Emotiva SE8 Flex Review- Budget Compact Sub - With Bass Management!

[@Casey.S.]

I have the SE12 in my small living room and I love it. Smooth, tight, and good tone. Great for music and movies.

[@MattCoykendall1]

Nice, I don’t doubt it, even the 8 handles volume well.

[@madDdog67]

On sale now for $189. Just picked one up for this computer setup.

[@lehsu]

They are currently sold out. I’m on their email list.

[@MortskeRepair]

What's the cats name?!?

[@MattCoykendall1]

That’s Dino, pretty much runs the show around here.

[@MortskeRepair]

@@MattCoykendall1 Always plotting your death!

[@MattCoykendall1]

@@MortskeRepair Yes, if he didn't need me to feed him he likely would have already executed his plan.

[@welderfixer]

Matt, I had my SE8 Flex sub in the house for a while but wasn't happy with the bass with this sub over my carpeted living room floor. I put the sub up on blocks and that helped. However, It wasn't until I swapped the driver and radiator positions that I received the bass I was looking for. Anyone wanting to do the same swap should know that the wires are short and the push-on terminals have locking tabs that must be CAREFULLY loosened to remove the wires from the woofer. Since I bought a SVS PB1000 Pro for the living room the SE8 is now providing the boom to my office/desk space. Please have great day, Kevin

[@xavi431]

I have a pair of emotiva b1+ on my desk, and I was looking around for a sub to pair it with. I need something small since this is going right underneath, so should I settle for these or look for something more? I've looked at the more recent REL T-zero's but would it make sense to spend $500 on the sub when my bookshelves are almost half the price?

[@MattCoykendall1]

I dont have experience with the T-Zero but it would likely perform well in an office setting. I can say the Emotiva has alot of connectivity options as well as bass management features the REL does not.

[@RJ_Chicago]

Hi Matt. Thanks for this review! I have been hovering around this sub to possibly order it for my bedroom system with a Naim UnitiStar and a pair of Zu Omen Dirty Weekend speakers. But I am hesitant now, because in my main system where I have a pair of Magico A3s and a pair of REL T/9i subs, I just placed the Magicos on a pair of Townshend Seismic Posdiums. OMG. Bass along with others characteristics are much improved. Now evaluating whether I still need or want the RELs. Before I pull the trigger on removing the RELs, I should re-tune the RELs with the Magicos and see how that goes. Because right now I think with the Podiums there may be a little bit of smearing of the bass. But if I do end up removing the RELs, although overkill for my bedroom, I may try and put one of the T/9is in the bedroom first.

[@MattCoykendall1]

Those stands are really nice looking, I have been playing around with various types of isolation. I would love to check these out.

[@MattCoykendall1]

Did you try any products before the Townshend podiums? How did they compare?

[@RJ_Chicago]

@@MattCoykendall1 I had the Isoacoustics Gaia I pods on my Magico A3s. Nowhere near the effects as with the Townshend Seismic Podiums. Podiums to me, are clearly superior.

[@MattCoykendall1]

Thanks for the info, good to know that they are a step above the Gaia, impressive.

[@michaelwright1602]

I built my own podiums out of Birch counter top butcher block slabs I bought at Home Depot... I went to plumbing and bought some 3 inch pipe nipple and flanges for the feet. Went over to hardware and bought the furniture anti floor marring discs to put under the flanges. Did my wood working bit, stained and coated, they looked damn good and did improve the sound of the SVS SB3000 subs. The sound traveled throughout the house, no longer isolated to the main listening area. Seriously, and don't laugh, I was in the lavatory, had not tuned everything in... Fox News was on, and if you have ever heard the bass on Fox News... I thought a truck hit the house! Freaked me out, LOL! And I do have the Iso feet on the subs, they did make a difference. My subs are now back on the wood floor, no stands, but I am now thinking I should maybe reconsider and put them back into play...

[@moondragon5630]

I am thinking of getting Triangle elara which is acitve and this sub.

[@Barry101er]

Sounds like I need to get one of these❤

[@MattCoykendall1]

Its a well rounded unit

[@leodesforges161]

For a $200 sub, I don't think you can do any better. Its far more controlled and "musical" than any of my ported 8"s, including a $400 ORB audio.

[@bbqchickenwingsofredemptio449]

Nice cat 😊

[@MattCoykendall1]

Indeed

[@michaelwright1602]

This is a REL knock off, and I like it. Do not own one, but it looks interesting, having owned a few Emotiva pieces. The connections make this little sub very versatile, especially at this price point, two of these are very affordable, or three. This is a music sub, not Home Theater.

[@MattCoykendall1]

It’s a worthy option for those looking to spend less than say a REL or SB1000. I have a Sumiko S.9 which is basically a REL exact clone but enjoyed this little sub, connectivity and budget performance are the keys with this one.