Are there any aesthetically beautiful subwoofers? (with photos)

[「 ✦ JIM ✦ 」]

I went for duel Arendal 2S' mainly for their rectangular shape. I think they're reasonably nice looking as far as big black boxes go.

 

[Vacceo]

I really like the looks of my KEF KC92s.........

I just installed one of them in black on the living room as a compliment to a pair of LS50 WII. The existing KC62 has found a new use in the little office attached to a pair of LSX II.

The difference is noticeable in the lower end, reaching a far better volume.

 

[Westsounds]

Audio Pro

 

[Westsounds]

B&W PV1

Cool looking,

 

[Power Pop 23]

A relation liked the 'industrial' aesthetic of the Cambridge Soundworks Newton P300HD subwoofer and used it for over a decade.

 

[HalSF]

 

[Talisman]

View attachment 493985

ah... that's what it was.... a subwoofer!

 

[jhaider]

B&W PV1

Cool looking,

View attachment 493931

What’s that marble base? Interesting idea.

We have 4 PV1Ds from our old living room that I haven’t quite figured out how (or if) to use in the new house. While I don’t like grille-less speakers, these were each in corners so not much access to the dustcaps. Also the material seems much tougher than what KEF uses.

 

[Westsounds]

What’s that marble base? Interesting idea.

We have 4 PV1Ds from our old living room that I haven’t quite figured out how (or if) to use in the new house. While I don’t like grille-less speakers, these were each in corners so not much access to the dustcaps. Also the material seems much tougher than what KEF uses.

Me too, I generally don’t like grill less speakers, but I think I would make an exception as they’re a nice design as far as subwoofers go. But generally seeing drive units on show makes them a little susceptible to getting damaged also, unless you live in a house where nothing ever happens, or they’re in a cherished man cave. Subs are generally ‘not’ something that comes with style cues other than a larger speaker in an enclosure (not strictly always larger tho).

Subs are sometimes tricky things aesthetically to blend in a room, they’re just boxes that don’t need to be there. The PV1 is slightly different though and there was some thought that went into it, obviously. Although generally I don’t like passive radiator designs I think they sound flabby in general, and I’ve heard some very nice designs that implement that as well. Although the PV1 is not exactly that type it uses two active drivers in opposition in a smaller sealed enclosure, but it’s kind of based on a similar principle.

I’m pretty sure the plinths were an ebay offering, sure I’ve seen them there, they do add a little something to the overall design I think, given they are an after market thing. Quite nice.

 

[Power Pop 23]

Parts Express is now offering powered subwoofers matching the aesthetic of their 'Classic' line of passive loudspeakers.

NEW Dayton Audio CS1200 12" 200W Powered Subwoofer Wood

Dayton Audio CS1200 12" 200W Powered Subwoofer WoodDayton Audio CS1200 12" 200W Powered SubwooferUncompromised High-end PerformanceDayton set out to build a subwoofer that enhances every detail of your favorite music, movies, and games, without coloring the sound or adding unnecessary noise...

www.parts-express.com

EDIT - Parts Express says the Dayton Audio 'CS1200' 12-inch, powered subwoofer weighs 28.76 pounds

Parts Express says the older, Dayton Audio 'SUB-1200' 12-inch, powered subwoofer in black vinyl-wrapped MDF weighs 44.65 pounds.

 

[Westsounds]

AV.com UK are now offering a very cost-effective solution in the UK for only 99 tokens (GBP to us), which also happens to be a nice looking box, if you don’t mind just the 'bigger box' thing of course. Not sure if it qualifies for ‘aesthetically beautiful’, but in the scheme of big boxes it's not bad. I’d say it's slightly more beautiful than the parts express one, and cheaper (more of a bargain new RRP), if you run the conversion.

 

[Westsounds]

Another good deal available in the UK which I don't think looks too bad, 167 UK bucks.

 

[Westsounds]

View attachment 493985

 

[EJ3]

View attachment 494611

I wouldn't call it aesthetically beautiful (the eye of the beholder and all that...) but it does seem like it would be easy to hide, which, I guess, would then meet my idea of aesthetically beautiful.

 

[Westsounds]

I wouldn't call it aesthetically beautiful (the eye of the beholder and all that...) but it does seem like it would be easy to hide, which, I guess, would then meet my idea of aesthetically beautiful.

This is still the king of WAF I think, might always will be.

 

[Westsounds]

And you might be right, the most aesthetically beautiful subwoofer is probably, no subwoofer or the one you cant see. You can always polish a turd, but it’ll always be a big polished turd

 

[Mort]

Genelec 8040b, Rythmik F12, minidsp flex XLR, Wiim ultra

 

[OldHvyMec]

but it’ll always be a big polished turd

I thought that until I built and polished a few BASS towers through the years. I always liked columns and the odd pile throughout the room. 45 years later, it still works for me. Floor-standing mains, floor-standing SAT bass columns, and either floor-standing sub columns or boxes.

I'll hunt up some pics, I think I've posted them here on ASR before.

Regards

 

[Westsounds]

I thought that until I built and polished a few BASS towers through the years. I always liked columns and the odd pile throughout the room. 45 years later, it still works for me. Floor-standing mains, floor-standing SAT bass columns, and either floor-standing sub columns or boxes.

I'll hunt up some pics, I think I've posted them here on ASR before.

Regards

yes please, would like to see the photos

 

[D-Livs]

REL T2 / T3. I ended up buying 3 of these on Craigslist ($250 each , 15 years ago)

They are seriously tiny, with a handsome little mid-century furniture stand, with a happy round grille. They still rock on at vacation houses, no one trips over them. The band around the top side made excellent handles so it was easy to bring them out into the room where they coupled with room nodes.

I’m sure the delay and transient response can be beat by most other subs, but these RELs dug strikingly deep and we had plenty of dance parties over the years.