The Digital Drive Plus subwoofer series sets new standards in deep, precise bass with fully automatic setup and system integration. The Digital Drive Plus models incorporate all of Velodyne's best-in-class patented technologies, delivering bass with the lowest distortion in the industry. The Digital High-Gain Servo system controls the cone's position approximately 16,000 times per second, reducing distortion to a record-low 0.5%. A highly efficient power amplifier with Energy Recovery technology (95% efficiency, zero heat loss, high reliability, and longevity) delivers 4.5-6 dB higher sound pressure output than previous Digital Drive subwoofers.
The Velodyne Digital Drive Plus line includes four models with powerful 10-, 12-, 15-, and 18-inch LF drivers. The drive units feature heavy-duty magnets (weighing approximately 16 kg in the entry-level models), 6-layer, extended-throw voice coils, and dual spiders. A lightweight fiberglass Rohacell laminate sandwich cone and a soft surround provide precise control. The Class D amplifiers feature an advanced automatic setup system with an 8-band parametric equalizer controlled by a Texas Instruments DSP processor to account for installation details, room acoustics, and audio system characteristics.
All models in the Digital Drive Plus series offer multiple configuration options using proprietary software. Auto-EQ Plus, a fully automatic bass tuning system that takes into account room acoustics and the characteristics of connected equipment, can perform all necessary adjustments with the included setup microphone at the touch of a button. To manually configure a system with a DD Plus subwoofer, connect a computer to its USB port. This displays parameters such as frequency response, signal phase, crossover point, and rolloff slope, determined by the crossover, on the computer screen. All manual settings for crossover parameters, subsonic filter control, and signal phase can be saved to one of five presets for easy recall. A third configuration option: when connecting the subwoofer to a TV, a control interface for all system parameters will appear on the TV screen. Finally, it is possible to quickly change some parameters directly from the subwoofer panel itself – volume level, crossover parameters, and launching the Auto-EQPLUS system; all changes are displayed on the built-in miniature display.
The processing technology used in the Velodyne DD-18+ has elevated these products to even higher levels of quality. A built-in Texas Instruments DSP, specialized software, a measurement microphone, and a video output (the setup process is visible on the TV screen) allow for the optimal matching of the subwoofer's sound with your home theater speakers and, most importantly, for room acoustic correction. This development has been highly praised by leading experts worldwide and has received numerous awards from specialized publications (Digital Drive is an EISA winner).
The subwoofer's strengths lie not only in its brute force; the Velodyne DD-18+'s advanced engineering is also impressive. It even features a sophisticated built-in low-frequency correction system for precise integration into your AV system, allowing the Velodyne subwoofer to fully leverage the acoustic strengths and weaknesses of the room in which you plan to place it. By moving the Velodyne DD-18+ subwoofer around the room (admittedly, this is easier said than done), you can try out various positions and find the perfect sound. But if it clearly doesn't enhance your space, and aesthetics are important to you, then leave the Velodyne where it is, and the built-in equalization system will take care of the rest.
The Velodyne DD-18 Plus subwoofer is THX Ultra2 certified, and the world of surround sound is its natural habitat. The rumble of the first explosion is palpable: the DD-18 Plus confidently, effortlessly, and with majestic power reproduces the most frantic low-frequency effects. Thanks to the equalization system, the Velodyne subwoofer plays so cleanly and precisely that at first it seems somehow unnoticeable. The thing is, you're accustomed to the distorted and colored sound of most subwoofers, but with the Velodyne DD-18 Plus, things are different. And even if you deliberately set yourself the goal of finding the limit of its capabilities, we guarantee that you will give up sooner than Velodyne.
Velodyne Digital Drive Plus18 Specifications
- 18″ (457 mm) speaker
- Power 1250 W (RMS) / 3000 W (DIN)
- Frequency response 8.8-300 Hz
- Fully automatic bass tuning system taking into account the acoustic parameters of the room
- (microphone included)
- 8-band parametric equalizer
- USB input for configuration from a computer
- Ethernet input for integration into a home network
- RS-232 input / output, trigger input
- IR input, line inputs / outputs
- Dimensions (W x H x D) 584 x 540 x 489 mm
- Weight 54.4 kg
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