I would have missed this case active sub past attention if it had not been for one "but" - the built-in amplifier in it is not just with a couple of basic settings, but with a real bass signal processor. You can configure it directly from the driver's seat through the application in your smartphone, and not just drive the frequency filters back and forth, but also play with dynamic settings with the character of the bass.
So far, nothing like this has been found among active subs. I think I won't be mistaken if I say that this is generally one of the first budget subs of its kind in the Russian market.
The model is fresh: the E3 index at the end of the model traditionally for the EDGE brand means that it entered the market in 2023. The cost at the time of the test is 16990 rubles. If you estimate the separate costs of a subwoofer speaker, housing and amplifier (and do not forget about the processor), it turns out that it is not so expensive.
FIRST ACQUAINTANCE, CONSTRUCTIVE FEATURES
The sub is made more or less traditionally, except that the embroidered letters DSP hint at an unusual (at least today) filling.
The amplifier is located on the end and the cunning shape of the hull forms a smooth opening of the slot port.
With the connection - everything is like other active subs, but from the settings - only the gain regulator. Everything else is configured from a smartphone.
I note, by the way, that the kit includes a decent set of accessories - from a long plus wire that can reach the battery under the hood to a long interconnect cable. So you won't have to buy a separate set for connection. If anything, at a high level, you can also connect to the existing audio system.
I got the Edge EDBX12ADSP-E3 model in my laboratory, i.e. on a 12-inch subwoofer speaker. But in general, judging by the manual, it has a 10-inch junior brother EDBX10ADSP-E3 and a related older model - EDBXT12ADSP-E3 on two 12-inch speakers.
HOW THE SUB IS MADE. WE LOOK INSIDE
The hull is made of MDF. It is quite simple in itself, but it is made technologically - with the use of milling. Tightness of joints and connections - no question (by the way, for FI design it is no less important than for ZO).
The part in which the amplifier is built into is closed from the inside. The port is not too long. There is no need to count its setting, then I'll look at the measurements.
The subwoofer speaker itself is double winding, 4+4 ohms. The windings are connected in parallel, i.e. the total nominal impedance is 2 ohms.
Well, right there, to understand the concept of this sub, I measured the dynamics parameters separately. Of course, with a preliminary warm-up.
Measured parameters of subwoofer dynamics:
There is also low quality due to a stronger motor, a fairly light (especially by current standards) mobile system and a soft centering washer. The result is low resonance and high sensitivity. Of course, in this design, the sub is hardly suitable for orthodox SQ, but with a sensible setting, you can achieve a quite tolerable bass sound.
- Fs (own resonance frequency) - 31 Hz
- Vas (equivalent volume) - 79 l
- Qms (mechanical quality) - 6.66
- Qes (electrical quality) - 0.52
- Qts (complete quality) - 0.48
- Mms (effective mass of the mobile system) - 112 g
- BL (electromechanical communication coefficient) - 7.6 Tl m
- Re ( DC resistance) - 1.7 ohms
- dBspl (support sensitivity, 1 m, 1 W) - 88.6 dB
And what, quite good, at first I assumed that it would be simpler. Usually, active subs Каĸ Охм use simple low-frame speakers with weak motors and complete quality (Qts parameter), which is off scale almost per unit.
There is also low quality due to a stronger motor, a fairly light (especially by current standards) mobile system and a soft centering washer. The result is low resonance and high sensitivity. Of course, in this design, the sub is hardly suitable for orthodox SQ, but with a sensible setting, you can achieve a quite tolerable bass sound.
WHAT AND HOW IT IS CUSTOMISED AND HOW IT WORKS IN PRACTICE
Now the most interesting thing. No wired remotes from which only the level can be adjusted. The application takes care of all control - it is available for Android and iPhone. I have a Samsung smartphone, so I'll check it with it.Open the instructions, find the QR code in it and go to the official website. Open the Mobile App section and download the installation APK from there. It took me about a minute to do everything.
Done, I'm running the application. There is no need to search for Edge in the Bluetooth list on your smartphone, the application itself finds the processor and establishes a connection at startup. On the main screen - only the only Volume control (sub level) and the choice from memory of one of the 4 presets.
Everything else is under the Settings button. Here, first of all, I would recommend setting frequency filters - moving the sliders directly on the chart, you can trim the signal from above (LFF) and from below (subsonic). Well, the equalizer if you want to twist it.
To see how it works in business (it's still a test, not just a surface view), I cling to the output of the built-in amplifier instead of the speaker to the resistive load equivalent (according to the nominal impedance of the sub - 2 ohms) and see which amplifier gives a signal.
To begin with, I played with different settings of the FNCH and Sabsonics. Everything is quite correct, the sub will not "sing with a voice", you can trust the numbers in the application. Coolness, if anything, you can choose from 12 to 48 dB/octave. A light hump around 40 Hz is present all the time, even if the equaliser is in zeros.
To begin with, I played with different settings of the FNCH and Sabsonics. Everything is quite correct, the sub will not "sing with a voice", you can trust the numbers in the application. Coolness, if anything, you can choose from 12 to 48 dB/octave. A light hump around 40 Hz is present all the time, even if the equaliser is in zeros.
However, the matter was not limited to filters and equaliser. The processor has three more settings that can be attributed to dynamic, i.e. nonlinearly dependent on the signal level. And here the user is given the opportunity to play sound engineer. First of all, it's a compressor. Not the one with which the wheels are pumped, but a signal compressor. If it is greatly simplified, it "tightens" soft sounds in level, making them more visible. Well, yes, in a sense, the truth really "inflates" the sound.
Again, briefly and very simplified, THRESHOLD is the threshold level of the signal at which compression is applied, RATIO - the degree of "pull-up" in the level of quiet sounds, ATTACK - the response time at the very beginning, when the signal exceeded the threshold level, DEACAY - sets the duration of compression at the signal decline.
Let's move on, the second processing is a DBASS function. This is almost an ordinary bass equaliser, but, unlike it, with Threshold adjustment (let me remind you, this is the signal level at which the function is triggered). WIDTH is the width of the gain band (similar to the Q parameter in parametric equalisers), and FREQ is the central frequency.
Let's move on, the second processing is a DBASS function. This is almost an ordinary bass equaliser, but, unlike it, with Threshold adjustment (let me remind you, this is the signal level at which the function is triggered). WIDTH is the width of the gain band (similar to the Q parameter in parametric equalisers), and FREQ is the central frequency.
I see what he's doing with the output signal. He accentuates individual notes quite decisively, so I would carefully twist this function. Here are some examples of the AFX at the output of the amplifier with different parameters set:
The third function is XBASS. It works a little differently. DYNAMIC GAIN and THRESHOLD also set the effect depending on the signal level. And the LEVEL and FREQ regulators are, in fact, the gain level and the frequency at which the signal will be amplified.
For example, several real AFXs at the output of the amplifier at different settings. Look, this function also "suppresses" the signal quite strongly (albeit with slightly different characteristics), and also additionally cuts off the infrasonic range so as not to inadvertently "unwind" the speaker. And at the same time reduce the excess load on the amplifier without reducing bass information content:
However, all these are signals at the output of the built-in amplifier, i.e. electric. I connect and return the speaker to its place and see what the already assembled sub gives. Equaliser "in zeros", the signal is dissolved as much as possible in frequency (Subsonic - at a minimum of 20 Hz, FVF - at a maximum of 120 Hz), all processing is disabled:
