YES. Remember, if it makes a sound, put a sub on it! The cheapest desktop, small PC speakers are vastly improved with the addition of one of our subwoofers. This is also relevant to very expensive speakers. Our award winning entry level Pro 50 sub has improved the soundstage of speakers ranging from £10 to £10,000+ now that’s some achievement I’m sure you’ll agree. MJ Audiophile quality subwoofers such as Reference and Master-Class series will seamlessly integrate and improve stereo, home theatre, and studio applications. It’s a bit like experiencing air conditioning in a car for the first time. Once you have you simply cannot do without it again. Your sound stage will be fuller and true to the original recording whether it be music, movies, or dedicated SACD, DVDA, or DTS soundtracks. Take a look at MJ is Unique.
It is not always that you can have your cake and eat it! Value for money comes without asking from MJ Acoustics, and so too does reliability, quality, performance, and features.
Our subwoofers are the best sound-for-pound investment you will ever make and represent the best addition anyone can make to their audio system. Outstanding in every respect. Highly efficient power output – true RMS wattage (not mythical), connectivity, hand crafted furniture grade cabinets with meticulous build and finish choices limited only by your imagination. Making our subs not only truly excellent HiFi but also gorgeous furniture. Above all tremendous value. MJ Acoustics subwoofers complement the most discerning Theatre and Music systems! for a more detailed explanation of why you should invest in an MJ Acoustics Subwoofer have a read of The MJ Ethos.
This is a difficult question to answer, as so many customers differ in their choice of models, room sizes, and budget. It really depends on how loud you want to listen to your music/movies!! If you’re a “bass head”, then you need one of our more powerful subs, if you’re not, you don’t. You will be very surprised at how well even our entry-level Sub-Bass Systems augment large speakers in large rooms. It is absolutely about sound quality, not quantity when it comes to HiFi Audiophile requirements. Home Theatre, on the other hand, does benefit from impact and so more is definitely the deciding factor in this requirement. For a combination of uses then consider the Reference Series starting with the multi-award winning Reference 200.
Yes. Many customers have more than one sub for their setups using them in various configurations. The most common for Audiophiles are two subwoofers – one on the Left main speaker and one on the Right main speaker. This setup extends an already excellent system into true full range giving the extended lower octaves for pure stereo listening pleasure. When it’s right it just sounds Real!
A common setup for Home Cinema enthusiasts is a sub on the centre channel and a sub handling the LFE channel. This is what we consider to be an excellent setup for enhanced dialogue (centre channel) and superb LFE handling. The amount of bass/sub-bass information that is sent to the centre channel is equal to, and in some cases, more than sent to the LFE channel. You may have heard people say to you “make sure you spend a fair share of your budget on your centre speaker”, it’s because it handles a good 70% – 80% on and off throughout the movie. As a large centre would normally be right in the way of your viewing area and most likely too large to fit on the shelf below your TV, your setup leans towards having a good quality smaller centre speaker (for example the XENO XC1) with a sub connected to it. You won’t believe the enhanced overall cinema experience until you add a centre channel sub… try it.
No, is our official line – would you leave your cooker on just to make sure it’s warm enough in case you want to cook something? It is safe practice to turn off all electrical goods if they are not to be in use for some length of time.
The “Phase” control is used to make sure your sub is responding in unison with your main speakers. Phase is considered to be correct when the bass, at the listening position is loudest. Setup my Sub-Bass System
LFE stands for Low-Frequency Effects. It is the “.1” of a 5.1 setup. Low-Frequency Effects are usually crashing rumbles, thumps, explosions etc sent down the “.1” channel to your subwoofer for the bottom end growl of a movie. There are no Low-Frequency Effects present in a music track. Please do not assume that LFE is the term used for all bass frequencies – it is not. It is the term used for the bass detail encoded in the movie for effects in the lower octaves the film director wants to convey. Very deep base is still present in many high-quality recordings of normal 2 channel stereo being output from the main speakers. This is quite significant because the provision of TWIN crossovers in an MJ subwoofer is so important because it is the ability to underpin this bass detail using the 2nd crossover and the 2nd set of inputs that make an MJ Acoustics Sub-Bass system so special. Take a read through the “MJ Design Ethos” which will cover more details about the uniqueness of MJ sub-bass systems and their features.
The cabinet finishes available are as follows: Black Satin Paint over an Ash real wood veneer, the standard for all the Subwoofers we manufacture, referred to as Black Ash, Cherry Wood, Light/Natural English Oak and American Black Walnut are the standard production finishes throughout the ranges. We also offer extensive additional choices in paint finishes along with High Gloss deep lustre top coats for special requirements. If you want a special colour we can offer it to you. Visit our finishes page for further clarification on the available colour choices.
The positioning of the subwoofer can play an important part in the overall performance depending on the natural acoustics of your listening room. This is a difficult question to answer. Some insist that a subwoofer is placed in the corner of a room but this is not always the best choice. We will do our best to give some guidance.
Rooms that are naturally bass heavy would not benefit from placing a subwoofer in a tight corner or a small alcove which will add boominess due to many nearby reflective surfaces. A better position would be in a space that gives the sub a chance to produce its note without any colouring from reflective surroundings – somewhere near your main speakers would be best as this is the area where the majority or all of sound is produced.
Rooms that are naturally bass light could benefit from the sub being placed in a corner or an alcove. Slow moving sub bass waveforms can benefit from the reflection of two adjacent walls – this will increase the response time of the waveform and increase bass perception to the overall soundstage. Please note, although we say that placing a sub in a tight corner in a bass heavy room will add boominess, it may not be the case in a bass-light room. If you add more bass to a bass heavy room the results are usually boomy, but in a bass-light room, the results can be very different. You are the best judge as to where your sub should be placed as we can only offer guidance. We don’t live where you do! Most common placements for subs are, behind a TV, besides a TV, next to one of the main speakers, in between the main speakers, besides a sofa or behind a sofa. You may find yours performs better in a completely different place! The most important point to remember is that a subwoofer is doing its job correctly when it is blended in with the rest of the soundstage and not standing out on its own. The art is to mix in the sub so you can’t easily tell where it’s positioned – you just know it’s there. Setup my Sub-Bass System
While slightly more complicated than the basic MJ setup for Home Cinema, use of three MJ subwoofers produces a number of benefits and is the most cost-effective method of achieving professional Dolby® 5.1 & DTS® standard bass performance. MJ Multi-Sub-Bass Reference configuration produces a true full-range performance from the primary zones of reproduction in theatre sound resulting in a far more natural and immersive experience than any single sub can produce. These zones can be defined as follows: Front Left and Right Main Speakers with .1/LFE. Centre Channel speaker and of course the Rear Left and Right effects channels that make up the standard Dolby® 5.1 & DTS® configuration. It can be argued that wherever there is a speaker the bass should be underpinned using a subwoofer. True, but the use of 3 MJ Sub-Bass Systems gets your setup to a point where the main zones are augmented for the best return on investment. This brings us on to the joy of “MJ Smart Remote“. This fantastic remote control feature enables connection of all MJ Sub-Bass Systems to one remote control and for that single point of control to communicate bi-directionally with each subwoofer at the same time. This aids in the setup like no other subwoofer can in the world. using the built-in RTA (Real Time Analyser) audio frequency response changes are presented visually as well and aurally. Settings can be seen directly in front of you and the simultaneous adjustment changes made to all subwoofers in a group can deliver an instant aural change so as to reach the perfect integration with ease. Once you have used this system of remote control you will wonder how you managed without it.
The centre channel receives a vast amount of bass information during your average movie. It’s placement, usually central to the viewer, makes it a very important part of the 5.1 setup that will deliver true full range dynamic capability. A common setup for Home Cinema enthusiasts is a sub on the centre channel and a sub handling the LFE channel. This is what we consider to be an excellent setup for enhanced dialogue (centre channel) and superb LFE handling. The centre channel information is equal to and in some cases, more information than is sent to the LFE channel. You may have heard people say to you “make sure you spend a fair share of your budget on your centre speaker” it’s because it handles a good 70% – 80% on and off throughout the movie. As a large centre would normally be right in the way of your viewing area, your setup leans towards having a good quality small centre (for example the XENO XC1) with a sub connected to it. You won’t believe the enhanced overall cinema experience until you add a centre channel sub….try it.
The decision whether or not to have two smaller subs like the Reference 200 or a larger model like Reference IMk3 or Kensington, raises a few pro’s & con’s issues. Using only one larger sub, has one set of cables to setup, can handle more power than the smaller subs and only takes up one space in your room – but a larger space of course. It is not as flexible as two subs and can only be configured in one place.
Using two smaller subs, has two sets of cables to be setup, has less power handling than larger subs and needs two different placement positions in your room – but fits into a smaller area. Two subs can have their advantages regarding their placement within the stereo or 5.1 sound system – see the question – Can I use more than one sub? and question – How do I setup a multi-sub system? for more information related to setups of more than one sub.
All MJ Acoustics products are designed first and foremost to be musical. This is by far the hardest to achieve. Anyone can make a “DIY Bodge-Job Boom Box” that might go thump! pop! bang! with your movies, but very few can design and manufacture a subwoofer with fast response time, musically accurate tone, precision controlled warmth with depth all packed into a beautifully finished cabinet at a size and price representing tremendous value… MJ has been doing this for almost 20 years. Enough said! Take a look at “what makes a subwoofer from MJ Acoustics so special.” Or read our testimonials page and get a better feel for the people who own MJ Acoustics sub bass systems. The most important of all because they have put their money where their mouths are.
Yes is the simple answer. We do not have dealers/distributors in every country, but we are working on this area all the time. Please email us directly and we will handle your sales enquiry efficiently.
Please see our International Dealers page for countries that distribute MJ Acoustics products. For customers not able to source satisfactory sales support we are more than happy to discuss matters directly with you. In the unlikely event we are not able to suggest a dealer near you then we will deal direct with you for your needs. Just drop us an email with your requirements. You will find us very responsive and keen to help in any way we can. MJ Staff are all Audio enthusiasts, so they speak your language.
There are three types of connection you might make whilst using the high-level cable.
1. To add bandwidth to your existing speakers in stereo mode,
2. Enhance the performance of your main satellites in a movie setup, or
3. To compliment a single speaker in a movie or stereo setup.
Warning
Before connecting up your MJ Acoustics Subwoofer please read this!
When you are going to connect using High Level and LFE(RCA), please make sure that your Stereo or AV amplifier does not have a ‘Digital Output Stage’ or is wired in ‘BTL’ (Bridge Tied Load) mode.
Both of these amplifier designs will need an optional interface module (Available from your dealer or direct from MJ Acoustics).
Please note that without this interface module damage may occur to the amplifier and/or Subwoofer and is not covered under warranty.
If you are unsure please contact your supplying dealer in the first instance.
1. Stereo Mode:
You connect the 3 bare end wires of the Neutrik Speakon cable alongside your existing speaker cables on the back of your amp as follows:
RED to left + (positive)
YELLOW to right + (positive)
BLACK to ONE of the – (negatives) NOT BOTH.
This is the most common connection for stereo amplifier users who do not have a dedicated sub output and wish to extend the bandwidth and add a new depth dimension to their existing speakers.
2. Movie Setup:
This connection is made the same way as the above “stereo mode” but is usually in addition to the sub having the low-level input from the dedicated sub out on a 5.1 AV amplifier. Connections are as follows:
RED to left + (positive) – front speakers
YELLOW to right + (positive) – front speakers
BLACK to ONE of the – (negatives) – front speakers, NOT BOTH.
The only question you may ask yourself is, do I add the high-level cable to my main front speakers? or do I wish to add the high-level connection to my very often smaller rear satellites to extend their bandwidth? As the rear channels in DTS or Dolby Digital are receiving full range signals, it can make a huge difference to your movie experience when you add a sub to your rear satellites. Your high-level cable connection is then configured the same as it would be if connected to your main speakers, just connected to your rear satellite speaker outs on your AV amplifier. Of course, multiple subs can be added to any of the 5 speakers in your system.
3. Single Speaker Connection:
This configuration is often used when two subs are used in stereo mode, or multiple subs are used in a 5.1 movie setup. When connecting a single speaker to the subs high-level input the 3 bare end wires are connected as follows:
RED and YELLOW are wound together and connected to the + (positive) terminal of either the speaker itself or the speaker out of the AV amp. The BLACK wire is then connected to the – (negative) terminal of either the speaker itself or the speaker out of the AV amp, depending on where you placed the red and yellow cables.
A common movie setup is to have a larger sub on the LFE (Low-Frequency Effects) via a phono sub out, and a smaller sub on the centre channel via the high-level cable. The addition of a centre sub enhances and breathes new life into the dialogue and your movie experience takes on a new dimension due to the amount of action and low-end bass produced through the centre channel – the sweet spot of a 5.1 system.
You could be missing out if you haven’t experienced additional subs on various channels ?!?
Have the benefit of small satellite speakers then add a small sub to whichever channel or channels you wish to turn into a full range speaker without having to accommodate or pay for large bulky floor standers in very often limited spaces.
The subwoofer setup options are endless, so please give our staff a call to discuss your requirements and we will be more than happy to help and to offer you advice on how to get the maximum performance out of your sub/subs on any given budget.
