Subwoofers are generally easy to position because low frequencies are difficult or impossible to locate. The only thing you should avoid is positioning them near objects that are easily excited to vibrate. Otherwise, the automatic calibration to the room can take care of everything; the Velodyne app also allows manual intervention via a 5-band equalizer, but this is only recommended for expert users.

Right at the beginning, I confront the MiniVee X with a recording in which subwoofers can show off their other advantages beyond their classic function of delivering more bass: The Kate Bush cover of the track "Wuthering Heights" by Cécile McLorin Salvant (album "Ghost Song") was recorded in a church with little post-processing. Within the first minute, the singer approaches the listener from the back of the altar area, while the recording is audibly noisy, but emphasises the spatial conditions very impressively. With the MiniVee X, it is precisely this atmospheric moment that takes on a new quality, as frequencies at the lower hearing threshold are important for the spatial impression. The dimensions of the nave can now be fully experienced, while the singer is reproduced more vividly and her movements can be precisely localised.

In the song "Still Waters Run Deep" by Carolin No (album "Favorite Sin"), the bell-like vocals (this time in English) are accompanied by synthesizer instrumentation, with very deep, earthy bass lines providing the rhythm. Only with the MiniVee X, however, does it become clear what a forceful sound volume has been mixed here, it goes down to the last step into the frequency cellar and bounces powerfully. The song "Ohne Worte" (album "Ehrlich gesagt"), on the other hand, is minimally acoustically orchestrated and gives the double bass a prominent role. The MiniVee X effectively emphasises the instrument, the chords sound voluminous and earthy. At the same time, the bass has typical live authority and is reproduced with razor-sharp definition.

The grand piano on the album "The Light" by Eydís Evensen also stands on stage as a three-dimensional body, vivid to the touch. If you set the subwoofer level to zero from time to time, the difference becomes even more obvious: the spatial representation shrinks a little and the instrument is reproduced more diffusely. Above all, however, the MiniVee X can reveal even fine tonal shades in the lower range and gives the grand piano its woody sound, without it, the piano sounds comparatively anaemic. After an uninspired phase, Charlotte de Witte found her way right back to her former greatness with the EP "Power Of Thought" last October. In my opinion, the track "Pria" marks nothing less than the pinnacle of her work to date, and of course a subwoofer enhances the enjoyment of techno - provided that everything fits. The new Velodyne cube has long since impressively demonstrated that it can merge completely with a stereo system and enrich it considerably. So now it can be let off the leash and really, really push. The amplifier is set to twelve o'clock and the MiniVee X throws beats into the room like there's no tomorrow. The bass lines are relentlessly tight and turn listening into a physical experience - priceless!