JimOfOakCreek
Audioholic Intern
No one has ever done a review of the inexpensive #300-632 Dayton 100 Watt subwoofer for some reason. I purchased one for my Magnepan MMG speakers. I've been living happily with it for about 4 months.
I purchased this subwoofer from Parts Express 'on sale' for pennies under $100. Fit and finish is amazingly good. The enclosure comes very nicely finished in a black simulated mahogany. The 100 watt plate amp has the following controls: Phase Switch, On-AutoOn-Off Switch, On-Off Green-Red LED, Variable X-Over 40hz-160hz, and Volume Control.
There are Line Level RCA inputs and high Level inputs. I drive it with the "Subwoofer" out RCA jack in my Panasonic XR50 receiver.
The driver is a plastic 10” long throw woofer. The enclosure is ported with a nice plastic port hole. It weighs about 40 lbs and is built like a tank. YOU COULD NOT POSSIBLY BUILD THIS SUBWOOFER WITH NEW PARTS FOR $100! I don’t know how Dayton can sell this sub at that price considering it absolutely blows away those cheap plastic Sony subs that sell for $100!!
I bought this subwoofer with the attitude that it would be a temporary solution until I can afford something "better". I spent an entire day of tweaking the integration using a CD called "Bass Mekanik".
My idea of integrating a subwoofer is bass reinforcement without the thing booming. I don't want it to sound like trunk speakers playing Rap music. I want it to sound natural but SOLID. This sub will shake your floors if you want it to though.
The Dayton's variable x-over ranges from 40hz to 160 hz. I use it at 40hz setting and the volume at about 1/3 maximum. It seamlessly reinforces the Maggies' response in the 50hz-60hz region and takes the bass down all the way to 25hz without drawing attention to itself. The bass is clean and solid. On some recordings with extremely strong drum solos you can feel the bass drum in the floor with a solid THUMP....but no "boomyness".
Stand-up bass has that deep deep solid "twang". I was able to play "It Ain't over Till It's Over" by fast Eddied Clark at LOUD volumes and groove to the solid response of my system.
I don’t have an SPL meter so I use my ears to gauge frequency. The Dayton’s response is flat to about 40hz. It very gently rolls off to about 25hz where there is some useful bass. I had to compromise on the placement of the sub. I wanted it in a corner but it conflicted with my wife’s decor. As it is, hidden along a side wall, it performs well. I know I could get more out of it if I could set it up in a corner.
This is a cheap sub and my expectations were low when I bought it. But it's been an unexpected pleasant surprise. I highly recommend it!
I purchased this subwoofer from Parts Express 'on sale' for pennies under $100. Fit and finish is amazingly good. The enclosure comes very nicely finished in a black simulated mahogany. The 100 watt plate amp has the following controls: Phase Switch, On-AutoOn-Off Switch, On-Off Green-Red LED, Variable X-Over 40hz-160hz, and Volume Control.
There are Line Level RCA inputs and high Level inputs. I drive it with the "Subwoofer" out RCA jack in my Panasonic XR50 receiver.
The driver is a plastic 10” long throw woofer. The enclosure is ported with a nice plastic port hole. It weighs about 40 lbs and is built like a tank. YOU COULD NOT POSSIBLY BUILD THIS SUBWOOFER WITH NEW PARTS FOR $100! I don’t know how Dayton can sell this sub at that price considering it absolutely blows away those cheap plastic Sony subs that sell for $100!!
I bought this subwoofer with the attitude that it would be a temporary solution until I can afford something "better". I spent an entire day of tweaking the integration using a CD called "Bass Mekanik".
My idea of integrating a subwoofer is bass reinforcement without the thing booming. I don't want it to sound like trunk speakers playing Rap music. I want it to sound natural but SOLID. This sub will shake your floors if you want it to though.
The Dayton's variable x-over ranges from 40hz to 160 hz. I use it at 40hz setting and the volume at about 1/3 maximum. It seamlessly reinforces the Maggies' response in the 50hz-60hz region and takes the bass down all the way to 25hz without drawing attention to itself. The bass is clean and solid. On some recordings with extremely strong drum solos you can feel the bass drum in the floor with a solid THUMP....but no "boomyness".
Stand-up bass has that deep deep solid "twang". I was able to play "It Ain't over Till It's Over" by fast Eddied Clark at LOUD volumes and groove to the solid response of my system.
I don’t have an SPL meter so I use my ears to gauge frequency. The Dayton’s response is flat to about 40hz. It very gently rolls off to about 25hz where there is some useful bass. I had to compromise on the placement of the sub. I wanted it in a corner but it conflicted with my wife’s decor. As it is, hidden along a side wall, it performs well. I know I could get more out of it if I could set it up in a corner.
This is a cheap sub and my expectations were low when I bought it. But it's been an unexpected pleasant surprise. I highly recommend it!
