|
A skinny sub that will shake you to the core!
Text by Tommy Alexander | Photos Courtesey of Earthquake Sound Corporation
Size matters. Depending on where you want to put a subwoofer in your ride, its mounting depth can be more important than its diameter or even the size of its enclosure. Bottom line: Thin subs make bass and take up less space.
Earthquake brings us the latest round of thin speakers with their SWS (Shallow Woofer Systems) line of 8", 10", and 12" subwoofers. These subs are amazingly thin and require only a three inch deep mounting hole. This design is well executed, but like other thin subwoofers, SWS subs will be limited to moderate excursion in comparison to traditional deep-basket designs.
Earthquake points out their thin SWS subs allow more bass to come from the front of a vehicle instead of the rear. "12 inches in the front doors!" their SWS brochure suggests... "8 inches inside the dashboard! Bringing bass up front... the 'bass in trunk only' myth no longer applies."
Earthquake claims peak-to-peak excursion of 2.2 inches for the SWS-10 10-inch subwoofer. It's recommended for use in sealed enclosures (ranging from 0.3 to 1.0 cubic foot), "horn loaded" enclosures (12 x 14 x 3 1/2 inches), or vented enclosures (0.8 cubic feet). Earthquake's recommended "Minimum Sealed Shallow" enclosure for the SWS-10 is only 14 x 12 x 3 1/2 inches (outer dimensions).
ESM's Conclusion: Everybody digs thin. We dig thin models, thin mints, and thin TVs. Would I spend $300 for a thin 10-inch sub with modest dynamic capability (as compared to typical 10-inch subs)... for any location with limited depth such as doors, footwells, consoles, dashes? You better believe it! Earthquake's SWS-10 has little competition for such special applications and is a great solution when space is an issue. | 
