Would the Maelstrom-X destory the Velodyne DD15 and DD18?

[soundengine355]

Hi,

I was looking at this design using a single Maelstrom-X (18") powered by a Crown XTi amplifier with EQ against (1000 or 2000 Model) a Velodyne DD15 or DD18, any idea which would go deeper and harder?

Design:
http://www.hometheatershack.com/foru...m-x-build.html

Crown Specs:
http://www.crownaudio.com/amp_htm/xti.htm


Velodyne Specs:
http://www.velodyne.com/products/spe...italDrive.html

[Pallas]

It depends. The Velos have a very good motor (same basic design as the JBL GTi series car subs, twin split coils with current running in opposite directions to mostly cancel out their inductance) and are generally well-engineered.

The Maelstrom-X has a lot more throw, and an XTi2000 is more powerful (I think) than the amp Velo uses.

However, it seems to me that the real difference is in ease of use. The Velo has an SMS-1 built-in. So measuring and adjusting is very easy. The XTi-series amps have a very nice software interface to control the EQ, but unlike the Velo don't do measurements on-board. If you have good measurement software such as FuzzMeasure, that is less of an issue. But if you don't you will get better results with the Velo due to ease of measurement.

Note that neither one is going to sound good on its own over anything but a very small listening area. Both can be spectacular as the primary subwoofer in a multiple subwoofer setup. Can't really go wrong either way, though the Mael-X route is cheaper. Also, one can adjust the form factor of the cabinet to better suit one's room, whereas the Velo is just a cube.

[TerryO]

The Maelstrom-X is not only an excellent driver having the SOTA XBL2 motor which reduces distortion, but it's capable of prodigous output, either sealed, or if you absolutely have to have it all, with a couple of Passive Radiators!

I would personally go for the sealed configuration, the room gain will compensate for any bass roll-off that some modelling sims might show.

Disclaimer: I have to mention that Kevin Haskins and I are long-standing friends (as is Dan Wiggins, who holds the XBL2 patent rights) so I'm not exactly unbiased. OTOH, I've spent years listening to various Sub drivers and can honestly say that these Exodus Audio drivers really deliver the goods!

Best Regards,
TerryO

[Drizt]

Interesting question. Id love to know the answer myself.

One day I plan on building two sealed ~140L Maelstrom-X's and power them with a Quest 4004.

one day

[Kevin Haskins]

Originally Posted by TerryO

The Maelstrom-X is not only an excellent driver having the SOTA XBL2 motor which reduces distortion, but it's capable of prodigous output, either sealed, or if you absolutely have to have it all, with a couple of Passive Radiators!

I would personally go for the sealed configuration, the room gain will compensate for any bass roll-off that some modelling sims might show.

Disclaimer: I have to mention that Kevin Haskins and I are long-standing friends (as is Dan Wiggins, who holds the XBL2 patent rights) so I'm not exactly unbiased. OTOH, I've spent years listening to various Sub drivers and can honestly say that these Exodus Audio drivers really deliver the goods!

Best Regards,
TerryO

Whatever you do don't listen to this Terry Olsen guy. He is some kind of schill for Exodus Audio (good job Terry).

The Velodyne is a good sub. DIY gives you more flexibility though and I tend to target larger box sizes than a commercial sub maker does. I don't have to pay for a box and ship it so that gives me a couple degrees more latitude than the big OEMs have. I also have less mouths in the food chain between manufacture and consumer so pricing is attractive.

The SMS-1 can be added to any sub. I sell them for $400 with the purchase of a sub so that functionality is available. I wouldn't plan a sub without one because the room dictates what goes on down low and having the ability to measure-EQ can make a profound difference in the final results.

Kevin Haskins
Exodus Audio

[Shaun]

Originally Posted by Kevin Haskins

The SMS-1 can be added to any sub. I sell them for $400 with the purchase of a sub so that functionality is available. I wouldn't plan a sub without one because the room dictates what goes on down low and having the ability to measure-EQ can make a profound difference in the final results.

A very important point in this day and age: to get the best from these super-fi sub drivers, the weakest link, the room, has to be "tuned out" as far as possible. It is therefore unfair to compare a sub that does not have equalisation to one that does.