Velodyne EQ-Max 12 review

Packing plenty of punch and dynamics, THE 225w powered Velodyne EQ-Max 12 is a force to be reckoned with Tested at £825

What Hi-Fi? Verdict

Powerful and agile with heaps of rhythm, the Velodyne continues to be a hugely enjoyable sub

Pros

  • +

    Lots of deep bass

  • +

    bags of punch

  • +

    user friendly

Cons

  • -

    Some may want a little more precision

  • -

    not the most stylish sub we’ve seen

Why you can trust What Hi-Fi? Our expert team reviews products in dedicated test rooms, to help you make the best choice for your budget. Find out more about how we test.

With a 225W class D amp powering its forward-firing 30.5cm driver, the sound coming out of the Velodyne is powerful enough to fill even very large rooms without losing control. The downward-firing port and sturdy cabinet (propped on rubber feet) ensure that there is minimal port noise affecting the output, too, leaving notes clean and deep.

There’s plenty of agility and punch here, combined with great dynamics. It could do with a touch more detail, but the EQ-Max aims to be enjoyable rather than clinical.

User-friendly and serving up a cheerful sound with plenty of authority, it’s worth every penny.

The Velodyne EQ-Max 12 has a 225W class D amp powering its forward-firing 30.5cm driver, meaning it's powerful enough to fill even very large rooms without losing control.

The downward-firing port and sturdy cabinet (on rubber feet) ensure there'is minimal port noise affecting the output, too, leaving notes clean and deep, while the pushbutton automatic equalisation. handled from the remote control, helps set-up no end by 'dialling-in' the sub to suit your room.

That's the 'EQ-Max' bit of the model designation – the '12' is, of course, the size of the driver in good ol' US inches.

Velodyne EQ-Max 12 subwoofer has automatic set-up

Velodyne EQ-Max 12 subwoofer has automatic set-up

There’s plenty of agility and punch here, combined with great dynamics. Yes, the sound could do with a touch more detail, but the EQ-Max aims to be enjoyable rather than clinical.

User-friendly and serving up a cheerful sound with plenty of authority, it’s worth every penny.

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What Hi-Fi?

What Hi-Fi?, founded in 1976, is the world's leading independent guide to buying and owning hi-fi and home entertainment products. Our comprehensive tests help you buy the very best for your money, with our advice sections giving you step-by-step information on how to get even more from your music and movies. Everything is tested by our dedicated team of in-house reviewers in our custom-built test rooms in London, Reading and Bath. Our coveted five-star rating and Awards are recognised all over the world as the ultimate seal of approval, so you can buy with absolute confidence.


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