EMP ES1010i Subwoofer Initial Report

[gene]

Gene, do you feel this is the best subwoofer in the "sub $500" range (see what I did there)?

There are a few variants of HSUs to be had at that price as well as a few others.

It depends what your goals are. The HSU alternatives probably have more usable bass output below 30Hz but they likely don't have more output above 50Hz and IMO they don't look nearly as nice. The 1010i is a pretty musical sub and has a lot of kick to it. If you corner place it (IMO a must), you will get some good gain below 30Hz since the roll-off is fairly gradual and NOT a brickwall like I've seen on some budget or small subs.

Here is what the EMP 1010i can do with reverse sine-sweeps scaled to 2 meters:

20Hz: 85dB
25Hz 91 dB
30Hz: 97 dB
40Hz: 102.5dB
50Hz: 106 dB
60Hz: 105 dB
70Hz: 105dB
80Hz: 105dB
125Hz: 105dB

These measurements reflect the proper 8 ohm drivers installed and the new port extensions. They are also audibly clean so they are real output #s.

Overall I say at $499, its a darn good sub but it is NOT an SVS or HSU killer by any stretch of the imagination. But man does it look so nice and it matches the rest of their speaker line nicely. My sister-in-law loves this system and shows it off to all of her guests Not too many women are that proud of speakers in their living room, especially of the size of these.

 

[alphaiii]

Gene,

Just curious since you've heard both of the EMP subs now, and you reviewed the Emotiva Ultra 12, which I have plenty of experience with..

How do the EMP subs stack up to the Ultra in terms of musicality/tunefulness?

The ES10i b-stock deal is really tempting, and I was thinking of picking one up as a PC music sub, but sound quality is a must... So I'm curious how it compared to the Emotiva.

 

[gene]

Gene,

Just curious since you've heard both of the EMP subs now, and you reviewed the Emotiva Ultra 12, which I have plenty of experience with..

How do the EMP subs stack up to the Ultra in terms of musicality/tunefulness?

The ES10i b-stock deal is really tempting, and I was thinking of picking one up as a PC music sub, but sound quality is a must... So I'm curious how it compared to the Emotiva.

This is a good question and although I haven't compared both subs in the same listening environment, I use an Ultra 12 in my work out room all the time and really like it. It's compact and very tight sounding. It has a better quality driver in it, but the EMP sub is subjectively nicer looking. Despite having a higher quality driver, the Emotiva is at a disadvantage to the EMP in driver surface area and cabinet volume. I feel the Emotiva may be a bit tighter, but the EMP sub has more slam to it despite the max output I measured is comparable. I suspect if both subs were tested using CEA protocol instead of long term sweeps, the EMP would show a performance advantage.

 

[raynist]

Gene, the emp tek has the surface and cabinet volume advantage with the dual 10's not the single 10 sub he is talkIng about right?

 

[gene]

Gene, the emp tek has the surface and cabinet volume advantage with the dual 10's not the single 10 sub he is talkIng about right?

Sorry I misread the model#. you are correct. Between the ES10i and the Ultra 12, I'd go Ultra 12.

 

[alphaiii]

Sorry I misread the model#. you are correct. Between the ES10i and the Ultra 12, I'd go Ultra 12.

Got ya. I expect the Ultra 12 to be better...

But if the EMP gets close to the Ultra 12 in terms of sound quality, I think it may be a worthwhile pickup for a bedroom system or PC system...

While it's bigger than I'd normally get for my bedroom or office, it seems like a heck of a deal for $129... I don't know of anything else for that price that would be comparable in quality.

 

[gene]

Got ya. I expect the Ultra 12 to be better...

But if the EMP gets close to the Ultra 12 in terms of sound quality, I think it may be a worthwhile pickup for a bedroom system or PC system...

While it's bigger than I'd normally get for my bedroom or office, it seems like a heck of a deal for $129... I don't know of anything else for that price that would be comparable in quality.

$129??? That can't be right! My neighbor bought this sub last year for a bedroom system to compliment his E55ti's. I was a little hesitant since he paid almost $400 for it and felt he could have gotten a sub with better specs for the money. He wanted everything to match and got it anyways. When I set it up for him (corner loaded and crossed over at 60Hz) with the E55tis running fullrange, I was floored by the performance. He uses this system primarily for music and there is plenty of bass in his 25' x 15' room.

The sub is very musical and it just sounds great paired with the E55tis. This is truly a poor mans audiophile system IMO.

 

[alphaiii]

$129??? That can't be right! My neighbor bought this sub last year for a bedroom system to compliment his E55ti's. I was a little hesitant since he paid almost $400 for it and felt he could have gotten a sub with better specs for the money. He wanted everything to match and got it anyways. When I set it up for him (corner loaded and crossed over at 60Hz) with the E55tis running fullrange, I was floored by the performance. He uses this system primarily for music and there is plenty of bass in his 25' x 15' room.

The sub is very musical and it just sounds great paired with the E55tis. This is truly a poor mans audiophile system IMO.

Yep they lowered the price on the b-stock ES10i to $129.... but it looks like they're all gone now. Guess I waited a bit too long, since they were still in stock yesterday.