AFFORDABLE High Quality Bass! Emotiva Airmotiv S8 Flex subwoofer Review.

Can it REL for just $300? Let's talk about it. Intro music by: Merhn - 'The Harbor'
For more info and tech questions about the Emotiva S8 Flex, click here:
emotiva.com/pr...

[@joshh.5325]

Holy shit! Do you know how long I've waited for someone to test speakers/subs with Killswitch Engage in a review!? I spend embarrassing amounts of time trying to find reviews which even mention double bass kicks. Thank you sir!

[@ZeroFidelity]

Rock on! \m/

[@garyhilbolt4363]

Honesty and sincerity, you've delivered both in spades relative to the product at hand.

[@Openeyesopenheart42]

Great review. I have always liked Emotiva gear it's great value and well designed. It would be good to see more reviews of their products the reference R13 sub looks pretty impressive. Thanks for all you do, cheers from Australia.

[@ZeroFidelity]

Thanks!

[@NemoPropaganda]

I actually loved the hell out of this thing, for what it’s worth that is in my 12x10 room at 80db. Personally i’ve never heard better bass for the money. It’s a bummer you had a problem with the footer but you wrapped it best, 2 of them at $598 is still cheaper than a single unit from rel or nearly any other brand for that matter.

[@ZeroFidelity]

Thanks for sharing your experience!

[@wa2368]

Even after hearing 2 of Rythmik's entry level L12 subwoofers for 1060 bucks, you will set all your RELs on fire. But, of course, all hype & sad let down REL invests a lot in "marketing" (Guttenberg, NBT, Zero. A. Robinson, the list is long).

[@ZeroFidelity]

@@wa2368 Every single time somebody makes a grand statement like that, they end up being wrong. I've had Rythmik in the past. It was good. Not earth shattering, but good. The market always leverages itself. As for REL invested into marketing - They send product out for review. People like it. Seems like you're the one who has a problem with that, for whatever reason. And did Robinson ever cover a REL sub?

[@wa2368]

@@ZeroFidelity A few REL subs have walked in and outta my house over the years. But, i do currently have 2 Rythmiks with Danny's drivers (F12G) and 2 of the entry level L12s in my hybrid music/movie 5.2/5.4 setup. I have 2 of Danny's dipole DIYs in a separate 2 channel setup with my maggies. I quite simply don't get this REL hype yet. I tie it to 2 possibilities a) REL = plain audiophool brand name snobbery (thanks to guys like Paul McGowan, apparently he can even get the amplifier's "true character" shine through the sub with his high level inputs at 60 hz and below, WOW!! LOL) or b) i don't know what goes on behind the scenes with REL and the reviewer's club or c) Does Danny or Rythmik or others just not play nice enough with the reviewer's club? Whatever it may be, i gave them all a fair shot before i came to my conclusions about the "REL Miracle". I'll stick with the "Made in America" on this one. "Made in England" just didn't cut it for me here (For Britain James, i mean Jim! Lol)

[@NemoPropaganda]

W A my bro you have realize though that’s perhaps your preference with your gear and in your room(s). Bass is something we all get pretty OCD about. For you rythmik is the best and that’s totally cool but other guys might like a big DIY dayton ultimax in a ported box And to them that’s the best.

[@Beyondabsence]

I was about to make a final decision and get the Emotiva but your comparison with the Rel at the end of the video completely changed my mind. Will wait and get the Rel T 5

[@jamesritzman6269]

I have this for my desktop solution and am very pleased with the flexibility in pairing with a wide variety of stereo speakers. Currently using it with a NAD D 3020 and KEF LS50s and it really anchors that low end well for a $300 subwoofer. Would also agree on the comments about "keeping up" - I listen to a lot of metal (Killswitch Engage, Gojira, Meshuggah, Lamb of God) and this is nicely responsive to double bass kicks on the drums.

[@radiospank]

I have a Nad 3020 and I am in the same boat, looking for a fast small sub for music purposes. I dont want 10s or 12s, They just cant keep up as good as an 8

[@nplenn00]

Great review! I run 2 of these and high pass a set of DynAudio Excite 14A actives. Mine had wooden legs, but I replaced them with SVS Isolation Legs. You are correct, the frequency range drops off a cliff, but a pair of these adds a nice heft in my 10×12 room.

[@ZeroFidelity]

Nice!

[@joseph-ow1hf]

I jumped on this for desktop system when offered for $189. It's very good. I like that it uses a PR instead of port which gives a more musical low end rather than just a thudding. Outstanding sound for that price. However, one reason it is inexpensive is the lightweight thin walled cabinet which vibrates noticeably. This has to muddy the sound, though I have no way to objectively measure. I pulled the PR and stuck in a sheet of generic No-REZ from Parts Express. This quieted the side walls quite a bit but the top panel still has a lot of vibration. I does seem like I get a bit clearer sound if I try to push the level w/ the damping. (Subjective) At some point I may pull out the damping and try installing some sort of brace to support the top panel, and then re glue in the damping material.

[@mechanicalmanical]

I have this sub with my desk setup. Sounds great. The bass management works well blending the sub with my speakers. Computer->Topping E30->Schiit Loki->Emotiva S8->Topping PA3->Q Acoustics 3020i

[@ZeroFidelity]

Gratz!

[@mechanicalmanical]

Zero Fidelity My budget was a grand for a desk setup. And I was pretty confident in all the gear except the speakers-there’s so many options. Anyway, you said the 3020i would match well with class D power. All it took to pull the trigger and about three months in I’m pretty happy with my new desk setup. We needed another space to chill with that ‘rona. Thanks for your help.

[@mnmlist1454]

This is going on my shortlist for my sound artist ls3/5a. Thanks, Sean.

[@mutsureibo5615]

Cool....please report here how it worked out with the ls3/5a, a notoriously difficult speaker to subwoof....

[@tee-jaythestereo-bargainph2120]

I love hi-level input !!! My only how2 video on a subwoofer almost 200k views 😆 the signal is only 500mw And actually helps with phase matching with front speakers ! Thanks again Sean ! Awesome price ! Try some boom tube return off the pink Panther ! Youll be glad you did I had the bro3 wanging and banging to this bass music lol I was shocked !

[@ZeroFidelity]

200k views? Dayum son! Gratz!

[@tee-jaythestereo-bargainph2120]

@@ZeroFidelity thanks Sean 😆

[@marcopignone9386]

I'd really like to hear your comparison of the REL speakon high level connection vs using the high pass through the emotiva. Some people claim that smaller speakers, and the smaller Magnepans for example, benefit tremendously from a high pass and that reducing their frequency burden improves their overall quality.

[@JesusChristSaves2024]

The secret to REL is the way they implement their x-over filter. They use a shallow slope and want you to set the x-over point lower than the speaker's natural drop off point, Which is usually lower than the standard 80hz/100hz that most people blindly set it to. Setting the x-over point lower, minimizes possible phase issues and simply extends and accentuates the speaker's natural bass response resulting in an overall bass response that is more cohesive, integrated and "fast" sounding. The alternative, a poor integration will make the sub compete, drown out or cancels out the speakers, Resulting in a disjointed, muddy or "slow", bass. The term fast bass is somewhat an oxymoron since bass is inherently slow and virtually all modern bass drivers, no matter the size or cone material will be "fast", enough and will perform the same exact way within their linear range. The key to good/fast bass is to have a flat in-room response, which can be achieved with proper positioning of multi-subs and PEQ the remaining bumps in frequency response, Utilize a shallow x-over and cross it low or simply make sure the sub is in-phase with the main speakers and the gain level set appropriately as to match the main speakers. Long story short, Almost any sub can REL,...with a little DSP and REW.

[@ryanschipp8513]

Good review Sean. I can appreciate you reviewing a budget product. Sounds ok for the money. I have a strong suggestion for your viewers that is just $100 more....and will trounce the Emotiva. RSL Speedwoofer 10s. 350 watts rms, aluminum woofer with cast basket, 40lbs, actually plays down to a useable 20hz!....its been tested, free shipping, slot port with transmission line inside. Online reviews are off the charts from many different Publications and users . Crazy offering for $399! Wish you could snag one of those bad boys.

[@ZeroFidelity]

I need to check it out. Typically I'm not a fan of slotted ports and transmission lines. Brings way too much attention to the cabinet, which then results in localization. But hey, ya cant judge something until ya try.

[@ryanschipp8513]

@Glen Ilacqua you can pre-order they will be back in stock it looks like at the end of August

[@joepokro4824]

Zero Fidelity glad someone mentioned these. they are no slouch. The box design is spot on. As you know if done correctly square ports offer advantages. Sean did you try placing the emotiva on a cutting board or something similar? Seen in forums people posting about great results With down firing subs.

[@radiospank]

@@ZeroFidelity tried many enclosures and always the same result, when it comes to sq i prefer sealed, you can eq but still the clarity and detail of the sound is more defined with a sealed imo..

[@ksypolt]

Love your videos and intro music! You have a good ear! Unfortunately, the intro song is actually: Mhern - 'By The Harbor'

[@francisdelacruz6439]

Nice review. Just what I'm looking for. A bit late seeing the video, does it disappear in your room? Matching this with a small bookshelf like the Br02 to add bass for music. Cheers. Lot of stuff now getting price hikes...

[@erictheblue7256]

Thanks for the timely and very relevant review. I was considering a pair of S8a for less vs a pair of REL TZero Mk IIIs for a dedicated two channel rig in a studio condo. Based on your review and my listening space, I think I'm going to go with the RELs for three reasons. 1: The sub pair will be very visible in my space, so the smaller, nicer finish of the TZeros will be visually less intrusive. 2: Though the TZeros don't have much output below 40 Hz, this may be an advantage for keeping peace with my neighbors on all sides of my unit. 3: From everything I've read about the TZeros, they should integrate more seamlessly with my future mini-monitors (model TBD, but I'm leaning toward Orb Audio's Mod1 or Anthony Gallo A'Divas).

[@dgdave2673]

Can’t go wrong with Emotiva. I still have their XRef 10 sub that has a built in LCD control panel with parametric adjustments. It is such an awesome sub.

[@FelixtheMetalcat]

Really fair review Sean, thank you. I have some Monitor Audio Bronze 2s and was considering this one but sorta think that taking Monitor's accompanying sub might be a better choice....thoughts?

[@ZeroFidelity]

Haven't heard the Monitor Audio sub, so I have nooo idea.

[@keithjohnson2863]

I actually had trouble pairing the SE8 with Emotiva's own B1+ speakers. Those speakers are listed at 48Hz on the bottom end, but they actually produce clean sound all the down to 35Hz. The sub cross over on the SE8 only goes down to 60Hz. That overlap pushed the vocals on some songs from the front of the sound stage to middle depth wise.

[@keithjohnson2863]

The SVS SB-1000 paired better with the B1+'s, I was able to take the cross over down to 50Hz. This was with a 2 channel amp using the high level out of the amp for the speakers and the sub out for the subs. That being said if you can afford the PB-1000 get the REL HT/1003. It's the same price as the PB-1000. And even though it's marketed as an home theater sub, musically it is much better than either of these subs.

[@bryanguest2807]

I have the t-zero± towers which I believe are the same mid-woofers just two ran in a 2.5 crossover. No way these things hit that low (I use audyssey), maybe our room acoustics are different but if bookshelfs are registering that low it must be "boomy" corner bass

[@mrpositronia]

Hmm. Is it worth getting a sub that can't go below 30hz? It seems so, if you just want a little more meat from your small bookshelves, but otherwise, look for sub that can. I'd be interested to see a review on Emotiva's larger options.

[@ZeroFidelity]

Technically it's not a sub if it cant hit below 20Hz, but pedantics aside, most musical content that we experience exists beyond 30Hz. I think its fine for everything but perhaps HT, pipe organs, and certain rap/electronic tracks.

[@catho6785]

Great review! I’m pretty sold on getting this for my desktop 2.1 setup. I have an integrated DAC/AMP (Yamaha wxa 50) and passive speakers (PSB Imagine XB). I’m thinking of getting the Emotiva Flex S8. The amp does not have LFE or high pass crossover on it- so I assume I need to run from amp to sub, then sub to speakers? If I do it this way- it will be with speaker wire- not RCA inputs. Does this mean I lose the LFE and high pass crossover functions?

[@bryansu]

Was exploring for the alternative if REL lately, and was eyeing on this speaker level input. But got to know that if the amplifier is a differential amplifier type, then you cant hook the amplifier output terminal to the sub speaker level input. because negative terminal of the amp is a "hot" terminal and not a "ground" terminal. do you know about this?

[@johnboy3100]

Nice review. How would you hook this up to my Emotiva 4 active bookshelf I use with my computer? Right now just a splitter cable with 1/8 connection into the computer.

[@thunderbird66613]

Amazing how you can tell by the materials used on how it will sound.

[@ZeroFidelity]

Through time, you'll begin to notice an identifiable sonic trait with the common materials used in hi-fi equipment. Having said that, I noticed that advancements in driver tech and software (for loudspeaker and component design) are beginning to blur those lines.

[@crazyprayingmantis5596]

To sum Emotiva up in a few words. Bang for buck

[@joeygonzo]

in this case, boom for buck

[@Chris-sj5fh]

How about two of these with my Wharfedale 225s sitting on top? Properly elevated and isolated, of course.

[@SamLGND]

Will these work well with the Kanto TUK which are active speakers

[@johnthacker7483]

I wish u would test the SVS Soundbase. Not many of the top reviewers have tested this piece and what makes it interesting is that its got the juice...but as a whole its an enigma of audio gear. I hated it and now I love it. Love ur reviews bro

[@hi-fihaven2257]

I have been thinking about picking one of these up to go with my Emotiva speakers system. I think that it would work well with my smaller room. If it is built like my T1+'s, C1+, and my E2+'s it would be awesome. Thinking about buying two. They would be used for LFE, not music.

[@FarHagh]

With T1+s, I would wait and save for something that performs better. Just check the minimum frequency of your T1's vs this sub...

[@hi-fihaven2257]

@@FarHagh Thank You much for the reply Farhad! Have an awesome day!

[@FarHagh]

@@hi-fihaven2257 Not a problem. My HT setup is the T1's, C1, B1's (all the older version, not the +) and I have paired them with the Hsu VFT-3 Mk IV. However, I picked that beast used at a good price, and mainly for HT. I would think nothing less than $500 (or maybe $900 for a pair) would be in that league.

[@hi-fihaven2257]

@@FarHagh You have an AWESOME sub man. I didn't even think about HSU for some reason. I will now though! Thank You again.

[@stuartnorman8713]

Works very well with my Maggie MMGs, Paid half price from Emotiva..

[@meat-n-taters]

Have you reviewed the RSL Speedwoofer 10? For $399 it's supposed to be very good

[@mmdusa]

But it's made in CHINA!!! OH MY GAWD!!! I threw that out there for you Sean. Thanks for the review. And btw, thanks for the livestream the other night. Was a blast.

[@ZeroFidelity]

Thanks for attending!

[@charleskatz2606]

Hmmm tough sell when for for $450 whe you can get a 6.5 REL zero.Yeah with your recent Chinese LS3/5 maybe for Dad who say's "Keep it all under $1K" but really think about how many "x's" (dinner for 2,cheap DACs.a few of Sreve's loud shirts) you have to swap for the rel errr real deal.Also Elac's are a good SVS or REL as the Elac 3010 10" would kick the snot of this output wise and my guess be just as quick.Not everything out there is an AQ Red or Schiit Freya or like you mentioned back a while the new Corvette C8.I say wait and get the REL71 which will not overwhelm the average room but one or two is about as much bass for the buck as you can get music wise.Eat more Ramen

[@ZeroFidelity]

I've yet to hear an ELAC sub that sounds as good as this one. A REL T-Zero is a great lil' room option. Better SQ than the Emo to be sure, but will be significantly more limited in terms of output. SVS is more of the middle ground for the person who wants that boom, but also something that feels "fast enough". As always, there's a reason why tons of products exist. All are compromised. You pick the compromises you can live with.

[@En_Joshi-Godrez]

You just got shit on by someone that actually knows what they're talking about.

[@beagle7622]

I have a good quality Subwoofer. It has a 300mm driver really digs low, great for explosions but have never been able to match it to my main speakers at the moment Martin Logan ESL’ s . Are there any computer programs I can use to blend it in.

[@gordthor5351]

Everyone say, "just hook your high level inputs to your speaker outputs". I already have L and R speakers occupying the outputs. Most amps don't have two sets of binding posts, so do I double up the L and R wires with the sub feed? I'm assuming the sub has a high impedance input, so there wouldn't be the same effect of running 2 sets of 8 ohm speakers in parallel, thus creating a 4 ohm load on the amp.

[@ld4974]

Gord Thor Yes, you double up the speaker wires coming from the amp.

[@gordthor5351]

@@ld4974 Thank you. Cheers!

[@willemvdg9557]

Nice review! How would it compare to the REL T5i, which is cheaper than the T7 you mention?

[@keithjohnson2863]

I had the T5i and returned it. The main reason for the return was not related to how it sounded. But I wasn't impressed enough to resolve that issue. However, I did try the REL HT/1003. It's $100 less than the T5i and has a 10" driver rather than 8”. Even though it's marked as a home theater sub it sounds great musically. I liked it so much I bought a 2nd HT/1003.

[@willemvdg9557]

@@keithjohnson2863 Thanks! The 1003 is an interesting option: more lows but no high level inputs...

[@c.s.herman860]

Zero Fidelity, What is your ideal desktop setup under ~$600 USD?

[@rayfordham9230]

HI Sean I like your very even handed reviews and enjoy watching them , where we differ is I am more KEF than BUCHARDT in my taste [ just think how boring it would be if we all liked the same thing ] I also like my low bass dry , the sort that makes carpets ripple, I live in England ,your vision blur and your head tingle, not quite there yet but i live in hope . I made my own or my son made it 40mm thick MDF from a kit, 10 inch driver which is quite quick to respond bigger drivers tended to waffle a bit , and a 300 watt dedicated amp, I am in the process of building a 2nd one [ I'll have to get a move on I'm 73 and time waits for no man ]. I met Richard Lord founder of REL many many years ago he told me ' you gotta have a good box'. Not quite on topic I know but I thought I'd throw in my 6 penn'oth , old English again. Keep up the good work.

[@briansimmons5363]

I have the Elac 8" for desk top rig, i wonder how that would compare.

[@Pentenfi]

Great review, thanks. Too bad these aren't available in Germany yet. I am looking for a Sub with High Level connection to match my Kefs without breaking the bank (Rel...) for quite some time.

[@seanb3303]

Do you have to put your full signal through the high pass filter? I would hate for my midrange and treble to go through additional analog filtering. Update- you do have to feed entire signal into sub to activate high pass. DSP handles the frequency traffic and adds an analog to digital conversion and then a digital to analog conversion. Definitely not a purist approach.

[@ZeroFidelity]

Negative. Click on the link in the description box and then check out the manual.

[@elieg.8920]

I had the SVS sb1000 and loved it for music. Sold it and got the pb2000 and never found it good for music in 3 years

[@ld4974]

Acid Elie You want a ported sub for movies and a sealed sub for music. Of course, this means 2 different systems, which is probably too much of a commitment for most.

[@jimshaw899]

Elie: How big a room are you driving? I am considering an SVS SB1000 as well as an SVS SB2000 Pro. And an appropriate REL. I'm a music-only listener. I got a large room, ~800 sq. ft.

[@ld4974]

@@jimshaw899 I have a SVS SB12-NSD that I use for music. I just auditioned the SB3000 and to be honest, for a music only system, it wasn't a big enough improvement to justify the $1,000 price tag. The SB1000 has speaker level inputs so with that may get you to just about the same place as a REL, although REL seems to be the standard for music.

[@jm-vq4cm]

Hey Sean, what do you mean by "ballsy sounding"? Please excuse my total ignorance.

[@tonydigregorio3806]

if i were to have my main speakers as full range single drivers would i need a crossover for the mains to add this subwoofer? Ideally I'd like to have the subwoofer handle everything from 80hz down (for example) but the mains are rated to go lower than 80hz. Is that going to be a problem?

[@C--A]

Some people think the crossover to the subwoofer should be 80hz or even 120hz. But these were old outdated guidelines originally by THX etc. My bookshelf speakers go down to 30hz. I have the crossover to my subwoofer at 40hz, my subwoofer goes down to around 25hz - 30hz. I've tried a 80hz crossover and even higher but my speakers sounds worse performance wise than with a 40hz crossover used. If you own good quality speakers capable of low frequency bass you should make the most out of them 🔊 🎶 Have a listen to some dynamic music with low bass, crossover set at 80hz. Then again crossover lower just above what your speakers are capable of. What one do you prefer?

[@benkrake3678]

I’m thinking about getting a REL T-Zero. Small compact subwoofer, but with BIG sound! Think it’s actually cheaper than the Emotiva sub at $699.00 AUD.

[@ZeroFidelity]

I believe they just released a new T-Zero. One that actually has a Neutrik connection.

[@benkrake3678]

Zero Fidelity can you connect the subwoofer through the high level Neutrik connection if you only have one set of L/R main speaker binding posts? Or do you need an amplifier with speakers A/B? The reason why I’m asking is because I’m looking at getting an Audiolab 6000A integrated amplifier, and it only has the ability to connect one pair of speakers to it.

[@ZeroFidelity]

@@benkrake3678 One set will do. REL has videos on KZbin if you need any specific guidance on how to do it. Pretty easy stuff.

[@benkrake3678]

Zero Fidelity yeah I looked up some videos and it seems pretty straight forward. Positive and negative wires on the left terminal, and ground on the right negative terminal. Might have to learn how to solder, as at the moment I’m using bare wire connections for my speaker cable and will need banana plugs for them if using the Neutrik connection for the sub. Also watched a video from OCD Hifi Guy, and he’s saying that high level inputs shouldn’t be used period because it can damage the amplifier.

[@ZeroFidelity]

@@benkrake3678 lawl. No. This is only really the case with Class-D amps or amps that have balanced outputs. Otherwise, you're good to go as far as hi-level inputs are concerned.

[@ItalianCJM8232]

Will a downward firing sub perform well on a basement floor? I guess I’m asking does the solidity of the floor you put this on affect the bass performance?

[@ZeroFidelity]

Many things impact bass performance. Sub Location. Individual room nodes. Setup. Whether you're floor is wood, concrete, on the 2nd or 3rd story of a house, etc etc. For your situation, I'd recommend placing something soft (small rug) under the sub if your basement floor is bare concrete. Otherwise, it should still perform in a way that's similar to what's said in the review.

[@ItalianCJM8232]

Zero Fidelity Thanks Sean for the reply. It’s a pergo floor over concrete. I’ve been looking to add 2 subs to my 2 channel setup and these seem like they’ll fit the bill. I love your channel and thank you for your efforts and unbiased opinions and information. You give us real world info and reviews we can understand!

[@Audfile]

I am running a pair on concrete. They hit incredibly hard for what they are and sound amazing, at least as a pair like I have them set up.

[@NoahWilson98]

Thanks for doing this review!

[@amazoidal]

Maybe test a 12" sub from Monoprice with 150 watts fro $94.99 ? Available now.

[@esaranba47]

I'm wondering if these are quick enough to integrate with my Magnepan .7. I guess I'll put them in my short list along with Gallo TR3D, PSB Alpha S10 and REL T7i. Money is the only factor stopping me from buying a REL. Thanks for the review Sean.

[@aweidenhammer]

In the same boat. Have been looking at rels, and holding off due to price. I wonder how well these would integrate with Maggies?

[@georgelangman1960]

@@aweidenhammer I have 1.7's, wondering how 2 of these would sound compared to 1 REL T7i They speak of subs keeping up with the Maggies, sounds like this may be a valid option

[@khalid969]

Off topic, but why the hell not! You said that REL subwoofers would enhance the overall sound of a system. Would full range speakers like Tekton DIs benefit from adding a pair of REL subwoofers to begin with, and if yes, Would the subwoofers enhance the overall sound of those speakers? Thank you in advance.

[@ZeroFidelity]

I've yet to hear a set of speakers that do *not* benefit from a set of well-calibrated subs.

[@khalid969]

@@ZeroFidelity God damn lol that settles it then.

[@redstarwraith]

@@khalid969 Thanks for asking that question. It is exactly something that I had long wondered about too!

[@mcjonner]

I would like to see a rythmik reviewed one day if possible? Not sure if they really send out units to review... I would like one of their servo subs, they have a very compact 12" that hits 18hz +/- 3 dB for $550 and supposed to be Very musical and comparable to the svs sb2000. Would be nice to have 2 set up

[@ZeroFidelity]

Its been ages since I last had one of their products. Would be down to check them out if they'd be down to send something my way.

[@mattkalis1567]

Hi Sean, great review! I love your focus on tone and quality. I was a bit surprised about two items. 1) I am surprised Emotiva has a relatively light weight MDF construction when their regular loudspeakers seem well constructed.. Second, I was surprised you said the the sub is your favorite Emotiva product, given the luke warm review. I thought their loudspeakers and amps are pretty respectable for the money. I would be very interested in the following comparison: How do mini towers with twin 5.25in mini towers like the T0’s or Polk Audio S50’s compare to 6,5in monitors like the DBR6 or BRO3’s that actually sell for more. I know it’s Pple and oranges and grapes, but it would be interesting to compare at the $400-$600 price point. Sorry for being long winded. Keep up the good work.!

[@ZeroFidelity]

Emotiva offers up some good products, but I find the sound of those products to retain a polarizing character. This sub however, is a product that offers up the kind of performance that can more universally accepted. At least by people who see it for what it is, and uses it appropriately. :)

[@sean_heisler]

One of the best musical subwoofers ever was the sealed enclosure Dayton Audio Titanic series kits that are no longer available at Parts Express. I still have the Titanic 10” kit and it’s a REL competitor for sure.

[@davidricardo942]

Hi Sean, very nice video.

[@jimshaw899]

Just one point: Low C1, the low note on stand up bases, pianos, tubas (I think), Hammond organs, synths, and bass guitars, is the low note to achieve with fidelity and time base acuity in acoustic music. Bottom line? To reproduce acoustic music, C1 (32 Hz) is the endpoint. Rolloff above that, and you'll miss important stuff that you'd hear in a live performance. Surprisingly, to most 'audiophiles,' the 'tactile' notes we love in pop music rarely go below 45 Hz. So, bop away with your bookshelves. Movie LFE can be anything that isn't lethal (mostly). Yep, pipe organs (concert instruments) commonly go to 16 Hz (C0). If your speakers can't repro that, you'll just hear the 2nd harmonics and some modulation of mutations. That's not like being there, at all. blog.landr.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Instrument_Frequency_Chart.jpg -Sorry for the interruption.

[@C--A]

Jim Shaw the majority of music ever recorded produced mastered released on physical disc or digitally doesn't get down to even 30hz. Most people will have very little music or even movies under 30hz. Unless you specifically listen to just classical and orchestra music then 50hz speakers are perfectly fine. And music recordings with pipe organs under 20hz is rare. Even big action movies rarely go under 30hz (Tom Cruise does have a few well under lol) I've got hundreds of CDs rock, pop, electronic hardcore, rap, classical, indie, country, folk, jazz, motown. Plus over a thousand dvds, blu rays, 4K blu rays. Probably less than 1 % of my entire collection go below 30hz.

[@jimshaw899]

@@C--A Larger pipe organs come equipped with 32' stops. The C-0, low C on the pedalboard, has a fundamental of just over 16 Hz. Those stops are important and they add gravitas to organ music. Also, and just as important, transient sounds like percussion do excite room modes, often well below 30 Hz. These room modes add ambience and realism to concert halls. But you are right -- if all you listen to is rock and roll, rap, Tom Cruise, and blues, don't pay more for response to 16 or 20 Hz. >32 will make white cap waves in your soda. Thud.

[@Audfile]

I am running a pair of these at desk setup with a pair of MKs. They are incredible. A more sealed than ported sound, and they do something my ported 10 couldn't do in this large room, flap the back of my recliner. Very powerful, fast, yet delicate when called for. Great all rounder. Will not hit super low, but thats not what I wanted. Music emphasis. But movies hit hard! The limiter built in means you won't even hear the sub try to go lower. You cannot bottom out this sub.

[@ZeroFidelity]

Thanks for sharing! Glad you like em'.

[@Audfile]

@@ZeroFidelity hey I got a recommendation for ya based on what you said here. Threat Signal, Under Reprisal.

[@edrose9426]

i want to learn the giutar vidio

[@paulstone9755]

These are no Rel's but on a budget why not?

[@CodeVenomSnakes]

These are not rel but they sound good for money.

[@mkshffr4936]

Yep, not really reasonable to expect an 8" driver to do much below the 16' pedal stops. For the last octave 12" or 15" drivers would have an easier time of it. You could use multiple 8" drivers of course but they would have to be sealed and EQ'ed or tuned lower.

[@stevec3526]

Emotiva should sell a 10" subwoofer. Their next larger sub is a 12" model that uses HDF instead of MDF.

[@ZeroFidelity]

I believe they have a 10" sub ready to drop soon.

[@Audfile]

@@ZeroFidelity a little birdie also told me they have an above 2500 speaker in the works.

[@ZeroFidelity]

@@Audfile Your birdie should shut its beak. :D:D

[@moonfly1]

Should be running dual passives.

[@carlosbauza1139]

Your definition of "warmth"?

[@briansimmons5363]

Can it REL? Of course it can and so many can REL at much lower prices. I don't know how REL can really compete in today's market place. Good product? yes. Good value, you be the judge,

[@ZeroFidelity]

As soon as I hear another sub that's built to the same standard, has the same exact performance (or better), by an established company that's available all throughout US and distributed across the globe, I'll join that sentiment. Until then, I've yet to come across it. At least under 3k and perhaps outside of JL.

[@briansimmons5363]

@@ZeroFidelity SVS, Hsu, JTR?

[@ZeroFidelity]

​@@briansimmons5363 I' have no experience with JTR. Which frankly, shouldn't be in this conversation as they look like huge pro subs that most people wouldn't even want in their living space. The bottom line is that when it comes to a widely available subwoofers, the build, fit, and finish of REL subs are on a different level from most similar priced alternatives from the likes of SVS and HSU. Even they would admit as much. Why? Because HSU and SVS are targeting a different demographic. Their primary customers-base consist of HT enthusiasts. They need a sub that can get loud and go boom. Yes, they also have sealed options for music enthusiasts which are good. But neither the drivers or other parts used are on the same level in terms of quality. Of course, there's always a compromise. REL's are usually small, meant to integrate well both visually and in terms of performance, and will be highly limited in raw output. Especially for the buck. Again, it's a different customer base. Having spent time with plenty of each companies products over the years (again, outside of JTR), the theme has remained consistent. I will give SVS one piece of credit though... they are far ahead of REL in terms of convenience features like remote controls and apps.

[@briansimmons5363]

@@ZeroFidelity Sean, You are right on the money here. You got it exactly right I would say. You are right, different strokes for different folks. But again, very insightful and spot on again.

[@briansimmons5363]

P.S. I went my own route. DIY dayton Ultimax 15 in a sealed heavily braced cabinet with 1.5" front baffle. Powered with a 1000 watt amp which I hardly run to integrate with Elac UB5s. Again going for integration, not boom. Dedicated 2.1 audio system.

[@claudionesdebologna2533]

Emotiva will not distribute any longer here in Australia.. shame

[@ZeroFidelity]

Lame. But then again, Australia is a re-donkulously expensive place to import into. I wonder if that has something to do with it.

[@claudionesdebologna2533]

@@ZeroFidelity totally correct, everything costs double here... I want to come to the USA!! 😉

[@NickP333]

My buddy is friends with a couple of the guys from Killswitch Engage, and I’ve hung out with em at a couple of barbecues. Never seen em live though. lol. Cool music, nonetheless.

[@ZeroFidelity]

hahah Nice!

[@gainstage4497]

299 retail Means 175 to dealer Thus 90 dollars to the manufacturer And then 42 dollars in materials

[@cedman498]

I don't believe they are dealer based. Internet direct I thought.

[@aweidenhammer]

No dealer.

[@RoaroftheTiger]

Most "living spaces" are NOT good "listening spaces". Sound Treatment is often, "the" solution. But such unilateral moves, will lead to "domestic upheaval " lol ;-) But the easiest step; is to use TWO Subs, to break -up "room nodes" aka "standing waves"... These Muddle Bass. And those Harmonics , smear ALL the Higher Frequencies. So, Two of These , likely will give better Bass, under most circumstances. After all, " Your Living Room ", is the most Important part of Your System. Good or Bad; It most likely has It's own Sonic Signature.

[@IKnewMickey]

299$ isn't that cheap. I have a Polk sw10 bought brand new off amazon for 99$ last December. The Polk works perfectly fine with my 70's Realistic 22 wpc stereo in a small to medium room at low to medium low volumes.

[@donleamon8653]

"Realistic. A Tandy Company."

[@ZeroFidelity]

It's all relative. In certain neighborhoods, your $99 sub would be considered unattainable. In the context of hi-fi as a whole, $299 is bordering on being disposable. I've had the SW10 btw. Great value for the cash. Enjoy it. :).

[@IKnewMickey]

Don Leamon Yupo. The Tandy Leather Company. Haha. My Realistic STA 52 is a rebranded Pioneer product. It sounds ok!

[@IKnewMickey]

Zero Fidelity Thank you for the content.

[@Audfile]

They are worth the money as long as you know what you are getting. The are designed in all the right places for a small powerful music sub that blends well. Hell, they almost REL as per the video.

[@happychappy2014]

I could never understand the major price difference between subwoofers, at least when it comes to performance for money. If you are in a small to mid size room all decent subs above $400 or so will do the job and sound largely the same, just pick a punchy or a softer one, according to taste. I tried AWS608 and SB-1000, same thing in a small room if not pushing to very high SPL. Eventually got rid of both as floorstanders go low enough and it was just too much bass.

[@simonprice566]

I'm sure this subwoofer is perfect for some people but trying to cut the cost and get the performance of a rel simply isn't going to happen. As i see it this subwoofer is trying to compete with a T7I and it simply can't. It's way too light and flimsy, it has a class D amplifier instead of quality class A and when you combine this with the fact that it almost certainly has a fully electronic power supply rather than a large copper wound toroidal transformer that produces super smooth DC current, it's simply not in the same ball park. Rel subwoofers are built to perform to perfection with the bass range they cover and this is anything from very subtle sub bass to the depth they can produce, whatever they can produce they do perfectly and having a matching pair drastically improves the overall sound more than you could possibly realise unless you experience it. Personally i've auditioned and purchased many subwoofers in my life and have more than settled with a pair of T9I's. At £1000 each they are expensive yes but they are a result of me learning a lesson in life, you have to pay for this quality and honestly it's highly unlikely you'll ever have to replace them in your lifetime and i promise you, they will never disappoint !!

[@ZeroFidelity]

While I agree that this little Emo isn't a T7i, I think you'd genuinely be surprised with the Emo if you ever give it a fair shake. For $299, it's a perfectly good solution for the music lover who wants a lil' more bass.

[@joshroley770]

paper isn't bad... it's fast.. quicker transients

[@dicmccoy]

No variable phase control. :/

[@NemoPropaganda]

It has 0 or 180 phase options. Was good enough for me.

[@dicmccoy]

@@NemoPropaganda You should try subs with variable phase degree, then dial in the phase with your speakers out of phase of the subs. Dial it in so you hear the highest null point when running a sine wave at your desired crossover frequency. You will see majority of the time, they won't be at zero and this is why variable phase control is a must. With a sub that just has 0° or 180°, it will never be properly in sync with your mains. Speaker companies know this and they should always have variable phase control on their subs. It doesn't cost an arm and a leg for them to put it in.

[@NemoPropaganda]

Richard McCoy i’m more of a listen by ear kind of guy. My sub has variable but it sounds best set to 0 so i leave it there. I bought a calibration mic and downloaded rew but i got overwhelmed and gave up :)

[@dicmccoy]

@@NemoPropaganda Yeah REW will make you lose your hair. Once you figure it out, it isn't so bad. It's a matter of spending forever on it, to figure it out.

[@mdsveda]

I like SVS SB1000 with my Triangle BR03

[@ZeroFidelity]

I'd imagine its a solid match!

[@mdsveda]

Zero Fidelity Yes, love that SVS is a sealed sub and very musical

[@johnsweda2999]

Not servo assisted could be made so cheaply

[@tek00732882]

zero dislikes yet!!! should I be the 1st one? just kidding :p

[@ZeroFidelity]

Jinx! :D.

[@ultrarealism]

sbj !

[@HungryEatNow]

There's always a price to pay

[@demonreturns4336]

That’s price to pay, my goal is to aim & spray, my night is the same as day

[@donleamon8653]

Decent with R-51m's in a desktop scenerio, activity crossed using a 'Black Plague' Luxman R-117? 🤣

[@ZeroFidelity]

Nice!

[@ThatP1ll]

So, it's a basic cheap subwoofer. Got ya. 👍

[@ZeroFidelity]

For HT? Sure. For music? No.

[@Sluper84]

it looks like the cheap version of a Sunfire SDS 8

[@ZeroFidelity]

You don't know how spot on you are with this observation. ;). Something that I wanted to say in the review but did not.

[@BastianUllr]

Worthless... lowest note of a piano is 27Hz - A sub gets you there, or you just wasted your money and you are good if your speakers give you E1 - 40Hz. T7i < F12GR, by A LOT.

[@mkshffr4936]

Probably not too bad for piano since the fundamentals are not that strong on those notes so maybe a little EQ.

[@38special4ever]

Dude .. for an "audio" channel, you need to pay more attention to your microphone levels...

[@ZeroFidelity]

I have no IDEA WHAT YOU mean.

[@38special4ever]

@@ZeroFidelity I could not listen to it on my laptop ... max volume was not enough to hear you :)

[@willemvdg9557]

@@ZeroFidelity Last couple of videos I had to set my iPad volume to 80%, normally

[@scottlowell493]

This just in: ok, it's old new. REL is over-rated, over-priced and outperformed by a slew of less costly subs. That is all.

[@ZeroFidelity]

Everyone's entitled to the wrong opinion.

[@darpanbhuyan1909]

the department in which it is outperformed matters. I have never heard any sub integrate better than a REL in music applications. I have heard them with a slew of different speakers having wildly different tonality and the integration is so stellaer that you can't detect a subwoofer except the entire bass performance of your speaker is much much nicer On the other hand, for home theater applications, it falls short (i am talking about the Ti range, haven't heard the S range or the HT range). Again, i've heard pretty great things about their HT range when it comes to those applications. I chose a REL over far bigger subs with greater output and which dig substantially lower because I wanted a sub for music and nothing else came close.

[@deputy3690]

In my opinion REL is not overrated. The build quality is second to none, and for a 2 channel system, the REL is superior.

[@FelixtheMetalcat]

🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔

[@net_news]

RELs are overpriced for movies but for music they are PRICELESS. My humble advice: for stereo music don't waste your time in any other brand than REL.

[@ThatP1ll]

Fix your damn lighting, man.... 🤦‍♂️

[@ZeroFidelity]

Look at the channel name.