
Line outputs No
Speaker outputs No
Phase invert Yes
Remote control No
EQ No
Finishes 1
Dimensions 32cm H x 36cm W x 34cm D
Monitor Audio Vector VW-8
Price : £225
Rating : 7.5/10
As part of Monitor Audio Vector range the VW-8 is quite demure. Using a 20cm long throw design the driver uses Monitor Audio’s rigid MMPII system which is a Metal Matrix Polymer cone design. It utilises a bass reflex port underneath, facing downwards. The amplifier is a modest 100watt design with controls at the rear. Connections are somewhat limited but it still has switches to alter phase and bypass the onboard crossover.
The MDF cabinet comes in textured white, or textured black. Despite the compact size bass output remains deceptively high. Bass quality is good for its price range retrieving excellent detail, and even when pushed hard it retains composure. Prone to a slight loss of definition and slam, the MMPII nevertheless still merits recommendation due to overall good performance.
There will always be a place for a sub like the Monitor Audio MMPII to slot into given a suitably bass light system.
Specifications
Power 100 watts
Driver 20 cm
Cabinet type Ported
Drive unit orientation Forward
Line inputs 2
Speaker inputs 0
Line outputs No
Speaker outputs No
Phase invert Yes
Remote control No
EQ No
Finishes 2
Dimensions 32cm H x28cm W x28cm D
Velodyne CHT-8Q Subwoofer Review
Velodyne CHT-8Q
Price : £445
Rating : 9.5/10
The Velodyne CHT-8Q is a pretty potent subwoofer featuring automatic installation. It’s designed to take the guesswork out of installation with a calibration system that uses a microphone to optimise the system. With the room making a significant role in the reproduction of the bass, the system takes account of this and adjusts to compensate for room variations and positioning. With its use of onboard digital signal processing (DSP) it is very easy to set up.
With an output of 180 watts, it is in fact the smallest of the range. Capable of remarkable deep thunderous bass the Velodyne describes the most significant motion picture explosion and is equally happy with night club beat. Surprisingly nimble the Velodyne is an extremely capable sub. Velodyne have been concentrating on making the CHT-8Q competitive with significant success.
The Velodyne is powerful and fearless with more than adequate output, and coupled with its foolproof ease of set up makes it easy to recommend especially within its price range.
Specifications
Power 180 watts
Driver 20 cm
Cabinet type Ported
Drive unit orientation Forward
Line inputs 2
Speaker inputs 0
Line outputs Yes
Speaker outputs No
Phase invert Yes
Remote control Yes
EQ Yes
Finishes 1
Dimensions 38cm H x 30cm W x 42cm D
