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Velodyne DD: 10 or 12?

Will be replacing a REL Strata II which is very nice, but a recent upgrade has left me looking for more. I like the room correction idea but now am wondering if I should upsize. The Strata II is an 8" driver and seems to have provided adequate bass in my large-ish room, but maybe that is due to down-firing? The floor is carpet over wood, with a full-height basement beneath so there is some reverb due to that. Am also using a Gramma/SubDude which I like and will probably keep.

For budget reasons am considering only the 10 or 12, so the 15 and 18 are not really players for me. Looking at specs the only diff seems to be 1.7" in driver size, amps, etc all the same, and the 12 goes 1 hz lower, which I don't see as significantly different. Is the 12 worth the extra $500 msrp for a budget-conscious decision? Obviously I can afford it if I am considering it but prefer to not overspend.

Would be interested to hear esp from users who have weighed this type of choice before.

On an aside, which finish is preferred in general? The gloss black is no doubt attractive but am concerned about how it would wear. Most of the gear is black/dark but it is parked on a Salamander Twin 20, in cherry, which seems to be close to the Velo cherry.
kck
rwwear
2,867 posts
 
I would go with the best you can afford and that would be the 12. Even though it will only go 1hz lower and has the same size amp it has a larger driver and box which means it will have more output. In other words the amp will have to work less hard to produce the same output.
theo's avatar
theo
2,681 posts
 
I have the DD12 in a room about 18 x 24 with connecting rooms and it is more than enough. I have considered selling it buying 2 DD10s but that is a future plan.
The DD12 is more than enough for now. I replaced a Paradigm Servo 15 and what an improvement.
cmach
193 posts
 
Hi Kck,

I have had a DD-10 setup for music only in my 12x12 room.
I love it and have been very impressed with its performance.
A friend of mine recently got a DD-12. Its a wonderful sub
and its noticably stronger in the bass region than the
DD-10 as you would expect. My concern was that in a
smaller room the DD-12 would be too much. We were playing
the DD-10 and DD-12 at the same volume levels and the
DD-12 was making dishes rattle in the sink. The DD-10
in my opinion was working the room a bit better than its
big brother. Less was more in this case. If you room is
large I would go with the DD-12 and not look back. If your
room is on the smaller side the DD-10 might be a better fit.

For what its worth I have the Cherry finish. I like it but
I have to say that the black gloss finish on the DD-12
is fantastic. If I had to do over again it would be tough
decision. Good luck.

Cmach
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