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Comparison Icon 10 Active Mark II vs Mystery MBV-251A

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Icon 10 Active Mark II
Mystery MBV-251A
Icon 10 Active Mark IIMystery MBV-251A
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Application areacarcar
Designenclosedenclosed
Enclosure typevented boxvented box
Body shapeBoxBox
Typeactiveactive
Size10" (25 cm)10" (25 cm)
Tech specs
Rated power100 W150 W
Max. power150 W
Frequency range30 – 900 Hz28 – 800 Hz
Sensitivity93 dB
Impedance4 ohm
Resonant frequency32 Hz
Bass level control
Phase control
High voltage input
Gold plated contacts
General
Remote control
Protective grille
 /chrome plated/
Diffuser materialpolypropylene
MaterialMDFMDF
Woofer Diameter250 mm250 mm
Enclosures dimensions317x487x385 mm
Added to E-Catalognovember 2018july 2012

Rated power

The average (root mean square — RMS) power of the input signal, at which the subwoofer is able to work continuously without negative consequences (damage, failure) for at least an hour. The rated power of the subwoofer must be greater than the power of the amplifier connected to it — in order to avoid overloads.

Max. power

The maximum signal power that the subwoofer is able to withstand for a short time (up to several seconds) without any negative consequences. When selecting an amplifier-subwoofer pair, it is recommended to take a subwoofer with a maximum power of at least twice the maximum power of the amplifier. In general, the higher the maximum power, the more resistant the subwoofer is to overloads.

Frequency range

The range of audio frequencies reproduced by the subwoofer. It is believed that the human ear is capable of perceiving a frequency range of the order of 16 – 20,000 Hz, but in this case note that the subwoofer is designed to reproduce the lower frequency band (up to 200 Hz). Accordingly, in the case of the lower limit of the range, everything is simple: “the lower, the better”; the upper one should not be lower than the lower limit of the main car audio — otherwise there will be "gaps" in the frequencies, which will affect the sound quality.

Sensitivity

Sensitivity determines the loudness of the subwoofer when a signal of a certain power is connected to it: with equal signal power and impedance (see below), the subwoofer with the higher sensitivity will sound louder.

Impedance

The electrical resistance of a subwoofer when a signal is applied to it. This parameter is important primarily for selecting a subwoofer-amplifier pair: at a lower impedance than that of the amplifier, the subwoofer will distort the sound, at a higher impedance the sound will be too quiet.

For dual voice coil models (see above), the impedance is specified for one of the voice coils.

Resonant frequency

The natural frequency of the cone in the subwoofer speaker, namely the frequency with which the cone will oscillate if the speaker is suspended freely in the air and a single impulse is transmitted to the cone (for example, by clicking on it with your finger). In subwoofers, this parameter determines, in particular, the lower limit of the frequency range (see above): at frequencies below the resonant sound power drops sharply. Accordingly, for deep rich bass, the resonant frequency should be as low as possible. This parameter is also used to calculate the size of the enclosure for the subwoofer.

Phase control

The ability to change the phase of the sound coming from the subwoofer, in other words, the ability to adjust the sound from the subwoofer to lead or lag relative to the main speakers. This need may be due to the fact that the sound from the main speakers and from the subwoofer can reach the listener with different delays — due to the location of the speakers and the features of the electronics — which negatively affects the sound quality. Adjusting the phases allows you to harmonize this sound. This feature is usually found in active subwoofers.

High voltage input

The presence of a high-voltage input at the active (see "Type") subwoofer. Such an input greatly expands the possibilities for connection. Usually active subwoofers are connected via a linear (low-voltage) input directly to the radio. The high-voltage input allows you to connect the speaker to a separate power amplifier, like a passive subwoofer.

Gold plated contacts

The presence of gold plating on the subwoofer connectors. Such a coating is not only aesthetically pleasing, but above all it is resistant to oxidation, has low electrical resistance and ensures reliable contact, thus minimizing interference from the connection point.
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Mystery MBV-251A often compared