Paradigm Signature SUB 2 Black lacquered hexagonal hi-end subwoofer

The world's best subwoofer, period.

The most difficult task in designing SUB 2 was not only to make it play lower and louder than any other subwoofer in the world, but to do so in a size that wouldn't dominate the average living room, and in a cabinet that could be mistaken for a very fine piece of furniture.

And then there are the jaw-dropping specs. SUB 2 rips through the depths at 7 Hz with a bloody eruption: 112 dB at 10 Hz, 126 dB at 60 Hz (in room). Connected to a 240-volt line, SUB 2 delivers 4,500 watts of continuous RMS Sustain power and a Frankenstein 9,000 watts of Dynamic Peak power through its exclusive Power Factor Correction system. Talk about bringing your music and movies to life!

With not one, but six cutting-edge drivers in each sub, transient information is conveyed with pristine clarity and pitch-perfect precision. Dynamics arrive with lightning-fast speed and shocking power that has to be heard to be believed. Bass reproduction is eerily accurate and detailed, largely the result of the exclusive Vibration-Canceling Design Architecture (VCDA).

Vibration-Canceling Design Architecture

Physics trumps mechanics with a little help from Paradigm. Typically, subwoofer enclosures contain one large driver. As the driver moves back and forth, the cabinet can vibrate, resulting in a slurred response, bass that lacks clarity and definition. Well-executed cabinet design, like that of Paradigm Reference subwoofers, typically includes sophisticated and extensive physical bracing inside the enclosure.

So why, when Paradigm stuffs six drivers into a single cabinet with no significant physical bracing, does a martini sit on top, while the subs are playing, barely elicit a ripple? Designed, engineered and manufactured by Paradigm in North America, SUB 2 subwoofers are movers, not shakers... massive air movement, massive output, virtually vibration-free.

Six identical, perfectly balanced drivers are radially aligned (two on each side) inside the cabinet. Like opposing forces of equal magnitude, the powerful vibrational reaction forces effectively cancel each other out. Barely a ripple disturbs the martini sitting atop the cabinet, such is the degree to which unwanted, distortion-causing vibrations are reduced.

These Subs are Movers, not Shakers

Massive Air Movement. Massive output, without the vibration. Our vibration-cancelling design architecture is only part of the story. There's still no replacement for the displacement: in a small, compact form factor, six 10" drivers in SUB 2 move more air than a pair of 15" woofers! The other part of the story lies in the cutting-edge bass driver design

Product Features

- Mineral-loaded polypropylene cones. A 30% mineral content has introduced additional cone stiffness for a measurable increase in repeatability and consistency. The response is instantaneous—low, loud, fast and tight, revealing layers and layers of low-frequency detail, with consistently perfect timing.

- RCR™ Resonance Control Ribs. NLC™ surround technology was not required in the SUB 2 since the six 10" drivers already allow for larger surrounds, while the cone resonance control ribs simply reinforce the new VC design architecture.

- Magnetic pole piece. FEA optimized, designed to support extreme excursion.

- Extruded aluminum heat sink. Provides internal convection and forced air cooling to move heat away from the high-velocity, low-turbulence pole piece, increasing power handling and reducing distortion.

- High-pressure die-cast aluminum chassis with AVS™ Airflow Ventilation System Cooling. Large integrated ribs increase heat dissipation surface area providing forced air cooling during large musical transients and chassis convection cooling at all other times. CNC machined to ensure a precision fit.

- 3" (76 mm) 10-layer long-stroke aluminum voice coils. Wound on high-temperature composite polyamide formers in an oversized configuration, the voice coils provide exceptional stability and support for the extremely high excursion of the cone.

- Computer-optimized ceramic (hard ferrite) magnet assemblies with balanced field geometry. Using finite element analysis, the magnetic structures have been optimized to deliver the most powerful output in a Signature subwoofer to date. Transients and phase-response are exceptional with superb power handling and output linearity.

State-of-the-Art "Kilomax" Amplifier

The SUB 2 features a state-of-the-art Ultra-Class-D™ 3-Kilowatt amplifier platform designed, engineered and manufactured by Paradigm in North America. This is the most powerful subwoofer amplifier we (or anyone) have ever produced. We call it the "Kilomax" design because when connected to a 240 volt line it delivers a monster 4,500 watts of RMS continuous power and a Frankenstein 9,000 watts of dynamic peak power.

9,000 Watts of Peak Dynamic Power

No power transformer. The output stage is Direct-Connected™ to the power line to provide maximum power.

Advanced Output Stage. Increases switching speed and efficiency. Unlike conventional Class-D designs that use the slow integrated diodes of the output MOSFETs, our Ultra-Class-D™ design directs the circulating currents to the ultra-fast diodes (ten times faster!).

Opto-coupled inputs. Provide better isolation and lower noise.

Short Circuit Protection. Responds within 10 μs.

Other Features

Paradigm's Digital Signal Processing (DSP). Sophisticated mathematical algorithms "shape" the response, ensuring accurate, consistent, musical bass without distortion, even when the sub is playing at the highest level.

Sophisticated mathematical algorithms "shape" the response, ensuring accurate, consistent, musical bass without distortion, even when the sub is playing at the highest level.

Comprehensive heat dissipation system. The sturdy 1/8˝ (3.2 mm) aluminum panel is covered with insulated metal substrates. Using aluminum instead of a fiberglass base, while more expensive, allows for exceptionally efficient cooling. Even more robust than ceramic, aluminum substrates increase power density, minimize thermal impedance, and conduct heat more efficiently, while offering greater mechanical durability. Typically, FR-4 board designs require larger heat sinks. In the SUB 2, a combination of aluminum and metal substrates stacked on top of each other has resulted in a much smaller heat sink.

Power Factor Correction (PFC). PFC shapes the line current to be sinusoidal and continuous over time. This allows the maximum amount of power (95%) to be drawn and with less noise on the line. To compare: A unit without PFC draws only 60 to 70% of the available power since the line current is switched on and off by the input rectifier (a noise-inducing process in itself!) at twice the frequency. Current flows only at the peak of the line voltage, effectively choking the line.

SPECIFICATIONS

Hexagonal cabinet design with multiple high-excursion drivers radially aligned in a vibration-controlled design architecture, Built-in Ultra-Class-D™ power amplifier amplification with power factor correction, Sealed enclosure, PBK interface. Note: Due to the incredibly high output and massive power, the Sub 2 grilles are not removable.

Amplifier functions Auto-on/off, Trigger on/off, Soft clipping, Electrical short circuit protection, Thermal protection The Sub 2's universal input feature allows the subwoofer to operate plugged into any line voltage between 108 volts and 265 volts. For maximum power, connect to a 240 volt line. (See dealer for more information.)

On-axis frequency response ±3dB 9Hz – 260Hz

Anthem Room Correction (ARC®) (included)

Low-frequency extension 7Hz (DIN)

Low-frequency driver Six 254mm (10in) RCR™ mineral-filled copolymer polypropylene cones with FEA-optimized over-molded thermoplastic foam surround, 10mm (3in) long-excursion voice coils, high-temperature Nomex® composite formers, advanced dual spiders, 25.2lb (10.5kg) hard ferrite magnet, massive center heatsink construction and oversized pole piece, AVS™ die-cast heatsink chassis

Room/anechoic sensitivity 100 mv mono /

Impedance rca: 10k ohms; xlr: 20k ohms

Weight 230 lbs (106 kg)

Variable low pass filter frequency 35hz – 150hz; bypass option

Variable sub/sat phase alignment 0° – 180°

Left and right rca (s/e) inputs or sub-out/lfe or balanced xlr. From sub-out / lfe-out of preamp, processor or other line-level source

Dimensions h x w x d (62.2 cm × 60.3 cm × 56.8 cm)

Amplifier plugged into a 240-volt outlet 9,000 watts dynamic peak / 4,500 watts rms

Made in Canada

Designed, engineered and completely crafted in Canada, by people who love great audio (just like you). From the precision craftsmanship of the non-resonant cabinets to their beautiful, premium finishes, Prestige is truly hand-built for performance.