Сабвуферы — Ascendo SMSG 15

The SMSG 15 is a fully active subwoofer from Ascendo, the German loudspeaker maker based in Ansbach in Franconia, and belongs to the company's SMS series. Ascendo presents it as a sub for both high-end audio and cinema use, built on technologies the firm developed further from the professional sector. A passive derivative of the same design, first called SMSG15P and later sold as The 15 Sub, leaves out the electronics and needs an external single-channel DSP and amplifier.

Key specs that matter

A sealed cabinet houses a custom-made 38 cm (15 inch) driver with a solid aluminium basket, a neodymium magnet, a 10 cm voice coil and 36 mm of linear cone excursion. The frequency range is of 18 Hz to 100 Hz and maximum levels of 119 dB SPL continuous and 124 dB SPL peak. Onboard amplification delivers 1,000 W, with a peak output current of 30 A, THD+N of 0.003 % and a dynamic range of 120 dB, while standby draw is 0.3 W. The enclosure stands 50 cm high, 42.5 cm wide and 46 cm deep, with a weight of 30 kg.

Engineering and use context

Its MDF enclosure uses a 44 mm front baffle and several internal braces, and the amplifier and processing electronics sit inside a hermetically sealed inner housing. Standard finish is a durable black textured paint, and black or white piano lacquer, or further colours, can be specified. Two DSP channels handle the signal, and settings are made through the UNOS control system in a web browser, so any computer, smartphone or tablet can adjust the sub without installing software or an app. Network audio uses Ethernet AVB at 100 Mbit/s through an RJ-45 socket for Cat 5 cable and a certified two-port switch. The AVB link carries 2 streams of 8 channels each at 48 or 96 kHz, with 500 ns synchronicity and 2 ms latency.

Pairing

Analogue signals enter through two female XLR sockets, and a cinch adapter is supplied for unbalanced sources, with an input sensitivity of 8 dBu at an impedance of 20 kohm. That suits the line-level sub output found on preamplifiers, integrated amplifiers and AV processors. Like the other CCRM and SMS series models, the SMSG 15 can be combined freely with Ascendo speakers and is intended for Dolby Atmos, Auro-3D and DTS:X layouts, and a DNA 1000.2 HE amplifier can send it digital audio over the AVB network by Cat cable.

Alternatives

The Ascendo SUB1-S is a passive bandpass-supported subwoofer with a 28 cm HexaCone driver and a polished stainless steel base.