• AddThis Social Bookmark Button

Sunfire True Subwoofer EQ Signature Reviewed


  • January 2, 2009

| Print Page | Adjust Font Size:

Free Home Theater Review Weekly Newsletter.

Enter your e-mail below to get Home Theater Review's weekly newsletter with the latest equipment reviews and home theater news sent directly to your inbox.


*Required
Sunfire_TrueSub_Sig_EQ.gifSunfire's Bob Carver is the one person most credited for creating the small subwoofer market in the 1990s and, while the patent didn't hold up, the brand and category sure did. Sunfire's True Subwoofer EQ Signature at $2,195 might be a mouthful of words, but its 13-inches-squared size is a sight for sore eyes for people looking for big subwoofer sound from a relatively small box. The key to all of Bob Carver's subwoofer designs is his amazing tracking downcoverter amp that can coolly and cleanly (and reportedly) output peaks of 2700 watts of power, driving the living snot out of a 10-inch driver to levels that top 116 dB. Take it from me: that is really loud. While the woofer doesn't go a low as the gigantic woofers on the market, its 30 Hertz performance is pretty deep, considering just how loud it will play.

The latest version of Sunfire's top subwoofer comes complete with an auto-set-up configuration that helps the bass-freak consumer in all of us to get the most out of the woofer in each of our rooms. Room acoustics and room interaction is as big a factor in getting a successful low-end reproduction from your system as the woofer itself and Sunfire has made it easy for you to make all of the needed adjustments without a degree in acoustics.

High Points
- There is no question that the biggest strong point of the Sunfire True Subwoofer EQ Signature is its diminutive size when compared to its beefy audio output.
- The Sunfire Signature EQ is more musical than you might expect and when used in pairs can sound even smoother in a room.
- The room correction software really adds value to the product over past offerings. Velodyne has it. Revel has it. Sunfire now has it, thankfully.
- I like the addition of a rosewood veneer to the lineup, as black subwoofers are so cliché.

Low Points
- The fit and finish are nothing better than okay. Other subs provide better-looking woofers for the same price and, considering how your sub reacts in a room, you can't say, "I am going to stick it in a corner over there" and just forget about it. It's possible the best performance could come from placing your woofer right in the middle of your listening room.
- When pushed to extremes, the Sunfire woofer can show signs of audio fatigue, compared to other woofers that are physically larger yet in the same price range.

Conclusion
This is a rock and roll subwoofer that can play loud and remain musical all the way along. Audiophiles will be surprised that this woofer can hang with $10,000 per pair speakers, and home theater enthusiasts will love the volume that this small subwoofer can create. Bass rules and the Sunfire True Subwoofer EQ Signature just plain rocks.

Keywords

Sunfire subwoofer, Sunfire Signature EQ Subwoofer Review. Sunfire True subwoofer, Tracking downcoverter amp, Bob Carver, Digital amp, 2700 Watt amp, small subwoofer reviews

Subscribe to the Newsletter
Subscribe to HomeTheaterReview.com's Weekly Newsletter to get the latest news, reviews and insight on the world of home theater, HDTV and audiophile equipment. Subscription is 100% FREE!
*Required
Email Marketing by VerticalResponse
subscribe to rss Subscribe with RSS
Follow home theater equipment reviews and daily news via our RSS feed.
Related Subwoofer Reviews:
  • Comment on this article

    1
  • By greg

There is really nothing to say negative about Carver. It probably does not help, that I`m a big fan. And why not, this guy has been able to create real world, excellent audio products, that not only rival the big names, but at a price, most of us can afford. So, this new sub certainly continues on this theme. And quite frankly, especially during these economic times, companies like say Sunfire, Anthem, Adcom, just to name a few, may see a rise in overall sales due to this.
Who said you have to spend big dollars to get great sound.

Post a Comment

Please answer the following question (required) before posting to help us prevent Spam.


Featured Audio-Video News

Is Today's Home Theater Equipment Too Good?

Is Today's Home Theater Equipment Too Good? -

Shocking wouldn't be how I describe the news that regional AV chain Ken Crane's is closing after decades in business...

Latest Subwoofer Reviews

Mordaunt-Short Performance Home Theater Speaker System Reviewed -

Mordaunt-Short is a name I have known about for years but rarely got a chance to hear. When I learned I'd be receiving their top of the line Performance home theater speaker system for review, I was excited. Mordaunt-Short has... Click for more...

Energy ESW-M6 Powered Subwoofer Reviewed -

After decades of building its solid brand throughout the high performance audio world under the leadership of Audio Products International, Klipsch purchased Energy in August of 2006, and has dutifully built upon its excellent track record. Originally created in conjunction... Click for more...

Mirage Omni S8 Powered Subwoofer Reviewed -

Founded by Ian Paisley way back in 1977 (after five years of fiddling with his speaker designs), Mirage introduced many breakthrough (and sometimes patented) speaker technologies into the market, incorporated into affordable, high performance products that took the industry by... Click for more...

Polk PSW125 Powered Subwoofer Reviewed -

Over the past three decades-plus, Polk has continued to build upon its excellent reputation for providing affordable, sensible, high performance loudspeakers. Some forget that Polk helped put the satellite-subwoofer concept on the map with its RM series, after doing the... Click for more...

Klipsch RW-10d Powered Subwoofer Reviewed -

In addition to expanding its prodigious lineup of products into almost every conceivable area of consumer electronics, Klipsch has also found time to innovate and incorporate its cleverness into features that provide real value to lots of people. Its five... Click for more...

Klipsch SW-450 Powered Subwoofer Reviewed -

One of the more affordable offerings within its 14-model subwoofer category, the SW-450 ($449.99/MSRP) utilizes a 10-inch fiber-composite, down-firing woofer, driven by a 45-watt Class D digital amplifier, fitted in a rear-ported enclosure. The SW-450 provides both high-level inputs (via... Click for more...

Klipsch SW-350 Powered Subwoofer Reviewed -

It should come as no surprise that Klipsch, a company famous for its in-your-face, dynamic sound, offers a wide variety of subwoofers. Fourteen, to be exact. One of its more affordable offerings, the SW-350 ($349.99/MSRP) utilizes an 8-inch fiber-composite, down-firing... Click for more...

Klipsch RW-12d Powered Subwoofer Reviewed -

Klipsch makes a variety of different subwoofers to complement its extra large lineup of loudspeakers, accessories, multimedia models, and a whole bunch of other things. Five of its fourteen subwoofers are labeled "DCS", or Digital Controlled Subwoofers. They provide the... Click for more...

Klipsch RW-10d Powered Subwoofer Reviewed -

Amongst its fourteen subwoofer models spanning pretty much every category imaginable, including architectural, commercial, and consumer models, Klipsch has folded in some innovation above and beyond the usual crossover/connectivity routine. Five of its subwoofers are described as DCS, or Digital... Click for more...

Polk PSW111 Powered Subwoofer Reviewed -

One of the best known and most storied brands in affordable high performance loudspeakers, Polk Audio has earned its reputation not only through its pure value proposition, but how it has maintained it through many industry and economic evolutions. While... Click for more...

Latest Subwoofer Reviews

Mordaunt-Short Performance Home Theater Speaker System Reviewed -

Mordaunt-Short is a name I have known about for years but rarely got a chance to hear. When I learned I'd be receiving their top of the line Performance home theater speaker system for review, I was excited. Mordaunt-Short has... Click for more...

Energy ESW-M6 Powered Subwoofer Reviewed -

After decades of building its solid brand throughout the high performance audio world under the leadership of Audio Products International, Klipsch purchased Energy in August of 2006, and has dutifully built upon its excellent track record. Originally created in conjunction... Click for more...

Mirage Omni S8 Powered Subwoofer Reviewed -

Founded by Ian Paisley way back in 1977 (after five years of fiddling with his speaker designs), Mirage introduced many breakthrough (and sometimes patented) speaker technologies into the market, incorporated into affordable, high performance products that took the industry by... Click for more...

Polk PSW125 Powered Subwoofer Reviewed -

Over the past three decades-plus, Polk has continued to build upon its excellent reputation for providing affordable, sensible, high performance loudspeakers. Some forget that Polk helped put the satellite-subwoofer concept on the map with its RM series, after doing the... Click for more...

Klipsch RW-10d Powered Subwoofer Reviewed -

In addition to expanding its prodigious lineup of products into almost every conceivable area of consumer electronics, Klipsch has also found time to innovate and incorporate its cleverness into features that provide real value to lots of people. Its five... Click for more...

Klipsch SW-450 Powered Subwoofer Reviewed -

One of the more affordable offerings within its 14-model subwoofer category, the SW-450 ($449.99/MSRP) utilizes a 10-inch fiber-composite, down-firing woofer, driven by a 45-watt Class D digital amplifier, fitted in a rear-ported enclosure. The SW-450 provides both high-level inputs (via... Click for more...

Klipsch SW-350 Powered Subwoofer Reviewed -

It should come as no surprise that Klipsch, a company famous for its in-your-face, dynamic sound, offers a wide variety of subwoofers. Fourteen, to be exact. One of its more affordable offerings, the SW-350 ($349.99/MSRP) utilizes an 8-inch fiber-composite, down-firing... Click for more...

Klipsch RW-12d Powered Subwoofer Reviewed -

Klipsch makes a variety of different subwoofers to complement its extra large lineup of loudspeakers, accessories, multimedia models, and a whole bunch of other things. Five of its fourteen subwoofers are labeled "DCS", or Digital Controlled Subwoofers. They provide the... Click for more...

Klipsch RW-10d Powered Subwoofer Reviewed -

Amongst its fourteen subwoofer models spanning pretty much every category imaginable, including architectural, commercial, and consumer models, Klipsch has folded in some innovation above and beyond the usual crossover/connectivity routine. Five of its subwoofers are described as DCS, or Digital... Click for more...

Polk PSW111 Powered Subwoofer Reviewed -

One of the best known and most storied brands in affordable high performance loudspeakers, Polk Audio has earned its reputation not only through its pure value proposition, but how it has maintained it through many industry and economic evolutions. While... Click for more...

All Subwoofer Reviews

Latest Equipment Reviews

NextGen 1x8 HDMI-Over-CAT6 Splitter Reviewed -

There's no denying the convenience that HDMI affords. The ability to send high-definition video, high-resolution audio, and control/data information over one small, relatively pliable cable has given us leaner, cleaner A/V backsides, but it comes with potential downsides. Handshake issues... Click for more...

McIntosh MC-501 Mono Amplifier Reviewed -

McIntosh is one of the longest living legends in American high-end audio history. McIntosh's 'Unity Coupled Circuit' utilized in the 50W-1 tube amplifier introduced in 1949 was its first breakthrough design. The use of black glass panels that give McIntosh... Click for more...

Mordaunt-Short Performance Home Theater Speaker System Reviewed -

Mordaunt-Short is a name I have known about for years but rarely got a chance to hear. When I learned I'd be receiving their top of the line Performance home theater speaker system for review, I was excited. Mordaunt-Short has... Click for more...

Bowers & Wilkins MM-1 Computer Speakers Reviewed -

When does a loudspeaker stop being a loudspeaker and become a computer speaker? When does a computer speaker stop being a computer speaker and become a loudspeaker? These two questions have been on my mind a lot recently, as I've... Click for more...

Bowers & Wilkins P5 Mobile Hi-Fi Headphones Reviewed -

Bowers & Wilkins, makers of some of the finest home theater and audiophile loudspeakers the world over have come on strong as of late with a host of mobile and iPod friendly products like the P5 Mobile Hi-Fi Headphones reviewed... Click for more...

Sherwood Newcastle R-972 Audio/Video Receiver Reviewed -

Sherwood has been a staple of high quality audio/video components for decades, and the Newcastle line represents the pinnacle of the company's engineering prowess. The R-972, which retails for $1,799, falls on the higher-end of mainstream receiver pricing. That said,... Click for more...

Vizio M550NV RazorLED LCD HDTV Reviewed -

Vizio's 2010 LCD lineup is perhaps its most ambitious yet, including a wide range of edge-lit and full-array LED models. The full-array models carry the TruLED moniker, while the edge-lit models sport the RazorLED tag. The M550NV is one of... Click for more...

Vizio SV472XVT TruLED LCD HDTV Reviewed -

Vizio's 2010 LCD lineup is perhaps its most ambitious yet, including a wide range of edge-lit and full-array LED models. The full-array models carry the TruLED moniker, while the edge-lit models sport the RazorLED tag. As the name suggests, the... Click for more...

AT&T U-verse DVR and Service Reviewed -

Bundling one's entertainment services - be it television, Internet or phone - is all the rage these days. Every service from satellite to cable is seemingly offering an all-in-one solution in the hope of making your home entertainment more enjoyable... Click for more...

Mitsubishi Unisen LT-55154 LED LCD HDTV Reviewed -

Mitsubishi's 2010 LCD line includes three series: the top-shelf Diamond 265 Series, the 164 Series and the 154 Series. As the entry-level series in the group, the 154 Series lacks some of the advanced options found in the step-up lines,... Click for more...

Read All Reviews