Good Tonality, Accuracy

Extension, SPL Capability

I picked up a used PDR-10 for my living room system, after hearing a demo of one and being impressed with its overall sound quality. At $349, it is a topnotch sub for audio with good transient response, decent output, and okay extention down to about 35hz. I would have say that its biggest weakness is output capability, but in all fairness I have it in a very large room, for which a 12 would be more suited. This is definetely a sub for the music crowd. If you are looking to rattle the room with movies only, this is not your sub (check out the Definitive Technology subs for that. If you are looking at adding good extention down to about 35 hz, that will blend well with main speakers, this a an excellent value. I would suggest that if you are buying it new, you consider a used Velodyne F1000, or F1200 as they sell for about $400-500. In comparision, my F1000 has better extention (mid 20s), better tonality and greater output capability.

I give this a sub a five in terms of value at the price. If you are willing to go used, you can get a better sub for the money. At its price for a new sub, you can't do much better for a music system.

Associated Equiptment:

Denon 910 Cd Player
Nakamichi RE-3 Receiver
Hafler DH-220 Amp (from the pre-outs on the Nakamichi)
Celestion 15 Speakers

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Velodyne F1000

Warrenty, Looks, Size

none

very good allround sub. It packs a powerful punch for it compact size. It looks very sleek and stylish.

Fairly tight, detailed bass that goes quite deep for size & price.

Spring clips! Ugh. Terrible feet. No phase adjustment

I purchased this subwoofer used on eBay about a year ago and have been quite pleased. At first I mated it with Paradigm Atoms for the mains but after a failed attempted to build a bedroom system for serious listening, I convinced my wife to let me move my KEF Q15s into the living room in exchange for putting the Atoms in the closet & out of the way (powered by a NAD 3120 integrated, they sound amazingly good with the door open).

I'm a believer in cheap tweaks and after hearing the difference that spikes made on my home-built stands, I decided to see if they could help the PDR. When I went to "unscrew" the plastic feet, they merely pulled out in my hand! They weren't even glued or anything. Bad Paradigm!

Fortunately, I had some dowel on hand that fit the hole perfectly. I sawed off 3/4" segments, coated them with Elmer's wood glue and tapped them into the holes. Then I drilled 3/16" holes and screwed in the brass points. Rehooked everything and . . . noticeably tighter bass, and perhaps even a bit deeper too. Definitely better controlled, even though the PDR-10 tends to be a tad bit mushy and thumpy.

But for just $240 for the sub and $20 for the brass points, I'm getting a pretty solid low end under the KEFs. My next trick will be to place a slab of granite on top of the sub cabinet. It didn't sound bad on the "knock test" before, but now that it's seated directly on concrete I can hear it ring a little bit. Overall, a solid "4" for this sub.

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This is my first subwoofer.

Low Cost & Great Sound

None for the price

The $187.00 american was actually 298.00 Canadian.

I use a Yamaha RX592 with Atom mains and some cheepo Sony rears & centre (hand me downs)

I initially tried a demo PDR-8 with my Atoms for a few days. The PDR-8 does have a bit of an audible hum, to me at least, it matters how nerrotic you are. Also the PDR-8 has no auto power and not quite enough punch when my Atoms become my rears to be replaced with Mini monitors(I always plan for the future within reason). So I purchased the PDR-10, It really rounds out my little Atoms & I think it should be very capable with mini monitors. I have had them for a few months now and I am very satisfied. I did look around and listen in store to allot of other subs but when it comes down to it nothing was as Low cost and well rounded as the PDR-10.

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PDR-8

Smooth sound, incredible output for size and price, very compact enclosure.

Lack of control options (phase especially).

Wow. Picked it up with birthday money. Perhaps you could say I'm still breaking it in, but it's been nothing but fantastic so far. I played some pure sine tones through it, and every time the frequency changed, something else rattled. It gives new impact to my favorite DVDs and music.

Bass, bass, bass! Clean, high output levels. Makes stuff rattle :)

Lack of phase control, no speaker-level pass-thru.

Wow. I've had it for about 3 months now, and it's an insane value for its price. Definetely recommended. I want to get another one for my surround channels.

Build ( I dropped it on the way back from the shop and 3 years on it's still going strong!!)

Bass as tight as i would like

System: Yamaha DSP-A5 AV receiver, Mission 702 fronts, Mission 77c1 centre, Mission 70ds bipolar rears, Marantz CD 67 Mk II CD player.

The pdr 10 fits well into my system, i have it set to the lowest frequency setting as my 702's can handle alot of low end stuff , so i only have the lowest stuff coming out of the sub, with the gain about 11 o'clock as you look at it. It can handle any amount of abuse that most multi channel films can through at it, i especially like the THX sequnce from The Phantom Menace, with the port left open for the air to move. I experimented with positioning and found it best placed next to my tv about a foot in from the walls.

For the money it is a steal, especially if you're looking to start your AV sttup. For music it does well though it can lack punch where it's needed. Altogether a very satisfying 3 years that i've had it and no problems at all.

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1st sub

sound

GRILL DONT COME OFF

does anyone know HOW to remove the grill?im sure some of you figured it out--i want to treat the woofer with foam guard--an anti rot treatment--if so--please email me=studranger2@aol.com--thanks

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read other review

like i said

ditto

2nd review---straw didnt work-kept popping off lol-i broke down and got the paradigm x20 sub woofer control from avi elect--for 125.00--makes a diff guys--not only convenience of controls -unit is small - but smoother sound and im NOT kidding--i dont know why--guess the innards of x20 are higher quality than the pdr 10 innards--only explanation--NOT just an external volume control---no way--try one--you can always return it--but you wont--not when you hear how it smooths out the bass--plus the xover is 35-150- with a phase control-makes a diff if you have high quality mains REALLY a worthwhile addition and like i said=small=2hx4wx6d approx

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ditto

auto on--overall sound

grill wont come off--level on back

had pdr 8 for a week--saw the 10 on sale new for 50.00 more--same dealer--couldnt pass it up--installed on bottom shelf of utility cabinet-between the 2 mains--infinity rs5000 with onkyo 696 receiver-only place lol small apt--12x14--sounds great but getting at level control was a real pain--so i just used a couple pieces of double sided tape with a straw taped to the level knob and now dont have to keep pulling sub in and out lol--works like a charm--straw stands up behind sub--just move to left or right to control sub level-cabinet is filled in with black cardboard i painted as to not see the wires i just remove the center cardboard cutout on top of the sub to get at the straw lol-just use your head--you can beat em lol anyway the sub over the pdr8 is fuller sounding--and the 8 has a nasty transformer hum--you can hear it in quiet room--shouldnt be there in hi fi--this 10 beat out a ct100 velodyne subwoofer--made the vel sound thin in comparison--and the levels were set equally--i did it myself--all in all you wont go wrong with the pdr10

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sony sawm20,pdr8