New Sub Company - Power Sound Audio

[gadgtfreek]

Just stumbled across these guys. Man, finding a sub gets painful lol

http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/s...audio-xv30-pre

You probably haven't heard of Power Sound Audio. They are brand new. Usually we let Internet Direct subwoofer companies sit for a while before we start paying attention to them. There are just so many. And many are gone the minute they start getting more than a handful of orders. This is because making subwoofers in your garage sounds like a great idea... until you actually have to start making subwoofers in your garage. Add to that the problem of returns, shipping issues, running a business... it is a lot more than many bargained for.

But with Power Sound Audio, we're are going to assume that not only will they make it, they'll be huge. Why? How about they are run by two former SV Sound employees. Tom Vodhanel co-founded SV Sound back in 1999 and Jim Farina did R&D for them. Neither of them has worked for SV Sound since 2008 (Tom left in 2007) but they haven't forgotten their subwoofer roots. This is the sort of pedigree that inspires confidence - not only in the company's longevity, but also in their ability to make quality (if freaking huge) subwoofers.

The first thing that caught our eye with Power Sound Audio was not the size, shape, or performance of their subs. It was that they test their subs using the CEA2010 (2 meter ground plane) standard. Most subwoofer manufacturers are happy to give you a frequency response specification with no indication of how they arrived at it (there are times we think they just sit in a room and say, "Yeah, that probably goes down to 20Hz"). Not so with Power Sound Audio. They not only use rigorous testing but also publish the results. Take a look at this graph from their largest sub, the XV30:

XV30

The largest subwoofer in the Power X line is the XV30. Nothing about this subwoofer is small. A huge 6” Precision PortTM, two proprietary 15” drivers and an enclosure the size of a large end table, the XV30 produces intense levels of bass that will cause you to rarely wonder if this is enough subwoofer. We say "rarely" because, like some enthusiasts, we also suffer from the addiction of extremely clean, dynamic bass.

Features

Proprietary, USA assembled, 15" high excursion drivers
Patented digital hybrid PS BASH® 750W amplifier with DSP control
American made, highly durable, black textured finished cabinet
21Hz-200Hz +/-3dB (16Hz-18Hz typical in-room extension)
CEA-2010 Ratings (2m ground plane)

Ultra-low bass (20-31.5 Hz): 111.3dB
Low bass (40-63Hz): 119.1dB
*Add 6dB for an equivalent value for a 1m measurement distance.
Flat Rate Shipping

Single XV30 = $175.00 (continental USA)
Dual XV30's = $250.00 (continental USA)

Driver

Power Sound Audio proprietary 15” driver
High excursion capabilities (2" peak to peak)
Optimized motor using Finite Element Analysis (FEA)
Low carbon steel motor structure for optimized flux flow
Aero vented pole geometry for quiet operation and efficient cooling
Triple stack of Y35 grade magnets
Reinforced curvilinear kraft pulp cone
Rubatek foam surround
Twelve spoke aluminum frame for a rigid foundation
Round copper, four layer coil on a black anodized former allowing for effective heat dissipation and rigidity
Single poly cotton semi-progressive, high excursion spider
Fatigue limiting designed, forty-eight tinsel count lead wire
Assembled in the USA

Amplifier

Amplifier Power: 750W RMS (continuous), 1500W Peak (dynamic)
Amplifier Topology: PS BASH® - Patented hybrid amplifier uses best of Class D and Class AB
Precision analog control through DSP (digital signal processing)
Inputs: Left (LFE) and Right RCA connections
0o to 180o Continuous Phase Control
40Hz-150Hz/LFE Variable Crossover
Off/Auto/On Selector
Voltage: 100-120V/220-240V~50/60Hz (6.3A) with auto-switching
Stand-By Power: Less than 1W
Temperature sensing protection
Driver voltage monitoring with DC offset protection
Driver current monitoring with overload, short circuit, and load protection.
Primary voltage monitoring to control dynamic and average power limits
Soft limiting protection
Frequency dependent compressors
Energy Star compliant

Enclosure

Vented enclosure
Down-firing drivers
Super durable, black sand textured finish
USA designed, massive 6" Precision PortTM
Precision machined CNC panels for perfect fit of all components
1” thick MDF baffles and 1.5” thick MDF base
Dimensions (D x W x H): 36” x 20.5” x 26.75”
Weight: 158lbs
Made in the USA

http://www.powersoundaudio.com/colle.../products/xv30

$1,187

[gadgtfreek]

I just measured that thing off. It's freaking huge.

[gadgtfreek]

Look familiar? 2006 SVS PB2-ISD. It had 2 12" woofers, was roughly 150lbs, had a 600w BASH amp; looks like this XV30 is a 15" take off. Now they really got my attention...

[gadgtfreek]

CEA 2010 RMS @ 2 meters (ALL from Audioholics reviews)

Hz--VTF15--FV15HP--PB13U--XV30

20--103.9--107.5--110.6--111.3
25--109.8--113--113.5--111.3
32--113--117.8--115.5--111.3
40--115.7--120--117.5--119.1
50--115.7--119.9--117.8--119.1
63--115.6--119.7--116.6--119.1


Added Power Sound into my accumulated 2 meter CEA 2010 numbers. It takes one down low from SVS, but the FV15 still holds the higher range (barely). Also seems like a pretty flat curve from start to finish.

Would a box with two subs (i guess this is the same as co-located) help smooth the room out, or being together they just act as one big sub?

[vläd]

Would a box with two subs (i guess this is the same as co-located) help smooth the room out, or being together they just act as one big sub?

I would put $5 on a no answer. Personally, I've always believed the magic of two subs was to have the subs in opposite corners of the room as much as possible.

[gadgtfreek]

You are right. I just reread an email on co locating from dr hsu. It's just an easy way of getting them to play nice and adding output.

[MDRiggs]

Would a box with two subs (i guess this is the same as co-located) help smooth the room out, or being together they just act as one big sub?

It would act as one big subwoofer.

[gadgtfreek]

Im curious to see how it sounds. They obviously based it on their older 12" SVS dual sub. I guess go with what you know, just make it better. Looks like they are starting out with a simple and known approach, probably smart to get their name out there.

$1200 for dual 15's, from a couple of guys who know what they are doing = great deal.

[MDRiggs]

Personally, I've always believed the magic of two subs was to have the subs in opposite corners of the room as much as possible.

Optimal location for two subs, at least in a rectangular room, is usually on opposite walls, midway along each.

[gadgtfreek]

Warranty info, from a post from AVS.

http://www.avsforum.com/t/1372020/po...#post_22283094

Power Sound Audio warrants its products to be free from original manufacturing defects in materials and workmanship for a period of 5 years from the original date of purchase. The warranty applies to the product and not the end user. If the product is transferred to another party, we ask that the new owner contact us with their information so we can update our records.

Power Sound Audio will repair or replace any defective part with a new or refurbished part, free of charge, during the warranty period. If the product under warranty has been discontinued and cannot be repaired, Power Sound Audio will replace the original product with a product of equal or greater value, either new or refurbished.

This warranty does not cover cosmetic damage, damage from improper use, accidents, abuse, misuse, acts of God, or unauthorized modifications.

[gadgtfreek]

I dropped em an email with some questions, kinda curious on response time . I did some more reading and found a couple of interesting things:

Tom Vodhanel - Of course is the SVS co-founder; He was in R&D and sales, and left in 2007 (had a 3 year no complete cause). He showed back up in 2011 once it had expired and said "game on".
Jim Farina - Was an intern in assembly, then worked with Tom in R&D, later taking his job after he left. Im guessing Tom poached him away, because he left in 2008.

This is kinda exciting to me, new sub company.

[gadgtfreek]

Well, I got an email back from Tom in 56 mins, can't complain LMAO.

Here is part of the exchange:

You have a tough room layout---but that isn't uncommon. Except when dealing with dedicated home theaters we always have to balance performance and aesthetics. Have you tried the hsu along the back wall(near the sofa)---just curious. The XV30 would be a terrific choice for this type of room though. You can place it as close to the wall as possible. The only caveats in that context are keeping a minimum of three(3) inches of space between the back panel(where the amp and port are located) and the nearest boundary. As you alluded to, if the hsu works well in a given position the XV30 will too. Having DUAL 15" drivers certainly offers some performance advantage. For any given output level the cone excursion will be halved. This will lead to a significant reduction in several types of distortion(harmonic and IM for example). All this simply leads to a more "effortless" sound signature---particularly when the soundtrack demands sudden bass transients.(A loud thunder clap for example). With multiple drivers you also have the advantage of sending much less amplifier power to each voice coil to reach a given output level. This keeps the voice coil(s) cooler which helps in all sorts of ways(performance and longevity).

[CALIBER]

Look familiar? 2006 SVS PB2-ISD. It had 2 12" woofers, was roughly 150lbs, had a 600w BASH amp; looks like this XV30 is a 15" take off. Now they really got my attention...

Dude I almost bought one of these a little while back, I listened to it and liked it very much. It was old and beat up though.

[gadgtfreek]

A couple of my concerns right now with this one are:

1) Design - Now I know these guys aren't rookies, but, it is the first one. Some of the other models out there have been thru the trials and tweaked, and are sound versions. This one is an unknown
2) Size and look. Size is not as much a problem, but Im not sure I really like the look. The FV15, and the one Gos had built, now they are fine.

On the flip side, It's 2 15's MAN!!!

[gadgtfreek]

Tom posted on AVS that their first subs are shipping now. Be curious to see how the reviews are of the dual 15".