Paradigm Signature Sub 2 Subwoofer Review

[templemaners]

Actually 2 PB13s would be slightly less than that, since you get 5% off your second sub

How dare you one-up me on my math corrections...

 

[Hocky]

Actually, 2 PB13's would cost $3998, which is not 1/3rd the price. Though, I agree with you that I think that you can do better for $9K worth of subs.

But, if people are so inclined to spend their money that way, what do I care? Paradigm obviously thinks there is a market for them - otherwise I doubt they'd continue to sell them.

Not to mention that street price and MSRP are not the same thing with B&M dealer subs. The actual selling price of this sub will probably end up being around $6-7k. Not that it isn't a lot of money, but there is market there for this.

 

[haraldo]

I don't understand all the excitement about this
I would like to ask everyone to name 1 sub in history at 9K that wasn't good ?
If the Sub 1 is half the price; 2 of them will almost surely outperform 1 of the more expensive one plus the advantage of better bass in more areas and more balanced bass throughout the room

also, 2 SVS PB 13 ultra would cost $2999; 1/3 the price of the Sub 2 !!!!!
knowing that, why would someone buy this sub for 9K or any sub for 9K for that matter

if you buy 2 sub 2's they will easily outperform 2 sub 1's

I guess there will always be whining about such products from people who cannot afford them
People would probably buy them because they're in a different planet than the SVS PB 13.....

I don't think they're expensive at all when you see all that goes into them.

 

[3db]

if you buy 2 sub 2's they will easily outperform 2 sub 1's

I guess there will always be whining about such products from people who cannot afford them
People would probably buy them because they're in a different planet than the SVS PB 13.....

I don't think they're expensive at all when you see all that goes into them.

Agreed. My impressions from reading the review is that the quality of this sub is leagues better than the competition. I don't think there is any other commercially made available sub that can compete performance wise with this monster.

 

[Hocky]

Agreed. My impressions from reading the review is that the quality of this sub is leagues better than the competition. I don't think there is any other commercially made available sub that can compete performance wise with this monster.

I would love to see numbers from the top JL subs for comparison. The room correction is way behind, but they can push some serious air.

 

[shadyJ]

I would love to see numbers from the top JL subs for comparison. The room correction is way behind, but they can push some serious air.

If the JL Audio Gotham G213 can be compared to two F113s, than just take the 2m groundplane measurements for the F113 and add 6 db:

It looks like the Sub 2 would still have a big advantage if the G213 shares the type of compression we see in the F113. The Sub 2 costs less too.

 

[Hocky]

Yea, not sure if that is a fair comparison or not. Obviously the cabinets are drastically different, but they're not terribly dissimilar otherwise.

 

[mbfleming]

Agree 5000%

Well, the Sub1 is half the price of Sub2, and I certainly believe it goes way beyond halfway the performance of Sub2

I had both subs and the SUB 1 has less than half the performance of the SUB 2.

 

[the_phew]

I had both subs and the SUB 1 has less than half the performance of the SUB 2.

That's a broad statement. Physics constrains the Sub1 to less infrasonic (<20Hz) output, but some of us don't care about that. Infrasonic radiation just makes everything in my room rattle and makes me feel nauseous. I think everyone just wants to see the difference between the Sub1 and Sub2 quantified, so they can see how each sub fits their priorities.

I care about midbass kick (~50hz), 'speed' (i.e. group delay), aesthetics, compact form factor, etc. The Sub1 is nice package for what I'm after. Since I already own one, I'd like to see measurements so I know if it's better to buy another one or sell it and buy two Rythmik F15HPs or something.

 

[mbfleming]

That's a broad statement.

I meant it to be broad.

The SUB2 has more than twice the displacement, more than twice the amplifier power, more than twice the SPL, and more than twice as heavy.

It more than doubles the SUB1 in every way.

P.S. It's almost twice the price too.

 

[haraldo]

I meant it to be broad.

The SUB2 has more than twice the displacement, more than twice the amplifier power, more than twice the SPL, and more than twice as heavy.

It more than doubles the SUB1 in every way.

P.S. It's almost twice the price too.

Yes, this is fine but it doesn't mean it's twice as good.... if you disregard sub 20Hz region I would be darned if there's so much difference

 

[GranteedEV]

I don't think there is any other commercially made available sub that can compete performance wise with this monster.

I'm looking at the power compression test...

And it's pretty good But I would disagree with your statement... Here are josh's power compression tests of the LMS 5400

And his disclaimer for those is:

Unfortunately the 8002 amplifier ran out of power before the driver ran out of headroom since a lot of voltage sag was induced at the high power levels used.

Funkywaves sells something extremely close to what Josh measured, for about $2100 in shipped to the USA ($200 less for Canada), at which point it's just about what electronics you want to use. FW has its own 2.4kW amplifier option (total = $3000 shipped to USA), or you could even bust out $6K for a genuine Lab Gruppen FP14000... and still come in under the list price on the paradigm.

'just sayin

 

[mbfleming]

Yes, this is fine but it doesn't mean it's twice as good.... if you disregard sub 20Hz region I would be darned if there's so much difference

There is a big difference! I'm telling you this from experience.

 

[mbfleming]

 

[hizzaah]

Moar pictures? That black housing looks phenomenal. One would have to make sure a guest didn't mistake that huge thing for an end table lol..

 

[mbfleming]

Josh summed up my experience with my SUB 2 quite well in his conclusion:

But the kicker is that no matter how hard the Sub 2 is pushed the output is always well controlled and lacking in significant coloration. You are more likely to run into issues with objects vibrating due to the Sub 2’s output in your listening space.

I can tell when there's subsonic content in movies because I often hear my dishes and drywall rattling before I'm aware of any sound from the subwoofer. I live in a high-rise building, and I've knocked my neighbour's clock off the adjoining wall during heavy bass scenes. I thought they didn't hang it very carefully until my clock came crashing down during a heavy bass scene. I was surprised because the clock was hanging on a robertson screw, and it had to rise a couple of millimeters to jump off it.

This didn't happen with the SUB1. I had the SUB1 as a loaner for about four months until my SUB2 arrived, and the SUB2 is in a higher league than the SUB1. Both sound great, but it was obvious the SUB2 has more power and goes deeper.

Here's what is does to my walls:

 

[mbfleming]

 

[mbfleming]

 

[haraldo]

There is a big difference! I'm telling you this from experience.

I certainly don't disagree with you... I would like to get two sub 2's for myself
Already started saving for a couple of sub 2's

But I don't accept that they're twice as good, but that they're worth twice the money of sub 1 is probably true

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I'm looking at the power compression test...

And it's pretty good But I would disagree with your statement... Here are josh's power compression tests of the LMS 5400

And his disclaimer for those is:

Funkywaves sells something extremely close to what Josh measured, for about $2100 in shipped to the USA ($200 less for Canada), at which point it's just about what electronics you want to use. FW has its own 2.4kW amplifier option (total = $3000 shipped to USA), or you could even bust out $6K for a genuine Lab Gruppen FP14000... and still come in under the list price on the paradigm.

'just sayin

If I ever get my bigger custom house, I'd get two Funk Audio 18.3 dual-18" passive subs for $2,650 each = $5,300

If a single 18.3 outputs as much as two 18.0 from 14-40Hz, will two 18.3 output as much as four 18.0 from 14-40Hz?

http://www.funkaudio.ca/18.3.html