The Official AV123 Subwoofer Owners Thread

[Big Daddy]

Please discuss your AV123 subwoofers in this thread. You can include pictures, reviews, or any other comments regarding your subwoofer.

Manufacturer’s Website: http://www.av123.com//index.php?page...art&Itemid=126

[Steve]

I ordered a b-stock and had a few speed bumps with it. Some shipping delays, and then when it arrived it had a bad driver. AV123 sent me a new driver, no questions asked, and after replacing it, I've had no problems at all. I absolutely love it. I have quite a few rattles to track down and deal with in my living room now. There are pics in my HT Gallery.

P.S. Big Daddy it was a good idea setting up the separate threads for the different manufacturers.

[mikewills]

Thanks Big D.

I received 2 MFW-15s a couple weeks ago and I absolutely love them. I haven't had any issues, but I know of a few who have. I guess when you sell several thousand of them over a year's time, your bound to have a few. Whatever the issue....they strive to make it right. The performance of this is beyond expectations, especially at it's price point. It rivals some big name woofers.....and most of them alomost double the cost.

I wouldn't hesitate to buy from them again, as their customer service is top notch. Mark Schifter definitely knew who to tap into, when he developed his line-up and not many folks can say they own a subwoofer that Mark Seaton designed. The rest of his line have also attracted great reviews.

We need to post a link to Craigsub's subwoofer review, which is probably the most highly regarded subwoofer review in existance. So much, that he was banned for giving unbiased opinions on subs.......and testing information to back it up. The MFW is very very high on this list.

Mike

[Steve]

Originally Posted by mikewills

We need to post a link to Craigsub's subwoofer review, which is probably the most highly regarded subwoofer review in existance. So much, that he was banned for giving unbiased opinions on subs.......and testing information to back it up. The MFW is very very high on this list.

Mike

Good idea. Here's the link.

http://www.tweakcityaudio.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11

Very nice looking Paradigm setup BTW Mike.

[mdm1699]

Originally Posted by fireman325

I ordered a b-stock and had a few speed bumps with it. Some shipping delays, and then when it arrived it had a bad driver. AV123 sent me a new driver, no questions asked, and after replacing it, I've had no problems at all. I absolutely love it. I have quite a few rattles to track down and deal with in my living room now. There are pics in my HT Gallery.

P.S. Big Daddy it was a good idea setting up the separate threads for the different manufacturers.

I wanted to jump on their Black Friday sales so bad I almost had an aneurism . I just could not get past the negative feedbacks on their forum....ground hums, hot/bad amps in idle mode, holes in speaker surrounds. Too bad! I hope that all those things are in the past. I am still a little bitter even though I never bought one. The finishes are sweet.

[mikewills]

I hear you. I contemplated as well, but decided to pull the trigger. Mark has an intense passion for audio, more than you'll find from another ID retailer. Most of the issues you see on the site are limited to a few cry babies.

Most of the ground hum issues are NOT the subwoofer, but improper grounding of cable/dish equipment. There are some other hum issues that came up, but easily resolved by moving the amp wires to the side.

The amp issues are interesting because it's only affecting a few and they are continually having them. Makes me wonder if it's an operator error or an issue with the operator's equipment.

I'm definitely not making excuses for these guys, but I've had great service.

Mike

[Footloose301]

I LOVE MY MFW-15!

I ordered one in Satin Black which took about 2 months to come in. I have never been so impressed with a speaker, especially at the price point. This thing shakes everything in my room and knocks cups off the tables. It truly is a beast.


Curious you say?.....




The woofer looks a bit on the cheap side, but I think we all know that the key to good performance comes from a properly calibrated enclosure.

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by Footloose301

[SIZE="4"]
The woofer looks a bit on the cheap side, but I think we all know that the key to good performance comes from a properly calibrated enclosure.

In few years or months, when your Upgraditis disease begins to bug you, you can easily replace the driver with something even more powerful. You can build another sub with the old driver and have two beasts in tour room. I am sure your neighbors will love you even more.

[Driver_King]

Originally Posted by Footloose301

The woofer looks a bit on the cheap side, but I think we all know that the key to good performance comes from a properly calibrated enclosure.

You can always upgrade. That is a gorgeous box though.

[rthune101]

Well I finally pulled the trigger....ordered my MFW-15 today after debating for months to go with SVS, ED or AV123. I am nervous about having amp/driver/shipping issues so we'll see how the venture goes! I have a Klipsch Sub-12 right now, in theory if I drop this in the same place, same plug in, same cables, I should have no hum (like right now there is none) right?

[Fors*]

Originally Posted by rthune101

Well I finally pulled the trigger....ordered my MFW-15 today after debating for months to go with SVS, ED or AV123. I am nervous about having amp/driver/shipping issues so we'll see how the venture goes! I have a Klipsch Sub-12 right now, in theory if I drop this in the same place, same plug in, same cables, I should have no hum (like right now there is none) right?

Not sure, but common sense would say no hum.....EDIT: I forgot there were some with that ground loop issue......

Congrats by the way....that sub had a 50/50 shot with me last summer, as i was debating between it and SVS. Then the amp issues were coming to a head, so I ran away pretty quick. However, if in good working order, you will have yourself a great sub. I really wanted one myself, but was too scared to gamble. I guess you feel better now about it than I did back then, which would make sense.

[Steve]

Originally Posted by rthune101

Well I finally pulled the trigger....ordered my MFW-15 today after debating for months to go with SVS, ED or AV123. I am nervous about having amp/driver/shipping issues so we'll see how the venture goes! I have a Klipsch Sub-12 right now, in theory if I drop this in the same place, same plug in, same cables, I should have no hum (like right now there is none) right?

Congrats man. The 15 is an absolute beast. For the money I don't think you can beat it. I'm right there with you hoping you won't have any problems. I think they've got most all of the manufacturing/amp issues out of the way now anyway.

In theory I guess you shouldn't have any problems. I don't know if the new amps are prone to the ground loop issues of the older ones or not. If they are it's a simple and cheap fix though, so don't worry. If you plug the sub in and get a constant low hum out of it, all you need is a 'cheater plug' that will convert the three pronged plug into a two-pronged one, like pictured below.



I needed one for my MFW-15 and I picked it up at Home Depot for like $3. However, for all I know they may have gone to a 2 pronged plug with the new amps.

By the way, what color are you getting?

[rthune101]

I grabbed the B-Stock Moho Diamond (figured I could refinish if I dont like it) for $399....well $546 after shipping. When I was wiring my electrical I did 2 seperate circuits so I guess if I have a hum I can try the other outlet....fingers crossed!

[Fors*]

I know a member, StimpsonJCat bought a b-stock sub last summer and his is still doing extremely well. That shipping is expensive, wow!

[rthune101]

I know, the shipping was almost the 2nd dealbreaker. But the output of this monster for the price is just impressive, plus leaves some money for my much needed speaker upgrades in the near future! Looking at doing RTI10's with a CSI5, and probably some FXI3 rears (all these are so much cheaper than the new models)....then will have to talk myself into an Emo amp. Too many wants, needs and not enough money (well I have enough bu tthe wife would kill me) - lol!

[Steve]

Originally Posted by rthune101

I grabbed the B-Stock Moho Diamond (figured I could refinish if I dont like it) for $399....well $546 after shipping. When I was wiring my electrical I did 2 seperate circuits so I guess if I have a hum I can try the other outlet....fingers crossed!

Originally Posted by Fors*

I know a member, StimpsonJCat bought a b-stock sub last summer and his is still doing extremely well. That shipping is expensive, wow!

Mine is a B-stock as well. I had the driver issue when I got it, but other than that I've had no issues.

I don't really count the ground loop hum as an issue since it's so easily dealt with.

[Driver_King]

Originally Posted by Steve

In theory I guess you shouldn't have any problems. I don't know if the new amps are prone to the ground loop issues of the older ones or not. If they are it's a simple and cheap fix though, so don't worry. If you plug the sub in and get a constant low hum out of it, all you need is a 'cheater plug' that will convert the three pronged plug into a two-pronged one, like pictured below.



I needed one for my MFW-15 and I picked it up at Home Depot for like $3. However, for all I know they may have gone to a 2 pronged plug with the new amps.

Even if this is the case, the cheater plug would still work with two prongs. The ground is still defeated.

[Steve]

Originally Posted by Driver_King

Even if this is the case, the cheater plug would still work with two prongs. The ground is still defeated.

I've always been under the impression that if the MFW-15 utilized a 2 prong plug then there would be no need for the cheater plug because the ground loop issue wouldn't exist. Is that not correct?

[jlafrenz]

Originally Posted by Steve

I've always been under the impression that if the MFW-15 utilized a 2 prong plug then there would be no need for the cheater plug because the ground loop issue wouldn't exist. Is that not correct?

It may be, but not everyone has had a ground loop issue with this sub. Yes, many have, I am one, but if they can use a full 3 prong plug then why not? Ground loops depend on various components and power in each house hold. If some require a cheater plug, then so be it, but I don't think that it should require a change from a 3 to 2 prong plug.

[Driver_King]

Originally Posted by Steve

I've always been under the impression that if the MFW-15 utilized a 2 prong plug then there would be no need for the cheater plug because the ground loop issue wouldn't exist. Is that not correct?

It's not impossible for it to happen but it is not likely. I was speaking hypothetically. It probably will not be an issue regardless but it's always good to have a couple around just in case.