Onix Rocket ULW-10 Subwoofer Review

[gene]

<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><A href="http://www.audioholics.com/productreviews/loudspeakers/OnixRocketULW-10Reviewp1.php"><IMG style="WIDTH: 125px; HEIGHT: 124px" alt=[ulw10] hspace=10 src="http://www.audioholics.com/news/thumbs/ulw10_th.jpg" align=left border=0></A>About six months ago, we reviewed the Rocket UFW-10 and found it to be a very competent performer, with unrivaled build quality and aesthetics in its price class.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>Its manual single band PEQ from SOS was icing on the cake to ensure better room integration.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>Rocket is back with an even higher value subwoofer with an automatic version of SOS to ease setup. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp;</SPAN>To sweeten the deal, <STRONG><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">AV123 </SPAN></STRONG>is offering a <SPAN class=style111><A href="http://www.av123.com/products_product.php?section=subwoofers&product=9.1" target=_blank><STRONG><SPAN style="COLOR: red">Special</SPAN><SPAN style="COLOR: red"> Audioholics Readers </SPAN><SPAN style="COLOR: red">Promo to </SPAN><SPAN style="COLOR: red">Buy </SPAN><SPAN style="COLOR: red">the ULW-10 </SPAN><SPAN style="COLOR: red">for $399!!!</SPAN></STRONG></A></SPAN><?xml:namespace prefix = o /></SPAN></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">I see products like this and when I look at the features, I am floored. I am honestly mystified as to how AV123.com can afford to offer these features at this price point.<SPAN style="COLOR: blue"></SPAN></SPAN></I></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">[Read our ULW-10 Subwoofer Review]</SPAN></P>

 

[nav]

I purchased a UFW-10 about a week ago partly based upon the Audioholics review and I can't complain (I live in Colorado, so I even paid sales tax, which was actually really low). Hopefully AV123 will send you some Rocket bookshelf and tower speakers to review in thanks for the positive subwoofer and Emotiva reviews .

 

[Mobius]

Just read through the review and I wanted to say job well done. Sounds like that little sub is quite a performer.

 

[enrique]

How does it actually compare to the ufw-10.I may be getting a new sub in the near future for a 22.5 x 19.5 room.

 

[jaxvon]

For that size of a room Enrique, I would suggest you go for a larger sub. Perhaps the 12" model from AV123, or a 12" sub from Hsu or SVS. You'd be pushing a 10" woofer too hard to fill that kind of volume.

 

[jake111]

?

Would it work for a 12'x22' room?

 

[jaxvon]

Perhaps, but it won't have the impact and extention it would in a smaller room. Yes it sucks, but sometimes you just have to suck it up and go for a bigger sub. Check out the SVS PB12-ISD or the PB12-ISD/V. These are 12" subs that will be able to handle your room better. The ISD/V offers variable tuning and more ports, but it's $100 more than the PB12-ISD.

 

[Tex-amp]

Would it work for a 12'x22' room?

If you want thundering loud HT bass below 25hz, no. If you want great tight and fast bass for music it is a great sub.

 

[davee70]

Its manual single band PEQ from SOS was icing on the cake to ensure better room integration.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>Rocket is back with an even higher value subwoofer with an automatic version of SOS to ease setup.

I use my sub's "PEQ" as a tone control. Don't know what I'd do if it were automatic....

 

[conchyjoe]

wondering...

Gene:
Was wondering how that little sub holds up to say DefTech 1500TL+ subs. I'm aware of the size and power differences, but I guess what I'm mainly wondering about is if technology is doing anything to overcome the physics limitations that a 15" 500 watt rms sub would naturally have over a smaller yet much more modern design such as the Onix you reviewed here.
Thanks, and cheers

 

[jaxvon]

There's no substitute for driver area and raw power. I don't care how much technology you pack into a box, in terms of raw power and impact, you need to have sufficient area and power. Raw impact though has nothing to do with linearity, distortion, transient response, etc. You can have lots of impact with "one note" bass.

 

[Geoh]

How about stacking two of these little guys on top of each other?
Put the stacked pair in a good acoustic corner of your room.
For about $800 this MAY be a very tough sub/subs to beat at it's price point,
don't you think?
Just a thought.... I like the look and sound of stacked subs!

geoh

 

[gene]

Stacking subs can work, especially if you are space limited. But I suggest following our subwoofer placement guidelines in our Set Up Section some of which can be found in the following article:

The Place for Bass - Subwoofer Calibration