Paradigm Signature Sub 25 Eliminates Power Conditioners
Summary
- Product Name: Signature Sub 25
- Manufacturer: Paradigm
- Review Date: January 06, 2009 15:10
- MSRP: $3,999 + $299 for optional room correction system
- First Impression: Pretty Cool
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Paradigm Electronics Inc. has started shipping its most powerful and intelligent subwoofer ever: the Signature SUB 25. Recognizing that on-demand power is the essence of subwoofer performance, Paradigm has designed the SUB 25 to effectively harness and optimize AC line current for optimal performance.
All AC line voltages are not created equal, and some A/V equipment has more robust power demands than others. Paradigm has equipped the SUB 25 with universal input power, which allows the subwoofer to operate intuitively on a 120 V or 230 V circuit. This is possible because the SUB 25 can handle the load from any line voltage between 108 V and 265 V.
This flexibility to accept a range of line voltages is welcome, but how this power is managed is even more critical. The SUB 25’s Power Factor Correction technology shapes the AC line input current to be sinusoidal and continuous in time. A unit without Power Factor Correction can only draw about 60 to 70 percent of the maximum available power because the current only flows at the peaks of the line voltage, essentially “choking” the line. The use of Power Factor Correction allows the SUB 25 to accept the maximum possible amount of input power, while its high-efficiency Ultra-Class D amplifier, rated at 7,500 watts Dynamic Peak and 3,000 watts sustained RMS, allows the maximum amount of output power. By combining both, the SUB 25 delivers the most power that can be obtained from the AC line.
The SUB 25’s new high-power 15-inch driver with three-inch peak-to-peak cone travel, improved high-efficiency motor assembly, massive shorting ring and all new FEA-optimized elliptical surround offer high linearity, greater excursion, lower distortion and greater effective cone area.
An optional yet valuable add-on for the SUB 25 is Paradigm’s Perfect Bass Kit (PBK-1) interface, a room correction system derived from sister company Anthem Electronics’ ARC-1 system. PBK-1 uses proprietary processing to compute in-room frequency response of up to four different SUB 25s before computing a target frequency response for each, yielding optimized in-room reproduction of low frequencies.
All this adds up to an internal power conditioner for the sub and an add-on room correction system. The sub is gorgeous to look at and its 15" driver is quite a sight to behold.
The Reference Signature SUB 25 has a U.S. FMV of $3,999. The optional PBK-1 interface has a U.S. FMV of $299. For more information please visit www.paradigm.com.
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