Subwoofers

Paradigm Reference Signature Sub 25 Subwoofer and Perfect Bass Kit Software (PBK-1)

Introduction

Not so long ago, the word subwoofer meant one thing: a squat, black cube-shaped box sitting in the corner of your listening room. These days, subwoofers are made to fit in walls, ceilings, floors, even tucked under a couch. There are cylinder-shaped subs, wireless subs, and itsy-bitsy subs sure to please the wife. But there will always be a place in the hi-fi world for the mega-sub, the Beast, the Mother-of-All-Subwoofers.

That's what Paradigm had in mind when it designed the Paradigm Reference Sub 25, at $3,999 its newest top-of-the-line subwoofer. Paradigm, the highly respected Canadian A/V company with its considerable in-house engineering and manufacturing capabilities, set out to build a no-compromise subwoofer that will play loud, deep and clean. Leveraging the expertise of sister company Anthem and its ARC room correction/equalization software, it also created the Perfect Bass Kit ($299), designed specifically for Paradigm Reference subwoofers.

So I took the nice crystal down off the shelf, tightened the tot-locks on the cabinet doors, and settled down to business.