Is There A Big Difference Between Subwoofers From Different Manufacturers

Hi OP, I have a small SVS SB1000 PRO and a REL S2. The SVS is, in my system, superior. The REL is more expensive and this reinforces my opinion that RELs are overpriced and overrated and they are certainly not unique in accepting high-level input. REL's oft quoted ability to take on the sound of the main amp would require a sub amp that is completely without colouration, totally neutral and zero distortion, in other words: a wire with gain. There are many disagreements on these forums but all will acknowledge that such an amp as I have just described does not exist.

The S2 is also country specific meaning it is not dual voltage. I emailed REL about this and received a prompt and polite reply. "It will need to go back to the factory for a new amp" Apparently the newer models now address this issue. The phase can only be swapped 180 degrees which makes finding the best place more difficult.

The SVS has continuously variable phase and this together with volume, XO frequency and slope, also presets for movies or music and a band of PEQ with adjustable Q, all remotely done from your listening position via cell phone.

My ongoing house repairs precluded me from building the subs I wanted which are the servo units from Rhythmic/GR Research.

Ignore the joker who claims ported is better than sealed, he has that bass ackwards.

To the poster claiming 4 subs will fix all room problems, they will not. What they do is smooth out the nodes rendering the peaks less severe and filling in the nulls providing a very much improved top to bottom performance and I am a strong proponent of multi-subs..but..what about the time it takes for the sound to decay? To manage the decay time room treatment is necessary, there is no workaround and EQ can't help.

If you treat the room and employ at least 2 subs or 3 or 4  you will realise optimum performance at a level you probably did not know was possible.

@phusis , You bet. I have two issues crossing at 100 Hz. The subwoofers have to be in stereo and symmetrically arranged around the main speakers and to inhibit room interaction and match the main speaker radiation pattern they have to form a linear array that extends down to 5 Hz. Because there are 4 subs technically they do form a DBA, just with additional characteristics by design to match the main speakers. 

To answer the OP's question very literally, there is one sub which is VERY different from ALL other subs: The Servo-Feedback OB/Dipole Subwoofer, a joint effort between Danny Richie of GR Research and Brian Ding of Rythmik Audio.

Different how, you ask?

Two or three (your choice) 12" woofers optimized for open baffle application, mounted in an open baffle/dipole H-frame. The woofers are powered by the Rythmik A370 plate amp, which includes Rythmik's patended servo-feedback design for woofer control. Added to the stock A370 when used in this OB/Dipole Sub, Brian Ding adds a dipole cancellation-compensation circuit.

If that description does not pique your curiosity, I don't know what would. ;-)

@lalitk --

I see no sense in arguing with you further, nothing good is going to come out of it.

Except..

Remember it was you who engaged me, it was you who felt the need to advocate and pitch the superiority of DIY designs.

No, I didn’t engage you; I challenged/called out the general standings of commercial subs as being limited to mostly smaller, lower efficiency sealed designs, hereby forgoing a breadth of larger and more efficient design variations that more readily accommodates physics and, in effect, performance - unless a multitude of sealed subs with larger drivers (12" on up) are used. Surely I didn’t need to know the specifics of you and your setup to allow myself to engage in that subject? But now that you mention it I did look up your system, and it looks (and I’m sure sounds) beautiful - truly.

I couldn’t care less or more, cause I already expressed where I stand when it comes to commercial vs DIY subs. Next time you chose to engage someone here or another forum, learning first what they have posted and their beliefs will help you save time and embarrassment. It’s also called ’knowing your audience’ which involves identifying the audience and adapting a speech to their interests, level of understanding, attitudes, and beliefs.

How far do you think I’m going to succeed by pitching an idea of DIY cables to a guy who has a full loom of Nordost Odin or Synergistic Research SRX?

As per my paragraph just above. You’re pulling an ad hominem here, so let’s leave it at that.

My suggestion to start your own thread was based on your posts here and after reading your system bio. I knew exactly which camp you belong to and I respect your chosen path. It’s time that you open your mind to the fact that not everyone out there is inclined to build their own subs. Some of us are just happy with our choice of commercially build subs, irrespective of brand and price of admission.

As most who post here don’t go DIY with their subs implementation it seems to me trying to counter the commercial majority with a minority DIY approach for core physics-reasons outlined earlier isn’t uncalled for. You yourself called for "objectivity" in this discussion, and following an analysis (not least with poster @mijostyn's contributions) of design variations, overall implementation with the use of DSP tools in addition to build rigidity strikes me as accommodating just that. I hope focusing on these aspects tells one a thing or two about or puts into perspective to which degree (i.e.: relatively little) commercial sub brands may differ sonically, or at least that’s my assessment.

I know full well many if not most go the commercial route with subs, and I respect that - your choices as well, obviously. I’ve been there myself, done that. Not saying I drew out the most of its potential, but only so many iterations needed to convince me to search elsewhere, go active, include a separate DSP, high-pass the mains and a DIY route with subs to include design options practically not found in commercial offerings. And that’s that. Thanks for your time.

@phusis 

Water under the bridge, let’s move on and be happy with our choices and the chosen path to enjoy music.