Emotiva RS11 Subwoofer Review! Overbuilt to Outperform!  

Thank you Chris! I watch some of those guys too! I love Andrews voice and production quality while Zero Fidelity is like a walking human database, it's crazy how many reference points he has in his brain :D

@@NemoPropaganda I found your channel from Zero Fidelity mentioning it.

@@rapfreak7797 hell yeah! Zero is cool but I have the superior beard!!

Word- now you need to review Arendal subs-THEY manage to get best of both extension (SVS like) and clarity (almost REL like) at competative price point between REL and SVS.

@@johnwhite2576 There is a poll on my community page on which Arendal sub to get, please vote :).

Thank you dude! I got the idea from the Russian dude, he doesn't post anymore but he used to do these crazy in depth tear downs. I think the channel was hifi energy or something like that.

thank you Etienne!

Oh yeah, they went all out!

@@NemoPropaganda obvious comparison would be ported rhythmic fx12 vs rs11, any obvious differences there?

@@robk5745 That will be next weeks video 😁 a 3-way comparison of the 3 ported subs I've reviewed. It is important to remember the FVX12 is much larger and the driver has 19.68% more surface area.

@@NemoPropaganda I will tune in my friend, looking forward to it!

Woooo buddy, nice! Congrats!!! Try them out in sealed mode with the EQ set to deep. I had a lot of fun with that :D.

excellent choice!

​@@NemoPropaganda Love the fact it has top controls and the clean magnetic cover and the fact it's so overbuilt! 👌

​@@NemoPropaganda I received the rs11 today and man your not kidding when you said it has heft! Holy crap it's heavy, I had an svs pb1000 pro and this emotiva is much heftier! Still need to get it set up but my initial impressions are great! Packed very well and the satin bag and included white gloves are a nice touch! Your 100% correct with the matte finish, looks so nice and the magnetic grill is fantastic and clean! Even the manual is on heavy card stock and set up like a book...quality!!!! Rock on 🤘 Nemo!!

Hey Reggie, that's awesome, thank you so much for the feedback, my goal for this channel is really just to help people stop obsessing and to just make a decision so it makes me happy to know I'm helping with that :). 2 RS11 in an office sounds intense, is the office large?

@@NemoPropaganda not really. It was a bedroom we converted to an office. It’s a small to medium sized room. I love the up close and personal, hard hitting sound but also the soft and mellow sound too. I listen to rap, soul and jazz. I bump for about 30 mins hard then mellow into jazz or old soul music for a couple hours.

@@reggieburris oh okay that's cool, I usually jam out for 30 minutes and just fall asleep even if deathmetal is playing :D

Dynaudio was my scenario for that in a VW. That premium package was really nice sounding.

@@joshuasterling2144 I genuinely think that it's a tremendous oversight not to geek out more on the audio fidelity of base model cars in companies like toyota that have started to lose their competitive edge. What would you prefer... paddle shifters and a "sport mode" transmission setting in a toyota that barely makes 140 horspower or an emotionally stimulating sound system that you can truly relax to during the traffic jams of real world daily commutes?

Focal is also highly respected in professional recording studios.

Funny you mention Focal car audio, I just bought a Focal 10" for my car :D

I'm not ready to answer that question just yet as I'm not comfortable with my knowledge on PR designs ATM. But I'm going to chat with a leading industry subwoofer manufacturer that has made ported models in the past but uses PR designs currently and I will try to learn as much as humanly possible from them :)

damn bro I'm sorry to hear that, if you're not married to a painted finish why not go for the Rythmik LV12M?

​@@NemoPropaganda I went looking to see if you had a review video of it but I stumbled upon your Rythmic FVX12 review instead. I got the ok from the wife for the size and will order it once I financially recover from my Hawaii vacation lol. I really like the vinyl black oak finish on the SVS subs. How does Rythmic's black oak finish compare?

Yes, the 2-10 and 4-10 models have my attention! Maybe I will email him for a 2-10 sample :D

oh yes! I'm more in the SPL camp for car audio but recently pulled my 12" Memphis Mojo and Diamond Audio 1500.1 amplifier out to put in my friends boat. It was taking up a bit too much trunk space and I'm looking to go for a ported 10" using the newer Morel MPS 550.1 amplifier. I have a Focal 10" but I'm not convinced that will bring the pain I'm looking for :D.

I've never heard the Monolith stuff but it appears to be well built, they are rather large however so I'd check the measurements. All I can say is the Emotiva was absolutely amazing, I'm the kind of person that would rather have 1 higher end item as opposed to having 2 lower end items but that's not everyone's preference so it's kind of a tough call.

Sorry I have only heard the 1S as vented subs are usually best for theater only systems. Since you want the best of both the Emotiva RS11 seems like an easy solution. You can use it sealed for music and ported for theater to have that extra low end power.

Never heard the DD18 but everyone who has one seems to love it. At some point it could come down to personal taste. When a product is really good and it fits your personal taste, well, that's just a match made in heaven :D

You hit that 125db c-weighted with the 10" dominion pair? That's seriously impressive!

wow you are the real mccoy then!

@@NemoPropaganda Not a big room, it's 13 x 14 x 8 and have them on 1¼" slabs of granite and isoAcoustics Aperta 200's in between the granite and subs to get the most out of them. It does get bonkers and my wife gets upset with me when I turn them up because she doesn't want to have to deal with the Karen next door.

@@dicmccoy Im glad you are not my neighbor 😄 But that sounds pretty impressive 😎

Hey bro, so I have not heard the RS13 or the 1508, only their smaller variants being the RS11 and HT-1205 so I will answer based on that and hopefully it scales. Despite the RS11 having a smaller driver than the 1205 it is in a larger ported cabinet so you can expect it to have much more SPL capability and a stronger bottom end, no surprise here. While the 1205 can't play as loud it still plays plenty loud and being a sealed sub even vs the RS11 in sealed mode the 1205 will have faster transient response and better defined leading edge to the bass attack. At the end of the day if you value room rumble more the RS13 should give you more of that, if you value responsiveness the 1508 should be better for that. Either one is more than adequate for the rooms size.

I put the measurements up on the screen at 0:38 but the monolith 10" is HUGE by comparison so it's going to be more of an SPL centric theater first subwoofer.

It's gonna have more output & authority at the lowest frequencies than both of those.

The expression "buy once cry once" makes more sense to me. I would personally buy the one more expensive knowing that you could add a second later as funds free up. In my experience a second sub helps smooth out your room nodes but it's possible a second may not be needed based upon your room interactions and sub placement.

@rap freak basically answered this question perfectly.

Rythmik has better mid bass than most subwoofers so if you like to blend high and want strong midbass the L12 is the easy option. If that's not a factor for you then I would say this is a really difficult decision because both are pretty darn good. The L12 is vinyl vs paint on the RS11 but having a pair for less money is rather appealing. With respect to musicality they are both very good. When its really hard to make a decision I like to add looks into the equation :) maybe that will help you make a decision :)

Hey brother so the RS11 will absolutely murder the T7X with respect to SPL, extension, and overall output. Where the T7X will outperform the RS11 is going to be with respect to bass detail, fidelity, and transient response. If your room is on the larger side the RS11 is what I would go with but if your room is smaller and your system is resolving the T7X will offer up more fidelity, just remember we're talking about an 11" driver vs an 8" driver.

Hi Norman, Rythmik F12 also has XLR.

a cable is always preferred but there are times when you need a wireless solution. For example if you have Italian marble floors in a large room you probably don't want a 15ft subwoofer cable running across the floors, such a thing would cause a divorce and be a serious eye sore. In those cases wireless makes sense. If you need it you need it, no sense in worrying about any loss in fidelity. Most brands say there is no loss for their wireless transmitters but I'd prefer wired where possible. Sorry for the roundabout answer, I've just not done any extensive a/b comparisons.

@@NemoPropaganda Appreciate that and I understand. There's probably some loss of fidelity somewhere some how, but I'm sure my analog ears won't be able to notice it. Thanks and congratulations on a great channel!

Since my room is small I can't really compare the two with respect to SPL. This is kind of a hard comparison because the F12 is sealed while the RS11 can be sealed or ported. If you want a sealed only sub the F12 is an easy recommendation. The selling point of the RS11 is that it can swing both ways :)

@@NemoPropaganda I wasn't sure since the rythmik digs so deep if it has almost similar attributes of a ported

@@mcjonner you're not wrong, it does, Rythmiks sealed subs extend very well. The F12 is really good but this is the take away. RS11 with the port closed is excellent and plays more like an SQ subwoofer. RS11 with the port open plays like an SPL subwoofer. Having the option is where the value is. The F12 is an SQ subwoofer that is still capable of high SPL, not as high SPL as an SPL only subwoofer like the SB3000 but still higher than most SQ subwoofers are capable of. That's what makes Rythmik special. They are similar but different.

if I had to guess I'd say supply chain issues caused by an unspecified virus of unknown origin hurt the RS Line before it was even launched. Yes the RS line was a step up from the XS line we have now but the XS line is more affordable so its not a bad thing. You can get a 15" now for what the RS11 cost so the XS range is still pretty darn competative.

Hey my man I'm not really sure as I only reviewed the 1961 1S but I would guess the 1v is pretty good just no idea how it would compare to the RS11.

REL 1508 is better than SB3000, yes. It's also a lot bigger and more expensive though :).

The Emotiva is a lot smaller and a great option for anyone who cannot fit the larger FVX12 but the FVX12 is the better option for those that can accomodate its size.

oh that's a bummer that you had the defective amp :(. I think the RS11 should be fine in your room :).

@@NemoPropaganda yeah, it was making a popping sound every time it was switching from the internal inputs. I could do another pb2000 pro, it’s just I’ve been watching your reviews a lot lately and seeing that svs isn’t the only player on the block. I’ve had some nice systems in the past including the sb16 ultra which was by far the best sub I ever had. This time around for this more basic system I didn’t want to spend 2k plus on a sub. If you think the svs is better I can get that again but your review of these emotiva subs sounds like a great alternative. Like you said it fits that niche. I don’t even realize it was that small. Thanks again for your response and your help. It’s great having people like you giving real unbiased reviews of these products. I think in many ways my tastes line up with yours so your input is great. Thanks for the great job you do too!

@@josephdettmer6575 thank you for the kind words! The PB2000 Pro is great, it is considerably bigger so I'd expect it to have a little more output but I don't think you need it. The soundbar should run out of steam before either subwoofer hits it's limits unless the room has major bass issues. I like the RS11 a lot and you get a painted finish that's rather nice. Both companies make great subs but these two are close enough in my book that I'd say pick based on looks or size as they both offer really great output and extension.

@@NemoPropaganda thanks for your help. I think I’m going to try the emotiva. I think you are right it’s going to be perfect. When I’m ready to start rebuilding another system. I’m going to be checking in with you too. I can always get a second rs-11 as well when a system build starts to happen. I do really like the look and finish of the rs-11. Where else can I follow you and chat? Do you do Instagram or Facebook and messenger? Stuff like that. I’m trying to watch all your videos. I actually found you because I was looking to get the new db-12 or db-15 from velodyne. But after your review, I changed my mind quick. Thanks again for what you are doing, it helps me and a lot of us out. Can’t wait for more videos

@@josephdettmer6575 Discord is best, it's free and a link can be found in any of my newer videos!

I've sent 4 emails to Hsu, their office is literally 30 mins from my home, no response.

@@NemoPropaganda I’ve sent them a long email, haha, let’s see if that does something. Maybe if they get a few email from people, they’ll at least send out a review sample. I’m not buying a product like this, sight un-heard, unless I see a review from a reviewer that I’ve watched review other products and started fallowing.

@@cdelapaz5 thank's Chris I appreciate that, honestly at this point I've lost interest and I have a rule of only reviewing items I'm personally interested in since I just run this channel for fun :D

Hey Andrew, it's hard to be sure since it's going in a different room. If you love the SB3000 sound I'd just grab a 2000 pro for the bedroom :D. I love the FVX12 but it seems a bit overkill for a bedroom system. Personally I'd do something small in a bedroom like the SVS Micro, 1000 pro, or KEF KC62.

@@NemoPropaganda thank you. Or do you think I should just leave the DefTech alone as I’m not unpleased with it. It’s small and not intrusive already as it is.

@@AndrewWong08 oh for sure man, if you're happy with it and have no complaints keep it for sure! Use that money to invest or get christmas gifts for friends/family instead :D

damn bro that's a tough one, I'd imagine the RS11 in ported mode should have a little more theater rumble but you're just gaming and listening to music. That's honestly a tough question, you're asking about 2 solid products. If you're desk gaming you might prefer the RS11 in ported mode. If you're couch gaming (like me :D) then I'd say either one but you might appreciate the user definable profiles of the SB3000. Honestly it might be easiest to just pick the one you think looks cooler. Like both are seriously good, if it were me I'd probably take the RS11 for 1 simple reason, I like ported subs a lot, not full time but sometimes I'm in the mood for that extra low end that ported subs have and the RS11 has the ability to give me that sealed transient response that I crave 85% of the time but that 15% of the time when I wanna get stupid I could just remove the foam plug and enjoy a stupid amount of exaggerated bass lol. Sorry I couldn't give you a clear answer one way or another, both products are priced correctly so it means both are worth the money.

That's alright I really appreciate the response. I'm more of a couch gamer myself, like you. I'm a novice when it comes to audio equipment so not sure if the profiles on the SB3000 would be game changer sort of speak. I'll go with the RS11 if nothing other than I like the looks of it better. Thanks man!!

@@dantephoenix3561 awesome dude! yeah you really can't go wrong here, those are both killer subs!! Since you're newer to audio you might actually prefer the RS11 with it's more simple top mount controls. It's easier to setup and adjust. Phase will be the most important thing to get right on any subwoofer, I made a video that might help once you get it: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-aZbzvanu3vA.html if you have any other questions once it arrives feel free to holler, as you can see I'm pretty responsive :)

Hello from New Zealand. I had precisely the same question :-)...Thanks for answering! Btw, what are the Shipping box dimensions of RS11?

@@ashishg9089 I'm not sure, I suggest you email emotiva and they can tell you :)

Hey Calvin, Hsu Research is not interested in working with me and I am not interested enough to spend my own money on one just to review it.

Hi Willy, so it's a bit tough to answer that questions since I haven't heard the RS13 nor do I know your usage habits but essentially what's important with respect to bass is that you like what you're hearing and there is ample quantity of it. The RS13 is a beast and should be more capable than the FVX12 simply due to the larger driver but if you're not listening loud enough to push the FVX12 to it's limits you may not experience any difference. It's like having two cars, one can driver 110mph and the other can go 150mph, but I never driver faster than 80mph so I care more about how the car drives vs how fast it can go all out.

@@NemoPropaganda Good analogy and food for thought. I'll be using it for 90% HT @ moderate levels. Think I need to stop overthinking it & just feel which one is more enjoyable - I'll demo some samples with the FVX12 right before I hook up the RS13 & go from there. Thanks for the reply man!

@@wildwilly32 let me know what you decide, the FVX12 is one of my personal favorites, as much as I hate to admit it there's just a level of effortlessness that only large box subwoofers can bring to the table.

@@NemoPropaganda For sure I'll let you know. I'm coming from old faithful HSU VTF-3 MK2 which has served me well for many years (& still kicking). And I agree with you on the FVX12, for the short time I've had it, it punches hard + blends amazingly with my fronts. I trialed a PB2000 Pro, and was, just, disappointed - right out the box the FVX12 blew me away. Curious to see how the RS13 stacks against it and if it blends as well.

@@NemoPropaganda Hey man, I demoed the RS13. And, I've decided to keep the FVX12. The RS13 was more than capable, dug deep & had virtually zero port chuff/noise. Was a completely different sound than the FVX12. BUT the Rythmik has a tighter punch/more responsive, digs just as low, and frankly gobs more mid-bass. It was down to which felt better, and the Rythmik just has that 'special sauce' factor to it. *Emotiva if you're reading this I'm sorry guys..I still love your speakers & my HT setup is all Airmotiv 👍. Thanks Nemo!

I like both subs a lot, the dual rel 1205 v1 will give you more even bass while the RS11 will have a thicker bottom end, you can't go wrong either way. How do you like the RS11 so far?

@@NemoPropaganda actually i thought it was broken at first. Had du crank up both signal from avr and gain to max to even hear the test tone. But now things seem to rapidly get better by the minute.. I can not say wow yet comming from my xtz 10.16. I will get back with more feedback when i played around more with it more :)

@@shaddepadde that's weird, maybe your AVR subout isn't a very strong signal.

Hey Robert, I must admit my memory of the SB3000 has been fading, the youtube channel @TwoGuyzTech just reviewed the SB3000 and they should be reviewing the RS11 soon so I think they will be in a better position to answer that question.

oooo what you got?

The biggest benefit of the RS11 is you get a painted finish and it's not going to stick out from the wall as much as the PB-2000 pro. If that matters to you for sure get the RS11. If you don't mind the larger size the PB will have a little more maximum SPL but the reality is both subs are capable of serious output. If it were me I'd go for the RS11 simply for the better painted finish and slightly smaller size.

@@NemoPropaganda Thank you for the reply. Thinking about what you said in the review about physical size of the sub, the RS11 would make more sense for my situation. My wife even watched your review after I mentioned it to her. I already have the Emotiva T2+ towers, C2+ center, and B1+ surrounds, so I like the brand. Funny, hadn't considered the RS11 before your review. Looking at the SVS subs, they have the SB-3000 which is similar in size to the RS11, slightly more powerful amp, and it is a little lower in price. It is not ported though. Looking at the specs of both subs, I can't find a good way to compare SPL, they seem to use a different baseline. I do like the ability to control the SVS via bluetooth. Whichever I go with, the plan would be to get two. Lots to think about. :)

@@sayerseely3195 their maximum SPL should be similar enough, the RS11 driver is smaller but ported while the SB3000 is slightly bigger but in a smaller cabinet yet with more power. If I had to entirely guess I'd say their maximum SPL's should be right on par with each other and the RS11 might have an edge. All things being equal a properly sized ported sub is almost equal to 2 sealed subs in terms of output. This is a rough generalization but true enough.

@@NemoPropaganda Thank you for the info. Very much appreciate it Nemo!

@@sayerseely3195 let us know what you decide and feel free to join the discord if you want more opinions, it's free and linked in my most recent community post.

The RS11 is discontinued. Are you sure you can get one?

@@NemoPropaganda I'm positive, private sale and it's mine if I want it. Let me add it is one of the polished ones as well. It's missing the port plug but I'm not terribly concerned since it's going to be used solely for movies and gaming

@@jasonmc6997 yeah the port plugs not too important, I listened mostly with it vented. Soooo it's like this bro, both subs are great options at their respective price points. The question is just would you rather have 2 cheaper ones or 1 more expensive one that looks a little nicer and is built a litte better?

@@NemoPropaganda I would think the 2 RSL's would "fill" the room better but the RS11 would reach deeper and maybe sound a bit better and more controlled. Side question, any knowledge of why Emotiva discontinued the RS series?

@@jasonmc6997 My guess is it didn't sell well enough and supply chain issues caused by the koof. As far as what you should get I think most people would say go for the dual sub option when possible. Personally aesthtics are extremely important to me so I'd rather have the single RS11 but from a performance standpoint you'd most likely be happier with dual 10s.

I think it's important to remember the RS11 is 50% more expensive. With that said it's built to a higher standard, has more output, more extension, a beefier driver, etc... The REL certainly is the more musical but the RS11 is good enough at music. If you're looking for a strong theater sub they're both strong theater subs but the RS11 in ported mode is on another level. The real question should be do you want dual HT-1205 or a single RS11.

@@NemoPropaganda I would be perfectly okay with a single RS11. Your commentary on plugging the port of the RS11 for music is invaluable. That's partially what influenced me to contact you. I recently found out that I will have to move, so, I have no idea what the future room dimensions will be.

@@NemoPropaganda I decided to go with the REL HT/1205. I considered several things. The fact that REL specializes in only making subwoofers was a factor. I also like the idea of sealed subs. Another factor that I considered is what I need at the moment. Too, I could add an HT/1205 and use the wireless module in the future. My system currently looks like this: Emotiva MC-700 - pre/pro Carver AV-405 - Amp Sony UBP-X800M2 - 4k blue ray 65” Sony A80j Martin Logan Aerius I - L/R Martin Logan Logos - Center TBD - surrounds Do you have any additional thoughts?

@@caballerosuave It's a win for you either way, both subs are awesome! Sorry I don't have any recommendations for surround speakers, that's not really my wheel house.

@@caballerosuave that's a great sub, sorry I don't have any thoughts on surrounds, not really my wheel house.

The RS11 is discontinued now.

REL HT-1205 😄

@@NemoPropaganda ah they make very good stools 😂

I never said the Speedwoofer 10s had a stamped basket, in fact when I reviewed it I showed off the cast basket and talked about it in my review. However 2 corrections for you sir: the Speedwoofer does not have 450w, it's 350w and costs $399 (in usa) not the $499 you mentioned :), you can see my review here for more information: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ltnmxoVUiA0.html&t If you don't think this is worth more money that's okay brother. I'm not here to sell you anything and what is, or is not "worth it" is very personal because essentially you are talking about value and only you can define that for yourself. I drive an expensive car, some people would say that's not "worth it" but to me it's totally worth it, that's why I bought the damn thing. So value for me, may not be value for someone else, and that's okay but the fact remains the RS11 is superior to the Speedwoofer 10s.

Also that increase from 10” to 11” results in 21% more surface area, that’s nothing to sneeze at. RS11 uses an HDF cabinet, the driver has a 3” voicecoil, the cabinet is thicker, stronger, and more inert, the amplifier section is considerably more powerful. You can’t minimize these differences and say it’s just got top mounted controls and a better finish my man. Thats like saying a mercedes S560 just has leather seats and better paint than a toyota camry.

@@NemoPropaganda I made an observation - you seen to take it personally. I merely stated for the cost, you can get two more very efficient subs to surround the entire listening environment. Yes, I was off $100.00, and they RMA is in fact 350. The 21% gain you refer to in cone diameter is easily made up by pairing 2 RSL subs - and with the savings, you can have your " expensive " car detailed.

@@Audiomainia2310 What I took personally is your "correction" that was incorrect. I take the time to film these videos, everything I say is right there on the screen yet somehow you accuse me of saying the RSL has a stamped basket and in the same paragraph make 2 mistakes of your own. Yes that is frustrating as hell. If you believe 2 or 3 cheaper items are better than 1 expensive item that's your prerogative. As I have made exceedingly clear value is a personal thing, please stop trying to push your value system onto me and other people. Value is a perception and not an absolute. I see the value in both products, you only see value in the cheaper one. I respect your personal opinion but I do not agree with it. If you own the RSL already that's a big win, the RSL is one of the finest subwoofers you can buy for $400, be happy with it. Don't knock a more expensive product for no reason though, that's just bad sportsmanship.

@@NemoPropaganda I made an honest mistake and apologized. We all do - don't be infuriated / life's too short. We good?

It's on sale right now for $200, it's so ugly though :( Should I really try it?

@@NemoPropaganda Why not? I'd like to know how it would compare to something like the Emo SE12 or RSL AND it's only $200!!!

@@marcusmcmurray77 I hope you feel special, I just ordered it and this is officially the first time I have taken a request like this :D

@@NemoPropaganda dude thanks so much i'm actually really excited because i have it and i love it except for a rattling during higher output but that's largely due to my heavy EQ since it was the easiest way to even out the FR in my room i imagine it is by far the best in terms of sound quality that you can get on a budget, and no one has reviewed it

@@owen-ng8oe just don't hate me if i don't like it :) but for $200 I will of course be much less critical.

Hi Greg, port noise is something you will experience with all ported subwoofers when they are pushed to the absolute limit. In my room I did not reach that limit with this subwoofer so I never heard any port noise. The vent itself is also nicely radiused which should further reduce the liklihood of runing into any port noise.

@@NemoPropaganda Thank you and for the very fast reply!

I have narrowed it down to two Emotiva RS11 for $852.00 sale price & SVS SB-3000 outlet $899.99. I bought SVS to day to try out because of return policy. I thought I would give sealed sub a try because I've never owned one. If you use the subwoofer 80% of the time for movies do you thank Emotiva RS11 is the way to go?

@@gregorybond2859 Both are fine options, the SB3000 is better if you're tight on space, if you can fit the slightly bigger RS11 you will have a much fuller sounding bottom end.

yeah I made a community post about it a month ago, the sub is discontinued now though.

I think so too! Maybe a 6 stack! Ahahaha, just kidding, my room is too small for a No 25 sadly.

Lol@ 6 stack but accurate 25 hz you should try it low volume with 2 rel t5x

@@haydenbarrow9603 you can't stack the T series since they're down firing though.