Totally seamless integration with hi end hifi with B&W shelf speakers

Trying not to annoy the neighbors with it too much.

I have a high end CD system with Micromega T-Drive and T-DAC, Copland CSA28 semi-valve amp, and B&W CDM1SE shelf speakers. In the limited space we can afford in Notting Hill getting two bits of floorspace in symmetrical positions was impossible, so I got the CDM1's which for shelfies had passable bottom end, with some stuff happening down to 60Hz. Feeling that Bob Marley and Verdi were not quite being delivered with full gusto I asked the (rather purist hi-fi) shop where I bought the system about subs at the time, and they dissed the idea, saying there were no subs that could be added to this system without corrupting the hi-fi sound. Well how wrong they are! I wasn't prepared to spend big bucks for a sub, but was prepared to take a flier on the Titan kit and sell it on if I wasnt happy (30day SOR from the US not being viable). I resized the dimensions to reduce the height and make a shorter, slightly broader Titan, and got a cabinet maker under the railway arches in Hammersmith to make up the pieces with proper joint cutters, and to glue it in a vacuum bag, so the cabinet arrived prebuilt and airtight. Assembly of the speaker and amp part of the kit is a one hour job, and then you have a builtup sub for a good price! At first I did what the reviews point towards and carefully adjusted the filters until the sub "wasnt there". I was immediately stunned by the variation between different recordings. With some the sub is just a gentle opening of the fullness of the bottom end. Pianos get back their "box", acoustic double bass has its resonant chamber, electric bass notes dont fade and thin at the bottom end of the scales, the Who sounds totally different with solid excursions in the bass, and REM, which previously always sounded rubbish on the B&W's, is suddenly fun music again (being quite empty music it really needs the drive of the bass drum and bass punch). The bass drum is the most obvious alteration with a positive thump attaching seamlessly to the higher frequency skin slap. But on other recordings the sub bass is almost overblown, and flabby. I dont think thats the Titan, its just that some of my 60's 70's, and 80's recordings were probably not recorded with even sub energy in mind, and probably not all mixed on speakers that could reproduce what the Titan can. No big deal, I can either just switch the Titan off or turn it down a bit. And 90's music with strong sub in: Moby, Talvin Singh, Martin Grech (big recommend for his first album last year) just sounds stunning, it may be only an extra octave and a bit, but its like having 50% of range added to the hi-fi. After a while I played with the settings and let the sub overlap the B&W's more. At present I actually have the filters starting at about 80Hz and 100Hz. That fills in the bass of the B&W's a bit more. I thought it would fight them, but the speaker is so close in tone to the warmth of the B&W kevlar drivers that it is just like a an addition of bottom end tone in the low bass. I thought I'ld leave it like that till I got fed up with the heaviness of the bass, but 4 weeks later I havent! Thats how clean the Titan is. I've tried other settings too, and they all sound great in different ways, and all match the existing system. So I can only agree with all the others and say this speaker will genuinely match into a hi end system. Oh yeah, and for movies of course - bundle of fun. Just dig those star wars explosions and the Matrix soundtrack. Only problem is that where the sub freqs get heard is position dependent. When set up for the listening position there are definitely stronger and weaker areas of sub in the room, and having only 3 choices for placement I cant do much about that, but its not a big problem, the same applies to treble freqs of course. Only suggestion I would have for ACI is a 10dB cut button for those those recordings where the lowest freqs have been overrecorded, to save having to adjust the pots everytime.

Similar Products Used:

None

Powerful, compact, great looking, seamless integration, super warranty

You have to have faith in yourself. You can't be an audiphile wennie.

I'm actually reviewing the new ACI Force sub. A subwoofer that uses the Titan II LE electronics in a package about 1/2 the size with a 10" woofer instead of 12". This site doesn't seem to update models very frequently or even model years, so it is really a 2002 model Force! Anyway, as a long-time owner of the excellent T2LE, I'll sum up by saying that this sub sounds virtually identical for considerably less bucks. Put this under $800 sub up against RELs and the like that cost twice as much and we have a winner! If you want a compact, attractive, well built, musical, powerful sub for well under $1000, look no further. The fact that ACI has a 30 day money-back guarantee is a serious plus, you can try it yourself and judge. The fact that they also have a completely risk free warranty for the first year means if you have any problems at all, they'll even pay all shipping! See if anyone else offers this level of quality and support. ACI continues to rock!

Similar Products Used:

ACI Titan II LE, RELs, M&Ks, Velos, others

excellent for both music and home theater, high quality deep bass, easy to make "disappear", cosmetics very room friendly, Mike D and everyone at ACI an absolute pleasure to work with.

None

I always knew that I needed a sub for my home theater. I''ve been searching for the right one for a long time. Sure, there are all kinds of subs out there to choose from, but either they cost too much, are missing key features, sacrifice sound quality for quantity, or they don''t look good. The Titan II LE did it all for me -- great features, great sound, reasonable cost, and a high spousal approval factor! In my 5.1 setup, the mains run full range down to 23Hz, so I decided to keep them on the "Large" setting on my Onkyo TX-DS 989 receiver. But I set the center channel and the rears to "Small" to send the below 80Hz signal to the Titan II LE. You''ll be amazed how much deep bass is actually going on in those channels. It really did surprise me. The improvement the Titan sub added to my system was amazing! It seemed all out of proportion to its cost. Naturally the deep bass was much better. But adding the sub improved the overall sound of my system in unexpected ways as well. Like increased clarity in all channels -- which led to a better soundstage, smoother and more realistic pans, cleaner dialog, and a greater soundfield presence. Couple of things to keep in mind though. Make sure that you take the time to position the sub correctly for best performance. It can make a big difference. And make sure that you also set the phase correctly for your specific setup. This also can make a big difference. I will tell you this. After being an audio/home theater enthusiast since 1995, I have gone through more equipment than I can count. No other piece of equipment has brought me more satisfaction than the Titan sub. It has done wonders for my home theater system. ACI''s Titan II LE sub was reviewed at www.hometheatersound.com in November, 2001, and received a Reviewer''s Choice Award from reviewer John Potis. It was based on John''s rave review that got me to order the Titan sub. I already sent an e-mail to John about how right he was. If you decide to try one out, I''ll bet you want to let John know how right he was as well. The new version of the Titan II LE looks even better than the one shown here. Just go to www.audioc.com and check it out. Then you''ll know why it gets such a high spousal approval factor - on top of everything else it does so well! Very highly recommended

Similar Products Used:

HSU

Clean, detailed output. Enough output for HT, tight and detailed enough for music. Beautiful cabinet. Endless choices of cross-over/phase options.

The audioc.com website pictured floor spikes with all pictures of the Titan II, but they are not included. The cross-over potentiometers are small and difficult to read without an optimum viewing point.

Before deciding on the Titan II, I was strongly considering the Definitive Tech PF15TL+ since my system was going to be used mostly for HT. I loved the output of the Def. Tech for movies, but it really lacked accuracy and speed for music. The Def. Tech also experienced occasional cabinet resonance problems between 30 and 40 Hz (unacceptable).

After auditioning the Def. Tech with mixed feelings about its performance, I decided to give the Titan II its 30-day free trial.

The Titan II arrived at my door well packaged and free of any noticeable box damage. My first impression was of course of the solid weight of the Titan II. I got my Titan II in the clear cherry finish. IT cabinet itself is a work of cabinetry art. The Titan II was simple to hook up and the cross-over and phase options made it easy to blend in with my Paradigm Studio 40s. The user manual is well laid out and simple to follow.

From the reviews, I expected the Titan II to perform admirably for music and so-so for HT. Well, it did perform admirably for music, but it performed MUCH better than I expected for HT. The Titan II's output was equal, if not more, than the Def. Tech (in my listening room). The Titan II's output was much cleaner, and there were absolutely zero cabinet resonance with the Titan II that disturbed me with the Def. Tech. Movie LFEs and soundtrack bass lines are unbelievably detailed and lifelike and the output is enough to shake my windows, and rattle my dishes. I was surprised so much by the output because the room in which it resides is less than optimal. It measures 13' X 28' with a 12' slopping ceiling. The room is also connected to an open kitchen, hallway AND foyer. So there is a lot of air space the Titan II has to fill and it does it surprisingly well.

You can spend more money on the REL Strata III and get less HT performance; or you can spend twice as much on the Velodyne HGS-12 and get a VERY marginal HT performance improvement. But these two subs truly define diminishing returns. At $1000 the Titan II, in my opinion, offers the best sub value overall in the market at this time. It has everything avid movie watchers could want yet it still retains the musicality audiophiles demand. Throw in a highly spouse approvable cabinet and you just can't beat the Titan II.

Similar Products Used:

Definitive Tech PF15TL+, Paradigm PW-2200, Polk PSW650, Velodyne HGS-12, REL Strata III

Beautiful cabinet,clear bass, excellent customer service

flimsy controls on back

I am using this sub for music only and am very pleased. I have the volume and crossover set low, and it integrates well with my Magnepan 1.6QRs. It just sits in the corner until it is called upon to produce some low bass (under 38kHz). I can't tell unless I walk over to it if the bass is coming from my mains or the sub, which is the way it's supposed to be. ACI customer service is also first rate. I also own their Quake sub which is in my hardly ever used home theatre system. If I was a serious movie watcher, I'd upgrade it to the titan also.

Similar Products Used:

ACI Quake

Accuracy, ability to blend, value

None...

I stumbled onto this fantastic product while browsing reviews on this site. I noticed that ACI had almost a prefect rating on all of their products so I investigated further.
The great thing about ACI is with little to no advertising, your money goes to the quality of the components you buy. AND, if you are a woodworker like myself, the savings are incredible because they sell all of their product line as DYI kits as well. For under $600 for the driver and electronics, $100 in materials and a little time, one can have a subwoofer that competes with $1500+ boxes.
I completed the cabinet in a casual week of partime work with basic woodworking tools and lots of patience. Being the designer and builder, I had the freedom of choosing 1" MDF as opposed to .75" that it would have been constructed with if I had purchased it from ACI complete, so in affect, it's even better than theirs. I finished it off with a beautiful real-wood cherry veneer which looks as good as it sounds.
The results are incredible! I searched for a musical subwoofer that would keep up with movies as a very close second priority. My research showed that a musical sub will do movies well, but a theatrical sub won't necessarily do music well. I wanted a sealed enclosure for accuracy but wanted the depth as well, without a massive driver and footprint. The Titan II does far better than I anticipated, while blending seamlessly into my system. If you are looking for a sub that replicates what is on your media for under $700, and shakes the clocks off the wall if the information is there, this is your ticket! If you're looking for bass that you can feel all of the time, it may not be your choice. It will give subwoofers like the REL Strata series all they can handle for a third of the price if you build it yourself. It's a great product.

Similar Products Used:

B&W ASW 1000, NHT

Tonality, power, extension, flexibility, and musicality

none at this price point

I can't say that I have heard a better subwoofer than the ACI Titan II. Are there better subs? I'm sure, but I really doubt it at this price point. One of the main reasons I like this sub after about one month of use is the tonality. This is the most neutral sub I have ever heard which should make it easy to fit well into a variety of systems. As well, with two separate 12 db/octave filters that can be crossed over as low as 35Hz it has the flexibility to work well with a wide variety of speakers. If memory serves me correctly, in comparison with the Titan (which was stolen over a year ago) this sub retains the same tonality and musicality but with added flexibility, power, and unbelievable extension. There were times in the past with the Titan where I had problems with a hump around the crossover frequency, but with the crossover issue addressed with the Titan II this is no longer a problem for me.

The evaluation of the sub was done with music sources ranging from jazz, blues, rock, pop and some classical on a two channel system.

The sub does take quite a long while to break-in, so give it a fair chance (ie 100 hours +). It can also take a while for you to get used to this kind of bass extension if you have never had it before. This sub will bring out deep bass that you may never have realized existed in certain recordings. It also has enough power to fill large rooms. But don't misinterpret this as just a powerhouse, it also possesses speed and finesse. My main listening is jazz and this sub has no problem following the lines of acoustic bass in trios such as Diana Krall, Ray Brown, Ellis Marsalis, etc. It also has the ability to add spaciousness to the soundstage of your main speakers (something REL subs are known for).

It is an overperformer for the price with musicality that is easily at home in high quality two-channel audio systems. I'm sure that the home-theater crowd will also be equally impressed.

System:

Sony DVP-S7700 as transport
Monarchy Audio DIP MKII digital jitter filter
Kimber AGDL and MSB digital interconnects
MSB Link DAC D/A converter (the next to get upgraded)
Kimber Select 1020 unbalanced interconnect
Classe CP-47.5 preamp
Kimber Select 1120 balanced interconnect
Classe CA-201 power amp
Kimber 4TC/8TC speaker cable
JMLab Electra 905 speakers
custom sand-filled MDF stands
Kimber PBJ to ACI Titan II sub with Ultra Points
various forms of isolation devices

Similar Products Used:

B&W ASW2000, B&W 800ASW, Paradigm Servo 15, Monitor Audio ASW210, ACI Titan

Fast, tight bass, integrates superbly with my planars. Great for music and of course HT.

Back-order period (mine took 4 weeks to get here but it was fully worth it.

Usually I wait a week or so before I form an opinion about a product but this time was different.

ACI: These people go so out of their way to accommodate the customer. I can't remember last time I spent $1000 and liked it! Before the purchase I exchanged emails with Mike Dzurko because I was concerned about combining the sub with my planars. I might also move to Europe in the near future so I was concerned about the voltage. Mike addressed both issues to my total satisfaction without trying to push a sale down my throat. Very professional.

Titan II: First impression was WOW, this thingy looks darn good. Beautiful cabinet. I hooked it up and I crossed my fingers. I was really concerned that the combination with my planars (BG Radia) would yield uneven sound, especially since my pre-amp's crossover is set rather high at 100 Hz. I located the sub right in the middle between the two fronts and I fired it up. Beautiful integration between the two. My evaluation was performed with music since I believe that many subs can do a good HT job but very few can deliver clear musical bass. This sub produces fast and tight bass. I ran a blind test on a friend of mine (Velodyne CT120 owner) by playing some J.M. Jarre (new age) music with quick transitioning synth bass (for Jarre fans-Arpegiateur from The Concerts in China). This is a very hard piece of music for a subwoofer to get right, I know his Velo couldn't go near it. He couldn't believe the bass was produced by a subwoofer since it was so tight and accurate.
The other thing I want to mention about this sub is that it’s LOUD. I actually had to trim my pre-amp -3db to get the sub to play nice with the front speakers so there’s plenty of juice for HT, big rooms e.t.c. Oh and this sub is supposed to get even better after break-in which is hard to fathom.

ACI will let you listen to the sub for 30 days and if you don’t like it, you can send it back and they’ll refund you your full money including the initial shipping cost (you have to pay return shipping only). So effectively, you get a free 30-day audition in your own house for about $40 if you’re not satisfied. Can’t beat that for a $1000 purchase. BEWARE THOUGH: If you bring this sub into your house you’ll probably not want to let it go.

To Mike and Jack at ACI: Job well done guys, you have a winner here.

Similar Products Used:

Velodyne CTs

Cabinet, LOUD CLEAR BASS! Quiet when it's supposed to be.

The pictures rattle off the walls!

This sub puts a smile on my face every time I listen to a good CD or watch a DVD!
I never knew what I was missing in the low range until I bought this sub. Bass guitars jump out at me now. The bass is loud, tight and powerful!
And for DVD movies...this thing rocks! Pictures all over the house rattle on the walls!
The cabinet on this thing says it should cost $3000-$4000. Mine is a beautiful light cherry finish, and the quality makes it look like a fine piece of furniture. My wife even likes it.
The customer service CAN NOT BE BEAT! Give this sub a try. ACI will let you try it in your home for 30-days...and if you don't like it...just send it back! (I don't think they get many returns though)
Give them a look at www.audioc.com. You'll be glad you did!

Similar Products Used:

Paradigm

Excellent build quality, attractive cabinet, simple to optimize, flexible enough to use with a variety of speaker setups, tight, deep, accurate bass.

The floor spikes shown on all the Titan pictures on the ACI website are not included.

I was dead set on purchasing the Definitive Tech PF15TL+ for its price, and HT performance, but musically, the Def. Tech disappointed me a little. The Def. Tech did fine with single tone music (like hard rock and metal), but with some more challenging music such as Jazz and Classical, the Def. Tech seemed to struggle, especially in the deep bass range bellow 35 Hz. So, I decided to give the 30 trial to the Titan II.

The box arrived at my house well packaged and free of any visible box damage. I was pleasantly surprised by the weight of the unit.

Hookup was easy and straight forward, the supplied manuals are somewhat helpful of you need them.

I intended to use this primarily as a hometheater sub (about 65 to 35 HT to music), so I had reservations purchasing a sub that seemed to be better suited as a musical sub. I was afraid that brute force and slam would be sacrificed for musicality... Boy, was I wrong.

HT impact was VERY impressive, better that I imagined it would be. From explosions, to DEEP bass material, the Titan II easily lived up to its name. With the unit corner loaded, the unit puts out enough deep bass to rattle every picture on the wall, and shake every dish in the cabinet. If you need more bass than this you are either crazy, or live in a domed stadium.

Even though I thought I would listen to the sub mostly for HT, the accuracy of the Titan has forced me to want to listen to more music. Musically the Titan II is fast, responsive, and deep without a hint of ever being bloated. The dual 12 db/octave crossovers make blending the sub with your mains a snap. On sweep tests there were no real noticeable peaks or nulls in the sub 100 Hz region. The only thing I found that can hold a candle to the Titan II musically is the REL Strata III, but the Titan II wins hands down for HT.

If you want a sub that does music well, get a Titan II.
If you want a sub that does music AND HT well, get a Titan II. (Get the point)
You can easily spend a lot more for a very marginal improvement in performance, for me, I'll take that extra thousand dollars and put it toward something else.


Associated equipment:

Paradigm Reference 40
Paradigm Referece CC
ACI B-flat inwalls (surrounds)
Silver Sonic T-14 biwires to mains and center
Sony STRD-50 ES
Sony CDCP-735 (circa 1993)- as transport
Panasonic DVDX-410

Similar Products Used:

Paradigm PW-2200, Pradigm Servo 15. Definitive Tech PF15TL+, Velodyne CT12, REL Strata III, various other cheaper subs.