At Crutchfield, you'll get detailed, accurate information that's hard to find elsewhere.
That's because we have our own in-house Product Research team — they open the box,
verify contents, check the owner's manual, and record dimensions, features and specs.
We stay on top of new products and technologies to help people make informed choices.
Features
Controls
Connections
Features
Class-D Digital Amplifier: The
Optimum-8 features Velodyne's patented ERS (Energy Recovery System) Class-D
digital amplifier. The amp delivers 1200 watts RMS and 2400
watts dynamic power. Rated at over 95% efficiency, the ERS amp
generates minimal heat, making it incredibly reliable.
Kevlar Reinforced Driver: To compliment the
powerful amplifier, the subwoofer uses an 8" driver
with a multi-layer, Kevlar reinforced, resin cone and high-excursion EPDM rubber
surround mounted in a die-cast aluminum basket, and a massive 204 oz (12.75
pound) magnet structure.
Two-layer Copper Voice Coil: The driver
incorporates a unique 2.5 inch, inside/outside wound, two-layer copper voice coil that assures
linear travel, and allows for the heat dissipation needed to handle the power
delivered by the 1200 watt RMS ERS amp.
DSP: Texas Instruments DSP chips and customized software are used to accurately
adjust the Optimum-8s sonic parameters, resulting in a fantastically detailed
bass output.
Controls
Volume: There are volume
buttons on the front and rear of the sub, and on the remote. The volume scale
runs from 0 to 80 and is displayed on the front panel.
Low-pass Crossover: The crossover control allows you
to adjust the upper limit of the subwoofer's
frequency response from 40 to 120 Hz. The Optimum-8 has multiple staggered
low-pass crossovers; the slope at the crossover point is 12 dB/octave, the slope
one octave above the crossover point is
48 dB/octave.
Subwoofer Direct: Turning the crossover
knob to the counterclockwise most position engages the
Subwoofer Direct feature, bypassing the built-in crossover and allowing
frequencies up to 200 Hz to pass to the woofer. This feature is used with an
outboard crossover.
Phase Adjustment: The remote control allows you to
adjust the phase of the subwoofer's output signal in 90° increments (0°,
90°, 180°, and 270°) to
optimize the sub's performance, given it's location and your listening position.
Auto Equalizer: The Optimum-8 has an internal 6-band
parametric EQ that is
automatically set using the included microphone. With the mic in your listening
position, engage the auto EQ feature using the remote and the sub emits 12 sweep
tones covering frequencies from 20 to 150 Hz and optimizes the EQ settings for
the room.
Presets: There are four presets designed for specific applications:
- Movies: maximum output and impact for
special effects (25 Hz subsonic filter/+4 dB
boost at 35 Hz/+5 dB volume boost)
- R&B-Rock: driving bass for today's
rock and R&B music (28 Hz subsonic filter/+4 dB
boost at 50 Hz/+1 dB volume boost)
- Jazz-Classical: tightest, cleanest,
lowest distortion bass (15 Hz subsonic filter with no
bass or volume boost)
- Games: maximum loudness
for video game impact (34 Hz subsonic filter/+4 dB boost at
62 Hz/+4 dB volume boost)
Display: A blue LED
display on the front of the
sub indicates the phase, EQ preset, night mode, and volume. The display turns
off when the sub goes into standby mode, or it can be turned off manually when
the sub is playing.
Night Mode: Using the Night Mode
limits the maximum output of the sub.
Remote: The Optimum-8 includes
a wireless remote that controls power, volume, EQ,
presets, phase, mute, light, and the night mode. An IR sensor is on the front of
the sub in the upper left corner. The remote's dimensions are:
- Width: 1.580"
- Height: 3.392"
- Depth: 0.313"
Auto Turn-on Function: With
this function in the "auto" position, the subwoofer will turn itself on
automatically when an audio signal is present. If no signal is present for
approximately 8 minutes, the unit will switch to standby mode. When the auto-on
feature is turned off, the sub remains on unless you manually turn it off using
the master switch on the rear panel.
Input and Output Notes
Preamp Level Input (RCA): The line-level
jacks should be used when connecting the subwoofer to a
pre-amp, signal processor, line-level crossover, or receiver with pre-amp level
outputs. If inputting a single LFE signal, connect to the left input.
Preamp Level Output (RCA): The stereo line-level
output has an 80 Hz/6 dB per octave high-pass crossover for use
with a pre-amp. The preamp output is only useful when a full range stereo signal
is sent to the preamp inputs.
Speaker Level Input: The speaker-level jacks
connect directly to the speaker outputs of any
amplifier, integrated amplifier, or receiver. Your amplifier section will notice
no additional load when you use these inputs due to their high
impedance. The speaker inputs have 5-way binding posts.
Mic Input: The included
microphone plugs into a mini-jack input on the front of the sub.
IR Input: A mini-jack IR input
is used if you have a universal remote system with IR repeater.
12V Trigger: If a mini-plug is
connected to this jack, the sub remains off until 12 volts is applied across the
terminal. Polarity is irrelevant.
