[musicman06]

Hello,

I'm planning to pick up the Selah Audio Tanzanites with matching surrounds and the Sardonyx center channel, but I'm still undecided on a subwoofer. I had been planning on ACI's Force XL, a 10" downfiring model that has glowing reviews and can be had for about $750 currently in Piano Black. Now with plans to pick up the Selah Audio speakers I've been wondering about the Whomp! sub assembled for $950 for a 12" front firing model. Both are sealed. The Whomp! has no reviews that I've seen and though part specs would suggest it would provide better low frequency extension the posted numbers constructed indicate not. I'm not interested in DIY. Also the Whomp! looks like it includes adjustable EQ. I'd be using it for both music and movies so reaching down to 20Hz or so would be beneficial. I would also expect a bit of room gain as the room would be small to moderate in size, moving up to an average size once the basement home theater room is finished. Finally if I get all the speakers in Maple is the sub available in the basic Maple finish as well?

[Rick Craig]

Hello,

I'm planning to pick up the Selah Audio Tanzanites with matching surrounds and the Sardonyx center channel, but I'm still undecided on a subwoofer. I had been planning on ACI's Force XL, a 10" downfiring model that has glowing reviews and can be had for about $750 currently in Piano Black. Now with plans to pick up the Selah Audio speakers I've been wondering about the Whomp! sub assembled for $950 for a 12" front firing model. Both are sealed. The Whomp! has no reviews that I've seen and though part specs would suggest it would provide better low frequency extension the posted numbers constructed indicate not. I'm not interested in DIY. Also the Whomp! looks like it includes adjustable EQ. I'd be using it for both music and movies so reaching down to 20Hz or so would be beneficial. I would also expect a bit of room gain as the room would be small to moderate in size, moving up to an average size once the basement home theater room is finished. Finally if I get all the speakers in Maple is the sub available in the basic Maple finish as well?

It's really difficult to make a good comparison since no nearfield or anechoic measurements are provided by ACI. To get a 10" or 12" woofer flat to 20hz (-3db) in a small sealed enclosure takes a large amount of equalization. You can also use a woofer with a very heavy cone to do this but then you sacrifice a large amount of sensitivity and headroom becomes limited.

With the Whomp's amp you can tailor the response to your preference with the nearfield response charts that we provide. The additional parametric equalization provides a way to minimize in-room response peaks due to your room's modal effects. With the bass equalization and slow rolloff of a sealed box the bottom octave response is very good. Maple veneer can be used to match the Tanzanites as well as any other veneer that you may choose.

[MarkM]

I have a pair of Selah RC3R speakers and Whomp sub, extremely pleased with the performance of the Whomp.  As Rick stated, the e.q. gives you good flexibility to integrate the sub with your room and system.   The Whomp is GREAT for H.T. and music, especially when you factor the price to performance. 

[musicman06]

Thanks for the replies.

Rick you can see the response curves for the Force XL linked in this thread:
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=33558.0

Also ACI gives this info "Linear Frequency Response:   20-250Hz ± 3db" on their website. The approach Mike has taken is that of the heavy cone, giving the reasoning that it also acts as a brake.

I was wondering as well about the class of AMP used in the Whomp!?

I don't doubt the excellent value of Selah's products from my research this is quite obvious and one reason I intend to purchase speakers from Rick.

[Rick Craig]

Thanks for the replies.

Rick you can see the response curves for the Force XL linked in this thread:
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=33558.0

Also ACI gives this info "Linear Frequency Response:   20-250Hz ± 3db" on their website. The approach Mike has taken is that of the heavy cone, giving the reasoning that it also acts as a brake.

I was wondering as well about the class of AMP used in the Whomp!?

I don't doubt the excellent value of Selah's products from my research this is quite obvious and one reason I intend to purchase speakers from Rick.

I did see those curves but both look like they are the transfer functions for the various filters and not acoustic response curves. If the top graph is acoustic then something doesn't add up because the lower set of curves show a dip in the bottom octave that isn't present in the top graph. No disrespect to Mike because he has a good reputation in the business and has been around longer than I have.

We use a BASH amplifier which is different and like a hybrid of class AB and D amps. You can read about it here http://www.st.com/stonline/products/families/audio/audiopowamplifiers/bashtech.htm.
 I've had the opportunity to work with several amplifiers for powered subs and this is one of the best in terms of sound quality, output capability, and flexibility.

[Mike Dzurko]

Thanks for the replies.

Rick you can see the response curves for the Force XL linked in this thread:
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=33558.0

Also ACI gives this info "Linear Frequency Response:   20-250Hz ± 3db" on their website. The approach Mike has taken is that of the heavy cone, giving the reasoning that it also acts as a brake.

I was wondering as well about the class of AMP used in the Whomp!?

I don't doubt the excellent value of Selah's products from my research this is quite obvious and one reason I intend to purchase speakers from Rick.

I did see those curves but both look like they are the transfer functions for the various filters and not acoustic response curves. If the top graph is acoustic then something doesn't add up because the lower set of curves show a dip in the bottom octave that isn't present in the top graph. No disrespect to Mike because he has a good reputation in the business and has been around longer than I have.

We use a BASH amplifier which is different and like a hybrid of class AB and D amps. You can read about it here http://www.st.com/stonline/products/families/audio/audiopowamplifiers/bashtech.htm.
 I've had the opportunity to work with several amplifiers for powered subs and this is one of the best in terms of sound quality, output capability, and flexibility.

Rick:

No problem   The curves are acoustic . . .  the rolloff of the lower curve shows the Theater Input which is flltered below 35Hz.

[Rick Craig]

Thanks for the replies.

Rick you can see the response curves for the Force XL linked in this thread:
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=33558.0

Also ACI gives this info "Linear Frequency Response:   20-250Hz ± 3db" on their website. The approach Mike has taken is that of the heavy cone, giving the reasoning that it also acts as a brake.

I was wondering as well about the class of AMP used in the Whomp!?

I don't doubt the excellent value of Selah's products from my research this is quite obvious and one reason I intend to purchase speakers from Rick.

I did see those curves but both look like they are the transfer functions for the various filters and not acoustic response curves. If the top graph is acoustic then something doesn't add up because the lower set of curves show a dip in the bottom octave that isn't present in the top graph. No disrespect to Mike because he has a good reputation in the business and has been around longer than I have.

We use a BASH amplifier which is different and like a hybrid of class AB and D amps. You can read about it here http://www.st.com/stonline/products/families/audio/audiopowamplifiers/bashtech.htm.
 I've had the opportunity to work with several amplifiers for powered subs and this is one of the best in terms of sound quality, output capability, and flexibility.

Rick:

No problem   The curves are acoustic . . .  the rolloff of the lower curve shows the Theater Input which is flltered below 35Hz.

I see that - what I'm talking about is the second graph with curves A,B, and C. The dip around 14hz in those curves isn't present in the upper graph.

[Mike Dzurko]

Thanks for the replies.

Rick you can see the response curves for the Force XL linked in this thread:
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=33558.0

Also ACI gives this info "Linear Frequency Response:   20-250Hz ± 3db" on their website. The approach Mike has taken is that of the heavy cone, giving the reasoning that it also acts as a brake.

I was wondering as well about the class of AMP used in the Whomp!?

I don't doubt the excellent value of Selah's products from my research this is quite obvious and one reason I intend to purchase speakers from Rick.

I did see those curves but both look like they are the transfer functions for the various filters and not acoustic response curves. If the top graph is acoustic then something doesn't add up because the lower set of curves show a dip in the bottom octave that isn't present in the top graph. No disrespect to Mike because he has a good reputation in the business and has been around longer than I have.

We use a BASH amplifier which is different and like a hybrid of class AB and D amps. You can read about it here http://www.st.com/stonline/products/families/audio/audiopowamplifiers/bashtech.htm.
 I've had the opportunity to work with several amplifiers for powered subs and this is one of the best in terms of sound quality, output capability, and flexibility.

Rick:

No problem   The curves are acoustic . . .  the rolloff of the lower curve shows the Theater Input which is flltered below 35Hz.

I see that - what I'm talking about is the second graph with curves A,B, and C. The dip around 14hz in those curves isn't present in the upper graph.

Rick:

That second set of curves is meant only to show the various lowpass curves available. That "dip" around 14Hz is a measurement anomaly. The woofers response does not begin to rise again below 14Hz . . . it shows a continued rate of rolloff like in the upper curve set.