Share power, Speed, Configurability, Very low bass, very loud bass.

The sub is to light. The powerfull swinging motion of the speaker elements makes the sub wobble. It should weigh 50 pounds more.

Reguarding the humming. There are two reasons for why the sunfire subwoofers hum. (I've tried all sunfire sub-models). 1. Main reason: Noise on the ground led Solution: Isolate the ground-led with some rubber tape. This has a huge effect. 2. Noise in the signal cable. Solution: Place the signal cable away from high voltage cables. The hum you hear is 50hz distortion from the cables running next to the signal cable. After doing this and fixing a good placement for the sub, you are ready for critical listening.

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Enitre range of sunfire subs. The signature is the best.

Killer bass. With all types of music. With movies, the sub really shines and will send explosions and sound effects through your rib cage.

None. It''s a marvel of engineering.

Don''t believe all the hype on this site about this sub not being good for music, or that it is slow. Anyone who is not satisfied with this sub, does not have adequate equipment hooked up to it. Or doesn''t have a good cable running to it. After reading some of the reviews, I worried about my purchase and was nervous until I finally was able to hook it up. Bottom line - the sub doesn''t hum. It is completely silent. And it is the best damn bass I have ever heard in my life. On any speaker. Not just loud bass. Clean, musical bass. Perfect timing with the music. When you want it loud, the crazy thing will absolutely shake your house. I had wondered how true that was from reading some of these reviews. It shakes our house where I can feel it two floors up!! Not that I listen to music at those levels all the time - but it has the power when you want the power. I think you could put this unit in a medium-sized hall and produce good sound. It''s that strong. Very highly recommended.

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Klipsch, Rotel, Bose, Paradigm, B&W

none

this sub is one of the worse subs i have tried out. it is extremely placement dependent. it does move air but then the woofers start to buckle cause of full excursion.

DO NOT BUY THIS SUB UNLESS YOUR HOME THEATER IS THE SIZE OF A BEDROOM. THE SUB TO BUY IS THE VELODYNE HGS 18. EXCELLENT FOR MOVIES. IT IS OK FOR MUSIC. DISTORTION IS HEARD FROM THE SUNFIRE UNDER HIGH EXPLOSIONS FROM PRIVATE RYAN. THE HGS 18 WORKED FLAWLESSLY.

Similar Products Used:

VELODYNE HGS 18, VELODYNE ULD-18

Ability to deliver significant bass without distortion; blends well with Totem Mani-2s; size; build quality; tonal characterisitcs;.

Novices might tend to add too much bass to music. With this wattage and power, it is very easy to "over-bass" a system.

I'm really not sure why some people slam this piece of equipment and/or the designer (Bob Carver). I purchased the sub after having a local boutique Audio store review my current system. I couldn't be happier with the sound or the product.

I guess you'll want to know more about my system and listening tastes before accepting (or trashing my viewpoint), so here goes:
Digital Processor/Preamp: Lexicon MC-1
CD Player (working as transport): Theta Miles
DVD Player: Pioneer Elite DV-09
Amplifier: Bryston 9B THX
Front and center speakers: Totem Mani-2
Rear/side speakers: Totem Tabu
Previous sub/s: 2 HSU 12va (with 2-250 watt HSU amps)
Room: 21 X 20 (open 2-stories tall, windows/fireplace covering one side wall, hardwood floors)

When I unboxed the Sunfire I was a little surprised regarding its small size and the rather firm (and wierd)speaker cones. I didn't let this hinder me from setting it up in my system, but it did stir up some doubts and added a little apprehension -- I keep thinking about what some of the other reviewers had previously stated.

I put in all the cables (line in from Lexicon). Put the sub in the corner (as instructed, both speakers facing the side walls). Plugged in the Sub. Set everything at the neutral level and put in the Eagles Hotel California DVD. Guess what? It absolutley sucked! It was too boomy, rattled on the floor, and completly ruined the sound stage. Boy was I pissed!!!

Then I thought, hey, maybe I should change the placement. So I did. Nothing really changed and I started to get frustrated (pissed off) -- then I thought for another second and an idea popped into my head. Maybe the Sunfire was more sensitive than my previous subs AND it was more sensitive then the "standard" sub output provided by my Lexicon.

I lowered the volume on the Sunfire and set the crossover to 40Hz and presto. The soundstage was back. The music sounded great. I had geatly expanded my bass presence AND without a hint of the low end distortion I received from the HSUs. It was absolutley incredible to be able to feel the music -- without being assulted by the bass (unless it was during a movie with tremendous bass, but this was okay).

In essence, the music and movies have more low-end presence than ever before. As my wife explains it (note: she is far from an audiophile and doesn't understand my silly infatuation), "the sound is more real and I feel like I'm getting enveloped in the music or movie". Well, just hearing that from my wife, in itself, justified the purchase.

I couldn't be happier. And as I stated before, if you understand music (and movie soundtracks) and are willing to accept a little tinkering...I really can't imagine a better sub.

End note:
I have heard most of the great subs out there today. My two favorites are the Revel and the Sunfire Signature. The difference in price is tremendous...the difference in sound was/is small.

Similar Products Used:

Velodyne, HSU, B&W

EVERYTHING..Size, output, low distortion..

NONE

I bought this sub after listening to my buddy's MKII. I was so impressed with his that I decided to go for the signature. OH MY GOD! This cube can rock. Movies rattle my couch, music is deep, smooth and accurate. Everything about this sub is perfect. It is priced high if you buy it from a dealer ($1800) but it can be found for $1500 if you look good. Best sub I have ever heard.

Ed

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MKII

This unit brings a lot of fun to your A/V system! A very, very powerful sub.

A little boomy with music, but it needs attention.

I'll have to admit, when I brought it home and plugged it in, I didn't like what I heard. There was a major thump in the room that wasn't there before. I started with music.

After playing it for a few hours I realized that this was not a "plug and play" sub. I needed to get up and change the settings, depending on what I was playing.

I placed it in a corner, on the rug, behind one of my main speakers. I can feel it, but not see it. It shakes the walls! The best way to describe it is, present, potentally obnoxius, and more fun than any other piece of equipment in my setup.

If you're a couch potatoe, don't buy this sub. If you can get up and adjust the settings when you go from video to audio,.......buy it! It has unbelievable presence in the room.

The best for the price & Reliable too.

NONE

This is an awesome piece of eqipment. In my opinion the absolute best for Home Theater use. But this is the formula race car of subwoofers: you have to spend time seting it up properly or it will crash...this thing just has too much power. You cant just expect to plug it in and go. Make sure you audition at store that takes time to set it up, and I dare you to find anything close under 2K. I have had one for about a year, and I do not miss my Servo 15's, and that is a lot to say. And I have had zero problems with it also, it seems to be very reliable.

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PSB,VELO,Paradigm Servo 15

Can be made to disappear; blends seamlessly with main speakers

No on/off power switch

I think that the Signature has not been given the full mesasure of its capabilities in some the reviews below (including those that were very positive.) This subwoofer has performed superbly in my music system comprising (Oracle V SE/Lyra Lydian /ARC PH2/SONY XA7ES/Harmon kardon Citation 14/ARC LS25/ARC VT100 mkII/Magnepan 3.5/Transparent Ultra XLR/Burmester Silver/XLO Sig 1.1/XLO bi-cable/RGPC etc.) To suggest that the "Siggies" are deficient in terms of non-home theatre applications indicates that they were not properly setup.

Suggestions:

1. Place the Siggies away from corners and room boundaries
2. Use the lowest X-point possible
3. Use minimal setting for the volume control, thus avoiding overpowering the main speaker
4. You should not detect the presence of the sub at frequencies about a half octave above the x-over point (above 45 hz if the x-over is set at about 30 Hz.)
4. Adjust the phase until "the muddiness" disappears and the air and articulation returns
6. Most importantly: all the adjustments are very sensitive. Use very minute (tiny whisker) adjustments of the knobs. You will notice that very small changes make a noticeable difference in the process of integrating the sub into the main system.
7. Try using the sub along a line midway between the two main speakers.
8. Vary the orientation of the sub for the best blending.

Ability to blend seamlessly with an already excellent main speaker; Taut, distortion free, tuneful bass; Compact

not very attractive

I have been able to blend, seamlessy, the Signature with my MG 3.5/R. Used at a X-over setting of 30Hz, I cannot detect the presence of the sunfire when using recordings with minimal output below 45Hz (apart from the improved soundstaging, focus and refinement.) The ability to vary the phase continuously from 0-180 degrees makes it much easier to optimize its performance irrespective of its location (for example, the RELs are harder to setup because the phase adjustment has only two settings, 0/180.) Currently, the sunfire is located midway between my main speakers and about 6 feet behind. I am not concerned about pyrotechnics. Thus I have adjusted the volume near to the minimum level.

The sunfire disappears completely in my system, but provides
a bottomless foundation with powerful, taut and tuneful bass when required. In addition, the Signature has very low distortion and is extremely "clean sounding." This is a stunningly successful design by Bob Carver.

Incidentally, I am running the Sunfire directly from the output of an ARC LS25, in parallel with my main speakers.

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REL Subs

very clean low frequency

no remote

I bought this on the basis of a positive review from the Absolute Sound Magazine. I use it mostly for music and it took a lot af adjusting to work well, but it was worth it. I believe the phase control was most useful.

My sub is behind the main speakers by a good distance and my previous M&K THX sub just did not sound right no matter how I adjusted it, for music. For theater it was great, as I just turned it up to the point that it made the special effects the main event.

The Sunfire however, clearly has audible and palpable response down below 30 Hz. I confirmed this with a test DVD and sound meter.

I hate cliches, but for music, it really does "open up" the sound of the music by providing audible and palpable response more like the live events I have been to.

My only complaint is that it is hard to adjust between music and HT, but so what? Itll kepp me from getting a clot in my legs on prolonged listening sessions.

Similar Products Used:

M&K, Infinity