PERFORMANCE COMPARISON TABLE

IMPORTANT NOTE:  The performance table below is provided to give potential buyers a rough idea of how the various Cabinet/Driver/Amplifier combinations will work.  Please don't use this table for comparisons to other performance tables, measured or modeled results, or other manufacturer's claims.  Testing conditions, methods, and gear can impact results greatly, in some cases by 10dB or more! For additional details, please see the notes below the table.

Cabinet	Driver	Extension (Hz)	Low Bass Output, dB*	Mid-Bass Output, dB*	Bass Quality	Mid-bass Rating
MartyCube	460HO	18	117	120	Good	Average
MartyCube	UM18	18	118	119	Good	Average
MartyCube	PA460	18	109	122	Excellent	Excellent
MartyCube	SAF184.03	18	117	125 (128)	Excellent	Excellent
MartyCube	NSW4018-8	18	118	125 (128)	Excellent	Excellent
Mini-Marty	460HO	16	118	120	Good	Average
Mini-Marty	UM18	16	120	119	Good	Average
Mini-Marty	PA460	16	112	120	Excellent	Excellent
Mini-Marty	SAF184.03	16	117	125 (128)	Excellent	Excellent
Mini-Marty	NSW4018-8	16	118	125 (128)	Excellent	Excellent
Full Marty	460HO	14	116	120	Good	Average
Full Marty	UM18	14	119	119	Good	Average
Full Marty	PA460	14	110	118	Excellent	Excellent
Full Marty	SAF184.03	14	116	125 (128)	Excellent	Excellent
Full Marty	NSW4018-8	14	117	125 (128)	Excellent	Excellent
21-Cube	SAN214.50	17	119	127 (132)	Excellent	Excellent
21-Cube	NSW6021-6	17	120	127 (129)	Excellent	Excellent
21-BTS Series	SAN214.50	17	120	127 (132)	Excellent	Excellent
21-BTS Series	NSW6021-6	17	121	127 (129)	Excellent	Excellent
21-Full Marty	SAN214.50	15	121	127 (132)	Excellent	Excellent
21-Full Marty	NSW6021-6	15	121	126 (127)	Excellent	Excellent
MBM-18	PA460	25	114	122 (122)	Excellent	Excellent
MBM-18	SAF184.03	25	123	126 (129)	Excellent	Excellent
MBM-18	NSW4018-8	25	124	126 (129)	Excellent	Excellent
21-MBM	SAN214.50	26	124 (127)	128 (130)	Excellent	Excellent
21-MBM	21DS115-4	26	127 (127)	130 (133)	Excellent	Excellent
15-Cube	UM15	16	113	116	Good	Average
15-Cube	WAF154.00	17	116	124	Excellent	Excellent
Devastator	SAN214.50	17	121 (124)	132 (136)	Excellent	Supreme
Devastator	NSW6021-6	17	122 (126)	133 (137)	Excellent	Supreme
G-Sub (Devastator 15)	WAF154.00	21	117 (122)	127 (130)	Excellent	Supreme

NOTES

Low Bass Output (low 20’s Hz range) and Mid-Bass Output (70-100Hz range)*

These are rough limits based on usable driver excursion and/or amplifier voltage limits of the Behringer NX lineup or in the case of powered subs, the included plate amplifier. With higher voltage amplifiers, greater output may be possible in some cases. With a more powerful amplifier, the maximum output is the number in parentheses.

* “Low Bass” ratings for MBM’s is output in the 30Hz region.

Bass Quality and Mid-bass Rating

These are subjective ratings independent of the output level.

Where is the frequency response of each sub?

GSG does not provide a “frequency response” for each subwoofer because a simple frequency response provides virtually no information about the capabilities of the subwoofer. By applying EQ, the frequency response can be easily manipulated into just about any shape desired.

What really matters is where the driver runs out of excursion capability (which tends to be the limiting factor on the low end) and where the driver runs out of power handling (which tends to be the limiting factor on the upper end). Sometimes, the amplifier will be the limiting factor. In our revised table, we have attempted to show the limits for each driver/sub combination as well as provide some insight into where the amplifier may be the limiting factor.

In some cases, what matters even more than the actual output is the efficiency of the subwoofer; this is particularly true for the Devastator, which has tremendous mid-bass efficiency in addition to its extreme potential output and contributes to its “kick in the chest” capability.

Most folks EQ their systems for a relatively flat response, or a somewhat rising low bass. This means that in almost all cases the sub will hit its limits on the very low end first, such as may be experienced with some low end effects in movies. For music and most other movie bass, a higher output upper end means more potential output and a more “dynamic” sounding system.

So, as can now be seen, subwoofer performance isn’t as simple as a frequency response. We wish it were!

Reading the Table

Output levels in the table above are estimates in "2pi space", which is roughly the output that the subwoofer will provide outdoors at a distance of one meter. SPL in a room will be higher (see Room Gain).

Differences of 1-2dB are not really significant, neither are differences of 1-2Hz in extension.

Room Gain

In room, SPL will be higher depending on room size. Some rooms have a lot of room gain, others do not.

For a small room, room gain is typically around +3-5 dB at 30HZ, and +6-8dB at 20Hz.

For a medium size room, room gain is typically around +2-3 dB at 30HZ, and +5-6dB at 20Hz.

For a large size room, room gain is typically around +1-2 dB at 30HZ, and +2-3dB at 20Hz.

Multiple Subwoofers

Two co-located subwoofers provide roughly +6dB, two non-co-located subwoofers provide roughly +3dB.

Four co-located subwoofers provide roughly +12dB, four non-co-located subwoofers provide roughly +6dB.

Eight co-located subwoofers provide roughly +18dB, eight non-co-located subwoofers provide roughly +9dB.

Multiple subwoofers have the added advantage of smoothing out peak and dips in the frequency response caused by room modes.

It is almost always better to use two medium subs vs. one mega-sub if space and placement allows.

Movies

Reference Level movie output is approximately 125dB at 31.5Hz according to Dolby Atmos specifications.

GSG recommended Reference Level movie output is 125dB at 18Hz (after room gain is included).

Overbuilding a system by approximately 6dB will make it sound stronger and cleaner.

Games

Any system that achieves reference level for movies will be sufficient for video games.

Music Levels

"Highly Compressed Pop Music" has peaks of approximately 110dB SPL even at a Very High Level.

"Orchestral Music Concert" has peaks of approximately 116dB SPL.

"Very Loud Music" has peaks of approximately 120dB SPL.

"Extremely Loud Music" has peaks of approximately 126dB SPL.

"Rock Concerts" have peaks of approximately 130dB SPL (front row Metallica show for example).

Music Extension

In room, subwoofers will provide a couple of Hz extension below the tuning frequency of the cabinet.

Examples of required extension:

- 32-foot pipe organ (16Hz)

- Some digital effects in synthetic bass tracks (16Hz)

- Lower limit for just about all Dubstep, EDM, Trance (20Hz); very little content from 20-27Hz

- Lower limit for just about all music as well as the lowest note on an 88 key piano (27Hz)

- Lower limit on a 5 string bass guitar (30Hz)

- Lower limit for most other music (38Hz)