New Epik Empire Subwoofer

tbui2007

can't wait to see some actual reviews of the dual empire sub. im thinking upgrading mine to svs or the dual empires

TNRabbit

New review of the Epik Empire; consider the source~

http://pc.wowgoldur.com/2010/02/09/review-epik-empire-vs-mfw-15/

danz1906

Has anyone heard the Epik Empire????

Toxis

Someone here has duals and will be ordering two more. I'm still considering an empire or dual legends when they're released.

Ron Temple

bosko2 has got a quad of them...sold his Conquest. I've got a friend considering 1 to replace a DIY Tempest 15 sono. I'm hoping he does. Here's a guy who has 4 Ultra 13s and 4 Empires in a 6500 cube room...

buggs1a,

Here is my eperience...

1)SVS' customer service is fantastic.
1)Epiks' customer service is fantastic when you can get ahold of them. I have yet to experience a time when I could not get ahold of someone when I called or not had my emails responded to within a couple of days.

2)The SVS PB13U is a great subwoofer. I have four of them. They are currently $1798/each (including shipping). I purchased mine for a lot cheaper (a lot cheaper). The first two I purchased when they were $100 cheaper and you got free shipping. The second two I got from a buddy of mine for $2500.
2)The Epik Empire is also a great subwoofer. I have four of them as well. They cost me $3198 (including shipping). That's $799.50 each.

3)The SVS PB13U extends to 18-19Hz in my room in the default 20Hz tune. They extend to 15Hz in the 15Hz tune in my room, but you loose a couple of dB (loss of headroom).
3)The Epik Empire extends to 18Hz in my room. However, dual Empires have more output at 15Hz (actually across the board) then a single PB13U. So when pushed (or EQ'd down low), they deliver. A single Empire has more output from 30Hz and above than a single PB13U.

4)The SVS PB13U sounds fantastic to me (in all respects).
4)The Epik Empire sounds famtastic to me (in all respects).

Caveat, they do sound different. Neither sound better than the other IMO. They integrated perfectly in my room.

I hope this helps.

Toxis

Ummmm why the F do you need dual quad sub setups?

Ron Temple

Toxis wrote: »

Ummmm why the F do you need dual quad sub setups?

I've never asked that question, but I take it that his room just sucks out the bass. That said, I can't imagine why he needs 8 subs of that quality either. I think exploring infinite baffle would be the efficient and economical solution.

Toxis

I wish I knew how much longer I was going to be in my home to know if IB would be worth investing in or not. I'd hate to have to fix a wall if I cut it out for a nice 4 18" setup... so dual cabinet subs it is.

Ron Temple

My good friend did pop for the Empire. I haven't heard it yet, but here's his initial comments...

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ron Temple
Sounds good, huh? As advertised?

Yep. I actually got off a little early yesterday and was able to do a few hours of listening. Threw everything I could think of at it. It underwhelmed initially because I kept it turned down until I could see what it could do and of course, it is sealed so it has a different sound than the Tempest. War of the Worlds was the first thing I threw in and it seemed like it wasn't hitting the lowest stuff well, so I had to crank it up higher than expected. I found that I need to run it a bit hot to get that tactile feel, but higher up (30s?) like you said, it really hits clean and hard. It is the first time the dog stopped and looked around like "WTH?!" LOL. It easily pressurizes the room and most of the rest of the house too. The Tempest could easily be heard in the other room...this one can be felt in my bedroom.

Quick comments:

Master & Commander BD - never sounded better! Anyone who says this soundtrack has been handicapped is crazy. The cannons hit hard. The second disc I listened to

Toy Story 2 BD - Opening scene w/Buzz - lots of activation without sounding boomy. Tempest rumbled well with this one, but I could also heard it struggle a little bit with it cranked up - no struggling with the Empire.

Max Payne BD - after credits. This one starts high and drops pretty low. Lots of stuff in the room vibrating violently. Tempest has more rumble, but this one definitely hits harder.

Avatar BD - THX promo after credits - A little disappointing compared to the Tempest on the heavy hits, but sounds cleaner.

Up BD - Storm. WOW

Kung Fu Panda BD - WuXi finger hold - A little underwhelming compared to Tempest. Will have to revisit this one now that it is in its new location.

Music is where this thing seems to shine for me however

Nine Inch Nails: Beside You In Time BD Burn - Has a lot of kick but also some big, deep bass hits and is a track I always use to see how bass sounds/feels. Sounds like you are THERE

White Stripes: Under Great White Northern Lights BD - Catch Hell - This track has a ton of bass on the BD and it sounds amazing. One of my new demo tracks.

BT - Rare and Remixed CD - Dreaming - (electronica) super low stuff for music and it does well. Again, lacking some of the tactile on the lowest notes, but still sounds good.

Meat Beat Manifesto CD - (drum n bass) Every track has ridiculous bass and I don't think I've ever heard it sound quite as good as this. Fast and super clean.

Porcupine Tree: The Incident DVD-A - Sounds like a live performance. Hits hard without overpowering.

Pink Floyd: DSotM SACD - This one showed me what the sub was really capable of; delicate with normal stuff but potent when called for.

This is why I like sealed subs, and this is kind of what I was expecting. Being sealed, I was concerned about the lowest notes, however I am very pleased. I can hear that I am a little spoiled with the rumble down low of the Tempest, but I am sure I will be more than happy with this one.
__________________
HT: Marantz SR-8300, Emotiva XPA-3, 5X GR Research A/V-2s, Epik Empire, Oppo BDP-83SE, URC R-50, Panamax 5100, PS3 Slim120G(500G), PS3 60G (250G, dead)

System Two: MarantzPM-7200 Integrated, GR Research A/V-1s, Panasonic BD-65, Denon 2900, RC3200 remote

Cables: Bluejeans
My HT

mole'

can anyone on here compare an Empire to a castle?

Ron Temple

mole' wrote: »

can anyone on here compare an Empire to a castle?

Not really. The designs are different. I believe the max output is probably better overall with the Castle due to efficiency. I'd bet my mortgage, the Empire hits harder in the midbass and is the more defined sub. I heard a Phoenix awhile back. Nice design, slot ported, 18" driver, a very good sub, but not a great one. It was effortless and tuneful, but seemed a tad slow and lacked midbass impact. It certainly would pressurize a room though. I'm thinking the Castle would be similar to the Phoenix except it much bigger and probably louder.

mole'

Ron Temple wrote: »

Not really. The designs are different. I believe the max output is probably better overall with the Castle due to efficiency. I'd bet my mortgage, the Empire hits harder in the midbass and is the more defined sub. I heard a Phoenix awhile back. Nice design, slot ported, 18" driver, a very good sub, but not a great one. It was effortless and tuneful, but seemed a tad slow and lacked midbass impact. It certainly would pressurize a room though. I'm thinking the Castle would be similar to the Phoenix except it much bigger and probably louder.

ok, thanks for the input. im picking up a Castle from iskandam

Polkie2009

Check out the Epik subwoofer thread on AVS for comparisons on the Castle. I think you'll find the Castle to satisfy most bassaholics needs as long as the room isn't HUGE. Besides, if you need more bass you can always have twin Castles!!!

iskandam

Just for reference, my living room is 3000+ cubic feet with two large openings that lead to another room twice that size with 20ft high cathedral ceiling. With corner loading I was able to get ridiculous output and never felt the need to go multiples.

But then some of you guys are real bassheads and would probably argue for two or more Castles in a smaller room

Out of curiosity of how far I could push the Castle, one day when I had the house to myself, I played War of the Worlds really loud. The ratshack meter was showing peaks of 110 dB when the pod emerged. Still no sign of stress or distortion. I decided to stop right then and there out of fear of damaging my hearing. One lightbulb in the bathroom on the second floor fell victim to this experiment.

Polkie2009

No wonder they called it the Castle, that is one hell of a sub.

mole'

iskandam wrote: »

Just for reference, my living room is 3000+ cubic feet with two large openings that lead to another room twice that size with 20ft high cathedral ceiling. With corner loading I was able to get ridiculous output and never felt the need to go multiples.

But then some of you guys are real bassheads and would probably argue for two or more Castles in a smaller room

Out of curiosity of how far I could push the Castle, one day when I had the house to myself, I played War of the Worlds really loud. The ratshack meter was showing peaks of 110 dB when the pod emerged. Still no sign of stress or distortion. I decided to stop right then and there out of fear of damaging my hearing. One lightbulb in the bathroom on the second floor fell victim to this experiment.

i think it shall fit nicely in my 20x18 room then. cant wait.

i have been using the Avatar BD to judge with.

Toxis

WOTW > all other sub tests.

mole'

Toxis wrote: »

WOTW > all other sub tests.

just oreded it on BD

that and top gun

Storminone

Toxis wrote: »

WOTW > all other sub tests.

I second that. :cool: