One doesn't often see a measured frequency response chart commercial subwoofers except in reviews. When the response is seen, it often becomes clear why they did not want you to see it!

A quick glance at our frequency response plot will reveal that our subwoofers do exactly what we claim. In the chart below, with bass extension controls set to 14 Hz, the response is 3 db down at 14 Hz. The response is flat and extended.

Fig 1.0 - F12SE Frequency response chart in AVR/12 low pass filter mode

Looking at the frequency response you will notice that this is not a one note boom box designed to impress with exaggerated bass. Unlike conventional subwoofers, the frequency response remains flat at all output levels until the output limits have been reached.

The new A370PEQ2 amplifier, now shipped standard with F12SE, has an additional low pass filter setting --LFE. It extends the upper end -3db extension to 200hz.

Fig 1.1 - F12SE Frequency response in LFE low pass filter setting (only available in A370PEQ2 amp)

Integration

With many subwoofers, it is difficult to get a correct and seamless integration with the main speakers because the amplifier settings are often very different to the measured response. You may set the crossover point to 80 Hz, but the actual crossover point may be anywhere between 60 and 100 Hz!

With our subwoofers the upper and lower -3 dB points are a very close match to the settings selected. If you set bass extension to 14 Hz, that is exactly what you will get. All this is possible because Direct Servo ensures a stable and flat response.

Another aspect of getting a correct integration is phase alignment. We have written a guide on how to achieve a phase aligned subwoofer. More

Output, extension and user preferences

We use high quality high excursion drivers which make it possible to achieve high output in a relatively compact enclosure. Only with Direct Servo is it possible to achieve such deep bass extension, high output and very high damping simultaneously. The effective system Q is 0.3. A lower Q factor represents a higher level of damping, indicating control of the cone. A typical subwoofer has a Q of 0.707 and some achieve a Q as low as 0.5. The penalty is that the box is larger and the output is lower in order to achieve lower damping, but Direct Servo can achieve much lower damping without sacrificing output and making the box bigger.

When more output than one subwoofers can provide is desired, it may be tempting to look for a higher output option. Our subwoofers represent what we consider to be the output limit for an affordable and accurate subwoofer. It's possible to get higher output with one subwoofer, but not without significant compromise and additional cost. We suggest multiple subwoofers as a much better option. A side benefit is that this can also improve the integration with the acoustics of each particular room.

The bass extension controls allow the user to customize the deep bass extension and the rumble filter to control cone excursion. For high SPL, one can set a higher cut off. For music one may prefer a lower cut off. Changing the settings can also result in a better integration with the acoustic gain of the room.