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[George Friedman-Jimenez]

I have been considering this decision for about a year. I have not found a place to demo the EAW SB150zR and would like to avoid carrying DSP to gigs if possible. I am still looking for a place to demo it, and am still considering it for my rehearsal studio. I tried several times to find a TH-Mini I could hear in my local NJ/NYC area, but couldn't. Since I don't know anyone who has a TH-Mini in my area, and have never seen or heard one, if I ever need to rent a second sub for a larger venue, finding a PRX618-XLF would probably be much easier than renting a TH-Mini or EAW. The VRX918SP is much higher priced than the PRX618S-XLF and the specs seem too similar to justify the difference in price for my needs. None of the Yorkville, EV, Yamaha or QSC subs I have heard are both small enough and go low enough. So it came down to a practical decision between the SRX718S and the PRX618S-XLF. The PRX has a built in amp and crossover (if 90 Hz works with the ZX3s), is 3 inches narrower, and should sound fairly similar to the SRX718S or VRX918SP. The SRX718S, which I have rented and liked a lot, would have required me to either bring a DSP to gigs or buy a new crossover, and the shape is too wide for my basement stairs. The only downside of the PRX is the overheating problem people have mentioned online, which I hope turns out not to be an issue for me. I will let you know how it works out.

[cliff truesdell]

My reasons for really liking the VRX box is mainly for the size. Its very easy for me to move around. Loading is a breeze in a mini type van, tilt and slide or roll end over end. Sitting on its grill it takes very little valuable pack space.

I would like to try the XLF someday. Not only am I interested in its performance but how portable the box is. I like its 90hz highpass over the 80hz highpass on the VRX. You will most likely be getting some louder tops too down the road, any thoughts on the PRX612?

[George Friedman-Jimenez]

One step at a time for me. I have been using the ZX3s without a sub, and they work great for vocals. Given the declining economy, I don't know how quickly our group will be moving into bigger venues that don't have their own sound system. For now, I will see how it goes with the sub for between-sets DJing. If the PRX618S-XLF with its built-in 90 Hz crossover works well with the ZX3s (which are a little light in the midbass), it should work well with other 12" tops too. I have not yet made a decision to go all active, and if I do, the PRX612m looks good on paper, but there would be other 12" or 10" top boxes I would consider as well, including the QSC K10, Yamaha DSR112, and several of the RCFs. I haven't started listening to top boxes yet.

[George Friedman-Jimenez]

Update: the great deal on the PRX618S-XLF fell through, it really was too good to be true. Austin Bazaar had advertised the PRX618S-XLF for $999, I ordered it on a Friday night and called them Monday to check on the order because a few things in the ad looked funny. It was actually a PRX618S not XLF that they were selling, with very misleading advertising. On the phone I raised hell about their misleading advertising and within a day, they took off the XLF from the product title. They did not remove the "Extended Low Frequency" from the description, nor the mention of the JBL 2268FF driver that is in the XLF but not the S model, the mention of dual 500 watt amplifiers, or the 133 dB peak SPL, while keeping other items from the S model, such as 600 watt amplifier, 41 Hz -10 dB frequency response, 120 Hz crossover and a few other items. Someone must have written a description taking from both the XLF and the S models, and the resulting text is misleading and self-contradictory. At any rate, I cancelled my order and they did refund my payment to my credit card. Judge for yourself:
http://www.austinbazaar.com/JBL-PRX618S-Subwoofer-System-p/jbl-prx618s.htm

This all gave me the opportunity to try lifting the QSC and JBL and rethink, plus I have done some additional listening to the QSC KW181, PRX618S-XLF, and EV ELX118P. I liked the sound of the QSC the best, although not as well as the SRX718S I have used in the past. All of them, however, are larger, heavier and more awkward than would be convenient in my car, and that would be comfortable for my aging back on my basement stairs. I won't need even the SPL of a single powered 18" sub for most of my gigs. The rest of my system is passive, I have the amp I need (PL236) and tomorrow I plan to purchase the EAW SB150zR that I have been thinking about all this time. I am pretty sure that with my DSP I will be able to get the flat frequency response, low extension, SPL, and sound quality I need for my small gigs. Even without DSP, the FR goes lower than the KW181. The size is much better for my basement stairs and car, and it is lighter and less awkward than the powered subs or the SRX718. I can crossover at 120 or even higher if needed for the ZX3s, while the KW181 has a built in crossover around 100 Hz. Not having heard it is a concern, but I don't know anyone who has one in the NYC/North NJ area, it is $500 less than the JBL or QSC and I am willing to take the (small) chance that I won't like it.

Does anyone have any final advice against the EAW?

[Chris Davis]

Does anyone have any final advice against the EAW?

No.  There is really nothing that bothers me about them - although the only other box I am familiar with in your list is the JBL SRX single 18.  The EAW's are just nice, small, heavy-duty subs. 

I think any downsides might be due to one's expectations if they were to compare them to something either larger or more expensive.  After all it is just a 15" sub.  But it is an above-average 15" sub.  This is definitely a box to check out since JBL doesn't have a 15" SRX sub.

[Greg Harwood]

George, I've not heard or used the SB150z, but I have used it's big brother the SB250z and I really liked the sub.  They sound good, get reasonably loud, and go low.  I would imagine the SB150z would have a similar sound, but not have the output of the 250z.  I think you'll like the sound quality SB150z...and you should be able to flatten out it's response with your dsp.

[cliff truesdell]

JBL does have a small 15", VRX915s. Keep us posted amigo.

[Stu McDoniel]

I am looking for a very small portable sub that goes low for between sets dj'ing in very small venues. Sound quality and low distortion are high priorities but I don't need a lot of SPL, even the SRX718 might be more than I need. I am leaning toward powered but still considering passive, and came across the specs for the EAB SB150zR, a vented 15" direct radiating sub with great frequency response using DSP, and smaller than the SRX718 for transportation convenience.
http://www.eaw.com/info/EAW/Loudspeaker_Product_Info/Current_Loudspeakers/SB150z/SB150zR_SPECS_revA.pdf

Right now my mains are a pair of ZX3s, great for live vocals but they need a sub for dj'ing. I have a PLX1804, PL236 and Xilica DSP I can use for this system. Between sets the dj music is Cuban timba with very melodic bass that goes low down to 40 Hz. Venue usually has 10-30 people dancing and another 20-30 sitting at tables talking. Target dance floor SPLs in the 95-100 dB range within 5 meters of the speakers, lower farther away. My car space is limited by the rest of the sound system and instruments.

Has anyone used the EAW SB150zR? A single SRX718 would be great for future expandability, but is pushing the space limit of my car and I would probably have to buy a new amp. Other possibilities that go low enough are QSC KW118 and JBL PRX618S-XLF, but they are also bigger and heavier than the EAW and I don't need the extra SPL. The JBL VRX915 looks small and light but is double the price of the EAW, with axial sensitivity 3 dB less than the EAW, although it can go almost as low without DSP. Can anyone compare the sound quality of the EAW SB150zR with that of the SRX718 or other smaller subs?

QSC KSUB  /DUAL 12"  /1000 WATT CLASS D
These are impressive little subs for sure
Price is right
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/pro-audio/qsc-ksub-powered-subwoofer/581519000000000?src=3WFRWXX&ZYXSEM=0&CAWELAID=334451500

[George Friedman-Jimenez]

To update, I have a bit of a reprieve, the club we were playing every Saturday night lost its lease and closed down last Saturday, so I have some additional time to make this decision. Greg and Chris, thanks for your comments on the EAW subs.
Cliff, regarding the JBL VRX 15" sub, it is double the cost and has 3 dB lower full space axial sensitivity compared with the EAW. Although it is 15 pounds lighter, JBL recommends a HPF at 45 Hz, so I would be hesitant to put a DSP bump around 40 Hz with HPF at 35 or so, to extend its FR down to 40. It just does not seem to be designed for that.
Stu, the K-Sub I listened to in the store sounded very peaky, with some distortion and very low SPL at lower frequencies. Sound was reasonably good in the 60-90 Hz range. Although the form factor is great, QSC does not publish frequency response curves and the -6dB point is listed as 48 Hz, so it rolls off much higher than I need.
I got a PM from a LAB member telling me that Community just came out with a really tiny dual 8" front loaded reflex passive subwoofer, the VLF208LV, with rated axial sensitivity of 93 dB half space 1w/1m, and 119 dB SPL continuous output, FR pretty flat and only 5 dB down at 40 Hz. Specs here:
http://www.communitypro.com/files/literature/spec%20sheets/VLF208LV_SPEC.pdf
At 48 lb, 10x22x22, it is less than half the size of the EAW and two would be approximately equivalent to one EAW in SPL and FR, with better scalability, packability and carryability. Cost of 2 would be around 30% more than one EAW. I am thinking about getting one for my rehearsal studio, testing it out and considering using 1 or 2 for small venue gigs. If it is just too small for gigs, the EAW SB150zR or PRX618S-XLF are my current short list. The portable version (-BP suffix) is not yet in stock at Community or their dealers, they are saying 3-4 weeks more.

[Ben Lawrence]

Keep your eyes out on ebay and the marketplace here. The SB150s come up occasionally. I have a couple of them and am pretty happy with the performance. Perfect little sub for weddings and small venues.

[ProSoundWeb Community]