Onix x-sub Subwoofer Review

[Tom Andry]

<P><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size=2><A href="http://www.audioholics.com/productreviews/loudspeakers/Onixxsubp1.php"><IMG style="WIDTH: 100px; HEIGHT: 100px" alt=[subwoofers_12_1] hspace=10 src="http://www.audioholics.com/news/thumbs/subwoofers_12_1_th.jpg" align=left border=0></A>Yeah budget subs! Personally, my first real speaker purchase (one that took place after research done on my part and not just buying a friend’s hand-me-downs) was a budget sub. And it sucked. Big time. I read a lot of the “reviews” available – mostly reprinted press releases and the occasional testimonial from an owner, and thought I was getting a pretty good product. What I got was a product that people who own HTiBs or worse <EM>think</EM> is a pretty good product. Well, I promise to give you the <EM>real </EM>scoop on this budget sub so that you’ll know its limitations and strengths. Better you know what you are getting yourself into from the outset then get surprised I always say.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2>[Read the Review]</FONT></P>

 

[Davidt1]

Thanks for the review. I don't think I have seen a review for this sub before. Budget home theater enthusiasts can certainly appreciate reviews of lower-priced products.

 

[Haoleb]

I like the fact that you take the stuff apart. Personally Thats one of the first things I do when I get a new peice of gear. I like to know what I bought, and see how what kind of design goes into each peice.

 

[Sheep]

Nice review.

How low could this little guy go before he ran out of steam?

SheepStar

 

[j_garcia]

Very nice review Tom.

 

[Tom Andry]

It ran pretty clean down to its rated frequency (28 Hz) though you might get a bit more out of it with corner placement.

 

[billnchristy]

I can get about 95dB out of it at 30Hz. It gets pretty noisy below that but still produces audible and feelable bass.

The only time I have had issue with it making too much noise is on movies where they use LFE to add drama and there is pretty much no other noise going on...you can hear the port there.

Other than that, it does quite an admirable job in a 17x13 room with a side opening to kitchen, another side opening to 2 story foyer and open to the hall in the back.

For our secondary HT, this system of 3 X-CS, 2 XL-S and 1 X sub has been pretty impressive.

 

[j_garcia]

Would a sub sonic filter help with that port noise? Maybe remove something like start removing at 20Hz and below?

 

[brendy]

Port noise is usually caused by driving a sub beyond its design limits. Therefore,I do not agree with it be listed as a con in the review.

 

[Nick250]

It ran pretty clean down to its rated frequency (28 Hz) though you might get a bit more out of it with corner placement.

It would seem to me Tom from what I read, and correct me if you disagree, that it's the equal of the Hsu STF-1 and would be the new starting point of viable entry level subs.

Nick

 

[Tom Andry]

Would a sub sonic filter help with that port noise? Maybe remove something like start removing at 20Hz and below?

That would definitely help.

Port noise is usually caused by driving a sub beyond its design limits. Therefore,I do not agree with it be listed as a con in the review.

As I stated in the review, I wasn't pushing the sub particularly hard and the noise was only really noticeable during heavy LFE only sections. billnchristy seems to have had the same experience.

It would seem to me Tom from what I read, and correct me if you disagree, that it's the equal of the Hsu STF-1 and would be the new starting point of viable entry level subs.

I haven't heard the STF-1 so I can't compare but at $199, I've never heard anything the equal of the x-sub.

 

[Sheep]

Port noise is usually caused by driving a sub beyond its design limits. Therefore,I do not agree with it be listed as a con in the review.

Most Likely a design compromise in this case. Besides, the review stated it was only audible whe the sub was doing a solo, which isn't very often.

My DPS-12 has developed a rattle, but it's only noticable under the same conditions.

Tom,

Maybe before you send this unit back, you should see which frequencies fart the most, and at what SPL... please.

It would help pick a subsonic filter point.

SheepStar

 

[Tom Andry]

Maybe before you send this unit back, you should see which frequencies fart the most, and at what SPL... please.

It would help pick a subsonic filter point.

From the review:

At ½ meter I could hear no port chuffing at during the 80dB test. I heard a bit of chuffing at the 20 and 25Hz test tone during the 90dB test (though it wasn’t really measurable in my setup). During the 100dB test, I could hear port chuffing all the way up to the 40Hz tone. This definitely affected the measurement as the chuffing was louder than the tone coming through the sub.

 

[Sheep]

From the review:

Wow, I REALLY need to start reading everything.

Good job Sir.

SheepStar

 

[Rob Babcock]

You've gotta love Onix/Rocket/AV123! Their products always astonish with what they deliver for the money. It boggles the mind when you run your fingers over the immaculately finished cabinet of one of their speakers or pick up one of their amps. Amazing!

 

[Sheep]

You've gotta love Onix/Rocket/AV123! Their products always astonish with what they deliver for the money. It boggles the mind when you run your fingers over the immaculately finished cabinet of one of their speakers or pick up one of their amps. Amazing!

You actually TOUCH their cabinets?!? How dare you smudge that finish!

SheepStar

 

[Rob Babcock]

I couldn't help myself!

 

[Rob Babcock]

What really blew me away was their SP3 Melody amp. Absolutely stunning for the price. I really didn't have room to set it up permanently, and foolishly I sold it. Now I've moved- in my new place I don't have much room for a dedicated 2CH rig, but if I had the Onix back I'd use it at my PC.

I plan to buy another one within the next few months.

 

[billnchristy]

My X-sub sits under my PC desk and I constantly find myself caressing it with my feet...