H
igh-end gear has a reputation for being outrageously priced, but don’t be fooled.
Sometimes, even the priciest gear delivers performance that is nothing to write
home about. Today, more than ever, the Price-to-Performance ratio of a product must
remain top of mind—and that’s where Paradigm shines; why we have been voted #1 for
19 years*. Our SUB 12 and SUB 15 are perfect examples …
A natural evolution in our lineup of award-winning subwoofers, they benefit from our
years of research into the mechanics of producing louder, lower-frequency, lowerdistortion bass. In fact, the three ‘L’s’ are the driving force behind our ongoing commitment
to refining and improving the performance of our subwoofers.
The unique amplifier/driver configuration in SUB 12 and SUB 15 allows these subs to play
louder and lower than any other subwoofers in this price range, and still cost less! And
unlike many designs on the market, not a hint of low-frequency extension or output
was sacrificed to keep their size compatible with today’s living spaces. A comprehensive
range of input and control facilities make setting up the subwoofers a snap.
Finally, since the room itself (dimensions, dead spots, archways, even furniture!) can
have a dramatic impact when even the finest subwoofers are perfectly positioned,
Paradigm also offers a solution for the problems of the room! SUB 12 and SUB 15 are
designed to be used with the critically acclaimed Paradigm
®
Perfect Bass Kit** (PBK-1™)
which adjusts for the room’s negative effects on a subwoofer.
*Rated #1 Price/Value by the distinguished publication Inside Track.
**Paradigm
®
Perfect Bass Kit (PBK-1™) sold separately. Details on page 27.
“The three ‘L’s’ are the driving force behind Paradigm’s
subwoofer research … Louder, Lower-Frequency,
Lower-Distortion bass.”
– Paradigm Design Team
15
SUB 12 AND SUB 15
High-Excursion Bass Drivers
These proprietary drivers were designed, engineered and manufactured by
Paradigm in North America: 12˝ (308 mm) in the SUB 12 and 15˝ (380 mm)
in the SUB 15. With unwanted resonances, standing waves and micro-distortions
non-existent, these subwoofers display incredible definition, awe-inspiring
dynamics, lightning-fast speed and gut-wrenching power.
• Mineral-Filled Co-Polymer Polypropylene Cones with RCR
™
Resonance
Control Ribs:
Engineered for very high power, the high-stiffness design is intrinsically low
in distortion, allowing the bass cone to respond instantly to the starts and
stops of even the leading edge of changing bass notes.
• Large High-Pressure Die-Cast Aluminum Chassis
• Dual-Voice-Coil Design! 3-Inch (76 mm) Aluminum Voice Coils:
Wound on high-temperature Kapton
®
formers in an oversize configuration,
the multi-layer voice coils provide exceptional linearity and motor strength.
• Advanced Multi-Layer Polyurethane-Composite Elliptical Surrounds
and Dual Oversize Spiders:
Optimized using Finite Element Analysis (FEA), a highly advanced tool for
component design, the surrounds’ multi-layer composite matrix, with its hightech surface treatment, encourages staggering peak-to-peak excursion—with
exceptional linearity and cone control.
• Large Aluminum Shorting Rings:
Situated around the voice coil, the rings not only improve linearity and heat
dissipation, they also help reduce voice coil inductance and distortion.
• Proprietar y AVS
™
Airflow Ventilation System Cooling:
Large built-in ribs increase the heat dissipation surface, providing forcedair cooling during large musical transients and chassis convection cooling
at all other times.
• Extruded-Aluminum Center Heatsinks:
Provide internal forced-air cooling to drive heat away from the FEA-optimized
pole piece, increasing power handling while reducing distortion.
• 35-lb (15.8 kg) Magnet Assemblies Boast Balanced Field Geom etry:
FEA-optimized to produce a powerful high-density symmetrical magnetic
forcefield while minimizing inductive distortion. Transient and phase response,
power handling and output linearity are all exceptional.
Input and Control Facilities
Input Facilities:
Low-Level Input – RCA: Allows connection from the
RCA (S/E) Left and Right or Sub/LFE Outputs of your
Preamp/Processor or other suitable low-level source.
Low-Level Input – Balanced XLR: Allows connection
from the Balanced XLR Sub/LFE Output of your Preamp/
Processor or other suitable low-level source. This input
provides the lowest noise and distortion. It is particularly
important for long cable runs where noise and distortion
could degrade performance.
Control Facilities:
Auto On/Off: Eliminates the need for a manually operated
power switch. Turns the subwoofer on when there is an
input signal. If no signal is present, after a period of time
it turns off.
Trigger On/Off: Allows the subwoofer’s power on/off to
be controlled by components that have a trigger output
(preamp/processor, etc.).
Subwoofer Cut-Off with Bypass Option: (Continuously
variable 35 Hz – 150 Hz) Controls the sub’s upper frequency
cut-off and can be set to match the low-frequency roll-off
characteristics of your system’s speakers.
Bypass Option allows you to bypass the built-in cut-off
control to let your preamp/processor’s or receiver’s internal
bass management provide the crossover function.
Subwoofer Level Control: Balances the subwoofer level
with that of the other speakers in your system.
Phase Alignment: (Continuously variable 0° – 180°)
Accurately synchronizes your subwoofer and front
speakers through their bass frequency overlap region.
USB Port. Allows for:
– Connection of the optional Paradigm®Perfect Bass K it
(PBK-1
™
), sold separately;
– Future upgrades to subwoofer software.
16
Shown in Rosenut: SUB 15
Small Form Factor. BIG POWER!
Designed, engineered and manufactured by Paradigm in
North America, this unique design features dual stateof-the-art Ultra-Class-D
™
amplifiers housed inside one
cabinet. State-of-the-art component parts:
• Dual Efficient Ultra-Class-D
™
Amplifiers
with Switching Power Supplies:
Boast more than 90% efficiency! Optimized to completely
control the operation of the bass driver. Prodigious total
output: 3,400 watts of Dynamic Peak Power; 1,700 watts
(850 watts each amplifier) of RMS Sustained Power.
• More Power from a Smaller Package.
How to achieve this?
One of the things to consider is the choice of transformer.
Our low-noise, ultra-high-power, yet compact transformer
(0.4 lb / 0.18 kg) is ideal. Unlike the large and heavy
transformers in a linear power supply, it boasts an ETDcore developed particularly for applications that require
high power in a small format. Yet the transformer is only
part of the advanced system on each of these amplifiers.
The switchmode power supply benefits from: highest
quality MOSFET transistors, noise-suppression networks
and an advanced control circuit. The result is tremendous
current with ultra-quiet operation.
• Full-Bridge Ultra-Class-D
™
Design Output Stage:
Operates from split power supply rails ensuring exceptionally low distortion. The high-quality output filter
inductors with super-efficient toroidal cores, four highquality MOSFET transistors on each amplifier (each
capable of carrying 65 amps of continuous current), and
a noise-suppression network play a significant role. Not
only does this design increase the speed of the switching,
it also dramatically increases switching efficiency.
• Precision Components and Dual-Sided Military Spec
(FR-4 rated) Glass/Epoxy Circuit Boards:
Superior ‘Reference’ quality performance with an enviable
degree of reliability over the long term.
• Proprietary Amplifier Temperature Sensors:
Maintain the safe operating temperature of the dual
amplifiers, even under extreme operating conditions.
• Advanced Short-Circuit Protection:
If current through the MOSFETs exceeds an internally
preset limit, a Silicon Controlled Rectifier (SCR) disables
the output stage. Essentially a ‘latching’ device, the SCR
will not allow the output stage to be re-enabled until power
is reset. Reaction time is typically within 10 µs.
• Novel Adaptive PWM (Pulse Width Modulation)
Power Processor:
Minimizes distortion and optimizes efficiency. Conventional Class-D designs have very low power supply
rejection. Paradigm’s Ultra-Class-D
™
design inherently
rejects variations in the power supply.
Paradigm’s Own Digital Signal Processing (DSP) Design:
Sophisticated mathematical algorithms ‘shape’ the sub’s
frequency response, ensuring accurate, consistent and
musical bass without audible distortion, even when the
subwoofers are playing at the loudest levels:
17
DUAL ULTRA-CLASS-D
™
AMPLIFIERS
USB interface for optional Paradigm
®
Perfect Bass Kit (PBK-1™) and future
updates to software installed on your
subwoofer
lowest frequency
Typical Subwoofer Response
0 db
0 Hz 200 Hz
90+ db
highest frequency
Paradigm's SUB 12/15 Response
Fully sealed preamplifier section
18
Less Heat, More Power, No Noise!
It’s one thing to house two 850-watt Ultra-Class-D™amplifiers
in a single cabinet, it’s quite another to ensure that all of that
power is harnessed for effective and efficient delivery, without
a maelstrom of unwanted sonic side effects.
Our sophisticated R&D facilities held the answer. We enjoy a
number of highly advanced tools for component design. One of
these is Finite Element Analysis (FEA), an invaluable process
when monitoring a design for efficient heat dissipation or
performing stress analyses.
Using FEA, the ‘T-shape’ center aluminum extrusion to which
each amplifier is attached was optimized to obtain exceptional
heat dissipation away from the amplifiers (see diagram below).
An FEA modal frequency analysis was also done to ensure the
entire asse mbly is free of unwanted resonances and v ibrations.
Even the correct size and thickness (3.2 mm) of the amplifier
panel was calculated to obtain optimal heat dissipation-to-size
ratio. Finally, a fully sealed preamplifier board cover (inset
bottom left) eliminates the possibility of air leaks.
Close-up of unique 7-mm thick FEA-optimized high-grade aluminum
‘T-extrusion’ (see left)
‘T-extrusion’ shown below without amplifiers to illustrate design
effectiveness …
Cross-Cut Tunnel Bracing
™
Conventional enclosures store energy. At various frequencies, the
enclosure vibrates (like a tuning fork) at audible levels for a short period
of time. These uncontrolled vibrations smear the sound, resulting in
a loss of accuracy and clarity. Superior high-end bass performance, the
caliber for which Paradigm
®
Reference subwoofers are known, requires
a supremely rigid and sonically inert cabinet. But how to achieve this in
a cabinet slated to hold not one, but two ultra-powerful amplifiers, as
well as a large state-of-the-art driver? The solution …
• Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF) composition throughout;
• A thick 1˝ MDF front baffle provides additional rigidity;
• Critically placed internal damping fiber provides excellent absor ption
of any stray rear wave or internal standing wave energy;
• The fully veneered cabinet also adds rigidity.
Finite Element Analysis (FEA) played a major role, yet again:
• Size, thickness and location of the tunnel bracing in relation to overall
size and weight of the cabinet were optimized using FEA;
• Size and position of the cross-cuts along each brace were also FEA-
optimized to obtain the most effective ‘strength-to-air’ surface area.
Driver chassis and amplifier panel were physically recessed into the
cabinet to maintain the clean lines.
OPTIMIZING THE DESIGN
63.07769
60.64529
58.21289
55.7805
53.3481
50.9157
48.48331
46.05091
43.61851
41.18612
38.75372
Temperature
deg C
RVC-12SQ SUB 12 SUB 15
Vibration-cancelling in-wall, two high-excursion drivers,
die-cast chassis with MDF mount ing frame
n/a
n/a
Two 356-mm (14 in) x 102 mm (4 in) mineral-filled
co-polymer polypropylene cones
17 Hz (DIN)*
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
45.1 cm x 34.9 cm x 9.5 cm
17-3/4 in x 13-3/4 in x 3-3/4 in
41.7 cm x 32.0 cm
16-7/16 in x 12-5/8 in
8.9 cm / 3-1/2 in
28.4 L / 1 cu ft
X-850 (for 1 or 2 RVC-12SQ Subwoofers)
X-300 (for 1 RVC-12SQ Subwoofer)
6.5 kg / 14.3 lb each
White, paintable
Single high-excursion driver, sealed enclosure, patented
built-in Ultra-Class-D
™
power amplifier, USB port
3,400 watts Dynamic Peak /
1,700 watts RMS
Auto-On / Off, Trigger-On / Off, soft clipping, electrical
shorting protection, thermal protection
305-mm (12 in) RCR
™
mineral-filled co-polymer
polypropylene cone
16 Hz (DIN)*
Variable 35 Hz – 150 Hz; Bypass Option
Variable 0° – 180°
RCA (S/E) Left and Right or Sub-Out / LFE or Balanced XLR. From
Sub-Out / LFE-Out of preamp/processor or other line-level source
100 mV mono
RCA: 10k ohms; XLR: 20k ohms
44.3 cm x 40.7 cm x 54.6 cm
17-7/16 in x 16 in x 21-1/2 in
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
39.9 kg / 88 lb each
Cherry, Rosenut, Black Ash, Piano Black
Single high-excursion driver, sealed enclosure, patented
built-in Ultra-Class-D
™
power amplifier, USB port
3,400 watts Dynamic Peak /
1,700 watts RMS
Auto-On / Off, Trigger-On / Off, soft clipping, electrical
shorting protection, thermal protection
380-mm (15 in) RCR
™
mineral-filled co-polymer
polypropylene cone
12 Hz (DIN)*
Variable 35 Hz – 150 Hz; Bypass Option
Variable 0° – 180°
RCA (S/E) Left and Right or Sub-Out / LFE or Balanced XLR. From
Sub-Out / LFE-Out of preamp/processor or other line-level source
100 mV mono
RCA: 10k ohms; XLR: 20k ohms
49.5 cm x 49.5 cm x 55.9 cm
19-1/2 in x 19-1/2 in x 22 in
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
46.7 kg / 103 lb each
Cherry, Rosenut, Black Ash, Piano Black
S P E C I F I C A T I O N S
www.paradigm.com
Amplifier: High-Current, Discrete Output
Amplifier Features
Bass Driver(s)
Low-Frequency Extension*
Subwoofer Cut-Off Frequency
Sub / Sat Phase Alignment
Line-Level Input
Line-Level Input Sensitivity
Line-Level Input Impedance
(Heights include feet for SUB 12 and SUB 15)
Amplifiers Required
Height, Width, Depth
Cutout Dimensions: (h x w)
Minimum Mounting Depth**
Minimum Internal Volume
Matching Paradigm
(sold separately)
Weig ht (Unpacked)
Design
®
X-Series
Finish(es)
Single high-excursion driver, sealed enclosure, patented
Single high-excursion driver, sealed enclosure, patented
built-in Ultra-Class-D
3,400 watts Dynamic Peak /
1,700 watts RMS
Auto-On / Off, Trigger-On / Off, soft clipping, electrical
shorting protection, thermal protection
305-mm (12 in) RCR
polypropylene cone
16 Hz (DIN)*
Variable 35 Hz – 150 Hz; Bypass Option
Variable 0° – 180°
RCA (S/E) Left and Right or Sub-Out / LFE or Balanced XLR. From
Sub-Out / LFE-Out of preamp/processor or other line-level source
100 mV mono
RCA: 10k ohms; XLR: 20k ohms
44.3 cm x 40.7 cm x 54.6 cm
17-7/16 in x 16 in x 21-1/2 in
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
39.9 kg / 88 lb each
Cherry, Rosenut, Black Ash, Piano Black
™
power amplifier, USB port
™
mineral-filled co-polymer
built-in Ultra-Class-D
3,400 watts Dynamic Peak /
1,700 watts RMS
Auto-On / Off, Trigger-On / Off, soft clipping, electrical
shorting protection, thermal protection
380-mm (15 in) RCR
polypropylene cone
12 Hz (DIN)*
Variable 35 Hz – 150 Hz; Bypass Option
Variable 0° – 180°
RCA (S/E) Left and Right or Sub-Out / LFE or Balanced XLR. From
Sub-Out / LFE-Out of preamp/processor or other line-level source
100 mV mono
RCA: 10k ohms; XLR: 20k ohms
49.5 cm x 49.5 cm x 55.9 cm
19-1/2 in x 19-1/2 in x 22 in
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
46.7 kg / 103 lb each
Cherry, Rosenut, Black Ash, Piano Black
™
power amplifier, USB port
™
mineral-filled co-polymer
37
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