MicroPro 1000 vs Velodyne SPL-1000

timlitton

There are some killer deals going on from some of the polk authorized online retailers on the MicroPro 1000. I can get a Velodyne SPL-1000 for a pretty good price as well.

Opinions? Experiences?

I don't see a ton about either one on here. I've tried to ask some opinions on posts here where I notice someone owns one, but I have'nt gotten many responses. Is it my breath?:o

wutadumsn23

If there isn't much difference in price, I would recommend the Velo. Haven't had much experience with the Velo's but if there is one category where Polk is slightly behind it is in the sub department. I have a PWS125, which is far from Polk's "top of the line" but it does well in my setup. I am happy with it, but again if there isn't much difference in price I would go with the Velo.

Monster Jam

timlitton wrote: »

I don't see a ton about either one on here. I've tried to ask some opinions on posts here where I notice someone owns one, but I have'nt gotten many responses. Is it my breath?:o

Really? Velodyne appears to be one of the hotter topics lately on these boards. Might be the breath. LOL

Seriously - I cant speak to MicroPro 1000, but I own the SPL 1200 and a few others also have one (or two I believe). In any case ( as I dangerously speak for us all ) I think its safe to say that we are satisfied.

So, what do you get with a SPL 1000/1200? You get tight, accurate bass across a wide range of low frequencies in a small footprint. Its a bit more expensive than other retail brands, and isn't known for being extremely loud (for that, many recommend SVS).

Chameleon2

There's only one person I know of (in Club Polk) that has a MicroPro, but it's a 4000.

I think they are so new, it's going to be hard to get any comparo's.

I'm itching to get new sub(s) and just can't nail down which one to get.

timlitton

Monster Jam wrote: »

Really? Velodyne appears to be one of the hotter topics lately on these boards. Might be the breath. LOL

Yeah, it's not hard to find a thread on "Velodyne." There were only 15 or so for the SPL-1000.

It's equally as hard to find many for the MicroPro 1000.

I agree traditionally Polk has been lacking as far as the subs go, but I've heard only good things about the MicroPro line. I was just curious to hear what other owners (if there are any) on CP have to say.

leroyjr1

I'm a Micropro 4000 owner and it's by far the best sub I've heard from Polk. If I could compare it to any other sub it would be the Velo's. Very tight and accurate bass. I went with the micropro over Epik and SVS because of the small footprint.

comfortablycurt

timlitton wrote: »

I don't see a ton about either one on here. I've tried to ask some opinions on posts here where I notice someone owns one, but I have'nt gotten many responses. Is it my breath?:o

I think that's the problem...seriously man...toothbrush! Use it!...:p j/k

I've never heard either one myself, but the MicroPro 3000 and 4000 are both excellent sounding subs.

cnh

leroyjr1 wrote: »

I'm a Micropro 4000 owner and it's by far the best sub I've heard from Polk. If I could compare it to any other sub it would be the Velo's. Very tight and accurate bass. I went with the micropro over Epik and SVS because of the small footprint.

Nice set up!

I heard that Polk put a lot of R&D into these subs and went directly after manufacturers like Velodyne, so I'm not surprised to hear that they sound so good.

Would like to hear one though. Does anyone know who carries these in store! Tweeter had a few but they're no longer around.

cnh

Chameleon2

Going back to the OP's comments on the deals currently available;

Velo SPL-1000 (10") - $700

Polk MicroPro 1000 (8") - $380

In terms of HT; is this Velo twice as "good"? How would two Polk's compare to the one Velo?

hoosier21

I have the Micropro 3000 and love it, I can not say how it compares to Velo, but it makes me wonder how it could be better. Mine will shake the house with a movie, and play tight dep bass with music, no boom, with the current limiter, I have yet to hear it bottom out or run out of juice (duh! it has a a circuit to prevent those things) The room opimizer really works well, what's not to like.

Polk did work really hard to bring up the subwoofer line, and I think they really hit the mark.

leroyjr1

I was looking at the Micropro 1000 for music only but also was wondering if the driver was too small for HT. They're not considered loud subs but they'll hit hard.

pearsall001

Running "dual" SPL-1200R's myself. I must say they have transformed my listening experience for both HT & 2 channel listening. I don't have any experience with Polk subs so I can't comment.

I have a review w/ pics in the two channel forum, take a quick peek.

timlitton

xcapri79 wrote: »

I think that the Micropro 1000 fits that niche of the small footprint, nice looking, decent sounding, but not great sub. My guess is that it beats anything from Bose.

For small room or bedroom or apartment systems it my be a good choice/compromise. Particularly when the alternative is your HTiB or Bose system. Polk in their advertisement says that, "The DSW1000 is finished in satin black and may be painted to match room d

cembros

iv heard nothing but good things about velvo

Chameleon2

Okay, it beats Bose, now there's an endorsement :rolleyes: (j/k)....

I have 2800cf room. Back right side has a 8'x7' opening.

Would either dual MicroPro 1000's or a single SPL-1000R have what it takes for HT? I ask this combo because it totals about the same price.

Or a single SVS PB12-NSD ($600).

hoosier21

xcapri79 wrote: »

I think that the Micropro 1000 fits that niche of the small footprint, nice looking, decent sounding, but not great sub. My guess is that it beats anything from Bose.

For small room or bedroom or apartment systems it my be a good choice/compromise. Particularly when the alternative is your HTiB or Bose system. Polk in their advertisement says that, "The DSW1000 is finished in satin black and may be painted to match room d

Chameleon2

no replacement for displacement.

hmmmm, where have I heard that before?

hoosier21

a lot of "facts" being thrown around here, and nobody has even heard a micro 1000

Chameleon2

hoosier21 wrote: »

a lot of "facts" being thrown around here, and nobody has even heard a micro 1000

Unfortunately, that's the case, so all we have to go on are the specs listed in the websites.

No store near me carries any of these subs.

Knucklehead

just to throw a wrench in the works....i demo'd a 15inch cerwin vega sub at a "high end" h/t retailer yesterday...that thing just about ripped my face off...my wife said no!

timlitton

hoosier21 wrote: »

a lot of "facts" being thrown around here, and nobody has even heard a micro 1000

Amen.

xcapri79 wrote: »

Yeah I miss my Mustang and it's 302 cu. in. That is 5.0L to the newbies.:D

There actually is a replacement for displacement: Inspired engineering.

The 1987 (the highest horsepower 5.0 of the "fox" body generation) was a 5.0-liter V8 that made a 225 horsepower. The "5.0 Mustang" had reached it's peak and would remain mechanically unchanged through 1993.

The 2009 Suburu WRX Sti produces 305-hp from a 2.5-liter turbocharged boxer 4 cylinder engine. Or about 35% more horsepower from half the engine displacement.

I'm not bashing the Mustang because frankly, I'm not a huge fan of the new WRX body style.

But to discount something based on generalities isn't always the best idea. Is it generally true? Probably. Is it always true? Definitely not.

If you have read something you'd like to share or have first hand experience with either of these subs, then I encourage you to share. But I don't want generalities like "I think that the Micropro 1000" and "My guess is" or "it my be" and "I would say"... when you haven't heard it.

Knucklehead

good analogy.

timlitton

My point kinda slipped right by you there, didn't it....

SlowcarIX

hoosier21 wrote: »

a lot of "facts" being thrown around here, and nobody has even heard a micro 1000

go to any of polk dealer, get one...try it in your home/setup

like it, keep it if not return it within 30 days

SlowcarIX

timlitton wrote: »

Amen.



There actually is a replacement for displacement: Inspired engineering.

The 1987 (the highest horsepower 5.0 of the "fox" body generation) was a 5.0-liter V8 that made a 225 horsepower. The "5.0 Mustang" had reached it's peak and would remain mechanically unchanged through 1993.

The 2009 Suburu WRX Sti produces 305-hp from a 2.5-liter turbocharged boxer 4 cylinder engine. Or about 35% more horsepower from half the engine displacement.
I'm not bashing the Mustang because frankly, I'm not a huge fan of the new WRX body style.

But to discount something based on generalities isn't always the best idea. Is it generally true? Probably. Is it always true? Definitely not.

If you have read something you'd like to share or have first hand experience with either of these subs, then I encourage you to share. But I don't want generalities like "I think that the Micropro 1000" and "My guess is" or "it my be" and "I would say"... when you haven't heard it.

couldnt have agree with you more -

replacement for displacement is PSI aka boost



i got 2 mitsubishi evos

SlowcarIX

xcapri79 wrote: »

Generally its torque not horsepower that counts and it's nice to have an engine that lasts for a couple of hundred thousand miles too. Too many rice rockets and Bimmers ate my Mustangs dust. But those were the bad old days.

Anyways, with respect to the Micropro1000, or Sunfire or Velo SPL, less than one cu. ft. volume and an 8" driver can only get you so far my friend. Good engineering can optimize performance and push the envelope, but there are limitations and compromises with a small subwoofer design. It's in the physics of sound.

i love to talk cars but this is an audio forum...there is no reason for a forced induction car not to last as long as a NA. widebands and detonation suppressants like water/methanol injection have pushed the limits to craziness.

and yes...for subs the bigger/more, the better. unless you can get one of these :eek:

timlitton

Holy cow. I'm not much of a car audio guy. What're those?

pablo_rodz

timlitton wrote: »

Holy cow. I'm not much of a car audio guy. What're those?

x2

SlowcarIX

timlitton wrote: »

Holy cow. I'm not much of a car audio guy. What're those?

a 80lbs woofer...:eek:

http://www.audiopulse.com/products/subwoofer-drivers/lms-ultra

mak99

Staying on topic, I have a micrpPRO 1000 on the way, and will be A-B'ing with my current year-old PSW505. I ultimately want to run two subs, just don't have enough room along the wall in my current setup for two 505s. I had recently bought a second 505, but did not like looking at the "wall of speakers":

RTi70 + PSW505 + video rack w/ CSi40 + PSW505 + RTi70

So I immediately sold the newer 505 on CL within a few days of opening it up...

Two microPROs should look much better anyway, but will make sure I'm happy with the new one first compared to the 505.

Also, I do not have any experience with Velodyne or Sunfire subs, though I do know of their great reputations. I chose the microPRO as I bought it for just over $400 shipped from authorized dealer...

mak99

xcapri79 wrote: »

So how do you like your Micropro 1000?
Did you get a chance to compare it to the PSW505?
Did you regret selling one of them? You can stack them to save space.

Well, I finally took some time this morning (well, yesterday morning now!) to compare the microPro 1000 (mP1k) and PSW505. Most of the listening was done with Eagle's Hotel California DVD-Audio via my Yamaha DVD-S2300MkII and Onkyo TX-SR805.

Both subs were connected into the LFE via the Onkyo's sub out, split @ the Onkyo's single sub connection with a cheapo RatShack cable. Both subs plugged into Panamax M5410 Pro with y-cable into high-current outlet (Onkyo uses other one). BJC subwoofer cables for both (505 cable ~one foot longer or so). Tests involved listening to only one sub on at a time via the back power switches. Subs calibrated to about the same dB (75-ish) via the Onkyo test tones. FYI, the mP1k volume ended up at 20 or 21 (out of 40), can't remember now.

Track 1 (Hotel California) and track 6 (Victim of Love) used for the great bass and kick drum. I had loved the way the 505 handled these tracks, so was curious how the mP1k would perform. At first I thought the mP1k did not seem to have the same "punch" as the 505, though there was slightly less "boom". With the mP1k, I could hear a bit more of the other instruments, such as keyboards and guitars, more clearly. I did turn the mP1k volume up two notches, which brought the "punch" up to closely match the 505, but with less "boom". The mP1k seemed to be able to dip down a wee bit lower too in frequency.

I then watched Casino Royale Blu-ray on two great scenes - the opening chase thru the construction site/embassy, and the finale with the home in Venice rumbling into the water. The mP1k (kept at same volume adjustment as above) seemed to just outdo the 505 enough to tell a difference, though it was a close finish. The mP1k was more the winner during the sinking home scene - definitely less "boom", more detail of other sounds.

I'll do more listening tests in the next few days - I rented Master and Commander and Cloverfield Blu-rays as I've read these two movies have some impressive (demanding?) bass passages. And as I have not seen either of these, makes it all the more worth while...

But I must be sold on the microPro - I already ordered a second one tonight for our main system! I didn't consider stacking two 505s at all, I think that would look worse than all speakers/video rack packed against the wall. I have enough room between each RTi70 and video rack that the microPro will not stand out too much at all. And I don't regret selling my second 505 that I had for a few weeks - I just didn't have the room for it... Note that the attached picture is a few months old, before the mP1k was added. It currently sits to the left of the rack. The second mP1k will go where the 505 currently resides.

I hope my mini-review helps! Now just gotta sell a mint condition, one-year new 505 to a fellow Polkie!