New Micro WMD Subwoofer Kit

Kevin P · « **on:** 16 Dec 2003, 05:40 pm »

The new Micro WMD (Weapon of Mass Destruction) is going mainstream before the end of the year. We are selling these in “kit form” only to start. The kit is super easy to build since you get a finished cabinet with no wood working involved. Just bolt both driver & amplifier in place and play music. Assembly time should be about 1 hour and only basic hand tools are needed for assembly.

For reference this is the same cabinet, amplifier and all associated parts as the Parts Express Titanic 10" subwoofer. We just substitute the Adire Audio XBL^2 driver for the PE unit.

The cabinet is a miniscule 14" x 14" x 14 1/4" so space shouldn't be a problem. The driver is an Adire Audio design XBL^2 10" with tons of excursion driven by a 250W plate amp with the necessary EQ built-in.

Output for this little guy should be right on par with the RAVA but in a smaller package. Also...from initial measurements distortion from 25HZ up is lower than the RAVA at standard listening levels due to the XBL^2 motor.

Price? How about $439 for the entire kit including complete finished cabinet, grill, 250W amplifier, 10" XBL^2 Driver, mounting hardware, pointy feet etc..... You get performance very similar to the RAVA in terms of output/musicality in a smaller overall size.

Finished Pics

http://www.diycable.com/images/MicroWMD.jpg">

Parts Break-down (note: this is the PE driver shown)

http://www.diycable.com/images/MicroWMDParts.jpg">

Jason1 · « **Reply #1 on:** 17 Dec 2003, 03:24 am »

So is this "Adire Audio XBL^2 driver" a CSS SX10, or a modified Brahma 10?

Kevin P · « **Reply #2 on:** 17 Dec 2003, 06:11 am »

Jason1: This is a driver that Adire developed for a top secret project.

Actually I don't have all the specs on the driver yet. I'll measure one within the next week or so and publish specs.

It isn't a modified Brahma though.... that would cost about twice as much and need more than double our current amplification. We had considered offering a Brahma version but it would end up being about $1000 and I didn't think they would sell.

Jason1 · « **Reply #3 on:** 17 Dec 2003, 06:39 am »

Interesting. Do you know if this driver is going to be made available for the diy market?

A Sadhara based sub would probably work at the $1000 price point.

Kevin P · « **Reply #4 on:** 17 Dec 2003, 04:27 pm »

The Sadhara driver is a modified Brahma. Has a lower Fs but shares the same motor. They have about 27mm of X-max and the cost of the driver is within $100 of the cost of the Tumult in volume. The amplification needed would be the same as for the Tumult. So.... having a Sadhara version would end up costing about $1200 and I thought for that price most people are going to opt for the Tumult instead.

Our 12" WMD when it is released will be based more upon an XBL^2 Shiva type driver that would have less total excursion than the Sadhara but would need much less amplification. Right now it is vaporware though so don't email asking when it is going to be available!

In terms of the 10" being made available for public consumption... I'm sure that is in the plans but I don't have any specific details (price, availability, etc...).

Jason1 · « **Reply #5 on:** 17 Dec 2003, 07:41 pm »

Of course you know more about all this stuff then me, I just figured since a Sadhara would only cost me $30 more then a Brahma 10 it would be able to work just the same.

I also must say that I dont think its necessary to provide maximum power for these subs. I think 500W would be more then enough for a Sadhara. Sure, you wont push the driver to its limits, but you'll still be over 110db in room, which is more then anyone really needs (especially for music) .

dayneger · « **Reply #6 on:** 17 Dec 2003, 08:57 pm »

Hi Kevin,

Very cool looking package you've got there!

What could I expect for in-room F3 in a "normal" size room?

Thanks!

Dayne

Kevin P · « **Reply #7 on:** 19 Dec 2003, 12:24 am »

Don't have measurements yet..... those f3 numbers are always pretty meaningless though. Companies seem to measure them with a liberal mic if you know what I mean. I'll have some measurements taken at Adire to give some rough numbers but they are a poor way to compare it with other products.

BradJudy · « **Reply #8 on:** 19 Dec 2003, 01:08 am »

Any chance of this, or future kits, being available with unfinished cabinets for those who would like to finish them to match their speakers/rooms?

Kevin P · « **Reply #9 on:** 19 Dec 2003, 04:17 am »

BradJudy: It would cost us more than the black PE cabinets to offer an unfinished version and we would sell very few. My suggestion is to grab your sander and turn the PE unit into the unfinished version.