Qube sub gets loud and low
Published: PRODUCTS
Designed to reach ‘extremely high SPL with significant low frequency extension’, the Q118SA subwoofer has become the latest addition to the Qube range from Italian manufacturer FBT. The sub – comprising a single 18-inch woofer with a 4-inch voice coil – has been optimised for power via BEM finite element simulation. The result is a maximum SPL of 135dB (half-space, continuous) and 139dB (half-space, peak).
According to FBT, every detail of the Q118SA’s construction has been considered, down to the grille and the choice of a protective fabric that minimises acoustic impedance. Inside the enclosure, meanwhile, is the high excursion 8-inch ceramic B&C woofer with a 100mm ventilated coil. Power is supplied by a 1,200W RMS Class-D amplifier, while the system’s DSP incorporates new algorithms to deliver six presets. They are ‘Original’, for a broad number of uses for which the low-pass filter is set at 95Hz; ‘Deep’, which boosts performance down to approximately 40Hz; ‘Punch’, which concentrates on the 60Hz to 95Hz range; ‘Infra’, for ground-stacking the sub in applications also featuring a flying sub; and two cardioid settings for use with either two or three subwoofers. Crucially, the presets are based on more than just EQ, with ‘dynamic processor calibration’ reportedly extending acoustic pressure without causing deterioration of the original signal.
Physically, the cabinet is constructed from 18mm birch plywood and equipped with four aluminium handles plus two M20 points. A control panel is onboard with three LED status indicators. The system is ideally compatible with FBT’s Mitus 206 and Muse 210 systems in a ground-stacked configuration, while it also allows the fitting of four optional 100mm wheels for mobility.