Emotiva Ultra Subs 10 & 12 First Look

[admin]

How much should you spend for a sub? Emotiva is challenging your beliefs with their new Ultra Subs. The Ultra Sub 10 and 12 have small form factors, small prices, but big performance. How big? Try 25Hz for under $350! If that hasn't got you salivating... well, we may just have to revoke your Audioholics account and take back your decoder ring. Sounds too good to be true? Isn't that what we think about all of Emotiva's products?

Discuss "Emotiva Ultra Subs 10 & 12 First Look" here. Read the article.

 

[Michael]

Thanks!

So, shall we expect "fight" between SVS and Emotiva?

 

[T2T]

Thanks!

So, shall we expect "fight" between SVS and Emotiva?

I guess one might even be able to toss Elemental Designs into the equation - based on the price/performance ratios.

 

[gene]

Thanks!

So, shall we expect "fight" between SVS and Emotiva?

Not really since the Emotiva subs are less expensive and physically much smaller than SVS's least expensive offerings.

 

[Seth=L]

Tom must have been tired when writing this review, spotted a few typographical errors in there.

 

[Marshall_Guthrie]

ED offers similar specs, speaker level inputs, slightly larger enclosures and lower prices (not counting the Emotiva 12 intro pricing) with free shipping...and they're available. I'm excited about more competition as well, be if these rate a "gotta have it!" then the EDs must be "Should already have it!"

 

[MinusTheBear]

Its more of a wait and see for me. Honestly, Emotiva hasn't impressed as of late with the handling of recent issues. I'll wait for some 3rd party measurements (I'm sure AH will review them) and try to keep track of the reliability (failure rates) to make more of an informed decision. As of late in the audio industry I am wary of vendors now with extremely low price points and falling into the "overhyped" trap - don't want to splooge in my pants to early.

 

[oppman99]

Have to say I'm in the wait and see camp as well. I like the small size since I have space limitations, but a pair of the 12's would have to compete with the big SVS subs to get me to bite.

 

[gene]

Tom must have been tired when writing this review, spotted a few typographical errors in there.

It's not a review, it's a First Look. Feel free to point out the typos for him to fix.

 

[STRONGBADF1]

What ever happened to the "DRS-1 Subwoofer/Amplifier System"?

 

[rnatalli]

I'd be curious how the 10 competes with eD's sealed sub at $350.

 

[PaulF]

I look forward to seeing more revealing internal pics. As an owner of Emotiva amps I believe in their value proposition.

These subs though seem a little light in weight. Neither the driver frame nor the magnet structure look truly massive as claimed. They don't appear to be cross braced internally and perhaps the class D amps are not powered through a transformer?

You probably should have made it clear that the power ratings stated in the first look are peak, not RMS... and maybe it's the way all sub manufacturers do it now but stating in room response instead of anechoic I think is a cheat. If Emotive suggests corner loading then are they adding 9dB to the actual output figure?

Can the 10 and 12 designations in the name be taken to mean the respective size of the drivers and does this size include the surround or just the cone?

 

[hooch]

What are the frequency specs with cutoff points for this sub??

 

[Knucklehead90]

Why did Emotiva list the power specs as 300/500 RMS watts for these subs? Actual power is 200/300 continuous which is more of a 'real world' useful number.

Not that these subs are underpowered as long as the drivers are efficient enough for the amps to drive them to decent SPL numbers - just that it adds a bit of 'puffery' to the specs. Something I'd expect from Sony or Kenwood and their 'toy' subs - not something I'd expect from a self described 'audiophile' company.

Wonder who they think they are fooling?

 

[GlocksRock]

Why did Emotiva list the power specs as 300/500 RMS watts for these subs? Actual power is 200/300 continuous which is more of a 'real world' useful number.

Not that these subs are underpowered as long as the drivers are efficient enough for the amps to drive them to decent SPL numbers - just that it adds a bit of 'puffery' to the specs. Something I'd expect from Sony or Kenwood and their 'toy' subs - not something I'd expect from a self described 'audiophile' company.

Wonder who they think they are fooling?

You do know that RMS power is the same as continuous right, are you thinking that was peak power or something?

 

[gene]

Why did Emotiva list the power specs as 300/500 RMS watts for these subs? Actual power is 200/300 continuous which is more of a 'real world' useful number.

Not that these subs are underpowered as long as the drivers are efficient enough for the amps to drive them to decent SPL numbers - just that it adds a bit of 'puffery' to the specs. Something I'd expect from Sony or Kenwood and their 'toy' subs - not something I'd expect from a self described 'audiophile' company.

Wonder who they think they are fooling?

Subwoofer amplifier power ratings are some of the biggest scams in this industry. Many subwoofer manufacturers use BASH amps which I am glad Emotiva does NOT. A 300 watt BASH power amp at best typically puts out 1/2 to 1/3 of its rating continuously. Don't be obsessed by power ratings. What is important is how loud a sub can play clean SPLs at. The Emos look quite capable on paper and I can't wait to review one.

 

[Knucklehead90]

You do know that RMS power is the same as continuous right, are you thinking that was peak power or something?

I was. Thanks for the correction. RMS isn't quite the same as continuous though. I would think the 10" is in real world measurements a 150w sub. As I noted earlier if the driver is efficient then watts don't tell the whole story.

 

[gene]

There is no such thing as RMS power despite some manufacturers rate amplifiers that way.

I spoke with Dan Laufman about his new subs. They do use amps based on the newest module BASH offers. I've never met a BASH amp that delivered its rated power but I look forward to measuring the output of these subs. They are sending me the 12" model soon for review. Based on my experience with the Emotiva amplifiers, I have high hopes for the performance of these new subs.

 

[Shock]

There is no such thing as RMS power despite some manufacturers rate amplifiers that way.

I spoke with Dan Laufman about his new subs. They do use amps based on the newest module BASH offers. I've never met a BASH amp that delivered its rated power but I look forward to measuring the output of these subs. They are sending me the 12" model soon for review. Based on my experience with the Emotiva amplifiers, I have high hopes for the performance of these new subs.

You just want a free sub.....

 

[haraldo]

Looking at some of Ultra Sub 12 specs
Typical In‐Room Frequency Response: 22Hz‐200Hz
Typical In‐Room SPL: 110‐113db

And Ultra Sub 10 specs
Typical In‐Room Frequency Response: 25Hz‐200Hz
Typical In‐Room SPL: 107‐110db

Is this credible specs?
Quite a lot to expect from such small sealed 12" / 10" subs

Nothing said about distortion levels at such SPL's....