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Cameron Oatley
ExtremeHiFi
Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi

Note that this is a discontinued product. You may want to visit the brand's page here to browse their newer products.

What reviewers think

Bloggers and YouTubers have tried this product—so we've summarized their strongest opinions below. Links to full reviews follow.

Product Strengths

  • The Subissimo's cabinet has no corners, only curves, for more natural sound, lower distortion, and diffraction-free dispersion
  • The sandwich cabinet of the Subissimo is reportedly resonance-free and highly stable
  • The Subissimo can be left on, as it has auto-on/-off detection and will enter standby mode after 20 minutes without signal
  • The Minissimo Diamond/Subissimo offer a wholly pleasing balance of structure, substance, and detail retrieval, without skewing analytical, alongside a generous dose of openness
  • The combo finds and delivers unflagging musicality in whatever material is used

Product Considerations

  • Some reviewers wished Crystal Cable had included a continuously variable phase control on the unit to dial-in the sub/sat blend
  • High style is part of what Crystal Cable is selling here, which may not be everyone's priority

Takeaway: The Subissimo enhances the sound—delivering unflagging musicality alongside a generous dose of openness. It's a high-style subwoofer that is easy to love and rather habit-forming.

What are hifi reviews useful for? (1) Identifying products you should demo in person at a dealer. (2) Learning which products reviewers unanimously praise as the best they've heard (this means they probably are legitimately great). (3) Identifying a product's attributes that satisfy your idiosyncratic needs and tastes. Beyond that, we often discount what reviewers say because they heap praise on most products—and are often apprehensive about publishing strong criticism or comparisons between products. Further, they seldom have more than a few products on-hand, often relying on their memories to compare past products. Always listen for yourself.

All

Subissimo

reviews

[{"title":"Crystal Cable Arabesque Minissimo Diamond Edition with Subissimo Subwoofer","link":"https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/crystal-cable-arabesque-minissimo-diamond-edition-with-subissimo-subwoofer","source":"The Absolute Sound","datePublished":"2017"},{"title":"Crystal Cable Arabesque Minissimo Diamond Edition with ...","link":"https://audiophilepure.com/tag/crystal-cable-arabesque-minissimo-diamond-edition-with-subissimo-subwoofer","source":"audiophilepure.com","datePublished":""}]
An excellent review of a great product
/
Publisher
/
3/1/2022
An excellent review of a great product
Publisher
/
3/1/2022

Manufacturer details

  • Drivers: Two 13" long throw paper cone units in force-cancelling configuration
  • Amplifiers: Two 600 Watt power amplifiers, one for each driver
  • Lower frequency response in room: -6dB at 16Hz
  • Crossover frequencies: 35Hz, 40Hz,45Hz, 50Hz, 55Hz, 60Hz, 65Hz, 70Hz @ 12dB/Octave and 35Hz, 70Hz, 120Hz @ 24dB/Octave
  • Phase switch: 0 or 180 degrees
  • Max SPL: 120dB
  • Input connectors: Stereo low level RCA an XLR, stereo high level 4 mm banana
  • Weight: 72 Kg (159 lbs.)
  • Dimensions: W x H x D 405 x 815 x 580 mm (16"x 32" x22.8")
  • Supplied accessories: Mains lead, 6 adjustable feet
Subissimo is a unique ultra-performance, low-bass system that is typically innovative, in true Crystal Cable tradition. Unlike other heavily equalized subwoofer systems that try to bend the laws of physics, attempting to squeeze ever more bass out of smaller and smaller boxes (and ending up with a bottom-end that simply sounds forced, detached, processed and unnatural), the Subissimo accepts that naturally communicative bass needs volume to work and breathe.
Subissimo is a unique ultra-performance, low-bass system that is typically innovative, in true Crystal Cable tradition. Unlike other heavily equalized subwoofer systems that try to bend the laws of physics, attempting to squeeze ever more bass out of smaller and smaller boxes (and ending up with a bottom-end that simply sounds forced, detached, processed and unnatural), the Subissimo accepts that naturally communicative bass needs volume to work and breathe. Its innovative topology and high-tech sandwich construction cabinet focuses on visual elegance rather than attempting invisibility.

In a world where subwoofers are big and often not too appealing to the eye, the Subissimo is an unobtrusively elegant and adaptable solution to the challenge of reproducing full-range music at home. Used individually or in pairs, it integrates as perfectly with the Arabesque Minissimo as it does with your home décor.

Development

At the same time that we were developing new innovations for the Arabesque Minissimo, we were also working on the revolutionary sub-bass system that would become the Subissimo. We were determined to make these two ground-breaking products integrate simply and seamlessly. A subtle machined rebate in the speaker's base accepts a specially selected compliant mat, sealing the downward firing port and perfectly tailoring the Arabesque Minissimo's response for use on a she...
Manufacturer Site

Brand highlights

Taking a step back to look at reviewers' thoughts of the brand's entire lineup—not just this product—what stands out most is the following:

  • Crystal Cable's design philosophy centers around creating visually striking products that deliver high-end sound quality, exemplified by their signature "apostrophe" shape and use of eye-catching colors.
  • They utilize advanced material science, opting for unique combinations like metal-infused polymers and custom-formulated alloys to achieve exceptional rigidity and resonance control in their speaker cabinets.
  • Crystal Cable, leveraging expertise from sister company Siltech, employs a sophisticated "Natural Science" crossover design focused on phase linearity, minimizing distortion, and easing the load on amplifiers.
  • The brand integrates proprietary monocrystal silver wiring internally in their speakers and cables, emphasizing the importance of signal purity and lossless transmission throughout the entire audio chain.

Diamond Series 2

  • Positioning: The entry-level series, offering high performance at a more accessible price point.
  • Description: Praised for its exceptional value, combining advanced metallurgy with affordability. Features the new SG2 silver-gold conductor, which enhances signal transmission compared to the original Diamond Series.

Future Dream 22

  • Positioning: Serves as a bridge between the Diamond Series 2 and the flagship Art Series, offering a balance of performance and design.
  • Description: Combines the best of Crystal Cable's metallurgies, using both silver-gold alloy and Infinite Crystal silver. Maintains a thin, flexible design while delivering a warm and detailed soundstage.

Infinity Limited Edition

  • Positioning: A premium offering, focusing on delivering the purest power to audio systems.
  • Description: Features nine coaxial conductors made from pure silver. This construction minimizes resistance and interference, providing excellent clarity and dynamics.

Art Series

  • Positioning: The flagship range, designed for the ultimate in audio performance and aesthetic appeal.
  • Description: Uses Infinite Crystal Silver conductors and advanced insulation, offering the lowest distortion and highest sound quality. It is the thickest and most sophisticated in the lineup.
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Avg. Product Price
$10,001-$20,000
Used For Sale
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Brand Popularity
397
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Products Listed
44
Founding Year
2004

Our take on the brand

CrystalCable is a Dutch hifi brand that uses a unique silver-gold alloy in their conductors, designed to eliminate microcracks by injecting gold atoms into silver crystal boundaries for better sound quality. Their cables stand out for their unusually slender, elegant designs that challenge traditional bulky high-end audio cables, while their multiple independent ground wires provide superior electromagnetic interference protection.

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Brand Page

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CrystalCable

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What if you spend more?

Product image
JL Audio
Gotham™ v2
25000
25000
/
2
Reviews
JL Audio is a hifi brand known for its subwoofer technologies, including the Automatic Room Optimization system that minimizes room-induced bass peaks and the W-Cone unit-body cone-assembly for superior bass performance. The company manufactures many of its premium loudspeakers in the U.S. and includes advanced features like the CR-1 crossover for seamless integration between subwoofers and main speakers, while their VXi amplifiers use internal DSP for extensive sound customization.
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Product Strengths

  • Delivers dynamic, detailed, and nuanced sound with incredible clarity and power
  • Incorporates an Automatic Room Optimization (ARO) system to effectively remove room-induced bass response errors
  • Impressive low-end extension, reaching down to 19Hz

Product Considerations

  • Due to its huge weight (163 kg), placement requires careful consideration, and frequent relocation may not be feasible
  • As a very large product, it is not recommended for smaller or medium-sized rooms
  • To achieve ideal performance, it is necessary to pair it with speakers of the same power and category

Takeaway: The product provides exceptional clarity and powerful bass, making it a great choice for larger rooms where the best possible sound is desired. Its room optimization features also facilitate maximizing an audio setup.

Video review

Our take on the brand

JL Audio is a hifi brand known for its subwoofer technologies, including the Automatic Room Optimization system that minimizes room-induced bass peaks and the W-Cone unit-body cone-assembly for superior bass performance. The company manufactures many of its premium loudspeakers in the U.S. and includes advanced features like the CR-1 crossover for seamless integration between subwoofers and main speakers, while their VXi amplifiers use internal DSP for extensive sound customization.
Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi Writer
Product Page
Product Page
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Wilson Audio
Submerge
29500
29500
/
2
Reviews

SubmergeFound deep in the groves of your favorite LPs, and concealed in the soundtrack of the movies you can't wait to watch, is the critical low-frequency information that provides the the sense of space of the recorded music hall and the impact of the explosions the movie hero narrowly escapes. Submerge reveals the tension and sonic foundation below the surface of your audio experience. 

Advanced Enclosure TechnologyOur precision-engineered and handcrafted X-Material enclosures, paired with an S-Material front baffle, bring you a level of vibration control that's simply without equal in the center channel market. Every note, every whisper, every thunderous explosion is delivered with unparalleled clarity and authority.

Cutting-Edge HardwareThe 1,600 watt amplifier is uniquely mounted to the massive heatsink plate found on the rear of the enclosure. Coupling the amplifier to the T6061 Aluminum back plate efficiently transfers heat from the internal components of the amplifier to the decorative heatsink fins, the design of which is inspired by the mountain ranges surrounding Wilson Audio.

Remove the handcrafted front grille to expose the sleek aluminum baffle design. The attachment hardware for this mass of metal is strategically placed underneath grille post catchers, ensuring a clean and visually pleasing appearance without compromising functionality.

Taking a page from the Master Subsonic's playbook, the combination of thick X-Material as a substrate coalesced with the bulk of the aluminum baffle create a truly solid and extremely damped surface for the Submerge driver to be secured to.

Wilson Audio is often considered the quintessential American high-end hi-fi brand, a staple in premium audio dealerships across the country. Many reviewers use Wilson speakers in their own home systems, reflecting their reputation for outstanding dynamics, bass depth, and the ability to reproduce classical music with remarkable realism. Wilson focuses on creating an uncolored sound, aiming to replicate the experience of live, unamplified performances.
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Our summary

Product Strengths

  • Enhances room pressurization and provides a sense of the recording's space
  • Adds texture to both low-frequency and mid-range sounds, significantly enhancing the listening experience
  • Improves deep bass and addresses room-related issues
  • Flexibility helps to recover low octaves, ensuring the subwoofer matches the measured response

Product Considerations

  • High price point
  • The unit is very heavy, weighing just over 115 kilos (250 pounds)
  • Requires careful setup involving the crossover, gain, and phase/delay to achieve perfect time alignment

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

  • Builds on the success of the smaller Wilson Audio LōKē Powered Subwoofer
  • Includes the same proprietary driver found in the Wilson Audio Subsonic Subwoofer
  • Features a built-in crossover inspired by the Wilson ActivXO crossover
  • Bigger than the Loke, with a larger cabinet and woofer, and increased amplifier power from 500 to 1,600 watts
  • The WATCH Dog has a split port with a divider, but in the Submerge, the split is pushed back to improve airflow and quieten the cabinet

Takeaway: The Wilson Audio Submerge provides a more immersive listening experience by adding depth, texture, and improved bass response, making it a worthwhile addition for high-end hifi systems, especially when paired with Wilson Audio speakers. Its ability to address room acoustics and provide a balanced soundstage makes it a valuable addition.

Video review

Our take on the brand

Wilson Audio is often considered the quintessential American high-end hi-fi brand, a staple in premium audio dealerships across the country. Many reviewers use Wilson speakers in their own home systems, reflecting their reputation for outstanding dynamics, bass depth, and the ability to reproduce classical music with remarkable realism. Wilson focuses on creating an uncolored sound, aiming to replicate the experience of live, unamplified performances.
Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi Writer
Product Page
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YG Acoustics
Basis
26648
26648
/
1
Reviews

Basis shatters the notion that soundstage-enriching, deep and authoritative sub-bass must come from a large cabinet. Basis performs with the precision of a scalpel and the power of a sledgehammer. As a true ultra-fidelity subwoofer, Basis has huge bandwidth. It combines an entirely new, innovative driver, extreme cabinet engineering and an exceptional, wideband amplifier: Basis is capable of performing as nearly a full range speaker by itself.

When all of this capability is focused on the challenging and all-important sub bass region, the Basis proves its place well beyond the competition. Where other high-end subwoofers still struggle to avoid harmonic distortion, Basis delivers industry-leading behavior at the very lowest frequencies, with true fundamental bass for the discerning audiophile. It does this powerful work seamlessly, weaving bass energy into the expanded soundstage as if the Basis is an elemental part of the foundation.

Graceful curves and diminutive size belie an authority and strength we have only found to be bettered by our legendary Invincible subwoofer. For Basis, we incorporated a holistic design approach aimed at achieving the ultimate in high-end subwoofer performance. That we also achieved this in a compact package, one which can disappear sonically and visually in any listening environment, was a satisfying by-product of our process.

Listeners can enjoy a single unit, or stack multiple units in Duo or Trio configurations. This does much more than simply adding greater power: stacking loads rooms more evenly with bass energy, flattening modes more effectively than any other strategy. Basis lends beauty and soul to a reference-level system, delivering a meaningful improvement without adding any character of its own. Its quiet strength comes from thousands of hours of development focused on every single aspect of the design.

YG Acoustics makes speakers with unique DualCoherent crossover technology that ensures both perfect frequency response and phase coherence, while their BilletCore drivers are machined from solid aluminum billets for enhanced precision. Their modular design allows users to upgrade and expand their systems over time, and they use proprietary software that optimizes both frequency and phase response, capabilities not commonly found in other hifi brands.
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Product Strengths

  • Exceptional bass precision and control
  • Features a powerful 6kW RMS amplifier
  • Has a sophisticated DSP crossover system
  • Achieves bass extension below 16Hz with virtually no distortion
  • Has high-quality BilletCore driver technology

Product Considerations

  • Premium price point
  • Substantial weight (70kg) may require professional installation

Takeaway: The YG Acoustics Basis Subwoofer redefines bass performance with exceptional precision and control. The flexibility of the DSP crossover makes it easy to integrate into existing systems.

Video review

Our take on the brand

YG Acoustics makes speakers with unique DualCoherent crossover technology that ensures both perfect frequency response and phase coherence, while their BilletCore drivers are machined from solid aluminum billets for enhanced precision. Their modular design allows users to upgrade and expand their systems over time, and they use proprietary software that optimizes both frequency and phase response, capabilities not commonly found in other hifi brands.
Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi Writer
Product Page
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What competes at this price?

Wilson Audio
LōKē
11000
/
Released
2022
Wilson Audio's Smallest Subwoofer From the beginning, the Wilson Audio Special Application Engineering team wanted to create a subwoofer system that follows the North Star development parameters set forth by David Wilson.
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Wilson Audio is often considered the quintessential American high-end hi-fi brand, a staple in premium audio dealerships across the country. Many reviewers use Wilson speakers in their own home systems, reflecting their reputation for outstanding dynamics, bass depth, and the ability to reproduce classical music with remarkable realism. Wilson focuses on creating an uncolored sound, aiming to replicate the experience of live, unamplified performances.
Expand Details

Our Summary

No items found.

Product Strengths

  • Enhances the venue in which a recording was made
  • Can smooth out the treble by providing a more solid musical foundation
  • Enhances subtle details in a recording
  • Provides tight and precise bass and the ability to reveal a wide gamut of textural colors
  • Integrates seamlessly into the system

Product Considerations

  • The single line LCD display and click/turn navigation rotary is a clunky, time-consuming method of accessing nested functions
  • The different parameters of the sub are on the back and controlled from the back, which means that users may have to keep pulling it in and out of position for each parameter change
  • Reviewer notes a sense of skepticism due to the amp being manufactured by Dayton Audio

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

  • LōKē is smaller than Wilson Audio's WATCH Dog
  • Compared to systems without a subwoofer, LōKē reproduces music otherwise unheard
  • LōKē, unlike the Wilson Audio WAMM Master Chronosonic subwoofer, has a built-in amplifier
  • Some reviewers feel that two JL Audio 12's provide a better value compared to LōKē

Takeaway: The LōKē is a well-built subwoofer that integrates nicely with Wilson Audio and other loudspeaker systems to provide a fast and coherent bass response. Adding the LōKē to an existing system enhances the musical experience.

Video review

Our take on the brand

Wilson Audio is often considered the quintessential American high-end hi-fi brand, a staple in premium audio dealerships across the country. Many reviewers use Wilson speakers in their own home systems, reflecting their reputation for outstanding dynamics, bass depth, and the ability to reproduce classical music with remarkable realism. Wilson focuses on creating an uncolored sound, aiming to replicate the experience of live, unamplified performances.
Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi Writer
Product Page
Product Page
Grimm Audio
SB1
12750
/
Released
2021
The SB1 with 'DMF' is a technological marvel. By applying 'Digital Motional Feedback', a control technology from the renowned Dutch high-tech industry, it became possible to achieve exceptionally low levels of distortion and full dynamic control. With an SB1 added for the bass frequencies, the LS1 system offers low distortion over the full audio band and redefines the term 'transparency'. This is bass control like you've never experienced before.
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Grimm Audio is a hifi brand that designs streaming DACs with their own custom-built digital-to-analog converter hardware, including a unique 1.5-bit architecture with an 11th-order noise shaper. Their flagship MU2 is a Roon-centric machine that serves as a complete audio system hub, featuring their own DMA controller for FPGA-to-CPU communication and proprietary Pure Nyquist filters for digital signal processing.
Expand Details

Our Summary

Product Strengths

  • Digital Motional Feedback (DMF) minimizes distortion in the bass region by monitoring acceleration on the aluminum cone and feeding back information to the DSP
  • Response is flat down to 20Hz
  • Sound quality improves in areas that have nothing to do with bass, and everything brightens up
  • Immediately balanced and sophisticated sound

Product Considerations

  • Some tweaking with regards to the positioning of the speakers is needed to get the best from the soundstaging
  • The full manuals are online or to print off, which some may find a pain
  • Packaging is massive

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

  • Vs Dynaudio 18S: The Grimm subs overshadowed and outshone the Dynaudio
  • Vs Audiovector R6: The soundstage thrown by these speakers is not as expansive as the Audiovector R6 speakers

Takeaway: The SB1 is designed to deliver a proper representation of music without sonic fireworks, it just works. It offers a turnkey solution for music lovers that want superlative sonics in a package that will fit with any home.

Video review

Our take on the brand

Grimm Audio is a hifi brand that designs streaming DACs with their own custom-built digital-to-analog converter hardware, including a unique 1.5-bit architecture with an 11th-order noise shaper. Their flagship MU2 is a Roon-centric machine that serves as a complete audio system hub, featuring their own DMA controller for FPGA-to-CPU communication and proprietary Pure Nyquist filters for digital signal processing.
Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi Writer
Product Page
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REL
No.32
12592
/
Released
2022
No.32 enjoys the rarefied position of elevating our Reference range to an even higher orbit. No.32 retains the exquisite beauty of our curvilinear reference cabinets, an updated 15" (380mm) true carbon fibre driver and our ultra-reliable NextGen 7 Class D 1,000 watt amp outfitted with thin film capacitors, higher gain and superior limiting. The net result is a flagship model that stretched the edge of the art further with superior dynamics, richer tonal color, and a freer, more expressive character that opens up the midranges and highs in an unprecedented manner.
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REL is widely recognized as the premier audiophile-grade subwoofer manufacturer, focusing exclusively on designing subwoofers that match the speed and clarity of high-end loudspeakers. Their higher-end models are specifically designed to integrate seamlessly with audiophile speakers, enhancing the soundstage and instrument separation rather than simply adding bass impact.
Expand Details

Our Summary

Product Strengths

  • Described as a 'real beauty', it is the new reference top-of-the-range flagship subwoofer from REL
  • Deep bass output and really good bass extension, with REL claiming -6dB at 15Hz
  • Exquisite paint finish with 12 coats of final lacquer applied, with each subwoofer taking 5 weeks in total to build
  • The remote control and digital display make it a very nice way of setting things up, and then after dialing in, the remote is probably not needed again

Product Considerations

  • It is a huge and very heavy subwoofer, weighing 85 kilograms
  • The handles on the side are useful for lifting such a heavy unit, but they are not very nice to look at

Takeaway: The No.32 is a top-of-the-line subwoofer that offers exceptional bass performance and exquisite build quality. It's perfect for audiophiles who want the very best and have the space to accommodate it.

Video review

Our take on the brand

REL is widely recognized as the premier audiophile-grade subwoofer manufacturer, focusing exclusively on designing subwoofers that match the speed and clarity of high-end loudspeakers. Their higher-end models are specifically designed to integrate seamlessly with audiophile speakers, enhancing the soundstage and instrument separation rather than simply adding bass impact.
Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi Writer
Product Page
Product Page

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