Review Velodyne Acoustics MiniVee X:Compact active subwoofer with enormous power and app control
With the MiniVee X, Velodyne Acoustics closes a gap between the MicroVee X and the 10" models in the Deep Waves and VI-Q series. Above all, however, the MiniVee X sets an exclamation mark in the 1,000 class with its new, in-house app and top features. Our test clarifies how much quality is still part of the package.
Review by Marius DonadelloMay 16th 2024, Pictures: Velodyne, AV-Magazin
Velodyne Acoustics is now on the verge of a product offensive, having launched two new series, Deep Waves and VI-Q, just last autumn. These were preceded by the Deep Blue and Impact X subwoofers and the MicroVee X, all of which were developed and launched on the market within three years. Historically speaking, this step on the gas pedal is no surprise, as the brand was to be brought back to the forefront after the takeover by Audio Reference. The concept behind this was simple: the production site and development department in the USA would remain unchanged, while the newly founded company in Hamburg would have someone at the helm who was once again focussing on innovation. After all, there has never been a lack of expertise, as demonstrated by the numerous key technologies developed over the decades. Looking at the new MiniVee X, one could ask whether a new edition of the 8" inch woofer was needed, but in fact this development was not primarily about the dimensions. Rather, the current technology and extensive features established with the 2022 and 2023 series were to be transferred to a more affordable price range.
At the same time, Velodyne Acoustics is taking a giant leap forward: together with the MiniVee X they introduce the new in-house app, a result of over two years of development work. As practical and legitimate as a solution like the one previously used with iWoofer is, the advantages of a self-designed app are obvious: you are independent of third-party providers, can customise the interface according to your own ideas and integrate new features more easily. On the other hand, there are of course higher costs and the responsibility to fulfil the respective requirements of the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store. "The effort was worth it and will undoubtedly pay off," says Mansour Mamaghani with conviction, "because we have created a flexible software basis for the future." Lorenzo Mamaghani adds: "Premium products should come with an app that bears your own logo and doesn't come off the shelf." We'll take a closer look at the options offered by the Auto EQ SUB app in a moment.
Features
- Connections for all application scenarios one could think of are available at the rear (Image: Velodyne Acoustics)
Before that, let's take a look at the features of the new bass specialist, which, as already mentioned, are extensive. In fact, the MiniVee X is on a par with the more expensive models in the Deep Blue and VI-Q series at this point, which is a remarkable offensive against the competition given its symbolic price of just under 1,000 euros. For clean integration into a stereophonic or multi-channel system, high-level inputs are available with both RCA and balanced XLR sockets, whereby the RCA socket of the right channel also functions as an LFE input. In addition, RCA and XLR outputs as well as an LFE output allow the signal to be looped through to other subwoofers. If the integrated amplifier in a stereo system has neither a subwoofer nor a preamp output or the preamp does not have a subwoofer output, speaker levels are available that now even accept banana plugs.
A high-pass filter can be defined in the app for this classic scenario, which is often favoured in the audiophile segment, in order to reduce the load on the connected speakers.
The most important settings, namely the low-pass and level, can also be defined on the device using sensitive rotary controls; a small display provides information about the set values. There is also a switch on the rear of the subwoofer to select the operating mode: In addition to manual switching and automatic on/off switching, control via the trigger input is also available here.
On the equipment side, the MiniVee X, like the larger models, has everything it needs to be easily integrated into different scenarios, but there is also a special extra in the box: The scope of delivery includes a measuring microphone with table stand - this is usually only found in the upper price segment and was previously reserved for Velodyne Acoustics' Digital Drive Plus models.
Technology
- The active 200 mm driver is supported by a passive membrane of the same size (Image: Velodyne Acoustics)
The closed cabinet is a hallmark of Velodyne Acoustics; in the case of the MiniVee X, the construction is made of thick-walled MDF and additionally reinforced with struts on the inside. The immense forces acting in the enclosure have to be kept under control in non-ventilated enclosures; this is ensured not only by the rock-solid construction but also by the opposing arrangement of the two drivers. If maximum precision is required, there is nothing better than a sealed enclosure under the appropriate conditions. The sound power is generated by an active 200 mm driver, which has been completely redeveloped for the MiniVee X on the basis of proven technology. Its 2" voice coil is wound in four layers of high-purity copper, while the voice coil former is made of carbon fibre to achieve the greatest possible rigidity. The steel chassis basket is double-ventilated to ensure adequate heat dissipation.
This powerful chassis is flanked by a passive cone of the same size; the cones of both drivers are made from a very lightweight yet torsion-resistant carbon fibre mesh and are suspended in a thick, heavy-duty round surround made from nitrile rubber. For the complex signal processing and the adaptive, distortion-minimising overload protection, Velodyne Acoustics uses the ADAU 1761 from Analog Devices, a DSP that has the necessary computing power to apply the algorithms in real time. In terms of the amplifier topology, the engineers continue to rely on the "hybrid" solution: a Class D preamplifier drives an output stage equipped with four 40-amp MOSFETs. At the heart of the switching power supply, two 650-volt MOSFETs deliver peak currents of 30 amps to the amplifier section - one can confidently speak of superior power reserves here.