Subwoofers - Subwoofer Comparison Test - Round 3

by CAE, Dec 01, 2001

Objective Score Chart Brand Crystal Eclipse Kove Massive Model CMPx2 12 88120TiDVC Z-12 DMx12 Enclosure 15 15 11 11 SPL (in car) 9 8 7 10 SPL (in lab) 3 4 4 5 Xmax 1.64 2.06 2.54 2.54 Total Objective Score 28.64 29.06 24.54 28.54

Subjective Score Chart Brand Crystal Eclipse Kove Massive Model CMPx2 12 88120TiDVC Z-12 DMx12 Overall Sound Quality 50 43 43 45 Tonal Balance 10 7 7 8 Low Frequency Extension 9 7 8 10 Clarity at Low Volume 8 10 6 6 Clarity at High Volume 8 9 10 9 Impact 8 8 10 9 Total Subjective Score 93 84 84 87

Artist & Title Music Type Points Possible CrystalC MPx2 12 Eclipse 88120TiDVC Kove Z-112 MassiveD Mx12 Yello - Baby Techno Bass/Synth 10 9 7 8 10 Nirvana - Nevermind Rock 10 9 8 10 8 Cheb Mami Global Pop/Hip Hop 10 8 8 10 9 Salif Keita Africa Beat 10 10 8 6 6 Outkast Rap/Pop 13 12 12 12 13 Radio Rap/Pop/Top 40 12 10 11 11 12   TOTAL 65 58 54 57 58

Sensitivity and SPL Chart Brand Crystal Eclipse Kove Massive Model CMPx2 12 88120TiDVC Z-12 DMx12 In Car 40Hz (2.83V/1M in dB) 98 98 96 100 In Car 80Hz (2.83V/1M in dB) 90 88 89 91 Max SPL 133 130 129 135

Impact (10 points)Attack and decay. These are the primary aspects of impact; the time it takes for sound to build up or die down. This subjective measurement is based on quickness of both attack and decay in due respect to the recording. However, this subjective test may not be of interest to you if large, boomy bass is what you desire. Take it for what it is, but the results will be based on the quickness and accuracy on a ten-point scale.

Overall sound quality (50 points)Take all of the other subjective measurements, place them in a blender for five minutes. Voila! Sound quality! Okay, maybe it's not that easy, but the essentials are all there. For overall sound quality, all aspects of performance come to play as one. The result could be better or far worse than any one of the other subjective measurements. Given the importance of this listening test, it carries a lofty 50 points.

In Lab SPL (5 points)SPL is a term that most audio consumers are familiar with these days. The simple fact that a loud system draws attention generates interest in SPL. For those of you unfamiliar with the initials, this stands for Sound Pressure Level. This is the measurement of sound volume (acoustical energy). The in-lab measurements for SPL are actually LEAP Software generated outputs. These outputs are derived using the Theile/Small measurements as shown in the Data Comparison Chart. Even though they are not actual test numbers, we have come to respect the accuracy of the LEAP system. Top honors will take home five points and leave second a point behind.

In Car SPL (10 points)Subwoofers can perform noticeably different in a vehicle than they do in the lab. As well, the same sub will also vary performance from one type of vehicle to the next. Our test vehicle was a Toyota TacomaExtra Cab, so keep that in mind. In-car SPL measurements were taken at a one meter distance using a sign sweep starting at 1 kHz and falling to 10 Hz. The peak output is then taken from the data and referred to as the max SPL. Based on this peak amplitude, a maximum of ten points is given.

Xmax (length x 2)Xmax is one of the most misconceived measurements in the industry. Yet, this is one of the easiest of the measurements to calculate. Xmax is simply how much the voice coil overhangs, top or bottom (these are normally the same), the top-plate of the motor structure when the speaker is at rest. This number by itself has no real useful meaning and really cannot be used compare woofers. In many cases, subwoofers with shorter Xmax can produce higher max SPL and have a greater dynamic range. We'll just chalk this up to bonus points by doubling the length in inches.

First track through was Salif's "Folon." The CMPx2 12 initially seemed a good match for the Massive in terms of sound quality. Things were fairly tight with considerably less overhang than any of the other three. But with such a low tuning frequency, you should almost expect this.

Switching to Nirvana, things got even better. The bass and the kick drum were distinct and had great impact, though I wished for a little more SPL here at mid and low volumes. I found it on Cheb Mami. Here the synthesized bass notes were pumping the sub to big excursion levels with some overlap of the high bass notes.

On Yello's "Rubberband Man," the CMPx2 12 got the best results of the bunch at accurately hitting the cascading frequencies of bass notes. Again, output was a bit shallow at low volumes, but from a musical standpoint, the response was exceptional.

Like the Kove woofer, the Outkast CD produced the best results with the CMPx2 12. In the first 30 seconds of the CD there is a repeating bass line that, as it turns out, changes frequencies. None of the other woofers were able to reveal this, but right off, with the Crystal CMPx2 12, I could hear the bass note change frequency midway through. You know a speaker is doing its job when it reveals things others do not.