Sunday, April 30, 2023

2023 Annual Headphone Shootout The In-Ear Monitors

It’s now time for the second half of our annual shootout, the In-Ear Monitors. We had some surprising performances in March Madness. And like March Madness, we had a surprise in the first half of the headphone shootout for the over the ear models. Let’s see if we have any surprises with the IEM’s. They comprise of the JBL Endurance Peak 3 $100 MSRP, Philips Fidelio T1 $300 MSRP, Westone Mach 40 $600 MSRP, Audio-Technica ATH-CK2000Ti $750 MSRP, and Westone Mach 80 $1600 MSRP.

 

We’ll start with the JBL Endurance Peak 3. Not only does JBL have a long history of making great headphones, they also make great fitness headphones. So whether you are sitting on the couch or doing laps in the pool, JBL has you covered. With an MSRP of $100, it’s a great price.

 

Features and specs:

General Specifications

Driver size (mm): 10

IP Code: IP68

Number of Microphones: 4

 

Audio Specifications

Driver sensitivity at 1kHz/1mW (dB): 102 dB SPL@1 kHz

Dynamic frequency response range (Hz): 20 Hz - 20 kHz

Impedance (ohms): 16

 

Dimensions

Charging Case Weight (oz): 2.7

Earpiece Weight (oz): 0.9

Charging Case Weight (g): 76

Earpiece Weight (g): 25

 

Control and Connection Specifications

Bluetooth version: 5.2

Bluetooth profiles: A2DP V1.3, AVRCP V1.6, HFP V1.7

Bluetooth frequency: 2.400 GHz - 2.4835 GHz

Bluetooth transmitted modulation: GFSK, π/4 QPSK, 8DPSK

Bluetooth transmitter power: < 14 dBm

 

Battery

Charging time (hours from empty): 2

Maximum talk time (hours): 5.5

Charging case battery life (max hours): 40

Maximum play time (hours): 50

 

Features

Charging cable: Yes

Ambient Aware: Yes

Built-in Microphone: Yes

Hands Free Call: Yes

JBL Pure Bass Sound: Yes

Powerhook: Yes

Sweat Proof: Yes

TalkThru: Yes

Twistlock: Yes

Wireless: Yes

Waterproof: Yes

Charging case: Yes

Speed charge: Yes

Rechargable battery: Yes

Bluetooth: Yes

 



The JBL Endurance Peak 3 came in a great color printed box with photos and specs of the IEM. Opening the box revealed a well-protected headphone, held in place by custom plastic molding. Materials used in the construction was mostly plastic. Quality of materials used, as well as fit and finish, was very good. Also included was the charging case, charging cable, additional sized ear tips and owner’s manual.

 

I like the design of the JBL Endurance Peak 3. While they are true wireless, they are designed to be used for fitness activities. Part of the IEM is a rubber piece that wraps around your ear. So when you are doing more active sport activities like swimming or basketball, it helps to hold them in place. With the IP68 rating, they are fully waterproof, so they could be used for swimming.

 

JBL provides some great useability features as well. The charging case provides extra charge, to help keep you listening even longer while you are on the go. They allow for independent earbud use. That way if you wanted to, you could use just one of them at a time for even longer extended listening. The app that you can download onto your phone helps you check on battery life, and make changes to the sound with EQ curves, and tune the sound to your liking. The 4 built-in mics also help ensure your calls sound great too. Now let’s see how they sound.

 


Nat King Kole:  L-O-V-E – Piano sounded natural, vocals were smooth with good texture of the timbre. Hi Hat was crisp. Bass had very good low-end extension and played with a ton of authority. Trumpet was very dynamic, with very good harmonics. They threw a soundstage that was surprisingly not just very wide, but also deep.  They even provided good imaging.

Michael Jackson: Don’t Stop Until You Get Enough - Shaker had good resolution as well as the wood block and cow bell. Guitar was nice and raw. Percussion instruments were all very dynamic. Vocals were pleasantly smooth with good resolution of the timbre. Trumpet was very dynamic with good harmonics. There were a lot of instruments, and they were resolved better than expected.

Katy Perry: Dark Horse – Vocals had good resolution of the texture of the timbre. The snaps were very dynamic. The beats were nice and tight, and played deep and with good authority. The longer sustained bass beats played very deep, played with a ton of authority, and was clean doing so.

 


Now it’s time for the Philips Fidelio T1. Philips has a long history of making excellent products. While most may not think of Philips when it comes to headphones, we have seen some excellent headphones from Philips lately. They are a true wireless design, with a MSRP of $300.

 

Features and specs:

 

Sound

Impedance: 16 Ohm

Speaker diameter: 10 mm + BA

Sensitivity: 103 dB (1K Hz)

Frequency range: 7 - 40 000 Hz

Maximum power input: 5 mW

Driver type: Hybrid, Balanced Armature

Hi-Res Audio: Yes

 




ANC features

ANC (Active Noise Canceling): Yes

ANC technology: Hybrid, ANC Pro+

Awareness mode: Yes

Adaptive ANC: Yes

Microphone for ANC: 4 mic

 

Telecommunication

Microphone for call: 3 mic

ENC microphone: Yes

Wind noise reduction: Yes

 

Connectivity

Bluetooth version: 5.2

Supported codec: LDAC, AAC, SBC

Maximum range: Up to 10  m

Bluetooth profiles: A2DP, AVRCP, HFP

Type of wireless transmission: Bluetooth

Multipoint connection: Yes

Wireless: Yes

 

Convenience

Android fast pair: Yes

Auto pause (IR sensor): Yes

Philips Headphones app support: Yes

Firmware updates possible: Yes

Water resistance: IPX4

Automatic power off: 60 minutes

Mono mode for TWS: Yes

Type of controls: Touch

 




Design

Color: Black

Ear fitting: In-ear

In-ear fitting type: Silicone ear tip

Ear coupling material: Comply foam, Silicone

 

Power

Music play time (ANC on): 9 + 25 hr

Music play time (ANC off): 13 + 35 hr

Battery type(Earbud): Lithium Polymer (built-in)

Battery capacity(Earbud): 60mAh

Battery type(Charging case): Lithium Polymer (built-in)

Battery capacity(Case): 650mAh

Battery life standby time: 200 hr

Talk time: 13 hr

Charging time: 2  hr

Fast charging time: 15 mins for 1 hr

Number of batteries: 3 pcs

Battery weight (Total): 14 g

Wireless charging: Yes

Rechargeable: Yes

Voice assistant:

Voice assistant support: Yes

Voice assistant activation: Manual

Voice assistant compatible: Google Assistant, Apple Siri

 

Accessories

Charging case: Yes

Comply foam: 3 pairs (S/M/L)

Ear tips: 6 pairs

Charging cable: USB-C cable, 500 mm

Quick Start Guide: Yes

 

Product dimensions

Height: 5.15  cm

Width: 8.49  cm

Depth: 3.24  cm

Weight: 0.109  kg

 

The Philips Fidelio T1 came in a great looking color printed box with photos and specs of the headphones. Opening the box revealed a well-protected headphone held in its charging case. Materials used in construction was both metal and plastic. Quality of materials used as well as fit and finish was very good. Also included was the charging case, charging cable, additional sized ear tips and owner’s manual.

 



I liked the design of the Philips Fidelio T1. They are a true wireless IEM, that has a metal housing.  Muirhead leather was also included in the design. Including leather in the design is quite unique for an IEM, as is seen on the charging case. And Philips shows their commitment to sound quality with the Philips Fidelio T1 being designed for Hi-Red Audio Wireless and LDAC codec.

 

The Philips Fidelio T1 has additional advanced features as well. There’s multi-point, so you can use each side individually. This helps to maximize your battery life. By using only one in one ear at a time, you get longer use. There’s also Active Noise Cancelling, and an app. Through the app, not only do you control the ANC, but you can also customize the sound to your liking through EQ curves. Philips put together some great features for great sound quality. So now, let’s see how they sound.

 

Nat King Cole: L-O-V-E – Piano sounded natural, vocals were silky smooth with good resolution of the texture of the timbre. Hi Hats were crisp and clean. Bass had very good low-end extension and played with very good authority. Trumpet was very dynamic with very good harmonics without being too brassy. They threw a sound stage that was both very wide and deep, with good imaging as well.

Michael Jackson: Don’t Stop Until You Get Enough – Shaker was nice and crisp, the wood block had nice resolution of the warmth of the wood. And also nice tone of the cow bell. Vocals were smooth with good resolution of the timbre. Trumpet was very dynamic and smooth. Guitar was nice and raw. There were a lot of instruments, and details of each came out very nicely.

Katy Perry: Dark Horse – vocals were nice and smooth with good resolution of the texture of the timbre. The snaps were very dynamic. The beats were nice and tight with good punch and authority. The longer sustained beats played very deep, clean and with very good authority output.

 



Next up is the Westone Mach 40. Westone has been making hearing devices for many, many years. They started decades ago with hearing aids. They used that experience to make great sounding In-Ear Monitors for musicians. That’s who the Mach Series is tailored to. The Mach 40 features four balanced armature drivers. MSRP is $600.

 

Features and specs:

3-way Passive Crossover

DRIVERS: Four Balanced-Armature Drivers

FREQ RESPONSE: 10Hz – 20kHz

SENSITIVITY: 100dB @1kHz

IMPEDANCE: 30 Ohms @1kHz

WHAT‘S IN THE BOX: Mach 40 Universal fit in-ear Monitors

CABLE: Linum SuperBaX™ T2 Cable

TIPS: 5 Pair Foam + 5 Pair Silicone

Impact Resistant Pelican™ Case

Westone Audio Cloth Bag

 

The Westone Mach 40 came in a great looking color printed box, with photos and specs of the IEM. Opening the box revealed a well-protected IEM, held in place in the waterproof hard case. Materials used in the construction was mostly plastic, with some metal. Quality of materials used, as well as the fit and finish, was excellent. Also included was the hard waterproof case, microfiber bag, wax loop, and multiple sized ear tips.

 

I love the design of the Westone Mach 40. You get a 3-way crossover network, with four balanced armatures. There’s one tweeter, one midrange, and dual woofers. You get strong bass response, with balanced mids and highs. There’s an audiophile grade cable, to make sure a pure signal makes it to the drivers.

 





Westone doesn’t stop there. To get the best sound, you need a good fit in your ear. To get the best fit, Westone provides multiple sized ear tips, in two different styles. And to protect it all, you get a crushproof, waterproof hard case. And for a less bulky carry option, you also get a soft microfiber bag. It’s a great design, with excellent features and accessories. Now let’s see how they sound.

 

Nat King Cole: L-O-V-E – piano sounded very natural, vocals were smooth like honey with very good texture of the timbre. Hi Hat was very crisp with very good resolution of the impact of the stick on the metal. Bass had very good, low-end extension and played with good authority. Trumpet was very dynamic with very good silky harmonics without being too brassy. Soundstage was very wide as well as deep, and also had very good imaging.

Michael Jackson: Don’t Stop Until You Get Enough – shaker had really good resolution. The wood block also had very good resolution of the woodiness of the block, cowbell had nice resolution as well. Guitar was nice and raw. Vocals revealed nice texture of the timbre. Trumpet was very dynamic with very good harmonics. There were a lot of instruments and they were each resolved very well, showing very good resolution for all of the instruments.

Katy Perry: Dark Horse – vocals had very good resolution of the texture of the timbre. The snaps were very dynamic. The beats were nice and tight with good punch. And the longer sustained beats played very deep and clean output that played with really good authority.

 



Now it’s time for the Audio-Technica ATH-CK2000Ti. Audio-Technica has been producing headphones for nearly 50 years. They have a lot of experience to tap into to make the ATH-CK2000Ti. MSRP is a very fair $750 for its superior design.

 

Features and specs:

Dual phase push-pull drivers (9.8 mm + 8.8 mm) with a permendur magnetic circuit are capable of Hi-Res Audio reproduction

Diamond-like carbon (DLC) coating on diaphragms helps to deliver exceptional full-range audio

Rigid, pure-titanium housings reduce unwanted resonance

Two detachable 1.2 m (3.9') cables with A2DC (Audio Designed Detachable Coaxial) connectors at the headphones: one with a 4.4 mm 5-pole balanced mini-plug, the other with a 3.5 mm 3-pole stereo mini-plug

Includes silicone eartips (XS/S/M/L), hard carrying case, and cleaning cloth

Each pair of headphones is individually identified by a laser-etched serial number

Type: Dynamic

Driver Diameter : 9.8 mm, 8.8 mm

Frequency Response: 5 – 45,000 Hz

Sensitivity: 100 dB/mW

Impedance: 10 ohms

Weight: 12 g (0.42 oz)

Cable: Detachable 1.2 m (3.9') cable (4.4 mm 5-pole balanced mini-plug to A2DC); detachable 1.2 m (3.9') cable (3.5 mm 3-pole stereo mini-plug to A2DC)

Accessories Included: Silicone ear tips (XS/S/M/L), hard carrying case, and cleaning cloth

 

The Audio-Technica ATH-CK2000Ti, came in a nice-looking box. Opening the box revealed on elegant looking pair of IEM’s, held in place by custom molded cardboard. Materials used in the construction was mostly titanium. Quality of materials used, as well as fit and finish, is excellent. Also included is a hard zipper case, two sets of cables, additional sized ear tips, and cleaning cloth.

 


I really like the design of the ATH-CK2000Ti. With a housing made of titanium, it doesn’t get much better than that. They are extremely durable to provide years of use. It also uses a unique dual dynamic driver in a push-pull configuration. One driver is active, and the second is a passive radiator. This produces even better low end, with reduced distortion doing it. Using titanium in the housing, with its rigid properties also works to keep resonances and vibration down. So Audio-Technica is using both build materials as well as driver design, in a unique combination, to give a better sounding IEM. Let’s see how they sound.

 




Nat King Cole: L-O-V-E – piano sounded very natural. Vocals were smoother than a Dove chocolate with full sized sound and excellent texture of the timbre. Hi Hat was extremely crisp and clean. Bass had very good low-end extension and played with very good authority. Trumpet was extremely dynamic with excellent harmonics. Strings revealed excellent texture of the bow on the strings. They threw a very wide and deep soundstage. Imaging was also excellent.

Michael Jackson: Don’t Stop Until You Get Enough– shaker and wood block had excellent resolution with excellent tone of the wood. Cowbell also showed excellent tone. Guitar was nice and raw. Vocals had good smoothness with excellent texture of the timbre. Trumpet was extremely dynamic with excellent harmonics, without being too brassy. There were a lot of instruments and they were all resolved extremely well with excellent resolution of each.

Katy Perry: Dark Horse – vocals had excellent resolution of the texture of the timbre. The snaps were extremely dynamic. The beats were nice and tight with very good punch. The long sustained beats were extremely deep, clean, and played with a ton of authority.

 


Last, but not least, it’s time for Westone’s Mach 80. Westone has many years’ experience producing high-end IEM’s tailored to musicians. The Westone Mach 80 is their top-of-the-line universal fit IEM. If you want the best of the best, these are them. MSRP is $1600.

 

Features and specs:

3-way Passive Crossover

DRIVERS: Eight Balanced-Armature Drivers

FREQ RESPONSE: 5Hz – 22kHz

SENSITIVITY: 104dB @1kHz

IMPEDANCE: 66 Ohms @1kHz

WHAT‘S IN THE BOX: Mach 80 Universal fit in-ear Monitors

CABLE: Linum UltraBaX™ T2 Cable

TIPS: 5 Pair Foam + 5 Pair Silicone

Impact Resistant Pelican™ Case

Westone Audio Cloth Bag

 

The Westone Mach 80 came in a great looking color printed box, with photos and specs of the IEM. Materials used in the construction was mostly plastic with some metal. Quality of materials used, as well as fit and finish, are excellent. Also included was the crushproof and waterproof case, soft microfiber bag, wax tool, and several additional sized ear tips.

 

I love the design of the Westone Mach 80. They incorporate a superior design, using a 3-way crossover network with eight balanced armatures. The configuration of drivers are dual woofers, dual mids, and quad highs. The audiophile grade cable ensures a pure signal gets to the drivers. And the driver configuration promotes getting every once of resolution from the source material, so nothing is lost. It’s impressive in design. Let’s see how they sound.

 


Nat King Cole: L-O-V-E – piano sounded very natural. Vocals were so silky smooth like Dove chocolate, with extremely good texture of the timber. Hi Hat was extremely crisp and clean. Resolution was so good you could hear the texture of the bow on the strings. Bass had excellent low-end extension, and played with authority. Trumpet was extremely dynamic with excellent harmonics and not too brassy. Soundstage was very wide and deep, and imaging was excellent.

Michael Jackson: Don’t Stop Until You Get Enough– shaker and wood block had excellent resolution and wood block had excellent tone, as did the cow bell. Guitar was nice and raw. Vocals were silky smooth with excellent texture of the timbre. All of the percussion was really crisp and clean. Trumpet was extremely dynamic with excellent harmonics. There were a ton of instruments, and the resolution was so good they were all resolved extremely well and could be heard individually.

Katy Perry: Dark Horse – vocals were very smooth with excellent resolution of the texture of the timbre. Snaps were crisp. Bass beats were tight with very good punch. The long sustained bass beats were extremely deep, clean, and played with a ton of authority.

 



We had some great performances with this years IEM’s.  The JBL Endurance Peak 3 had a great sound especially with their price point, with some great resolution, soundstage, and imaging.  Sound signature was just a hair on the warm side. The Philips Fidelio T1 also had a great sound with good resolution, and a sound signature that was pretty neutral.  The Westone Mach 40 took things up a level with their quad balanced armatures, that provided good resolution and a more refined sound.  Its sound signature was just a bit on the warm side.  The Audio-Technica ATH-CK2000Ti took things up a notch even further.  Having dual dynamic drivers instead of quad balanced armatures, I wasn’t expecting a performance better than the Westone Mach 40, but that’s what happened.  They had a sound signature just a hair on the bright side.  And then the Westone Mach 80 brought the same refined sound as the Mach 40’s, but with a good amount more resolution and a neutral sound signature. 

Just as with the over the head models, we had some surprises with performances of the IEM’s this year.  First was the JBL Endurance Peak 3.  For only $100, they had a sound that was actually pretty close to the Philips Fidelio T1.  Much closer than they should have been with their cheap $100 MSRP.  They actually had pretty good resolution as well as a big soundstage and great imaging.  The Westone Mach 40 had a great sound, but for only $150 more, the Audio-Technica ATH-CK2000Ti had much better performance than just the $150 difference over the Mach 40’s suggested.  With only 2 dynamic drivers: 1 active and 1 passive, they bested 4 balanced armatures.  And…..they actually sounded much closer to the Westone Mach 80’s in sound quality than they should have for their MSRP.  The Westone Mach 80 stood alone in their performance.  They provided the same refined sound found on the Mach 40’s, but had much better performance. 

 

When comparing the Westone Mach 40 to the Westone Mach 80, they both have the same build quality.  The improvements you get with the Mach 80 are a better quality cable, and better sound quality with much improved resolution, and improved soundstage and imaging.  The Mach 40 is worth the money. But the Mach 80 is worth the extra money.

 

We again had some great products in this year’s annual Headphone Shootout.  We had a bit of a surprise in our Over the Ear part of the shootout, and also some surprises in the IEM’s as well.  Some performed better than expected at their price points.  They are all great sounding products worth their prices.  Based on their design, features, quality, and performance, the Philips Fidelio T1 has earned our Recommended Award, the JBL Endurance Peak 3 and Westone Mach 40 has earned our Highly Recommended Award, and the Audio-Technica ATH-CK2000Ti and Westone Mach 80 has earned our Editor’s Choice Award.   For more info and complete specs, check out their websites at www.audio-technica.com, www.JBL.com, www.philips.com, www.westoneaudio.com.






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Tuesday, April 25, 2023

Thermaltake Launch Two Latest Pre-built White LCGS (Liquid Cooling Gaming Systems) at Best Buy for an Immersive Gaming Experience

 

Thermaltake Launch Two Latest Pre-built White LCGS (Liquid Cooling Gaming Systems) at Best Buy for an Immersive Gaming Experience

Empowered by the latest Intel 13th Gen i7 and AMD Ryzen 7 CPUs, featured NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti, and RTX 3060 Ti Graphics Cards, Thermaltake Avalanche i477T and Quartz 360T deliver high-Performance for Gamers.

 

 

Walnut, California - April 6th, 2023 - Thermaltake, the premium brand for PC case, cooling, power, and memory solutions, announced today the addition of two new pre-built high-performance gaming PCs to the LCGS (Liquid Cooling Gaming System) product line, the Avalanche i477T, and Quartz 360T. These two models come in sleek white PC cases and offer gamers the latest liquid cooling technology and best-in-class components, ensuring a high-performance gaming experience. The Avalanche i477T is powered by the Intel 13th Generation Core i7-13700KF and features an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti graphics card, while the Quartz 360T is powered by the AMD Ryzen 7 7700X and features an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti graphics card. Both models are now available at BEST BUY.

 

Thermaltake LCGS (Liquid Cooling Gaming System) is crafted for PC gamers to obtain their ideal high-performance pre-built gaming PCs with optimized liquid cooling options, from AIO coolers to tailor-made hard tube configurations. All Thermaltake LCGS are assembled in Southern California, are committed to providing the best DIY gaming PCs without hassles, and backed by strictly monitored testing procedures for excellent compatibility and reliability. 


“We are thrilled to be teaming up with BEST BUY for this launch," said Michael Guo, the VP of Thermaltake USA. "Best Buy’s good reputation as a trusted online e-tailer is the key to offering better service and a guarantee that our customers can trust. This partnership also gives us a launching point to bring more high-end LCGS gaming PC models to BEST BUY; stay tuned!"

 

Thermaltake's Avalanche i477T and Quartz 360T LCGS are not only built to deliver high performance but also boast a stunning, all-white design that blends in seamlessly with any setup. The liquid cooling system ensures that the PC remains cool and quiet, even during intense gaming sessions, providing gamers the edge to stay ahead of the competition.

 

Key Spec. of Avalanche i477T AIO Liquid Cooled Gaming PC:

      Processor Model: Intel 13th Generation Core i7 i7-13700KF

      Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti

      Storage Type: SSD

      Total Storage Capacity: 2 TB

      Solid State Drive Capacity: 2 TB

      System Memory (RAM): DDR5 32 GB

      Cooling Systems: Liquid

      Operating System: Windows 10

      Manufacturer's Warranty – Parts/Labor: 1 year limited

 

Key Spec. of Quartz 360T AIO Liquid Cooled Gaming PC:

      Processor Model: AMD Ryzen 7 7000 Series

      Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti

      Storage Type: SSD

      Total Storage Capacity: 1 TB

      Solid State Drive Capacity: 1 TB

      System Memory (RAM): DDR5 16 GB

      Cooling Systems: Liquid

      Operating System: Windows 10

      Manufacturer's Warranty – Parts/Labor: 1 year limited

 

Availability on BEST BUY

 

          Thermaltake LCGS Avalanche i477T: click here

          Thermaltake LCGS Quartz 360T: click here

 

 

Learn more about Thermaltake LCGS: https://lcgs.thermaltakeusa.com/

For more information on Thermaltake's latest pre-built LCGS models at Best Buy, please visit  bit.ly/412PCu7

 

 

About Thermaltake

Thermaltake Technology was established in 1999 and has been marketed worldwide under the Thermaltake brand name ever since. With the mission to "Deliver the perfect user experience," Thermaltake has since become the leading brand in Gaming Computer Hardware: from chassis, power supply units, cooling systems, and memory modules to gaming PCs, gaming peripherals, and gaming furniture. Thermaltake is the leader in the PC DIY, Case Mod & Gaming Market and is the number one choice for Gamers, Modders & PC DIY Enthusiasts worldwide.

Official website: https://www.thermaltakeusa.com

 

 

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Sunday, April 23, 2023

Image Dynamics ID8 Ultra Low Frequency Subwoofer Review By Jeff Roy

I grew up a car audio fan. I never really grew out of it. Instead of ridiculous amounts of bass, I now appreciate sound quality much more. But there are companies out there that can provide both. Image Dynamics is one of those companies. Up for review today is their ID8. MSRP is $119.

 

Features and specs:

Multi Enclosure Design to maximize your listening preferences without giving up any sound quality whether you want a sealed, ported or bandpass enclosure.

Parabolic Santoprene Surround to ensure cone linearity and control.

Poly/Mica Cone for strong and distortion free bass reproduction while still reproducing all the musical nuances.

Hybrid Progressive Spiders that gives control of the piston at high volumes and still maintains the sonic details at lower volumes.

BASV Voice Coil Former to pull and dissipate harmful heat from the voice coil for better power handling.

Power Handling: Recommended 150RMS Max 250RMS

Recommended Enclosures:  Sealed f3 0.25-0.45   Ported f3 0.5-1.0

Frequency Response 16-180hz

 

The Image Dynamics ID8 came in a great looking color printed box, with images and specs of the subwoofer. Opening the box reveals a well-protected woofer held in place by custom molded cardboard. Pulling out the woofer, it was a well-made product that appears nicer then it’s price point. Materials used in the construction was mostly metal with some plastic. Quality of materials used, as well as fit and finish, was very good. Also included was the foam seals, sticker and manual.

 

I love the box the subwoofer comes in. It’s unique. Not all amps are clean amps, that provide clean power. When you push them, they start to distort. And it’s commonly known that if you feed a sub clean power, a quality sub can handle more power than it’s rated. That’s exactly what Image Dynamics provides with its box. It’s a power line that shows what the subwoofer can handle. It has a speed limit sign that shows 150 watts, which is what they are rated RMS. And obviously more power than that is at your own risk. The power line shows power level marks, and starts with the minimum that the subwoofer needs. It starts at blue, then gradually turns to green, to yellow, then orange, red, brown and black. Beyond the RMS limit sign, it has a caution, until at one point there is a skull and cross bones. It’s a really cool gauge for how much power to feed the subwoofer.

 

I’m very impressed with the design of the subwoofer as well. For an 8-inch subwoofer it has a frequency response down to 16 hertz! And the design seems to support it. The rubber surround is sufficiently tall, to allow a lot of excursion. The cone is polypropylene to provide a stiff cone for clean output. While the basket is just a stamped basket, it was well made, is a more economical solution, and can easily handle the rated power. The spider features sewn in tinsel leads, again of good quality. And while the magnet is sufficiently beefy to handle a good amount of power, vented at the back, what impressed me was the bumped pole piece.

 

The bumped pole piece is a big sign of what the sub is capable of. As the cone moves, the voice coil could potentially bottom out. The voice coil moves through the motor structure, but if there is too much excursion, the voice coil could hit the bottom of the magnet. A bumped pole piece extends that part of the magnet, so the voice coil has more room to move deeper into the magnet, so it doesn’t bottom out. Playing really deep down to 16hz, requires moving a lot of air. This requires a lot of excursion. Handling a lot of power, also results in a lot of excursion. So the design allows for extreme depth, and high output, hence why I love the design.




Back in the day, if you wanted gargantuan amounts of bass, and not just bass but really deep bass, you had to go big. It was all about 12’s, or better, 15’s. They required lots of power, but also huge enclosures. That isn’t to say that there isn’t a use for 12’s and 15’s anymore, but technology has significantly improved.

 

This improved technology is evidenced in the design of the Image Dynamics 1D8. Not only can it provide a large amount of bass, it can provide extremely deep bass under 20hz. Add to that fact that it is only an 8-inch subwoofer, it needs significantly less airspace then a 12-inch or 15-inch subwoofer. The image dynamic ID8 only requires at least .2 cubic feet sealed or .5 cubic feet ported. This significantly increases the locations that you can now put a subwoofer in a vehicle.

 

My vehicle is actually a perfect example of what is capable with 8’s. As I mentioned earlier, I’m a bass-head. I like a lot of bass. But my 2017 Nissan Titan King Cab does not provide a lot of options. I can use a pair of 10’s, but it would need to be up or down facing, which means it would need to be a fairly shallow sub. Shallow mount subs typically don’t handle a lot of power. And I’d be limited to 2 sealed 10’s, or 1 ported 10, based on air space requirements. However, thanks to the design of the Image Dynamics ID8, I can fit four 8’s under the seat. And thanks to the smaller enclosure size requirements, I can actually go ported! And thank to its design being able to go so deep, I won’t miss any depth going down to 8’s.

 

So just to recap. Thanks to its design and frequency response, going with these Image Dynamics ID8’s you won’t miss any depth that you are used to getting with say a 12. Thanks to its small enclosure needs, you can get it where you wouldn’t have a sub previously. Or you can get more in a small space. I had a custom box made for under by back seat, and it’s ported. And thanks to the small airspace requirements, it’ll hold four 8’s and is tuned to 35hz! Needless to say, this bass-head is very excited. Now let’s see how they sound.

 

New Order: Blue Monday – this is a great track to test tight punchy bass.  The bass at the beginning of the track was just that.  The bass was tight and extremely tight and extremely punchy, with a very well controlled cone.  Other beats in the track were deeper, fuller, and hit even harder.

Sir Mix a Lot: I’m your Testarossa – the track again had both tight fast beats, and longer fuller beats. Tight beats hit really hard like a sledgehammer.  The longer beats were still well controlled, yet played with really good extension and a ton of authority.  It hit really hard, and did so cleanly.

Lady Gaga: Starstruck – this track provided even more output.  Beats were again very well controlled, very clean, and hit really really hard.  It played deep, played clean, and hit really hard.

Techmaster PB: Activate and Time to Jam – my old school subwoofer torture track.  It played really, really deep, with long sustained bass that played with excellent output, and was really clean.  It took things to a whole new level.  The Image Dynamic ID8’s played with so much output, and so deep, it sounded like two 12’s!

Richard Strauss: Also sprach Zarathustra- to test for its resolution capabilities, I turned to this classic performed by Beliner Philharmoniker.  The sustained rumble from the organ that was constant thru the whole track was extremely deep, yet the Image Dynamic ID8's managed to play it without a problem, and did so with good authority.  And the resolution that was revealed from the mallet hitting the tympani was not expected.  They were actually very musical. Much more so than expected, especially at their price point.

 

The array of four Image Dynamic ID8’s played very well!  I had high expectations for what four of the ID8’s could do.  But I was pleasantly surprised.  Although the math was supported.  Based on cone area, four 8’s would have close to the same cone area as two 12’s.  In cranking the four 8’s, they sounded like two 12’s!  Only with less required airspace.  I can’t get two ported 12’s to fit under the back seat of my Nissan Titan.  And it played just as deep!  Thanks to the great build quality, they should also provide years of use.  And with its low frequency response, small enclosure size, yet good power handling, the Image Dynamics ID8 is game changing!  Based on its design, features, quality, and performance, the Image Dynamics ID8 has earned our Editor’s Choice Award.  For more info and complete specs, check out their website at www.imagedynamicsusa.net.  Reference gear used: Kenwood DNX997XR reference series receiver,  Nakamichi NDST500A 12 channel processor 10 channel amplifier, Wavtech Link 500.1 sub amp, German Maestro M-Line 3-way component speakers, Alpine Type-X 2-way component speakers.

 

 

 

 



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