I just demoed a paradigm PW2200 12". From a local shop it was 999.99. I am looking to replace my DPS and wanted a referance point for #1 a review for you all to hear about and #2 to get feedback for when I decide to pull the trigger.
I felt it created good musical bass. For my home set up it was much more impressive than my 10" DPS. I actualy.. and flame away... liked the DPS more for musical reproduction at moderate levels, I think this is due to the front firing port. It made it into the sweet spot of the room much better? What ever the reason the differance was of little to no concern but I did feel I noticed the DPS less and it had a more natural note to it.
This was the only point the DPS had over the SW2200 in this comparison. At any higher listening levels the SW outperformed and held a tighter feel. I didn't notice any chuffing from either sub but the Sw could reach much much higher DB. I didn't have a SPL for this test so I have no numerical evidence to show what my ears tell me.
My set up is gauged towards 90% movies and occasionaly games and I desire to feel the bass. A visceral performance if you will which the paradigm did much better. One of the best movies for this was the movie Hero. It was on recomendation of the sales rep and on a demo CD... I have seen this on demo millions of times but it does do well at showing off some nice speakers. The contrast of no sound and music along with the tones produced by fantasy swordplay are almost enough to just close your eyes. In contrast to the demo there is a scene in the 3rd telling of the store in which jet lee has to pick out a white brush and thrust his sword through it. This is a verry verry dynamic scene. I was actualy suprised at how much I was missing in my own HT when I heard the burshes drop to the ground. It was actualy exciting, but something I noticed that i never have before is a verry dramatic drop off in audible bass. It seamed to go from a powerfull bass tone into nothingness and left me wanting to reach even lower. Turning the volume didn't accomplish this durring a replay but did rattle some things in the next room which made me smile.(the G/F was out at class so I could play big time)
I tested Star wars eposide one pod racing scene, quite nice. The out of th canyon portion at was a bit boomy feeling but the explosions from the pod directly following was entertaining!
Anoth clip I played was the scene in finding nemo with the sharks, this sub picked up on the tunnel scene suprizingly well. It made a wonderfull hollow sound that was great, but the explosions directly following seamed to be loud and powerfull but mundayne and missing something on the low end. Again turning up the volume did provide more "fun" to the blasts but didn't pick up on any lower signals.
I watched syriana all the way through as a friend brought it over. Great movie, with an absolutely terrible looking George Cloony. The paradigm was awesome for this with the backdrop of musical bass that played throughout. I would say in this movie it by far seamed much more musical than when I was compairing the DPS and the SW2200 on 2 channel mode.
I played through a DMB dvd which I have also and in a side by side comparison I would say the SW just had a better feel musicaly but only in a surround sound situation(probably closer to 3 channel as the surrounds were playing next to nothing in either syriana or this DVD). It just lost something in 2 channel. This sent me into a tissy trying to reposition the sub differently in the room but it didn't make too much of a differance. When 2 channels were playing I preferred the DPS.
My system is the RC system (5 channel) all the way around. RD 50's up front. Crossover set to the 80HZ, no port plugs in any of the speakers. Room is 2600ish square feet basement.
I hope this review is helpfull for anyone looking at this sub. I wasn't fond of the Sub as it left me wanting more, so it's not the one for me but it was a drastic and great improvement to the DPS. I can say it suprised me with how small it is for the power it put out! This means nothing to me as I could have a 10' enclosure as long as it made my nosehair vibrate I would be fine. If you care about size and want accurate loud bass and a great reliable company name with a size that will not offend.(the cube shape is even less intrusive than the DPS, though the DPS is much sexier looking if you want people to see it)
hehe
I am searching for something that will extend a little lower and have more power. I am looking for a way to listen to an SVS product to have a good comparison but don't want to pay for the shipping unless I know I am in love!!
Anyone in the MN WI area who wants to have me over for beer and bass??
I give this unit a 3 of 5 stars
