Starting the EQ system is as simple as plugging the provided microphone into an input jack on the front of the sub (another reason not to leave the grill off), positioning the mic on its stand at the listening position, and pressing the EQ button on the supplied remote. We pushed on the Wi-Q hard, but we never managed to make it sound dirty. We placed the subwoofer in a location where we knew we’d get a fair amount of “suckout” between 80Hz and 40Hz, then challenged the subwoofer to make an audible difference with its auto EQ. Velodyne claims their system is capable of up to 50 feet of transmission, but we wouldn’t recommend pushing much past 40 feet.įiguring out where to place the subwoofer, however, is no easier than it has ever been, despite Velodyne’s attempt to make it so with a built-in auto-EQ system. When both the sub and transmitter are powered up, they should pair automatically. The provided wireless transmitter can be connected to an AV receiver’s subwoofer output using an RCA cable. The setupįor most, setting up the Wi-Q subwoofer should be a brief affair.
#Velodyne digital drive 10 subwoofer driver#
In fact, our inner geek would prefer to have seen a more rigid driver material in general, but as we’ll soon discuss, the Wi-Q sub’s performance never hints at cut corners. The foam surround may make for a less expensive option, and even have some acoustical benefits, but in the end, it will decompose earlier than, say, a rubber surround. If forced to gripe about the sub’s design, we’d home in on the use of a foam surround on the driver. Over the course of our testing, we pushed on the Wi-Q hard, but we never managed to make it sound dirty.
One of the sub’s most useful features, however, is one that you can’t see: Velodyne has implemented a digital limiter system that keeps the subwoofer from moving into distortion territory, and we’re here to tell you that it works really well. When the display isn’t needed, it can be turned off using the supplied remote. A night mode implements dynamic compression, while a mute switch offers a quick-and-dirty way to defeat the sub entirely. Phase control is also handled using the remote control, with 90-degree steps. The system offers four EQ presets – Movies, Rock, Jazz, and Games – which can’t be customized by the user. That blue LCD display also offers feedback information for a variety of settings adjustable via the supplied remote control. This allows the sub to offer precise volume control with graphic feedback thanks to the sub’s blue LCD display window placed up front. The sub’s amp features a continuously adjustable phase dial, but uses two control buttons rather than an analog dial for volume control. The Wi-Q sub’s performance never hints at cut corners. We like the slight swoop Velodyne gave to this sub’s grill, but since we tend to prefer leaving the grill off entirely, we wish the grille’s security knobs were less conspicuous. The Wi-Q’s Black Ash vinyl finish won’t win any design awards, but it is by no means an eyesore, and it should hold up well over years of use. In comparison, the similarly priced Pioneer Elite SW-E10 subwoofer designed by Andrew Jones is more compact and has a more inert feel to it. We also weren’t especially impressed with the results of our “knock test,” which failed to produce the dead thunk we had hoped for, instead giving away the sub’s less-than-totally-rigid cabinet construction, which also failed to bite back at our knuckles. weight was a little on the low side, especially considering Velodyne’s reputation for building tank-like subwoofers. For a subwoofer that measures 17.31 x 15.25 x 17-inches (with feet and grill attached) we felt its 37-lb. The Wi-Q subwoofer is available in 10- and 12-inch sizes – we received the 10-inch model for review.