Introduction The Sunfire True Subwoofer Super Junior priced at $995 is an astonishing achievement. The latest in Bob Carver’s stunning line of audio components – in particular a line of powerful subs – the Super Junior is a step up from the earlier Junior, previously reviewed extremely favorably in Audio Revolution. And a remarkable successor it is, too. Weighing in at 29 pounds, and taking the form of a nine-inch cube, the Super Junior is incredibly small for what it aims to do, which is to move a great deal of air. It manages this with the use of two long-excursion drivers on opposite sides of a cube, one active and the other presumably passive, driven by an amplifier capable of an exceptional 1500 watts RMS (for short periods, thanks to Bob Carver’s Tracking Downconverter amplifer technology) into the driver’s 4.6 ohm impedance. The diaphragms (they are not really cones as such) are thus able ...

Introduction The goal of a home theater system is much greater than to merely reproduce what is recorded on your DVDs. Its job is to transport you to the event being depicted in the film, an achievement known as suspension of disbelief. Movie producers go to great measures to create a hyper-realistic sense of impact, both visually and sonically. In movies with even the slightest amount of action, you will find that no other component in your theater sound system compares to the subwoofer for impact, verisimilitude and ability to involve you in the movie. It is an essential ingredient to every home theater system. A subwoofer’s mission is to supply the lowest frequency information with ample sound pressure, which can fill your room with realistic and powerful low-frequency energy. It can often make your home theater experience more involving than that of your local theatrical release cinema complex. No home theater is complete ...

Introduction The Revel B15 sub is the first subwoofer from Madrigal’s Revel speaker line in their comparatively affordable Performa series. Priced at $2,995 in Black Ash and $3,295 in faux Rosewood, Cherry or Sycamore wood veneers, the B15 addresses some traditional subwoofer problems with new, highly successful solutions. At nearly 20 cubed inches in size, the B15 is slightly larger than subwoofers like my reference Sunfire Signature, yet it still retains a modest physical footprint. The B15 is far more than a product that simply fills out a product line. This is a major design accomplishment. First off, the output of this 15-inch subwoofer is staggering at 113 dB at 20 Hz and an awe-inspiring 126 dB at 30 Hz. Revel has made headlines with a Harman-financed research and development budget that makes other high-end speaker manufacturers sick with envy. The B15’s 15-inch driver is yet another example of how Revel is creating products ...

Introduction The True Subwoofer Architectural is an 11-inch cube weighing 40 lbs. with a price tag of $1,395 in black and $1,450 for its optional white finish. The Sunfire True Architectural Sub shares much of the technology found in Sunfire’s top-of-the-line $1,995 Signature Subwoofer, with the exception that it was designed so that the owner has the option of being able to place it in a cabinet. The demand for the Architectural Subwoofer originally came from custom installers who were looking for creative ways to better hide components. It is no secret that some components such as your main loudspeakers should remain on the open floor for optimal performance. Because low-frequency information is for the most part considered to be non-directional, many were interested in the possibility of hiding the subwoofer in a cabinet. The big question is whether it can perform as well as a subwoofer that is well-positioned on a listening room ...

Introduction RBH Sound, named after chief designer Roger B. Hassing (not to be confused with the late James B. Lansing) has recently risen up as a contender in the highly competitive US loudspeaker market with a lineup of high performance affordable music and theater speakers. RBH speakers are known for their use of aluminum drivers like those found on Velodyne and Monitor Audio speakers. RBH dresses up their speakers in ultra sexy colors and wood finishes not too far from what you’d expect from the super boutique, high end loudspeaker manufacturers such as Wilson and THIEL. The system I evaluated includes the MC-6T speakers and TS-12AP powered subwoofer priced at $1099 pair (for cherry or semi gloss white finishes, $999 in the black oak finish) and $799, respectively. My MC-6T and TS-12AP both came finished in a very high quality cherry wood veneer with removable, black grille covers. I was shocked when I opened ...