Elemental Designs A5 - 350 Subwoofer

[sean_thao]

someone reffered me to this subwoofer.. i have never heard of the brand...does anyone know if its any good???? i know its a 15 inch and weighs at 140 pounds...damn thats heavey....

 

[no. 5]

I have heard of eD before, and I have heard that their products are quite satisfactory, but I have also heard that there is a long wait between order and product arrival.

 

[AbyssalLoris]

Isn't that edesignaudio of the dodecasub fame?

 

[Davemcc]

I have heard of eD before, and I have heard that their products are quite satisfactory, but I have also heard that there is a long wait between order and product arrival.

I also seem to recall some post-delivery customer service issues have been brought up around here.

 

[GlocksRock]

eD is a fantastic company, I've never heard anything but good about them. I have one of their old e15A flat cone subs in my car and it is awesome. Their subs have fantastic build quality, and the company has great customer service.

 

[jinjuku]

Search the boards here and at both avsforum.com/hometheatershack.com for Elemental Design. You could also go right to the horses mouth and find out what the delivery window is going to be for the A5-350

 

[Davemcc]

eD is a fantastic company, I've never heard anything but good about them. I have one of their old e15A flat cone subs in my car and it is awesome. Their subs have fantastic build quality, and the company has great customer service.

There's always this:
http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=34449

 

[tedhontz]

Elemental Designs

I have an Elemental Designs (eD) A5-350 powered subwoofer. First off let me tell you that they run and control the forum thread on the AVSforum. Next I will tell you that I was suckered into buying on of these pieces of CRAP!! I've owned a Fosgate Audionics FA15.0 which for less money has outdone this sub, especially in the reliability catagory. What don't I like about the eD A5-350. Well to start out with the amplifier caught on fire! In doing so it damaged the subwoofer! They sent me another problematic used amp and since then I've been writing them and they have not responded and now that they are responding they have admitted that this amp has issues and they'll replace it with a 300 watt amp. Are they forgetting that I paid extra for a 550 watt amp? It gets better....they want to charge me $125 to go down from 550 watts to a smaller 300 watt amp! Their warranty has so many out clauses in it that you basically have no warranty! Their RMA form is the same way! This company is a joke! If you would like PICTURES of the char broiled A5-350 sub unit's LT/550 amp I would be glad to send them to you. Notice now on their website that they have replaced the A5-350's amp to a LT300 with no upgrade option. They also completely redesigned the cabinet from a downfiring cabinet to a front firing so it doesn't need a bigger amp. Bottom line they are terrible and I am suing them.

 

[Jeff R.]

I have had not major issues with ED. I will say the wait on the sub is a bit long at times. I have dual A2-300's. I am very happy with the performance. I actually was back and forth between a single A5-350 and the dual A2-300. I opted for the duals for better room balance. I would not hesitate to buy again from them. They are definitely a great bargain for great sub performance.

 

[SRR]

With AV123, and eD having the problems they have had, look towards Epik, right now their line up looks pretty good. Yes I do have one of their older subs (if a 1 1/2 years is old). If you have the money and don't mind black, they are a good way to go. Small outfit, but Chad Capers owns, designs, and runs the production with his Dad (who was a furniture or is it a cabinet maker by trade).

 

[jinjuku]

With AV123, and eD having the problems they have had, look towards Epik, right now their line up looks pretty good. Yes I do have one of their older subs (if a 1 1/2 years is old). If you have the money and don't mind black, they are a good way to go. Small outfit, but Chad Capers owns, designs, and runs the production with his Dad (who was a furniture or is it a cabinet maker by trade).

The only problem I am aware that eD had with their subs was the Amps for the first run of the A5-350.

I know because I had to replace one. That problem was solved years ago. That hardly puts them in the same company as AV123.

eD was nothing but a top notch outfit when handling the issue. THAT showed their true colors: Customer focused, customer centric.

 

[tedhontz]

I will take a look at EpiK. I'm also looking at SVS. I'm looking at the SVS PB13 Ultra but it costs $1599. The thing I don't like about it is the fact that it uses a 13" subwoofer. Thinking down the road if that sub needs replaced it would have limited options for a drop in if needed. Just thinking......since thats what I'm probably going to have to do with this big piece of crap eD subwoofer unit. Bad amp, bad subwoofer..... But anyways, the SVS has a PB12PLUS but thats $1149. My feeling is if i'm already spending $1149 why not splurge and get the $1599 one. I've learned my lesson on getting a cheap sub by going the Elemental Designs route and yeah, bad move. That's why I'm thinking the MFW15 from AV123 might not be much different. So I'll check out Epik and will keep SVS on my mind. By the way, for whatever its worth. I know that most people use their powered subs for movies but my sub will be used 99% of the time for movies so I'm thinking about maybe shrinking the size of the sub from a 15 to a 12 or dual 10's for tighter bass and a more musical sound.

 

[mike c]

I will take a look at EpiK. I'm also looking at SVS. I'm looking at the SVS PB13 Ultra but it costs $1599. The thing I don't like about it is the fact that it uses a 13" subwoofer. Thinking down the road if that sub needs replaced it would have limited options for a drop in if needed. Just thinking......since thats what I'm probably going to have to do with this big piece of crap eD subwoofer unit. Bad amp, bad subwoofer..... But anyways, the SVS has a PB12PLUS but thats $1149. My feeling is if i'm already spending $1149 why not splurge and get the $1599 one. I've learned my lesson on getting a cheap sub by going the Elemental Designs route and yeah, bad move. That's why I'm thinking the MFW15 from AV123 might not be much different. So I'll check out Epik and will keep SVS on my mind. By the way, for whatever its worth. I know that most people use their powered subs for movies but my sub will be used 99% of the time for movies so I'm thinking about maybe shrinking the size of the sub from a 15 to a 12 or dual 10's for tighter bass and a more musical sound.

i'm thinking the JL Audio 13W7 is a drop in size

seriously though, i've heard that NOT ONE 13" ultra driver has been replaced in the field due to use (don't kick it in though).

 

[tedhontz]

Hmmm......you're tempting me with the SVS Ultra 13. I'll have to ask the wife.....oh wait, I don't have one anymore! This being single stuff isn't too bad! Nothing like getting over a cheating ex-wife than to spend thousand of dollars on stereo equipment!

 

[GlocksRock]

The PB13 Ultra is one bad mofo... if you get it, I promise you won't regret it.

 

[tedhontz]

Ok I've made up my mind and I'm going to go with the SVS Ultra 13B. (B) meaning it BETTER not give me any problems like the piece of junk subwoofer I have now! But being that I've had 6 powered subwoofers and only one of them have I ever had a problem with it. So I'm pretty confident that the SVS will be a sub that will last me for years to come. And thanks Mike C for recommending SVS for me to take a look at. And how dare you take a sub out of a box and run it, causing it to blow! Hahaha.....yeah right I laughed at that email I got today from Alex! Bad Bad Mike.....

 

[GlocksRock]

Even if you should have any issues with your SVS, I can assure you their customer service is among the very best in the industry, you will be very well taken care of.

 

[Flamin_D_Audio]

ive had experience qith eD before and it wasnt that good. had one of the old 7kv.2s and where the tinsel leads were woven, through excursion the connections to the coil weakened until they simply came apart. dont know if thats consistant or not

 

[matt62485]

i dealt with them a while back for car audio. doubt ill be purchasing anything else if that explains anything. i used the same sub in my car implemented in the 350. eh...