Velodyne DPS-10 Subwoofer Review

[gene]

I thought we would give our forum readers a sneak peek at a subwoofer review we did for Velodyne.

Velodyne DPS-10 Review

 

[Leprkon]

quick question. Did you run the DPS-10 with a splitter on the end of the cable ? I'm curious if it's just me or the lower end Vels do much better (cleaner, not just louder) when you run the splitter.

Thanks

 

[Audioholics]

<P><SPAN class=style25><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size=2><A href="http://www.audioholics.com/productreviews/loudspeakers/VelodyneDPS-10SubwooferReviewp1.php"><IMG style="WIDTH: 121px; HEIGHT: 100px" alt=[DPS10subwoofer] hspace=10 src="http://www.audioholics.com/news/thumbs/DPS10subwoofer_th.jpg" align=left border=0></A>Audioholic Arvind Kohli completed his review of the </FONT><A href="http://www.audioholics.com/productreviews/loudspeakers/VelodyneDPS-10SubwooferReviewp1.php"><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size=2>Velodyne DPS-10 subwoofer</FONT></A><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size=2> and&nbsp;found it to meet its intended goals for consumers.&nbsp;The DPS-10 is finished in quite an attractive black-gloss with an appearance that exceeds expectations for this price level. Additionally, the smallish 14.5" x 18.5" footprint gives this sub a high WAF rating. As an entry-level product for home theater and gaming applications, this unit has the capability of delivering the needed SPLs and response low enough to significantly enhance the sense of realism and involvement. Arvond gave it a thorough testing, so </FONT><A href="http://www.audioholics.com/productreviews/loudspeakers/VelodyneDPS-10SubwooferReviewp1.php"><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size=2>read on</FONT></A><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size=2> to get the full story.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN class=style25><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size=2>[</FONT><A href="http://www.audioholics.com/productreviews/loudspeakers/VelodyneDPS-10SubwooferReviewp1.php"><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size=2>Read the Review</FONT></A><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size=2>]</FONT></SPAN></P>

 

[Rock&Roll Ninja]

When you say "Not intended for audiophile-level customers" I guess you mean that this product is for suckers. For $440 I would expect a helluva lot more performance.

 

[HookedOnSound]

So many choices so little time...

Good Article.

Before I found Audioholics.com, I had considered Velodyne (@ Futureshop) before deciding on my Paradigm PDR-10 but I didn't pursue it further because of the fact that they offer so many different models that I found it confusing to assess proper performance vs. price let alone do any listening tests! I checked out their website today and it hasn't changed.

I can understand that Velodyne specializes in subwoofers and is trying to capture as much of the market as possible but sometimes too much of a good thing is too much. What ever happened to categories like entry-level, medium performance and high-end? I have noticed a trend by manufacturers to try and shoehorn a product to fit budgets as an only criteria. So if Joe Sixpack has $400 to spend on a subwoofer and chances are that company x offers a $400 unit, they think he is likely to buy it from them. But in the end, if he has to sort between 4 models with similar prices from the same company, he might just walk away regardless. I am wrong to think that?

But back to the review, it's nice to see a website that helps us little guys! I definitely consider this site a powerful resource tool. Maybe my next subwoofer would be a Velodyne after all.

Again, Thanks.

 

[anamorphic96]

When you say "Not intended for audiophile-level customers" I guess you mean that this product is for suckers. For $440 I would expect a helluva lot more performance.

Great point. I have been thinking the same. I would expect alot more performance at 449.00. This compnay in my mind is trying way to hard to please everbody and the above post makes a good point as well. Velodyne has way to many product lines.

I can think of a few 299.00 subs that would work and sound better than this Velodyne.

How anyone can see this sub as a bargain is beyond me.

 

[Arvind Kohli]

When you say "Not intended for audiophile-level customers" I guess you mean that this product is for suckers. For $440 I would expect a helluva lot more performance.

I am not sure how many models have been sold, but I would not call the people who bought them suckers. This product is intended to have very specific attributes and features at a low price point. Needless to say, there will be compromises in the design. What is important is that the consumer is aware of the pros and cons of the product before making a purchase.

At this price point, you may find other models that deliver more of one aspect of performance. But it is likely to be at the expense of some other attribute. And different consumers will prioritize the various attributes differently, that does not make them lesser than someone with a different set of priorities.

 

[Arvind Kohli]

Good Article.

Before I found Audioholics.com, I had considered Velodyne (@ Futureshop) before deciding on my Paradigm PDR-10 but I didn't pursue it further because of the fact that they offer so many different models that I found it confusing to assess proper performance vs. price let alone do any listening tests! I checked out their website today and it hasn't changed.

I can understand that Velodyne specializes in subwoofers and is trying to capture as much of the market as possible but sometimes too much of a good thing is too much. What ever happened to categories like entry-level, medium performance and high-end? I have noticed a trend by manufacturers to try and shoehorn a product to fit budgets as an only criteria. So if Joe Sixpack has $400 to spend on a subwoofer and chances are that company x offers a $400 unit, they think he is likely to buy it from them. But in the end, if he has to sort between 4 models with similar prices from the same company, he might just walk away regardless. I am wrong to think that?

But back to the review, it's nice to see a website that helps us little guys! I definitely consider this site a powerful resource tool. Maybe my next subwoofer would be a Velodyne after all.

Again, Thanks.

Thanks, glad we can help.

 

[Arvind Kohli]

quick question. Did you run the DPS-10 with a splitter on the end of the cable ? I'm curious if it's just me or the lower end Vels do much better (cleaner, not just louder) when you run the splitter.

Thanks

When doing measurements and audio-only tests RL and LR jacks were used. In the home theater the sub-out from the receiver was plugged into the left RCA jack, which doubles as a LFE input.

 

[spider_duggan]

http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volume_11_3/velodyne-dps-10-subwoofer-8-2004.html

Another good review of this product....check the THD at 20Hz compared to the testing done on the SVS PCi 25-31 at the same Hz. I'd spend the extra $100 for that type of improvement!
Cheers
Dan

http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volume_9_4/svs-25-31-pci-subwoofer-12-2002.html

 

[maxse]

any1 know how this sub would compare to the Mirage S10?

 

[Exocer]

Comming from a DPS-10 owner

I agree that the street price on the DPS-10 seems very steep at its performance level.. If i were going to pay $449.99 for a subwoofer I'd go for a PB-10.

 

[Sheep]

any1 know how this sub would compare to the Mirage S10?

The s10 is a far better subwoofer, hands down. Its more comparable to the DLS 5000R, really...
I think the energy version is a little cheaper, if you can find that.

Energy s10.3

Sheepstar

 

[Ron Temple]

Not $250 shipped...Also the Velo may have been aimed at the gamer market, has the tricky DSP/EQs and funky volume control, but the output is clean and musical, high SPL and has the same driver/amp as the DLS3750R. I played with one for a month and wish I'd kept it. At $300 it's steal for MSRP go with the SVS PB10.