Dali E-9 F Subwoofer Black

Product Information

And yes, this Dali sub really does reach down into infra bass – you can more sense the low frequencies than hear them, it is like the presence of an approaching thunderstorm, you are very aware of it. But the other plus point of this sub is that it is very musical, it is not the one note variety of sub that just pushes out a boom, boom sort of sound, this is an accurate and musical sub. Sound reflects off walls in an acoustic phenomenon called “standing waves” and these waves result in peaks (nodes) and dips (anti-nodes) in a sub’s response. When placing a subwoofer you want to avoid both to ensure a smooth bass response within the room. A number of factors determine whether a subwoofer is any good or not, but the most important metric is how it sounds, so we spend a great deal of time testing audio quality. We expose the sub to a variety of different content, including films, music and video games, at varying volume levels, assessing its ability to reproduce low-end frequencies with power, accuracy and clarity. The Sub (Gen 3) is fairly large, and although Sonos doesn’t mention the size of the drivers, they use a force-cancelling configuration to produce deeper bass. There are also dual acoustic ports for increased low-end extension, and a pair of Class D amplifiers (although once again the actual power rating isn’t given). However, Sonos does claim the Sub (Gen 3) goes down to 25Hz. The Oberon 3s have a sound that I would describe as articulate, especially with human voices, with a mid-range that is a bit more tilted forward in sound compared to my Revel F26 towers. When toed in, the treble seemed a bit aggressive and taking the grilles off heightened the effect. I would recommend leaving the grilles on and doing as suggested by the manufacturer, set them up pointing straight out into the room. Though they sound bigger than their size suggests, they really don’t dig deep in the bass department. Having a sub helped fill in the bottom octave made them sound bolder and more authoritative.

Electrical power is measured in watts (W) and the more wattage available, the louder the sub and the harder you can drive it without distorting, but the higher the price tag. A continuous output of 500W should be more than enough for most people, but if you have the budget you can go higher. The Dali K14 now works extremely well, a very deep, relaxed, tight clear sound. You have to play with the volume on the sub, not too much as it is very powerful. The crossover is controlled via the LFE input. The sealed enclosure is extremely well made, and somehow SVS has managed to cram a redesigned 12in high-excursion driver and upgraded amplification into what is basically a 13in cube. The result is bass performance that’s precise, tight, musical and controlled, with a surprising amount of extension considering the SB-1000 Pro’s diminutive proportions. As mentioned in the introduction, the more air a driver can displace, the lower the frequencies it can generate. This means that when it comes to subwoofers, size does matter.There is plenty of weight and warmth to voices, giving dialogue a human element as well as keeping pace and delivering expression. It’s a balance that feels natural and unfussy, with rich treble. Snappy timing is still an eye-opener though. As we’re enveloped in an impressively spacious soundstage, effects flit from one side of the room to the other at pace, facilitating a true surround experience. The use of four Spektor 2 speakers as front and surround channels helps the familial character around the room, but the Spektor Vokal feels just as at home among its Award-winning brethren. Dali Sub C-8 D renders a performance, which is true to the input signal. It's a Subwoofer with its heart set on high fidelity. It feels equally at home in a surround setup destined for movies, as it does in a compact stereo setup meant primarily for musical enjoyment. This versatile subwoofer is everything but a ‘boombox’. Adhering to Dali’s low-loss sound design principle, the surround of the 8” down-firing woofer is built to allow long and linear excursion. The integrated 170 Watt RMS Class D amplifier enables the Dali Sub C-8 D to follow and render the required signal with an absolute minimum of bias. With its Class D digital amplifier built-in, the E9F produces an immense 170W. This low distortion amplifier provides the bass cone with a powerful, well-balanced sound for even the largest rooms. On the rear panel you'll find controls for volume, phase and frequency cut-off, plus the option of auto on/off. Subwoofers come in two flavours: passive and active. A passive sub requires external power from an amp or AV receiver, whereas an active sub has its amplification built in. All the subs in this guide are of the active variety, raising the question of how much power an active subwoofer requires.

With a Class-D digital amplifier built-in, the C8D produces an immense 170 watts with peaks up to 220 watts. This low distortion amplifier provides the bass cone with a powerful, well-balanced sound that fills even the largest rooms. The superior build quality, attractive design and gorgeous finish provide an immediate feeling of luxury. But it’s not all surface charm, and this discreetly compact subwoofer does an awful lot with its 10in driver, 10in passive radiator and 300W RMS of Class A/B power. As a result, the T/9x delivers a fast and transparent performance that combines with surprisingly high output levels and great low-end impact. It’s an impressive achievement, producing plenty of energy and dynamics while retaining REL’s trademark intimacy, clarity and speed. This reference subwoofer is beautifully made, sports a curved metal mesh grille, and includes the SVS remote app for easy setup, simple control and effective optimisation. The SB-3000 also won’t break the bank, so whether you’re a hardcore audiophile or home cinema fanatic, this superb subwoofer is sure to please. The SVS SB-1000 Pro is a fantastic entry-level subwoofer that not only delivers deep and powerful bass at an affordable price, but also includes a host of features usually only found on more expensive mid-range models.

The best subwoofers you can buy in 2023

How the driver is mounted will be a factor, with a choice of forward, downward or sideways. Since bass is non-directional, the design doesn’t actually make a massive difference to performance, but which is best for you will depend on where you want to position the subwoofer. If it’s at the front of the room and near your main speakers, then a forward-firing sub can be a good choice. We also try the subwoofer out in various positions around the room in which we’re testing as this has a noticeable impact on sonic performance. Subwoofers are tested using whichever connection methods they support, be they physical or wireless, and we assess how easy the sub is to incorporate into your current home audio system. The benefit of a sealed design is that performance is tighter and more controlled, but at the expense of overall output and extension. Conversely, a ported sub will deliver increased volume and deeper bass extension, while sacrificing a degree of subtlety and definition. Some subs also include high-level connections that either use speaker terminals or what’s called a Neutrik Speakon connection. The approach uses the same audio signal as the speakers, rather than a filtered low frequency signal, and can be beneficial if music is your priority.

Unlike some Subwoofers, the Dali Sub C-8 D has been engineered to perform equally well on both music and movies. It is very important to us that a Subwoofer can render a performance true to the input signal. Though featuring an 8” down-firing woofer, the Sub C-8 D is everything but a ‘boombox’. The inclusion of a remote app and ARC room correction make for useful features you won’t find on competing subwoofers with more power and deeper frequency response. Setup and control are both easy thanks to this app, and ARC ensures that the bass is smooth and perfectly integrated with the rest of the system. A top quality sub of infra-bass ability I was already using a pair of Cambridge Audio X500 subs (not the later paper coned ones) but I felt they were not quite exploring the infra-sonic range, so I started to look for a sub that would do that task which could accompany the X500’s. With its built-in Class D digital amplifier, the E12F produces an immense 170W. This provides the bass cone with a powerful, well-balanced sound that works well even in the largest of rooms. On the rear panel of the E-12F you'll find controls for volume, phase and frequency cut-off. There's also the option of auto power on/off, while for a clean, purposeful look, the E-12F uses magnetic grille fixing for smooth lines when removed.

Boost the low-end impact of your sound system with our pick of the best subwoofers for every budget

Some subwoofers come with remote controls, which can be useful for adjusting the volume level while sitting in your primary listening position. A remote may also allow the settings to be tweaked without needing to go over to the subwoofer and fiddle with the controls at the rear. For the deepest bass you need a large cone and you won't find a lot bigger than the Dali's 14 inch beast. This sizeable cone shifts plenty of air so you can feel the lowest bass notes rather than just hearing them. The long stroke woofer is made from aluminium, meaning it's light and rigid - perfect for clean, accurate low frequencies. Probably the biggest decision you need to make is whether to choose a sealed or ported subwoofer design. As its name suggests, a sealed sub has no openings into its interior, while a ported sub has at least one opening (or port), allowing air to flow freely inside the enclosure. Manufacturers such as SVS and Paradigm even offer remote apps that allow you to complete setup and control of the subwoofer using a smart device. They also include a degree of bass correction, allowing users to optimise the sub’s performance based on the room’s acoustics. What’s the best place to put a subwoofer?