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Features
Polymorphic Technology.
Wood veneer cabinets.
Dispersion switching.
Proprietary drivers.
Magneric shieliding.
Time align driver placement.
Pros
Polymorphic Technology.
Flexibility, adaptability, versatility.
Excellent sound quality.
Superb construction.
Cons
None that comes to mind.
Ratings
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Distributor
SubSonic Creations
TEL: (02) 4229 1809 |
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Subsonic Polymorphic
Home theatre and hi-fi speaker system
Recommended retail price: from $1299 per pair
(inc. GST)
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Reviewer: Richard Morgan
Every once in a while a product comes along that offers something different and, quite simply, makes home entertainment better. The latest products to do this come from local manufacturer, SubSonic, and belong to its new series of speakers that feature Polymorphic Technology.
 t's a fact there are myriad speaker systems on the local market and one could be forgiven for thinking we need another range like a hole in the head. But the new range from local manufacturer, SubSonic, is not just another range of speakers, it introduces technology that goes a long way towards optimising sound reproduction in all manner of listening environments.
That's a major feat considering the variety of rooms out there and their (usually adverse) affects on the sound character and quality generated by most speaker systems. But it's made possible by Polymorphic Technology from which the new SubSonic range takes its name.
The Polymorphic range comprises three front speakers models engineered for both home theatre and music reproduction: the $2499 PM-1, $1999 PM-2 and $1699 PM-3. There's also a centre speaker, the $1299 PC-1, and a rear effects model, the $1299 Model PR-1.
Polymorphic Technology is actually the combination of several technologies and strategies in speaker design - impedance switching, room size tailoring, room acoustics compensation and complex phase dispersion. These combine to provide outstanding control over operation.
Impedance Switching is a deceptively simple 4 ohm / 8 ohm toggle switch. It's provided to more closely match speaker impedance characteristics to an amplifier's potential to drive those speaker impedance loads.
Next in the Polymorphic Technology package of solutions is a Room Size switch that has three positions for large rooms and small-to-medium rooms. If the speakers sound bass heavy, switching to medium or small room mode is designed to re-align the bass response shape, tighten up bass dynamics and restore control and tonal balance. In larger rooms the large room position is the obvious choice, except where the speakers are located close to room boundaries and a small room setting may be appropriate.
The third strategy in Polymorphic Technology is a Room Acoustics Selector, which has the potential to change the speakers to suit the acoustics of different listening environments - and made it as simple as the flick of a switch. Tone controls simply apply generic equalisation to the response of the speaker with no consideration of the actual speaker response and, most importantly, the speaker's off-axis or power responses. However, the room acoustic switch helps maximise the performance potential of the Polymorphic speaker-room interaction.
Last we have Complex Field Dispersion, which is featured in the Polymorphic Series rear and centre speakers. It's covered later in the review.
Each Polymorphic main speaker features a sloping front baffle, which performs three functions: provides time aligned sonic capacity (better sound stage imaging); reduces the number of internal parallel surfaces (reduces sound colouration); and adds some visual interest. Real wood veneer is used as the enclosure skin on each Polymorphic model, while internally there's triple bracing to reduce cabinet flexing and strategically placed acoustic tiles (preferable to conventional acoustic wadding).
Polymorphic Technology adjustment switches are located for easy and quick adjustment on the front panel. They are clearly labelled and laid out and feel positive to use. It's clear that attention to build quality is outstanding and that construction of Polymorphic speakers is easily as good as it gets.
Heavy-duty gold plated high quality binding posts provide cable connection and also a bi-amping or bi-wiring option. The PM series is also 100 percent magnetically shielded. This avoids screen discolouration and damage caused by magnetic interference when located close to a television.
SubSonic has looked closely at the role of the cabinet - and particularly the front baffle - in providing a rigid and acoustically inert environment from which the drivers can operate. The drivers are not just screwed in place; they are clamped into machined receptacles and held with a tightly compressed pad and clamp. This technique suppresses degrading resonance in the frame of the driver while significantly damping the resonance factor
SubSonic uses drivers specially engineered for the application throughout the Polymorphic range. It's a major step toward creating an ideal 'tonally matched' system and helps provide seamless transition between all five speakers in a surround application, particularly when it comes to realising Dolby Digital material.
SubSonic's dedicated 160mm diameter black fibre bass/mid driver is a third generation version of SubSonic's favoured propriety driver. Its ultra lightweight cone is capable of extraordinary detail and is married to other components that render them virtually bulletproof. SubSonic main speakers tweeters employ aluminium voice coils instead of regular copper. They are more expensive than conventional tweeters, but the resulting (ultra light) assembly is also more responsive and linear.
The crossover networks use air-cored inductors and polypropylene capacitors because they provide a cleaner signal path for the sound signal. Finished in Blackwood or Jarrah timber veneer and individually hand built and hand polished, the PM's can beautifully compliment your decor and equipment, as a product that is both visually and aurally captivating.
SubSonic designed its centre channel speaker, the model PC-1, from the ground up, concentrating on creating a product that produces an open sound stage with extremely wide horizontal and vertical dispersion characteristics - and a sound big enough to match any size television screen.
SubSonic designed the PC1 with Complex Field Dispersion (the final element of its Polymorphic technology strategy) design to give maximum sound coverage and the best sound possible to all listeners regardless of listening position. This is a technique comprising a precise three-tweeter array (matched to the tri-baffle function) and a room dispersion switching facility. These combine to work on optimising both horizontal and vertical sound dispersion while maintaining overall detail and the directional precision required from effects speakers.
But it's much more than that. SubSonic's Polymorphic technology involves a great deal of attention to the design of the effects speakers. Many research papers have been written outlining the incredibly complex interaction of "spacio-phasic" phenomena, timing, and spectral energy content and how these correlate to subjective psycho-acoustic criteria such as realism, depth, direction, width, openness and even elevation. These speakers put these theories into practice and with outstanding results.
The model PR-1 effects speaker is rather unusual in that they use multipoint sources even at the higher frequencies (multiple tweeters). Similar to a phase array type approach this design produces a field that is perceived by the brain to be more a 'sound window' than a 'sound point'.
To further enhance this design approach SubSonic has paid attention to the spatial projection pattern of the speaker by critically selecting crossover phase characteristics and the angular projection of drivers. This was then implemented by designing the cabinets to fire the drivers in specific directions into the room … hence SubSonic's name 'complex field dispersion" for the design.
The 'field dispersion' switch on the PR-1 can be switched to between direct or diffuse operation and is used relative to the position of the speakers in a room. Diffuse mode has been set up to suit positions that are away from reflective boundaries. It gives a wider directional effect and more open sound, optimal in the right environment.
The SubSonic system was placed in-situ for about a month, but the main auditioning panel comprised five people. We matched the Polymorphic PM-1 and PM-3 main speakers, PC-1 centre and PR-1 rear speakers with a Toshiba DVD player, Denon AVR-3300 and Onkyo TX-DS575 receivers. Our home theatre room measures 7 x 9 metres and is slightly more heavily damped than average. We used Taralabs interconnects and Audioquest Indigo speaker cable.
First up, the SubSonic main speakers look a million bucks - absolutely gorgeous. The centre speaker is the same. It's large and impressive yet integrates well with the main system and looks great under a large screen television. The rear models maintain the cosmetic theme and look like they're worth every cent (even before you can be excited by their performance).
Enclosure assembly and general construction quality on each model is simply outstanding (it doesn't get better than this). Binding posts and front panel switches are all high quality gear designed to last.
It didn't take long for us to discover that SubSonic has created something very special with the Polymorphic range. The PM-1 main speakers are simply outstanding transducers in every sense of the word and the PC-1 is easily and quite simply the best centre channel speaker I've heard regardless of price or producer. It's a full-blooded performer (we all know that centre channel information is much more than dialogue) and generates sensational imaging with believable spread and depth.
Naturally, the Polymorphic Series is much more than a centre speaker, it's a range of products that integrate very smoothly indeed, with individual models also priced to be excellent value for money in a quality retail market and fit all room sizes.
The Polymorphic Technology systems operate very effectively. When flicking the switches I expected to hear large alterations in the sound and the acoustic set up, but the changes were actually quite subtle. Where some manufacturers apply technology only to make it highly evident, SubSonic implements it for maximum effectiveness, not sensationalism (and that means subtlety).
We set the operating parameters to large room and except for some general fiddling they remained there on most movie soundtracks and for hi-fi (and 5-channel music), although changing the dispersion pattern to 'diffuse mode' on the rear helped most in fine tuning movie sound in our large room.
This capacity to manipulate and mould sound and acoustic settings is in my opinion a real boon in tailoring the Polymorphic speakers to different rooms, and while I accept that it's not possible to do this 100 percent in all instances, at least you have the option.
The basic Polymorphic home theatre system (based on the PM-3 main speaker) creates natural, expansive movie sound and really excels with digital processing systems such Dolby Digital. It's an honest sound quality with an exciting character, tempered with the type of refinement that only thoughtfully implement technology provides.
The top-line system (based around the PM-1 main speakers) retains all the important attributes of Polymorphic performance and creates a larger, fuller sound thanks to the bigger cabinet and enhanced technology set-up. With the Polymorphic systems, members of the auditioning panel found that they were fully cognisant of the sound but delightfully unaware of the speakers themselves. In other words, their full attention was directed to the performance rather than the products used to create that performance.
All elements of movie sound - direct, ambient and effects sound - are smoothly integrated. Dialogue is incredibly clear and articulate, even in action movies where the sound level, complexity and intensity really heat up. We clearly heard parts of the Matrix that were previously muffled and indistinct and even suffered from shell casing overload ('tink', 'tink', 'tink') in parts.
Directional and steering logic information were relayed with precision. The sword fight in Rob Roy conveyed a sensational sense of action, aggression and desperation that's better than I've ever heard. There's also a great sense of subtle directionality with these speakers in the movie's confrontation scene in the tavern where the mutterings of the crowd became dialogue.
Since the majority of viewing for most people isn't action, a speaker needs to be able to relay all sound information on a soundtrack, not just the loud segments, and the Polymorphic systems fill the bill perfectly. In fact, it does it so well one forgets about reviewing and just gets on with viewing.
The outstanding aspect of both Polymorphic systems is that all the information is presented without being blasted out of our seats, so in many ways it's better and much more enjoyable than conventional cinema (and definitely less fatiguing). While dialogue was rooted to the on-screen action it is presented across an incredibly wide listening area, so there's no need to fight for the listening 'sweet spot'.
Even under the hardest sonic conditions the SubSonic Polymorphic system remains remarkably composed and it can also relay subtlety and atmosphere with equal effectiveness and control. And when it comes to music the SubSonic series is also outstanding - full range, detailed, exciting, refined and totally involving.
The beauty of the Polymorphic design is that if you like what see and hear in-store, there's an excellent chance that you'll like it as much and probably more when you get it home. I don't believe there is another speaker design with the room matching capacity to equal this.
Make no mistake about it; the Polymorphic range introduces cutting edge technology that's going to force a whole bunch of speaker designers and manufacturers to play a fast game of catch-up.
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