I checked out all the usual popular choices before making my “A” system selection.
My decision tree matrix :
(1) We have all had our fair share of bad subwoofer experiences,.There is a kind of snobbery that exists in our world of high-end audio aimed primarily at receivers, car audio, home theater and subwoofers. Poor selection of subwoofers are responsible for many people disliking them since it is the subwoofer in these situations that tends to call attention to the system and cause many of the problems. The truth of the matter is that many subwoofers have fully earned their bad reputation in 2-channel audio …Most of them sound boomy, muddy and out of control with an obnoxious bass overhang that lingers so long as to blur most of the musical information up until the next bass note is struck.
Because everything in this hobby is built to its pricepoint, it faced the tension of finding premium performance Versus budget = a $3K - max $5K audition strata .
(2) As anyone who’s fiddled with subs knows, setup is at least half the battle when it comes to getting the most out of a subwoofer 2-channel system, and I can honestly say that good set-ups are a long-time labor of love.
(3) Best of breed build with best of breed components, and premium warranty terms.
(4) Ethereal WAF with superior visual appearances , ergo choice of all-wood finish materials.
(5);a $5000 budget ceiling price-point.
My Take: ATC C1 Sub Mk2 active subwoofer bested all contenders and pretenders with HARBETHs in my system.
- Superior build components, premium all wood custom finish, a full 6- year OEM warranty, and it’s a down firing unit that somehow made its unit room placement easier,
- Highly recommended for an audition.
Review:
https://www.hifipig.com/atc-launches-new-c1-sub-mk-2-active-subwoofer/
