Wiim Sub Pro

[A Surfer]

Absolutely spot on, do not even think of these as subwoofers. They really cannot be in any meaningful sense. I have two nice Sonos subs in my Sonos system, but I knew that they were as a member several posts back noted going to be bass augmentators, not subs.

Prior to moving to all Sonos (years later a move I'm still happy with) I had two very bass competent tower speakers supported by two decently integrated SVS SB 2000 pro subs, so I knew the difference.

These small, lifestyle subs are not really subs and once we accept that and embrace where their operational limits really are, we'll be happier.

 

[john61ct]

> going to be bass augmentators, not subs

Well the mass market is going to keep calling them subwoofers.

I like the term "bass augmentators" and it should not be used disparagingly, a very important function and use case needing fulfilling to round out many systems.

We need a shortcut term for "bone rattling full-size true sub"

I think it is true no small & light unit will every be able to serve that function, true?

And I doubt if anyone here "expects" this Wiim product to do so...

 

[A Surfer]

I agree, it would be really beneficial if manufacturers and clients alike could agree on the notion of bass augmentation. I absolutely agree, they perform a vital role.

Not every person can or wishes to plumb the true sub bass depths. Having well controlled, competent bass down to say 40hz yields really satisfying results for quite a bit of music in my opinion.

Yes there are times that I know what I am missing without true sub bass, but to this point the trade-off has been quite positive.

 

[TankTop]

Thanks, 25–200 Hz (±3 dB from 30–200Hz)

but the SPL claim may not turn out to be true.

What I meant was, once members have the device, I'm looking for answers from experience and measurements, and hopefully one day someone (with deeper pockets than I) will be willing to have one shipped to Amir.

It’s probably accurate by some measure but the real question is what’s the distortion at higher SPL? I bet it’s very audible distortion

 

[TankTop]

I agree, it would be really beneficial if manufacturers and clients alike could agree on the notion of bass augmentation. I absolutely agree, they perform a vital role.

Not every person can or wishes to plumb the true sub bass depths. Having well controlled, competent bass down to say 40hz yields really satisfying results for quite a bit of music in my opinion.

Yes there are times that I know what I am missing without true sub bass, but to this point the trade-off has been quite positive.

Cough *REL* cough

 

[staticV3]

hopefully one day someone (with deeper pockets than I) will be willing to have one shipped to Amir.

Hopefully they will ship one to Erin or @Nuyes instead, as they can perform CTA-2010 measurements which would enable comparing the WiiM Sub to hundreds of competing products:
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/subwoofer-comparison.20494/

 

[A Surfer]

While there is certainly a need to get it measured, physics guarantees limits that cannot be overcome, at least not anywhere near the retail price, so we know it is not going to measure like a larger sub. Limited spl in the deep bass range, and very little in the true sub bass range are reasonable expectations.

 

[Yorkshire Mouth]

Absolutely spot on, do not even think of these as subwoofers. They really cannot be in any meaningful sense. I have two nice Sonos subs in my Sonos system, but I knew that they were as a member several posts back noted going to be bass augmentators, not subs.

Prior to moving to all Sonos (years later a move I'm still happy with) I had two very bass competent tower speakers supported by two decently integrated SVS SB 2000 pro subs, so I knew the difference.

These small, lifestyle subs are not really subs and once we accept that and embrace where their operational limits really are, we'll be happier.

I'm not so sure, though I take your point.

You're going to have to define what you think a subwoofer is, though.

Has to go down to 20Hz? Has to go below 20Hz?

I mean it is a subwoofer in that your main speaker has a tweeter for treble, and a woofer for middle and bass. If a speaker reproduced frequencies below your mains' woofers, it's a subwoofer, in that respect.

So you're going to have to offer a different definition of what a subwoofer in, and provide some sort of authority to back your definition as accurate.

That's just how language works.

 

[Yorkshire Mouth]

While there is certainly a need to get it measured, physics guarantees limits that cannot be overcome, at least not anywhere near the retail price, so we know it is not going to measure like a larger sub. Limited spl in the deep bass range, and very little in the true sub bass range are reasonable expectations.

I suspect you're right, but I'm not going to say you definitely are.

An 8" driver can reproduce bass down to 25Hz. An 8" driver can do this without distortion. It's just a question of the maximum volume at which it can do both.

As time progresses, and the use of AI increases, I suspect that volume level will increase.

Having said all that, I'd have loved to have seen a 10" version, and hope we will in future.

 

[A Surfer]

Yes, I also have respect for the potential in an 8" woofer, but you hit the nail on the head. I would say for me that being able to go to say 30hz, relatively clean and at a useful SPL is where I make the distinction of what constitutes operating as a sub woofer.

 

[Yorkshire Mouth]

Yes, I also have respect for the potential in an 8" woofer, but you hit the nail on the head. I would say for me that being able to go to say 30hz, relatively clean and at a useful SPL is where I make the distinction of what constitutes operating as a sub woofer.

My BK goes down to..."mid-30s". It'd be nice to be able to replace that with the WiiM, as I'm sure integrating sub/mains/room calibration all in one will be beneficial.

Also I need to get another sub for other duties.

 

[Ropeburn]

Could be.

But why would you want to integrate a sub, which is a headache, when tower with 2x8" passive drivers could probably get you to the same place? Can't really say as did not listen to this sub though. Integration for the towers is already done, for better or worse, depending on the model you choose.

You even don't have to get a stand for bookshelves with the towers?

I'd argue your usual 2x8" towers are overall much better. Depending on model they do 30Hz too or almost, and 4x8" drivers in a big volume is worlds better than just one, in all aspects.

For 450 moneys, this seems quite a bold move. Lots of competition in the price range, including 10" and 12" subwoofers. Wireless is setting it apart somewhat, but then I guess most people serious about sound just don't use that.

 

[DanielT]

It’s probably accurate by some measure but the real question is what’s the distortion at higher SPL? I bet it’s very audible distortion

You know the young people with their cars with big bass boxes/subwoofers in them. Where the bass is pounding from hell. If they didn't have a lot of distortion they wouldn't have sounded so loud. High SPL with distortion rumbling bass is cheap and easy to fix. Without or low distortion with really high SPL. Then you have to open the big wallet.

 

[Ropeburn]

You know the young people with their cars with big bass boxes/subwoofers in them. Where the bass is pounding from hell. If they didn't have a lot of distortion they wouldn't have sounded so loud. High SPL with distortion rumbling bass is cheap and easy to fix. Without or low distortion with really high SPL. Then you have to open the big wallet.

To be fair, driver distortion is irrelevant there, however high. When the whole car rattles and the windows become passive membranes, that's your least worry.

 

[Putter]

What is more important IMO than the size is how effective and easy to use the room eq app is in reducing room resonances and NOT attempting to boost cancellation frequencies. I know there are other subs that do this although I think were more expensive.

 

[Steven Holt]

WiiM has very good marketing people. They see that young people are living in apartments, with smaller spaces, with adjacent neighbors. They also know they don't have a lot of money, but are willing to SPEND their money (unlike older people, who are more conservative) on quality gear. This sweet little sub fits the bill perfectly : it's small, it augments the bass without shaking your bones, and it's affordable. And knowing WiiM, it is high quality. WELL DONE WIIM!!

 

[DanielT]

To be fair, driver distortion is irrelevant there, however high. When the whole car rattles and the windows become passive membranes, that's your least worry.

Well, it certainly weighs heavily go get that bass rumbling.

Thunder and rumble rumbling, but is it music? :

Okay, maybe that was an extreme example of just bass noise, but still.

 

[TankTop]

I suspect you're right, but I'm not going to say you definitely are.

An 8" driver can reproduce bass down to 25Hz. An 8" driver can do this without distortion. It's just a question of the maximum volume at which it can do both.

As time progresses, and the use of AI increases, I suspect that volume level will increase.

Having said all that, I'd have loved to have seen a 10" version, and hope we will in future.

I had dual 8” JL Audio subs in a single ported enclosure. Although I never measured, they had significant output that surprised everyone. Compact box placed in the trunk of a Lexus ES350. Mark Levinson had great mids and highs but bass was nearly non existent.

 

[TankTop]

You know the young people with their cars with big bass boxes/subwoofers in them. Where the bass is pounding from hell. If they didn't have a lot of distortion they wouldn't have sounded so loud. High SPL with distortion rumbling bass is cheap and easy to fix. Without or low distortion with really high SPL. Then you have to open the big wallet.

I’ve been drooling over the Paradigm Sub 2 for years. They’re now hitting 2nd hand market at about half of retail. Probably in the top 5 subs at any measurement and nobody talks about it.

Signature SUB 2

The Best Subwoofer in the World, Period. Hexagonal cabinet with multiple high-excursion drivers radially aligned in a Vibration-Canceling Design Architecture, patented built-in Ultra-Class-D™ power amplifier with Power Factor Correction, sealed enclosure, PBK room correction.

www.paradigm.com

 

[Pritaudio]

Does a dual Stereo sub setup work here.
The 10 band eq is stereo, but there isn’t 2 sub rca outs on any Wiim box model. Just one rca sub out on a few models.
Perhaps it being wireless will allow dual stereo subs setup with a firmware update.
And not have any unnecessary delayed response.
It needs to get reviewed, and updated.