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Which is the top dog in "subs"?

I'm deciding between a pair of Velodyne DD-18s or JL Audio Fathom 113s. I've read the articles published in Stereophile and Absolute Sound.

Ease of setup is important to my system. The Velodyne setup appears to be SOTA for subs with ease of use and setup procedures. All parameters can be adjusted with the remote control. You can view the setup via video out to a TV monitor. However the high pass filter is set at 80hz. Is this a problem? Is this a musical sub? Will is blend with my salons? Larry Greenhill has never mentioned using two DD-18s so how would they compare with my the Fathoms 113s. also Velodyne makes one use single ended instead of balanced interconnects. Also Velodynes software will only accomodate mono subs working as master and slave.

The Fathom is a newer sub, with some great ideas and is reputed to sound incredible. The problem with it seems to be no remote control, difficult setup, not as easy as the Velodyne, and would require a crossover such as the Bryson 10b as an additional expense.

One could buy the Fathoms, and Velodynes setup kit the SMS-1 wich would put the setup procedure even with the DD-18s. I still would have to switch from balanced interconnects to single ended.

I know I now own Revel Subs but one has died via a shipping problem, and they are discontinued and I have a chance to upgrade to new subs.

The application would be for two channel only.

So what do you guys think, has anyone listend to the two subs with an optimized setup?
128x128sgr
radrog
157 posts
 
KRELL .........DUH
audiofeil
4,011 posts
 
KRELL....DUH

ROTFLMAO

Dinosaur company and products
nikki
57 posts
 
The DD-18 will go deeper and with greater ease. They are very musical and do not over power my room.

I previously used a single DD-15, but once I went to the stereo DD-18s, the bass no longer sounded forced. It is simply there, in an effortless and limitless way. It's the best way I can describe it.

Mind you, setup and placement is critical. Replace the standard feet with some decent brass spikes as well.

Good luck.
johnk's avatar
johnk
1,975 posts
 
The top dog in subs are KCS 31.5 in, and KCS bass horns. A hi-excursion driver with massive power in small cabinet that needs room +floor bondery reinforcement to produce bass. Is a sub optimal design but most all sub manufacters offer this because its cheaper to manufacter more affordable to ship easy for purchaser to house without WAF problems. But if you want bass done right than avoid the floor cube with hi-excursion driver. Much detail is lost to the massive excursions of such designs why sub bass for music use is mostly sub optimal. KCS designs use low excursion drivers these reveal hidden bass details that are lost to cube on floor designs. Sure KCS bass systems are massive but why compramise your bass reproduction.
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