Outlaw Audio announced their first THX Ultra certified home theater subwoofer. The $1500 Ultra-X13 state-of-the-art down-firing sub uses an all-new driver, which was designed using advanced FEA (finite-element analysis). It has a total back and forth throw of 80mm ( 3.2 inches), which means it can “move a lot of air.” More importantly, the linearity of the driver is maintained throughout the entire back and forth movement, ensuring low distortion at THX reference levels (115 dB in a 3000 cubic foot room).
The 13-inch driver is powered by 1000 watts (dual 500-watt amplifiers in a bridged configuration). Each amp has its own power supply for extra energy storage and greater stability even at extremely high power levels. The subwoofer’s response is tuned using an internal digital signal processor.
Outlaws says they designed the ports specifically for low noise. In addition, the down-firing design reduces what little noise remains by as much as 6 dB relative to a front-ported design. If you prefer a sealed-box sound you can also plug the ports. In addition EQ switches optimize the sound for ported or sealed mode.
The Ultra-X13 is a 105 lbs behemoth, although Outlaw says its somewhat slimmer and more compact design than most competing subwoofers. Outlaw also claims it is only sub in North America to meet the tough THX Ultra specification with just one subwoofer.
Price and Availability
The Outlaw Audio Ultra-X13 subwoofer is now available for pre-order for $1,499 direct and comes with a 30-day in-home trial. The Ultra-X12 will remain available for $659.
