Elemental Designs A3-300 sub

brijenjas
brijenjas Posts: 311
edited June 2007 in Speakers
After months of gentle persuasion and gently throwing facts at my wife about cone area, she has graciously capitulated to my replacing our old sub with a full size model, instead of a compact model.

Of course she only agreed to this after I told her the new sub would fit between the recliner and the counter, out of sight. ;)

I considered the SVS PB10-NSD, the PB12-NSD, and the HSU VTF-2 MK3.

I really wanted a 12" model and to keep it under $500.00 shipped. So I ended up ordering the Elemental Designs A3-300.

http://www.edesignaudio.com/edv2/product_info.php?t=3&products_id=102

Anyone have any experience with this sub?

I've already read the long thread over at AVS.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=750685&page=3
Post edited by brijenjas on
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Comments

  • Ron Temple
    Ron Temple Posts: 3,212
    edited June 2007
    ED, AFAIK, has single creditable review by craigsub and a bunch of folks who say "sounds great" , "hits hard", "goes deep", etc. I don't think anybody returned one because it sounds bad. From everything I've read (and I have talked to them several times), this is an up and coming company that offers real value and can/will compete with SVS and Hsu in the ID market. Craig rated the A2-300 as equal to a PB10 in his point system...nod on output to the ED, nod on articulation and SQ to SVS, similar FR. So I think you've got a pretty darn good sub coming.

    Post your impressions when you get it...

    Combo rig:

    Onkyo NR1007 pre-pro, Carver TFM 45(fronts), Carver TFM 35 (surrounds)
    SDA 1C, CS400i, SDA 2B
    PB13Ultra RO
    BW Silvers
    Oppo BDP-83SE
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  • jwhitakr
    jwhitakr Posts: 568
    edited June 2007
    Ahhh, this is very interesting. I'm also in the market for a new sub and have not heard / read anything about Elemental Designs, at least until now. I can't wait to find a reliable review on one of these... do post your impressions brijenjas!
    My HT
    HDTV: Panasonic PT-61LCX65 61" Rear Proj. LCD
    AVR: Harman Kardon AVR 235
    Video: 80GB PS3, Toshiba HD-XA1 HD DVD
    Fronts: Polk Audio RTi8
    Center: Polk Audio CSi3
    Amp: Emotiva LPA-1
    Surrounds: Polk Audio R150
    Sub: HSU STF-3

    The only true barrier to knowledge is the assumption that you already have it. - C.H. Dodd
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  • brijenjas
    brijenjas Posts: 311
    edited June 2007
    One of our members here, "Face" has an A5-300 listed in his sig, maybe he'll chime in.
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  • MacLeod
    MacLeod Posts: 14,358
    edited June 2007
    Not a big fan of ED. They make car audio subs too and have a pretty shoddy reputation for customer service as well as quality.
    polkaudio sound quality competitor since 2005
    MECA SQ Rookie of the Year 06 ~ MECA State Champ 06,07,08,11 ~ MECA World Finals 2nd place 06,07,08,09
    08 Car Audio Nationals 1st ~ 07 N Georgia Nationals 1st ~ 06 Carl Casper Nationals 1st ~ USACi 05 Southeast AutumnFest 1st

    polkaudio SR6500 --- polkaudio MM1040 x2 -- Pioneer P99 -- Rockford Fosgate P1000X5D
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  • brijenjas
    brijenjas Posts: 311
    edited June 2007
    I don't know how good or bad their customer service is, I hope I never have to find out.

    They do have what they call "live support" which is basically online chat with a tech or salesperson, answered all my questions within minutes of asking.
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited June 2007
    Sorry, been working 16 hour days so I don't have much time lately.

    As far as their customer service, I found it impressive. I posted a thread on here not too long ago.

    As for the sub itself, great bang for the buck. If you can deal with it's finish, it's a no brainer over other "name brand" subs even a few hundred dollars more in price.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • brijenjas
    brijenjas Posts: 311
    edited June 2007
    My A3-300 shipped Wednesday, got here Thursday, it was packed very well.

    Elemental didn't send me an email that it shipped. I did know it was coming because I checked the status at the site everyday. This was not a problem for me, but could be for other people who need to make arrangements for delivery, or if it rains and the receiver doesn't know it's coming.

    My wife absolutely hates the finish, good thing it's going in the corner.

    The finish is definitely durable, I think you could hit it with a hammer and not mar it. :eek:

    I've only had time so far to hook it up and set the levels approximately.

    Sub out on my pre is at 0, level setting on the sub is halfway, seems like it has a lot of headroom.

    Initial impression, it sounds much tighter than my Dayton Sub-120.
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  • Ron Temple
    Ron Temple Posts: 3,212
    edited June 2007
    It should destroy the Dayton...

    If you don't have a meter, I'd pick one up. Sounds like you've already got it set hot. If your room is huge, you'll probably be much closer to the rest of your speakers starting with the AVR trim @ -5 and the sub gain @ 1/3. Try it out...if the bass sounds cleaner then you're on the right track...but calibrate with a meter.

    Combo rig:

    Onkyo NR1007 pre-pro, Carver TFM 45(fronts), Carver TFM 35 (surrounds)
    SDA 1C, CS400i, SDA 2B
    PB13Ultra RO
    BW Silvers
    Oppo BDP-83SE
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  • brijenjas
    brijenjas Posts: 311
    edited June 2007
    Thanks for the advice Ron.
    I have a RS meter, tried to use DVE but the readings when using the lfe test tones fluctuate too much, over an 8 db range.

    I'm going to try and find some more stable test tones.

    It's possible I need to move it closer or nearer the corner, I've got a copy of REW, just need to read the tutorial over at Hometheatershack.

    Probably won't have time to tweak until Monday.
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  • Ron Temple
    Ron Temple Posts: 3,212
    edited June 2007
    Sounds like you're on your way...ignore my comments and set it up correctly, then let us know how it sounds.

    Combo rig:

    Onkyo NR1007 pre-pro, Carver TFM 45(fronts), Carver TFM 35 (surrounds)
    SDA 1C, CS400i, SDA 2B
    PB13Ultra RO
    BW Silvers
    Oppo BDP-83SE
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