EMPtek ES1010i Subwoofer Preview

When we think of budget subwoofers, we think of single driver units usually in huge, vinyl wrapped enclosures trying to hit as low as possible regardless of linearity simply to impress the forum trolls. "But it hits down to 18 Hz!" they cry. "But it's frequency response looks like a cross-section of the Andes!" we reply. Raw output is important as is the ability to provided the types of bass that make a subwoofer a subwoofer (and not a bass module). But, in the end, if a subwoofer isn't musical, isn't linear, it is likely that all that bass extension is doing little more than sounding like one of those cars bouncing down the road through subwoofer power alone.

EMPtek has been known for a lot of things, but subwoofers aren't one of them. Sure, their offerings are beautiful and linear, but they don't have the sort of oomph that get the bassaholics excited. With the ES1010i, EMPtek is looking to change that.

Sporting not one, but two 10" poly-matrix cone woofers, the ES1010i breaks almost all of the budget conventions. It has the standard (uncommonly beautiful) EMPtek finish in either high-gloss Red Burl or Black Ash finish. There are both line and speaker level inputs as well as a phase switch, a continuously variable crossover (50Hz-150Hz), and an internal, 250 watt amp. At 13" W x 27-1/2" H x 19" D and 45 pounds, the ES1010i isn't the lightweight you'd expect at this price point. We are a fan of subs going up rather than out as we find that most spouses prefer a small footprint over a low profile. The finish and rounded edges of the ES1010i will also help with the WAF.

As you can see from the above picture, the EMPtek ES1010i sports two down-firing ports and chrome carpet cone feet. And yes, this is an early picture from a product we have in for review. EMPtek specifies that ES1010i down to 30Hz and our preliminary tests show that this claim is accurate (more information when the full review is completed). While 30Hz might not sound impressive to some, the dual woofers and the light cone drivers means lots of output at 30Hz and up - perfect for larger rooms and for mating with their larger, E55Ti tower speakers. 

Conclusion

If you are looking for maximum output and extension, EMPtek might not be the company for you. But for $600 you can get the ES1010i sub which not only appears to have respectable output, but will easily pass the WAF test. The fit and finish on the EMPtek speakers belies their price and would be understandable if they skimped on performance. Instead, you get a subwoofer with good performance, incredible aesthetics, and a price that will shock you.

For more information, please visit www.emptek.com.

Unless otherwise indicated, this is a preview article for the featured product. A formal review may or may not follow in the future.