M&K Sound Subwoofer Review and Measurements (X12+) How does it stack up? Part 2

[@JilesMcCoy]

Subscribe!!!!

[@mksound1974]

We are humble and very grateful for your professional run down and the understanding of how our Push Pull configurations and Headroom maximizer works. It has been quite a journey to make the successor of the previous X Series. It seems like we in your opinion has succeeded. 😊 Thanks to all of the dedicated subscriber, it always a joy to follow the comments 😊

[@gufiaito69able]

Shipping to the Caribbean?

[@jackmehoff1832]

I own dual M&K X12’s. They use a proprietary “limiter” they call a headroom maximizer. It is different from a traditional limiter in that it monitors the incoming signal and can adjust the input voltage of the signal in real time in order to prevent the Sub from exceeding it’s capabilities. Net result is you can’t make it sound bad.

[@mksound1974]

Thanks for your positive vibes 😊

[@VividTheater]

Your reviews are always a joy to watch! It’s fun, entertaining and very informative.

[@JilesMcCoy]

Thanks!

[@Agent-fg9ol]

Awesome review man, I have dual pc2000's and I know they aren't up to the standards as this sub but in my room they play flat all the way down to 10hz so my mind was blown also. They actually have more output as it gets lower than it does at 20hz which always puts a smile on my face. In addition I don't listen to movies anywhere close to reference so my subs never lose composure at all. Keep up the good work and I'm also looking forward to you getting the 15's in for review 👍

[@JilesMcCoy]

Awesome!!! Thanks for watching.

[@Acoustic_Theory]

In a speaker operating in free air, the resonance frequency is a function of its moving mass and suspension stiffness. Above that frequency, excursion (and thus output) is limited by moving mass. Below that frequency, excursion is limited by suspension stiffness. At the resonance frequency, the excursion is at its maximum, and tapers off above and below that. In a sealed box subwoofer, the resonance of the speaker is a function of the moving mass and suspension stiffness, but also the stiffness of the air in the enclosure. This increases the effective resonance frequency of the closed box system. The driver and box can still be operated below that closed box resonance, but additional amplifier power is needed, and equalization of the signal is required to increase the amplifier power at those frequencies where additional output is needed to maintain flat output to a lower frequency. As you drive the speaker louder, its excursion must increase, but eventually it will run into physical limits imposed by the configuration of the voice coil, motor assembly, and suspension. The processing observed from 20 to 40 Hz at the highest output levels is preventing over-excursion of the speakers. At 10 Hz, this limiting is not as active, so the output at 10 Hz is able to be increased further because the driver is not doing as much due to the suspension and air spring limiting described above, and most of the output at those lowest frequencies is dependent upon a room pressurization gain curve. If the room did not exist, you would probably observe a lot less output at 10 Hz.

[@JilesMcCoy]

That all is spot on!

[@1Sparkygod]

Glad to see you're still out here.

[@JilesMcCoy]

Im always around!

[@ericnelson5562]

What one do you prefer, the Perlisten D15s or the MK 12x . As that is the 2 that I am interested in. Room is 5m x 4m. Thanks

[@dennissimiyu3109]

same here

[@VividTheater]

How does this compare to the 10 year old Ken Kreisel 750 watt DXD - 12012, which also has dual 12s in a push pull configuration?

[@JilesMcCoy]

Never heard one of those.

[@jjguillen65]

Those are some beautiful subs.

[@JilesMcCoy]

Agreed. Sound amazing too.

[@Espiritiv]

Have you done a comparison of the D212S from Perlisten or even its bigger brother D215s with dual 15s? They seem like the same exact thing as the M&K X12/X15 except the Perlisten looks a litty sexier. i still have an M&K S-350 from 20 years ago and will continue to use it till it dies. I would love a head to head with measurements

[@JilesMcCoy]

Ive not. But the speakers do behave quite differently.

[@MeTuLHeD]

Doesn't a push/pull sub give you the air movement equivalent of a driver twice the size?

[@Espiritiv]

Dual 12s equiv to single 18s. Dual 15s = ?

[@0andrewwilson0]

Nice review! If you were to choose between this and the Perlisten d15 you reviewed a while back, which and why?

[@JilesMcCoy]

Geez, that’s a difficult question. The d15 has a little more performance. It costs more. The perlisten is a little smaller. They both sound amazing. You are going to get into personal preference, aesthetics, brand desire, etc to push that decision. They are both extremely good pieces of equipment and I’d be overjoyed to run either in my environment. I do want to see what the MK 15” can do though. And id love to try out the perlisten dual 15. I think those models are the ones Id really want to run and I’ve not heard either yet.

[@0andrewwilson0]

@@JilesMcCoy thanks, and yes both fine pieces of equipment I'm sure.

[@jackmehoff1832]

Fun fact the CEO of Perlisten is the former President of Miller & Kreisel Sound.

[@johnlockesghost5592]

I have a pair of M&K "The Bottom End" subs. As far as I know that was their first consumer sub. They were made for hifi/studio use, not for home theater.

[@JilesMcCoy]

Very cool!!

[@johnlockesghost5592]

@@JilesMcCoy Almost impossible to find info on them, but the story is that Steely Dan commissioned M&K to build subs for them when they were mixing Pretzel Logic because the monitors in the studio had "no bottom end". M&K obliged and named the sub The Bottom End.

[@Stan_the_Belgian]

@@johnlockesghost5592 what a great name for a sub, much better than 12+

[@truman4956]

Why aren’t these subs more popular?

[@JilesMcCoy]

Good question. They are pretty darn awesome!

[@Smellslikegelfling]

Considering the already high price of the X12+, it looks like the X15+ is a better value for around $1k more. Sadly, I couldn't afford even one of them, and I'd really like to have dual subs at some point. I wonder if two of the Monolith THX subs would come close to the performance of one M&K though...

[@JilesMcCoy]

Aren't the Monolith only in ported configuration?

[@PeterPham]

Are you going to test the x10+? For the x12+ how deep is it without the front grjll?

[@JilesMcCoy]

I will test anything they send my way!

[@larivolvo]

Nice review, awesome unit (bet it comes at a steep price too)

[@AA-ws3vd]

Nitty Gritty McNulty Details!

[@JilesMcCoy]

Seriously!

[@dominicballenthin154]

Better than your Devastator build?

[@JilesMcCoy]

The Dev is louder. This is a subwoofer that I can actually use in my room though. It all depends on what you need for your space. Choosing the right subwoofer depends a great deal on your specific system.

[@Scarczar]

Is it better than a DIY Dayton UM 18 22?

[@JilesMcCoy]

I would take it any day of the week over a DIY UM18-22.

[@charlieshometheaterdemos7685]

It's a $5000 sub... It better...

[@Scarczar]

@@JilesMcCoy I have 2 M&K X12 and 2 REL1508. Selling all 4 and building 4 UM 18/22 running on Powersoft amp. Am I making a mistake?

[@JilesMcCoy]

@@Scarczar Ive never heard the x12 or the 1508... hard to make a call.

[@movieman247]

i want to see a diy M&k sub in an dual 18 inch.

[@JilesMcCoy]

Like pulling the driver from a mk sub and putting hit in a diy box?

[@movieman247]

@@JilesMcCoy no, want to see a diy push ,pull design

[@dougg1075]

11 does hurt

[@starlightgrecording559]

Gerard Stroh*** Home Theater Fanatics**** My QSC 2450a Poweramp Is Ordered and I Should Have it in A Few Days**** My Dayton 21 inch Vortex Subwoofer is Awesome and My Subwoofers Are Butt Kickers and Shake the Whole House and Floor and I Have Subwoofers in the Front Room and my Main Bedroom and the Spair Bedroom**** My 2 Racks Have 7 Poweramps When I Get The Other QSC 2450a Poweramp**** All Of My Speakers are Pro PA Speaker Drivers and No Home Stereo Speaker Drivers Used and These Are Pro-Grade Speakers and They Are in the 98DB Range and All Subs I Run I use 12 Gauge Speaker Wire and No Lighter then That**** I been Looking at A Sony 85 4K TV and I don't Have the Space for an Projector Screen but The Sony 85 inch TV Looks Good**** Still Thinking About It***** All From Gerard Stroh****

[@sleelakrishnan]

Love you 😘

[@openaperture9197]

Is anyone selling these in the US?

[@JilesMcCoy]

I believe so, several dealers.