What Hi Fi Sound and Vision
30 NOV 2004
Velodyne CHT-12R
Still cracking value for money, and still a great subwoofer – but no longer the best
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Our 2005 Product of the Year, the Velodyne CHT-12R is big, potent and in-yer-face – and we love it. This substantial American moves more air than almost any sub-£500 rival, and even up against slightly more expensive rivals, it more than holds its head up. The Velodyne hosts a 30cm drive unit driven by 200 watts – controlled by a neat remote.
Crash, bang, wallop, what a subwoofer
A forward-firing design, it sports a venting port at the base of the cabinet, just under the drive unit. This imbues the CHT-12R with thunderous extension: it crashes through King Kong’s dinosaur battle with hair-raising authority, vibro-massaging your belly as it goes.
However, this approach also saps the Velodyne’s speed a tad: it’s respectably agile, but not the most expressive sub. True, that makes more of a difference with music – speed is of the essence if you’re keen to preserve the timing and accuracy of fast-paced tracks like The Chemical Brothers’ Block Rockin’ Beats – but it can also detract a little from the impact of your fave films.
Only a little, mind: the CHT-12R remains a dramatic performer, able to translate any listening experience into an exhilarating exploration of all things subterranean.
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