hearnow1

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
This is a great sub, and in my opinion is one of the few subs that will blend with high quality ported speakers, and an easy choice if that is what you are after. I own two of these, and they are the perfect height for using them as speaker stands for my KEF 201/2 speakers. They replaced two JL Audio F112s which I hated to see go, because they sounded great by themselves, however I tried to get them to blend with two different ported speakers and they never did. Especially on acoustic bass, the F112s never sounded natural with my KEFs or PSB Stratus minis. I actually had an easier time blending a Velodyne SPL-1200, than the JL F112s, but nothing like the Aerial sub. I definitely prefer the sound of ported subs, as for me it is more natural and satisfying for the bass to fill the room, than to have the more focused origin of a sealed design, which for me is equally believable, but not as resonant or warm. Of course if you have a sealed speaker such as a B&W, then these subs will not be for you. I have never been able to hear when music crosses over to the sub with the SW-12s, and I have found that they sound best when my satellite speakers are run full range. Of course there is plenty of power as needed for movies, but buying these subs for movies only, is overkill. Where they really shine is music, the more demanding the better. The amps seem to have huge reserves of power, and although I have occasionally heard chuffing through the ports it has happened maybe 6 times in 300 hours of listening, only with huge sudden crescendos at nearly ear splitting volumes, when listening to a Tchaikovsky or the like. For 99.8% of my listening it is not a factor.

With the SW-12 I immediately noted a bass quality that filled the room, rather than simply seemed to point at me from the speaker. With the pair that I have the bass seems to come from every corner of the front of the room, as well as wherever the bass is actually positioned in the music. They provide more adjustment and connections than anyone can usefully use, although I am continuing to play with it a little since much is controllable from the remote control, however, they usually sound best with no added damping from the electronic damping control. The indicator lights are very useful in front, and the finish is actually first rate, runs rings around the finish on the JL Audio subs. Since the electronic damping eliminates the weakness of the ported design, it is very difficult to find a weakness in these subs, and the stands when bolted correctly to the speakers, give them added mass and oomph!

This is a component that has a lot of versatility and although the manual is excellent the customer service at Aerial customer service has been top notch in helping me with various aspects of owning these, even though I have made it clear to them that I have bought these used. JL Audio did not respond as quickly to questions, and I felt were not as prepared to be helpful in setting them up. There are some problems with setting up two subs with the JL Audio subs that they really did not readily acknowledge. Anyone who owns two of them will know about it. If you have a chance to pick up a pair of these, go for it, you will not regret it. These are amazing subwoofers!

Summary:
This is the absolute finest sub on the market. As one reviewer noted, it is like bottled lightning on bass tracks.
It is the most musical sub on that market and allows you to accurately differentiate the various instruments and their bass notes instead of one big bass mess. It can reproduce a 16Hz note at an astonishing 106dB!!!! It is without doubt the best of both worlds for both movies and music.

The rel subs are very music as well, but do not put out nearly the pressure/impact level that I like for movies.
Great subs and any enthuasist would love em.

The velodyne sub is raw, clean bass power. Awesome on movies and a good sub for music, but it doesn't compete with how seemless an Aerial can "blend" in with your front speakers for 2-channel.

All 3 subs are 5 star subs, but this one is clearly the finest made.

Strengths:
frequency extension, musicality, raw power

Weaknesses:
None, it is perfect

Similar Products Used:
Velodyne HGS-15, Rel Stadium, Rel Storm III, and many other subs

Summary:
great sub just got it hooked up and the bass is pretty fast well it's relly fast.
Just finished watching Event Horizen and the bass was loud deep clean and hit you like a ton of bricks.
I cant belive the sound on this unit

Strengths:
Speed, stong output from 18 to 40hz, loud verry musical , one of the best hometheater subs out there.

Weaknesses:
price other then that none

Similar Products Used:
SVS, Velodyne, Hsu, M&K

Price Paid:  $4000.00 from Audio Advice

Summary:
This sub beats everything out there hands down. I use it on a pair of 10Ts and love it. I am also using a Velodyne HGS 18 for LFE and an HGS 10 for my rear channel (Lecxicon MC-1 Preamp and Mark Levinson amplification). It does not get any better than this. It's also highly tuneable with a command center built into the back of the unit.

The sub plays loud, deep, accurate, fast, etc. Like bottled lightning, it's phenomonal.

5 star overall. I do wish it was cheaper but since this performace is not available anywhere else, it is still a bargain.

Strengths:
Depth, fullness, speed, slam, musicality, fidelity, you name it!

Weaknesses:
High cost.

Similar Products Used:
REL, B&W, Velodyne, Vandersteen.