Power Sound Audio Triax Subwoofer Preview

[haraldo]

Looking forward to review, and I support the wish for a passive version !

 

[ShaunH]

Looking forward to review, and I support the wish for a passive version !

I don't even know anymore.

I can't tell if this even a serious thread anymore.....

If it is I don't see a reason to offer passive version. I doubt most would want to give the dsp functionality for a cheaper price. Plus there is also the issue of getting enough power and the problem of customers over / under driving and damaging the sub.

 

[haraldo]

There are other very well respected brands providing passive solutions
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I agree that it's good with the amp integrated if you did something that gives added value, like a feed-worward error correction somehow like Vandersteen does in his subs...
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Now it seems like everyone want to better everyone else by adding heaps of functions into the subwoofer, and I don't see any value of the DSP if you have a tact, lyngdorf or devialet amp, then you're just adding a pointless adc - dac conversion for no reason.
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For those that don't have the relevant function in the amp, it's a point with the dsp processing in a sub but it's not the optimal place to have this function, it should be in the main amplifier where you can do correction on a much broader level than just the subwoofer
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So in my opinion the DSP in the sub is potentislly suboptimal and you charge for something that many will not need at all

Still, it's priced extremely attractively and I would like to get at least s couple of them

 

[its phillip]

Well, I'm definitely looking forward to the review. A passive version doesn't really interest me at all

 

[haraldo]

Sorry if I'm too direct and uncompromising sometimes.....
It's a very interesting sub, though

 

[gtpsuper24]

Awesome subwoofer, looking forward to a review. Passive doesn't interest me at all either. I just don't think there would be enough potential customers to warrant passives and then PSA or any other company would have to worry about warranty issues with a customer using the wrong/mismatched amp.

 

[shadyJ]

Passive can have advantages in subs like this. First of all that is a huge amount of current the amp can potentially draw, and most of that energy will be released on the form of heat. The less heat that gets trapped in a sealed cabinet, the better, so for thermal reasons it makes sense to keep the amp out of the cabinet. I'm not sure how much this would affect thermal compression, but any heat-build up isn't going to be helping the drivers. Separate amps can be cooled more easily, and the cooler they run, the longer they will last. There is also the issue of added weight, this sub weighs an absurd amount, and moving the amp outboard can shave off what, 30 lbs? Every bit helps. It would also make the construction more elegant too, as the onboard amp will weigh one side- without the amp, every side weighs nearly the same, so the construction becomes even more symmetrical. Also, when you think about it, most of the guys who have the money and space for a beast like this probably also have an equipment rack that can accommodate an amp for the sub too. Altogether, it is just a lot more logical to use an outboard amp for these kinds of subs.

 

[Steve81]

There is also the issue of added weight, this sub weighs an absurd amount, and moving the amp outboard can shave off what, 30 lbs?

The amp is only about 7 pounds FWIW.

 

[its phillip]

I dunno how much a piece of MDF the size of the amp plate would weigh, but I'm guessing it would be a couple pounds. It might even weigh more than the amp

 

[shadyJ]

Huh, that seems light for a 2 kW + amp. I suppose at 7 lbs it does not add substantially to the weight, as the sub is then 183 lbs instead of 190. Not something one looks forward to moving around either way.

 

[ahblaza]

Too bad the Triax doesn't offer a passive design because I prefer to use my own amps.

PSA may be able to accommodate you, you are special, a rare breed

 

[gtpsuper24]

Its not just about the weight. Just because someone has money for this subwoofer or any subwoofer and has a equipment rack doesn't mean they will use a proper amp. Which goes back to potential warrany issues that could get ugly. This is an ID subwoofer so theres not dealer or CI to steer the customer toward the proper amp. I would bet its easier for PSA to just have the amp installed than to guide a customer through Parts Express or where ever to get the right amp and then get it setup properly.

On top of that how many passive units to you think PSA would sell? How many customers are out there that want a passive model and get a amp themselves? I think its over all just easier for PSA to offer a installed amp and thats probably what 99% of commerical subwoofer customers want.

 

[ahblaza]

It's what I want and will have by July, I'm only an hour away from Tom and Jim, that has it's own benefits. The only sub of the PSA lineup I didn't have in my home is the XV30, I really like the XV30F, and I know I'm really going to like the Triax, amazing how well the Magic Sliders work, I constructed some oversized feet for the Triax with the sliders on the bottom of the feet, they will raise the Triax about 2-2.5" off the carpet. If anyone's interested, I purchased a maple hardwood rolling pin without handles from Amazon, cut the pieces to length, drilled a 3/16th hole down the center of each foot with drill press, attached the sliders (ran the #10-24 machine screw through the hole in the slider) and left about 1.250" of screw to go into the Triax cab bottom and cut round rubber washers to make the seal at the base of sub. I will post a pic of the feet soon. I have three sets made of different colors as I have not decided on the Triax finish yet.
Cheers Jeff

 

[its phillip]

I think the cordovan cherry and espresso look the best. I dunno which I would pick D:

 

[haraldo]

ROLLBACK: When you think of everything that goes into this, in the end it's probably a much better solution with an integrated amp, warranty is a big important thing, and if you want plug-and-play it's of course much easier with everything in a box.... the solution with an external amp is probably more plug-and-pray....

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

PSA may be able to accommodate you, you are special, a rare breed

Thanks. But I doubt if they would do that just for me.

I can always buy more unpowered subs from Funk Audio.

Their flagship sub is an unpowered design; the amp/DSP/EQ is outboard.

 

[ahblaza]

Here are the feet I made from round maple stock, they look a lot better in person. They are 2" 2.5" and 2.250, the two sets red and black are 2' diameter, the blue is 3". I will try and get the best location prior to installing the feet, bought the heavy duty sliders for that purpose, tried them on a dresser about 175 pounds and worked remarkably well on carpet and tile floors. Don't be too harsh on my work.
Cheefrs Jeff

 

[ahblaza]

I think the cordovan cherry and espresso look the best. I dunno which I would pick D:

I'm struggling with those two finishes myself, the only problem my HT is basically all black.

 

[TLS Guy]

No, I would just use a $290 Crown XLS 1000 amp w/ limiter and protection, but w/o DSP/EQ since I never use that stuff.

I think power is overrated.

And if you did that, you probably would have an F3 of 60 Hz or higher, and you would not have a sub at all!

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

And if you did that, you probably would have an F3 of 60 Hz or higher, and you would not have a sub at all!

And you can back that up because you have a similar/equivalent external sub and 1,100 watts produced an F3 of 60Hz?

That's what you think. No surprise.

Just like you said AVRs just don't have enough real power?

R............. I............. G............. H.............. T.

Like I said, overrated and hearsay.

Power sells. Bells-and-whistles sells.

The XLS1000 can output 1100 watts RMS bridged into 4 ohms. It will do just fine.

I am using an AT3002 amp (450 WPC/4 ohms/ 0.03% THD) for my dual Funk 18.0 subs, and AT6012 (90 WPC/4 ohms) for dual RBH SX-1010N subs (w/ Orion). The bass is fantastic and sounds like an earthquake/F5 tornado when playing War of the World BD.

My NHT SW2P sub was powered by an 80Watts amp, and it shook my room like a rag doll.

My Rythmik D15SE had a 450Watts amp, and it rattled my walls and glass doors like crazy too.

So, yeah, 1,100 watts is just fine.

F3 of 60Hz? Give me a break.

The Theory fought the Reality, and the Reality won.