MartinLogan was certainly putting a little boom into last week's CEDIA Expo. That was probably because the company was out at the tradeshow, debuting the new Dynamo 1500X Subwoofer.
Now, the Dynamo 1500X isn't a big deal because it produces some big sound, via a 650-watt (1300-watt peak) amplifier. (It does that, though). It's because this is MartinLogan's first subwoofer to feature the option for room correction.
Yes, placement is always an issue with a subwoofer. However, sometimes you have to make a few sacrifices -- to your decor, your space or your sound. The Dynamo 1500X hopes to correct those issues (literally!). This sub works with the optional MartinLogan Perfect Bass Kit, which uses a computer and a microphone to listen throughout your environment and tailor the sub's performance to the unique acoustic properties of the room.
That kit is sold separately. However, it may be worth the cost, for powerful bass down to 20Hz. We shall see; MartinLogan has yet to announce what that price will be.
The sub includes a high-resolution, low-distortion woofer that pairs a high-power magnet structure with a 15-inch diaphragm. The company also says that the cone's material includes damping properties for the smooth, non-resonant response needed for seamless blending with MartinLogan electrostatic panel and Folded Motion driver technologies.
The Dynamo 1500X also has front-firing or down-firing options, which you can set without any special tools. It also comes with a grille cover, 90-degree RCA adapters, and custom energy transfer coupler (ETC) spikes for better stability. Other features include left/right line-level inputs, an LFE input via either XLR or RCA connections, and a 12-volt trigger connection.
MartinLogan says that the sub is also compatible with the new SWT-2 transmitter/receiver system (sold separately), which can also be found in MartinLogan's Dynamo 700W and 1000W subwoofers and the Motion Vision soundbar. Using RF transmissions, the WT-2 can send CD-quality audio right to the subwoofer, all without wires.
MartinLogan plans to ship the Dynamo 1500X starting in November 2012. Pricing will be announced closer to the release date, but the sub will be available in your choice of matte black and high-gloss piano black.
Where to Buy:
