Subwoofers — VAF Research MPB SW2

The MPB SW2 is the most compact subwoofer in the VAF Research catalogue, handmade in Adelaide, Australia, and fitted with the latest generation of VAF digital amplification. The MPB prefix refers to Multi Point Bass, the VAF approach of using several smaller subwoofers around a room rather than one large unit. Each SW2 is built to order in the company's own factory, with around 12 weeks between order and dispatch, and is sold singly at an Australian price of AUD 1,299.

Key specs that matter

VAF uses a 260 mm (10-inch) woofer mounted in a closed box and driven by a 300 W RMS digital amplifier. VAF rates the response at 30 Hz to 170 Hz within plus or minus 2.5 dB. The enclosure measures 300 mm in every dimension, and each unit weighs 13 kg. Decor Black and Decor White are the standard colours, and VAF quotes other finishes to order. The electronics carry a 3-year guarantee, and buyers get a 30-day home trial period.

Engineering and use context

Since the enclosure is unported, the woofer output rolls off gradually below its tuning instead of falling steeply as in a vented design, and no air noise from a vent appears when the cone travels far. The small cube can sit beside furniture, in a corner or in a cabinet recess where a larger subwoofer would not fit. Controls include variable gain, a variable crossover or blend frequency, switchable phase and a choice of manual or automatic power switching, which lets the unit wake with a signal or follow a system that is powered up by a controller. VAF describes these controls as the means of matching the subwoofer to its position and to the main speakers. As on other VAF subwoofers, line-level outputs allow further units to be chained from the same feed, which is how the MPB layout is built up in practice - VAF allows anywhere from 2 to 10 subwoofers in one system. VAF also fits digital high-pass filtering to all its subwoofers so that they can be integrated into a stereo hi-fi system rather than serving home theatre alone.

Pairing

VAF suggests the SW2 as the bass section of a stereo system built around its Signature i49 bookshelf speakers, where the small monitors hand the lowest octaves to the subwoofer. The maker also lists it for five-channel and larger surround systems, driven from the LFE socket of a surround receiver, and a larger room can take two or more SW2 units.

Alternatives

The VAF Gravitas 12 is a larger subwoofer in the same range with a 330 mm papyrus woofer, a reflex cabinet and 500 W of amplification.