Many factors contribute to the elusive synergy we
all desire. There’s the room and of course the set-up,
yet nothing contributes as much to a subwoofer’s sonic
integration as its performance.
However, there are
several other factors to consider. What makes a sub-
woofer so special is its ability to move air. One philoso-
phy for achieving this is to use a very large driver with
a short throw, a design that can provide great accuracy if
perfectly implemented, but one that often comes in a very
sizable package. Another philosophy is to use a smaller
driver with an extended throw distance. The SuperCube
is part of a growing trend towards smaller cubes with
long-throw drivers. This configuration is space-conscious,
and can provide the abundant air movement that movie
and music lovers desire.
Technology
The SuperCube I is constructed from Medite, an ultra-
rigid material similar to MDF that provides even greater
strength and resistance to vibration. It incorporates a
front-firing 10-inch long-throw driver, and two side-
firing passive drivers that are also constructed from
Medite. These side-firing passive drivers serve to allow
the active driver the available volume to operate in a
sealed enclosure, but additionally provide a great deal
of bass themselves. Definitive Technology has chosen to
use the Medite material in its passive drivers to provide
overall control and additional rigidity to the enclosure.
This subwoofer has a very low frequency response of 1
4 Hz to 150 Hz. The SuperCube uses a very efficient
1,500-watt Class D amplifier, facilitating the power to
move the driver piston very fast and recover quickly from
long throws. For connections, it has low-level RCA
inputs, as well as high-level speaker cable inputs, which
allows you the ability to limit the low frequencies that
your main loudspeakers experience, thus lightening the
load to your receiver or amplifier if necessary. It also pro-
vides a LFE RCA input for connecting directly from your
preamplifier or processor. The SuperCube is well outfitted
when it comes to controls. It provides variable high-pass
and low-pass crossovers, both fully adjustable from 40 to
150 Hz. A significant feature is the fully variable 180-
degree phase alignment knob. This gives you the ability
to dial in the phase and obtain the most seamless integra-
tion with the rest of your system, which in turn gives you
the ability to ensure that information from the sub reach-
es you in phase with the main loudspeakers. Many subs
provide a phase switch allowing zero, 90 or 180 degrees.
This fully adjustable pot is an outstanding feature, one
that allowed me to better integrate the SuperCube into
my system. A fuse and a volume control knob round off
the rear panel.
Music and Movies
Very few speakers provide enough bass to truly
emulate a live musical performance. Most speakers are
not full-range, due to the huge cost and lack of efficiency
involved. Even full-range speak-
ers lack the air movement to
accurately recreate the rock bot-
tom lows that you hear at live
events, from symphony perform-
ances to rock ‘n’ roll concerts.
Let’s light it up a little with
the
Godsmack Live
DVD
(Universal). This DVD-V proved
to be a great demonstration disc
for subwoofers with its heavy
driving beat and abundance
of low frequency information.
In the song "Awake," the SuperCube undoubtedly provided
all the necessary weight of a live performance. I listened to
this cut at extreme volumes and managed to integrate it
with my Revel system remarkably well. Initially, I struggled
with position and phase alignment. This is a something that
“The SuperCube can really slam you ...
tanks were as real as life … more
importantly it has the quickness to
blend with music”
“The fact that it blended so well with
my $20,000 Revel Salons is ample
testimony for its accuracy.”
“driven by a mighty 1500-watt amplifier
… the SuperCube undoubtedly provided
all the necessary weight of a live
performance”
