Los Vega's HT

[vega2K]

Hello all.

I'm just popping in for a minute. I came across a deal on Eclipse Curtains at Sears going for 50% off here. Sorry for the short notice but the deal ends today 1/9/10! I took advantage and purchased 6 panels of the black suede Reg price $34.99, today $17.49 each, plus the $5 off on purchase of $50+. I did a store pick-up and saved on shipping. Good luck!

Here's a bit more details:


Sears has Eclipse Black-Out Curtains for 50% off from as low as $8.49 each. Save $5 off $50 or more with code SEARS5OFF50. Select in-store pick up to save on shipping, otherwise it starts at $6.95 to ship to home.

Credit goes to my next favorite site Slickdeals.net.

[vega2K]

Hello all,

Thought I'd drop by and introduce you to the newest member in my HT family:


MX-125 MkII Subwoofer
Drivers: (2) 12" long-throw MK125
Push pull configuration virtually eliminates even harmonic distortion
Built-in 150 watt RMS amplifier
Active Headroom Maximizer IV design to prevent clipping
Adjustable 50Hz-125Hz low-pass filter with bypass
Frequency Response: 20 - 125 Hz ± 3dB
Weight: 64 lbs
Dimensions: 23" H x 15.25" W x 19 5/8" D

I was really impressed with Subs with multiple drivers in the same unit, such as the Martin Logan Descent, which utilize the configuration to cancel out cabinet noise and vibration. I came across the now bankrupt (but soon returning) Miller & Keisler line of subs. According to a review I found: M&K's MX-125 subwoofer houses two long-throw 12" woofers in a push-pull configuration. These are the same drivers used in the THX-Ultra certified MX-350 MkII subwoofer. This design has one driver facing into the room while the second driver faces up into the bottom of the cabinet. Both drivers are wired electrically out of phase, but acoustically in phase with one another, doubling the amount of acoustical power into the room.

I was lucky enough to find this beauty in Craigslist and finalized the deal today at an unbelievable price of $125!! I already hooked it up and am totally blown away. I did not know I was missing bass until I tried this one out. Totally awesome!

Here's a few more pics:

The M&K next to my 12" AA for comparison (notice that the AA is on a riser):


Here's a better view of the second 12" Driver:


This sub is in great condition.

A few interesting facts about M&K:
For a while M&K was the highly recognized speaker manufacturer in the US. Their speakers were used in the making of several of the Star Wars movies. The founders have been credited as the first subwoofer makers. In 2007 they went bankrupt, but recently they are being resurrected by a UK company and are now starting to make speakers again. Check abt.com to see some of the new lines, which include high end subs still utilizing the dual configuration shown above.

From my research, the quality of the older M&K speakers are fantastic and can be had at very reasonable prices if you can find them (people have never heard of them or are not interested due to the bankruptcy). But I have also found that parts are very easy to come by on ebay, in fact I am thinking of upgrading the drivers with an upgraded model which are supposed to increase the output by 6db.

I used the funds I had set aside to upgrade the 12" driver on the AA and was able to get a whole Sub unit with two 12" drivers. This purchase came totally unexpected and may be the best purchase of the year!

[crazyBLUE]

That thing is A monster vega I like monsters
That box is as big or bigger than my 15" .

How does it sound tone wise , & without A riser . Nice score vega !

[TKNice]

OMG, thats awesome

[vega2K]

Originally Posted by crazyBLUE

That thing is A monster vega I like monsters
That box is as big or bigger than my 15" .

How does it sound tone wise , & without A riser . Nice score vega !

Hey Crazy,

I love the size too, but i love the Two 12" drivers more! I only had a chance to listen to the lows of a movie, Kung Fu Panda, since I am very familar with it. I could tell the difference right away. Fuller bass and lower than before with my other two subs. My daughter said the speaker tickeled her stomach. I already have plans for a riser!

[vega2K]

Originally Posted by TKNice

OMG, thats awesome

[crazyBLUE]

Originally Posted by vega2K

Hey Crazy,

I love the size too, but i love the Two 12" drivers more! I only had a chance to listen to the lows of a movie, Kung Fu Panda, since I am very familar with it. I could tell the difference right away. Fuller bass and lower than before with my other two subs. My daughter said the speaker tickeled her stomach. I already have plans for a riser!

Way cool that it goes lower than the other 2 subs . & if your daughter felt the difference than that's great . Have you decided on A spot for it or are you going to be moving it around to see where it sounds best !

[vega2K]

Originally Posted by crazyBLUE

Way cool that it goes lower than the other 2 subs . & if your daughter felt the difference than that's great . Have you decided on A spot for it or are you going to be moving it around to see where it sounds best !

The daughter comments did it for me. I have a different approach at placement. I don't have the patience or the time to move multiple subs, so instead I set them up in a certain configuration and leave them there for a few months. After watching movies and listening to music during this time, I then change it up and do it again. I find that I can tell the difference better this way.

[crazyBLUE]

Originally Posted by vega2K

The daughter comments did it for me. I have a different approach at placement. I don't have the patience or the time to move multiple subs, so instead I set them up in a certain configuration and leave them there for a few months. After watching movies and listening to music during this time, I then change it up and do it again. I find that I can tell the difference better this way.

That's kinda funny , I have done that many times myself . When I got the 15" going I new it would sound best up front & it did in my room .

After you find where its best , Post some pics of the setup .

[vega2K]

Originally Posted by crazyBLUE

That's kinda funny , I have done that many times myself . When I got the 15" going I new it would sound best up front & it did in my room .

After you find where its best , Post some pics of the setup .

Changing it up is part of the fun! I will take pics as I "triangulate" it Crazy!

[crazyBLUE]

Originally Posted by vega2K

Changing it up is part of the fun! I will take pics as I "triangulate" it Crazy!

You got that right on changing things . I like to look at it as how are you going to know if you don't try it !

[callas01]

Vega thats awesome. so it is a 2 driver sub? how awesome is that....

Great find too... I did look on audiogon, but didn't find what I wanted, so I picked up the eD....

That sub looks amazing

[ZIPPO]

VERY NICE FIND VEGA!
Was the seller desperate for money or crazy?

If I ever do a dedicated in home theater, my dream speakers will be three MK S-150's behind the screen for the front channels.

[vega2K]

Originally Posted by ZIPPO

VERY NICE FIND VEGA!
Was the seller desperate for money or crazy?

If I ever do a dedicated in home theater, my dream speakers be three MK S-150's behind the screen for the front channels.

Zippo,
The seller was a young guy who seemed to need the money. Apparently he had the ad in Craigs for a while and he had to lower the price. As I said above, not too many people have heard of M&K, I know I never heard of them until a few weeks ago.

I have come to be very familiar with the M&Ks. The S150s and the S5000s are almost impossible to find. I have my eye on them now too.

[vega2K]

Originally Posted by callas01

Vega thats awesome. so it is a 2 driver sub? how awesome is that....

Great find too... I did look on audiogon, but didn't find what I wanted, so I picked up the eD....

That sub looks amazing

Two 12" drivers!

The eD is going to be awesome too! But keep checking because you can never have too many!

[Fors*]

Originally Posted by vega2K

Two 12" drivers!

The eD is going to be awesome too! But keep checking because you can never have too many!

Vega, congrats again on your new sub....so from the diagram, this thing fires in phase with both drivers?

[talstarone]

Originally Posted by vega2K

Hello all,

Thought I'd drop by and introduce you to the newest member in my HT family:


MX-125 MkII Subwoofer
Drivers: (2) 12" long-throw MK125
Push pull configuration virtually eliminates even harmonic distortion
Built-in 150 watt RMS amplifier
Active Headroom Maximizer IV design to prevent clipping
Adjustable 50Hz-125Hz low-pass filter with bypass
Frequency Response: 20 - 125 Hz ± 3dB
Weight: 64 lbs
Dimensions: 23" H x 15.25" W x 19 5/8" D

I was really impressed with Subs with multiple drivers in the same unit, such as the Martin Logan Descent, which utilize the configuration to cancel out cabinet noise and vibration. I came across the now bankrupt (but soon returning) Miller & Keisler line of subs. According to a review I found: M&K's MX-125 subwoofer houses two long-throw 12" woofers in a push-pull configuration. These are the same drivers used in the THX-Ultra certified MX-350 MkII subwoofer. This design has one driver facing into the room while the second driver faces up into the bottom of the cabinet. Both drivers are wired electrically out of phase, but acoustically in phase with one another, doubling the amount of acoustical power into the room.

I was lucky enough to find this beauty in Craigslist and finalized the deal today at an unbelievable price of $125!! I already hooked it up and am totally blown away. I did not know I was missing bass until I tried this one out. Totally awesome!

Here's a few more pics:

The M&K next to my 12" AA for comparison (notice that the AA is on a riser):


Here's a better view of the second 12" Driver:


This sub is in great condition.

A few interesting facts about M&K:
For a while M&K was the highly recognized speaker manufacturer in the US. Their speakers were used in the making of several of the Star Wars movies. The founders have been credited as the first subwoofer makers. In 2007 they went bankrupt, but recently they are being resurrected by a UK company and are now starting to make speakers again. Check abt.com to see some of the new lines, which include high end subs still utilizing the dual configuration shown above.

From my research, the quality of the older M&K speakers are fantastic and can be had at very reasonable prices if you can find them (people have never heard of them or are not interested due to the bankruptcy). But I have also found that parts are very easy to come by on ebay, in fact I am thinking of upgrading the drivers with an upgraded model which are supposed to increase the output by 6db.

I used the funds I had set aside to upgrade the 12" driver on the AA and was able to get a whole Sub unit with two 12" drivers. This purchase came totally unexpected and may be the best purchase of the year!

Vega,my Friend.That New Sub is a Beauty.
I remember seeing ads for their subs in the early and mid 1990's Audio Magazines.
They were Truly Highly Regarded for the Performance and construction.

That may go down as the best find of the Year.
To locate that sub for that price is Amazing.

The whole sub is around the same price the Basic Entry Level Subs cost now.But performs like Subs costing 7 or 8 times the incredible price you paid.

Congratulations and it looks as if you have a Great Member of your Sub Family.

So will you end up upgrading the Driver in the AA now.Or will the AA be retired for use in another room or an entirely new home?

[vega2K]

Originally Posted by Fors*

Vega, congrats again on your new sub....so from the diagram, this thing fires in phase with both drivers?

I'll post this cool pic here to explain as I understand it:



The drivers are connected out of phase, meaning one of the drivers has the speaker connections reversed. However, because of the configuration, they are in phase acoustically, i.e., they both push inwards and pull outwards in phase. This is why it is known as a push/pull configuration. The way it is set-up, eliminates cabinet noise/anamolies and supposedly increases the power output. I love the uniqueness of it and had an impact in my set-up immediately.

[talstarone]

Originally Posted by vega2K

I'll post this cool pic here to explain as I understand it:



The drivers are connected out of phase, meaning one of the drivers has the speaker connections reversed. However, because of the configuration, they are in phase acoustically, i.e., they both push inwards and pull outwards in phase. This is why it is known as a push/pull configuration. The way it is set-up, eliminates cabinet noise/anamolies and supposedly increases the power output. I love the uniqueness of it and had an impact in my set-up immediately.

Excellent Animation.I Simply Love It,Vega,my Friend.

[vega2K]

Originally Posted by talstarone

Vega,my Friend.That New Sub is a Beauty.
I remember seeing ads for their subs in the early and mid 1990's Audio Magazines.
They were Truly Highly Regarded for the Performance and construction.

That may go down as the best find of the Year.
To locate that sub for that price is Amazing.

The whole sub is around the same price the Basic Entry Level Subs cost now.But performs like Subs costing 7 or 8 times the incredible price you paid.

Congratulations and it looks as if you have a Great Member of your Sub Family.

So will you end up upgrading the Driver in the AA now.Or will the AA be retired for use in another room or an entirely new home?

Hey Tals, I hope that pain medication is kicking in and your feeling more comfortable!

Yes, I still have a hard time believing I scored this one, definitely in the right place at the right time.

I am not sure about the AA, it is a good sub and sounds great, but as I have always stated, it really needs help with the higher Lows, which is what I have been using my modified 10" Kenwood (with the Dayton HF Driver) for. I am happy with it, but I have been looking to upgrade for a while. For now, I will continue to use it as a third sub, but at the same time, I am looking into other brands and would love to find a second M&K with the push/pull configuration.