[wisnon]

Thanks and I would love to hear one, hopefully some day.

I don't suppose you have heard the GR research servo subs?

Thanks,

Steve.

No, I hear they are good too, but probably not as fast, but likely deeper. The TBI only respond to true low bass notes and dont get involved with the low midrange. thus it makes a great foundational augmenter...

[stevenkelby]

Thanks, do you mean the TBI is probably not as fast but deeper than the GR?

I haven't heard the TBI but from what I read that does sound plausible to me.

Best,

Steve.

[wisnon]

The other way around...TBI faster, Servo more "impactful".

[Freo-1]

The other way around...TBI faster, Servo more "impactful".

Right.  The servo has more slam, but compared to the TBI, the ones I have owned tended to sound more like a "one note bass", which is to say that the bass was not clearly defined compared to the TBI.   They also sounded more detached from the mains, as opposed to a seamless integration.

[stevenkelby]

Right.  The servo has more slam, but compared to the TBI, the ones I have owned tended to sound more like a "one note bass", which is to say that the bass was not clearly defined compared to the TBI.   They also sounded more detached from the mains, as opposed to a seamless integration.

Ok thanks.

Are you talking about the gr servo subs?

[Freo-1]

Not specifically.  I have not heard the gr servo sub, so I can't comment on them.  I have owned and or/otherwise listened to a number of other servo subs (including Genesis), and those are the ones I was referring to.  There is not that much difference between the servo subs, compared to the TBI sub, which is completely unique approach. 

They were/all excellent sub in their own right.  However, once you hear the TBI sub, it's one of those "a-ha!" moments, where you hear an implementation that makes one think "That is how a sub is supposed to sound".  It should not call attention to itself, but provide the bottom octave in the same manner as a well designed full range speaker does.

[stevenkelby]

Cool thanks, I would love to hear one!

[Freo-1]

After some additional listening over the past couple of weeks with the TBI Magellan viii su,it's rather apparent that this subwoofer is a most excellent product.  Unlike the vast majority of subs out there, it provides a natural bottom octave that blends in the overall musical presention.  No extra boom or unnatural bass is provided, only clean, undistorted sound.
 
For the most recent auditioning, pulled out my restored Threshold 400A.  After all the years since this amp was made, once restored, it remains one of the better sounding solid state amps ever made.  It makes most class D amps sound pretty thin and glaring by comparison.  The Magellen easily adapted to the change in amplification, with only a minor tweak to balance out.  All music generes (including classical) were enhanced with the addition of the sub. 
 
There is more to getting proper bass than slapping together a driver or two in an enclosure with a plate amp.  Here is a discription on the design concept from Mr. Plummer:
"
I think that the proper description for the Magellan's function should be that of Sub Harmonic Generator.  The audio range is 20Hz to 20000Hz and the most that can be covered by the main speaker even good bookshelves is 40Hz to 20 KHz.  The fundamental octave is therefore 20Hz-40Hz.  40Hz is therefore considered the first harmonic.  (In order) to cover this fundamental octave conventionally, a high mass driver is required for low resonance, and therefore sluggish and boomy sound is the result. Once present you can't damp it out.
 The Magellan gets that added mass acoustically from the signal itself, therefore no parasitic mass required.  The driver is low mass with low required travel to produce the bass notes (therefore fast action). Special technology (is) required (to achieve this). "

 I can confirm that the above explanation seems to work sonically.  Highly recommended for an audition.   

[jimdgoulding]

Wow, Freo.  Nice find.  $1300 seems a good price for the powered version and guys on a budget.

  http://tbisound.com/dsp_products_subwmagvipsu.asp

[emailtim]

Freo-1,

Have you noticed any port chuffing with the TBI? 

I tried one years ago with my Maggie 3.6's.  It was easy to integrate with the Maggies, but when turned up to match the level of the 3.6's, the one I demoed exhibited port noise.  I don't know if I had a defective unit or not.

Thanks,
Tim

[davidbeinct]

I know I'm bumping a zombie thread, but I noticed Freo no longer owns the subject subwoofer. I wonder if he might say why he went a different direction? I am very interested in returning to the world of planars, but nothing in my budget will be close to full range, so I'm interested in a musical sub that will blend well. No home theater use.