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A question on Focal subs

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Posted on November 6, 2020 at 00:10:40
KanedaK
Audiophile

Posts: 2519
Location: Brussels
Joined: April 27, 2010
 I own two Focal subs,both purchased second-hand.
The first I bought is an Electra SW900 with 13 inch driver
the second is an older but bigger SW38A with a 15 inch Audiom driver (multi-magnet, like on the Utopia range).
They are both very similar with 260watts class AB amps, large vented enclosure, and both down-firing.

Well, the SW900 with 13inch driver hits harder and lower and is much, much more articulate.
The SW38 sounds so slow and mushy and is not pressurizing the room enough, I begin to wonder if the amp isn't faulty?

Maybe the caps are too old?

There's another SW900 for sale locally (doesn't happen often as they are quite rare), I'm tempted to buy it to replace the SW38A, but still on paper the latter should be a better sub - it seems a pity to let it go.

what do you guys think?

 

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RE: A question on Focal subs, posted on November 6, 2020 at 02:52:04
Story
Audiophile

Posts: 10457
Location: NJ
Joined: December 11, 2000
 technically speaking the smaller the driver, the 'faster' the risetime (and smaller the enclosure needed) from it. So that might be what you are hearing.

Also note that the position the 2 drivers are in the room might also account for what you are hearing. Try swapping.

I would also try to have 2 identical subs - so you might end up buying anyway. If it's a good deal and working properly I would go for it.



 

RE: A question on Focal subs, posted on November 6, 2020 at 03:22:01
cawson@onetel.com
Audiophile

Posts: 2382
Joined: September 27, 2004
 I'd agree with Story, get the pair anyway if well priced. Always better than odd subs. Smaller drivers are "faster", although this makes less noticeable difference at lowest frequencies.

I say this from nil experience with stand-alone subs! My Avantgarde speakers include active subs that use twin 10" or 12" drivers each side. I wouldn't expect the sound to be well balanced if one channel used twin 10s and the other twin 12s! Hopefully, if you like the "matched pair" performance, you'll recoup much of the cost by selling your larger unit.

 

RE: A question on Focal subs, posted on November 8, 2020 at 01:55:40
KanedaK
Audiophile

Posts: 2519
Location: Brussels
Joined: April 27, 2010
 Well yeah I guess that's what I should be doing.
But in these Covid times, finding a buyer for a monstrous (truly HUGE) defective subwoofer (I'm of course talking about the SW38A) would be a PITA if not impossible. I would then be faced with two options: keeping THREE massive subwoofers in the house and facing potential relationship problems OR just binning the SW38 which I will never do. So I'm quite hesitant.
At least I should locate where the problem is (amp? driver? both?) before deciding on my next move.
I guess the driver alone (Focal Audiom 15VX) is worth a few hundreds if in good condition...

 

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