Deep, accurate bass from a compact box
Audison APBX 10 AS – Active subwoofer option for your car
Active subwoofers have always offered an attractive option for bass in a car. But, throwing a cheap active subwoofer in your first vehicle as a budget enhancement has seen many young drivers invest, become disenchanted and turn their attention to other, visual enhancements instead.
The active subwoofer has become a design challenge in itself over the years. Italian car audio supremo, Audison has fully embraced and won this challenge (in our opinion).
There is no doubt that Audison has been aided by new technology. Some of this is of their own making and in this way, they have set a revolution for active subwoofers in motion. However, before our young drivers get over excited at the prospect of cheap active subwoofers that provide accurate and musical sub bass, we have to advise that getting it right in design terms cost money!
A walk around the APBX 10 AS
The Audison APBX 10 AS is just one of a range of active and passive subwoofers based around a similar sealed enclosure (APBX 8 DS – Passive subwoofer pictured above). The subwoofer enclosures are designed to fire upward or downward depending on preference. There is a noticeable difference in response difference when doing this. When down-firing, the response is somewhat deeper however, the sound curve cuts off sooner. When firing upwards, a light more punchy bass is produced.
The APBX 10 AS has a built-in class-D amplifier which gives it an amazing response and accuracy. This takes design limits to the maximum as the amplifier and subwoofer have a matched impedance of just 0.16 ohms! We are used to subwoofers having an input impedance of 2 or 4 ohms. The lower the impedance, the more efficient speaker/amplifier performance is. Because of this the seemingly modest output power of the amplifier (400 watts continuous) has a far greater driving force when presented to the low impedance subwoofer.
The control panel features both High-level and Low-level inputs as well as a quick release power connector. Although there is a remote turn-on port, the APBX 10 AS also features an auto turn on switch which can take its place and turn the device when a signal is detected at the inputs. Other controls include a bypass switch for the built-in Butterworth filter, a filter frequency control, a 180ยบ phase switch and a gain control providing up to 6dB of gain. This control can be replaced by a dash-mounted control if desired.
A Typical Smart Application
The above is a picture of an APBX 10 AS mounted in the spare wheel well of a Mercedes C-class. This neat under floor application requires your FOUR MASTER to move the fuses and relays you can see from the bottom of the wheel well, as you can see here. Everything sits neatly below the normal bot floor ensuring luggage space is not compromised. The performance of the subwoofer is not affected at all. You can read a Driving Sounds article on this particular installation here: https://www.drivingsounds.co.uk/articles/archive/issue-9/mercedes-flies-to-the-moon
Where Can I Get One?
We would always advise that you ask your local FOUR MASTER to supply and install a product such as this – Particularly if there is any fabrication or wiring changes to be made to the vehicle. FOUR MASTERS should be able to arrange a demonstration of the product if necessary.
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