Robert Morris

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Price Paid:  $100.00 from eBay

Summary:
Not really a review, but a question.
I am looking for a owners manual for the sub. Does anyone know where I might find one. I'm just curious about the best way to set this sub up.
Thanks, RLM

Price Paid:  $330.00 from ubid.com

Summary:
I had a Infinity BU-120, but read the reviews here and realized it was time for a replacement. I''ve been searching for a/d/s/ products I listened to my first pair of their speakers in a used car I bought. The cabinet seems very solid and suprisingly big. It''s basically a black mdf cube with 2 ports and light texturing. One concern I had was that when taking it out of the box, there seemed to be some movement inside. It sounds like a shelf is not fixed in place (but it falls in place when the sub is righted). Despite that, it really seems like a very well-made unit. The manual says the cabinets, "have a sophisticated tuned bandpass design. The speaker in the cabinet is mounted between two chambers. One is sealed, and the other is vented through special high-flow tuned ports to the outside room." There is a sticker on the cabinet showing it''s a winner of the Hi-Fi Grand Prix award from AudioVideo Magazine. a/d/s/ recommends routing pre-amp outputs to the sub, and sending the signal back to the pre-amp inputs. The sub can cutoff the signal coming back at 60, 80 or 100 Hz. If you want to use the high level (speaker) inputs, you''ll need dual banana plugs. I tried different setups, but ended up using the stereo low level inputs from the subwoofer output on my HK 3370. There are no speaker outputs from the sub (unlike the Infinity). There is a power switch on the sub. The first thing I noticed is this thing can put out a lot of sound. I''ve got it at < 25% and it''s fine. I''m still working on the placement as it still sounds a little boomy to me. I''m not sure if there''s a break-in period, but I''ll let you know what happens. If you can get one(or maybe two) of these at ubid, I don''t think you''ll regret it. The manual suggests the option of using two at once for true stereo sound. "Some bass content, specifically that which is out of phase between left and right channels will cancel when a single subwoofer is used." Sorry for the long review, but I''ve received great info from this site and I thought I''d give something back. Also, I couldn''t find good info on this sub on the web. My setup: Receiver - Harman Kardon HK 3370 - ubid - for the price, amazing! CD - HK- FL 8370 - ubid - clunky, broke, but sounds clean Main Speakers - Mission 773e - ubid - unbelievable for $375 (incl. shipping) IXOS intercon

Strengths:
Strong amp (a/d/s/''s version of 150 watts is a lot different than Infinity''s). Clean solid sound.

Weaknesses:
Comes on strong. Probably more than needed for my relatively small room. Takes some adjustment to get it right. Also, the volume and low pass frequency knobs on the back are small and smooth (I like to make frequent adjustments). There is an RCA jack for a remote level control, but I think you''d need to be an electrical engineer to get that working.

Similar Products Used:
Infinity BU-120

Price Paid:  $700.00

Summary:
Blends well with any system. More than just sonic booms. Articulates strings and percussion very well. Good job on movies too.

Strengths:
Refined and defined music. Best I''ve ever owned.

Weaknesses:
None

Similar Products Used:
Infinity, Velodyne

Price Paid:  $600.00

Summary:
This is an absolute stunner for the dollar, if you can get one used!!! I am an avid orchestral and film score listener and this sub is astounding at resolving the last extension on cellos. Telarc produces some good CDs and I haveenjoyed listening to them. If you want to try and strangle a sub, get the soundtrack to "The Island of Dr. Moreau." I came to the conclusion the sub is not as fast as some more expensive models once I finally used the Stereophile test CD. Warble tones down to 20Hz did not completely resolve themselves, but I did not honestly expect them to. Yes, the Krell is more powerful- but at what cost and size? This is a stellar purchase at 600!! Try one on for size.

Other equipment:
Aragon 18K II pre
Adcom GFA 5400 amp
Sony DVP7000 as transport
Theta Chroma (non HDCD) as DAC
Energy C-6 main speakers
MIT2 biwire and T2 subwoofer interconnect
Straightwire Rhapsody II from DAC to pre
Straightwire Data Link for transport to DAC
FMS Microwave from pre to amp

Strengths:
Bass extension, musicality and ability to configure with sattelites effectively

Weaknesses:
not the ultimate in snap or resolution, but at what cost?

Similar Products Used:
MK MX150, HSU, B&W, Krell

Price Paid:  $1000.00

Summary:
What's not to like about this sub? I've had one in a system for 3 years or so, matching it with little B&W's, then with Proac Response 1's, then Proac R2's, and finally in my current AV mentality, with B&W 602's. I'm in a smallish 13X18' room, and this unit will more than keep up with anything I've been able to throw at it - it is absolutely bulletproof.
I did an AB comparison vs. the Velodyne F1200, and initially I thought the Velodyne won. But after a while, I started to think that the Velodyne had a persistnet "voice" of it's own, much as the A/D/S has, so I stuck with the M3.

I don't imagine they even sell this unit anymore, as it was introduced pre-audiovideocraze, but it works very well for surround sound as well, and, hey, maybe some crazy out there is looking to pick one up cheap and would like to read about it. Go buy it.. you won't be disappointed.

Strengths:
Nice solid bass response measured to 20hz

Weaknesses:
A touch slow maybe, but just a touch.. and I haven't really heard a "fast" sub

Similar Products Used:
Velodyne f1200