Definitive Technology Descend DN8 8" Subwoofer (2021 Model) - Digitally Optimized for Movies & Music, New 3XR Architecture, 500W Peak Class D Amplifier & (2) Pressure-Coupled 8" Bass Radiators, Black

I think of Excellence Cubed when I listen to my setup now. Before installing the DN8, my system consisted of:1. Marantz SR6015 AVR2. Outlaw 5000 AMP3. LG OLED 65CX HDTV4. Apple TV 4K 2021. (Can hardly wait for the 2025 model)5. Sony UBP-X800 Blu-ray6. ELAC Uni-Fi 7.X.4: Fronts, Center, Surrounds, Surround Backs; and 4 Heights7. SVS SB12 NSD (which corresponded to SVS SB1000) for Left/Right channelsEDIT: MARCH 31, 2025Well, the SVS SB-12 works OK with the DN8, but they are not twins. A lot of the time the SVS "wakes up" boomy, but the DN8 deftly and seamlessly attacks the LFE [low-frequency-effects] as if it were a part of the ELAC towers. As soon as I see Amazon put the DN8 on another good sale, I'm getting the second DN8 for my setup and putting the SVS someplace else. I will never buy SVS again.EDIT: NOVEMBER 26, 2024I still highly recommend the DN8. It works well across all genres and sounds great; plus it has a small footprint. If you have the space and don't worry about transferring sound to others disturbing them, then by all means go for the DN10, DN12, or DN15. You can always return for a refund in the Amazon return window for a full refund if not satisfied. But I don't think you will be returning these guys.CAVEAT: You must calibrate with an AVR room calibrator [Audyssey MultEQ XT32], or some calibration gadget, or you take an unnecessary risk to receive the full benefit of the Definitive Technology expertise.ORIGINAL REVIEW: NOVEMBER 02, 2024My system was structured as listed above until this past October 2024, when one of the SVS subwoofers died, moreover after only seven years of service. In hindsight, it turns out to be a good thing, because I was able to audition the Descend DN8, which is excellent in every way compared to the SVS SB12.I figured after hearing the remarkable improvement presented by the DN8 that I would need another DN8 and get rid of the one remaining SVS, but after room-calibration with Audyssey MultEQ XT32, the SVS SB12 and DN8 behave like twins. 🤣 I can worry about what happens with the surviving SVS SB12 later.My room is 15’ W x 13’ D x 9’ H, and is now very nicely pressurized with the SVS SB12 and Descend DN8 working together. When I had both SVS subs installed, the SPL came nowhere close to what it is now. Sound Pressure Level is more important than many might know or understand. I live in an apartment, so I should never have the DN10 or higher. It doesn’t matter because the DN8 is just . . . excellent. I swear I can hear all kinds of bass notes never heard before. And, probably due to Audyssey calibration, the integration of the center, towers [front L/R; surround L/R], stand speakers [surround back L/R], heights, and subwoofers is flawless. I had calibrated the dual SVS subs with Audyssey as well.There is the saying that “a chain is no greater than its weakest link,” which applies to my system wherein the Descend DN8 has lifted all my equipment to a whole new level, and the Descend DN8 has opened up possibilities in the Marantz SR6015 that the SVS SB12 was not capable of.To clarify the "weakest link" statement: SVS SB12 may have held back my system before by just creating "boom," in everything, music, explosions, etc., now, the SB12 is on a whole new level of musicality and not the weakest link anymore because of the DN8.

Finally, a subwoofer that lives up to its rating. The dn8 is perfect for music,it shares the same amp as the dn10, I chose the dn8 for size and price reasons,it doesn't disappoint. Maybe if you have the money and tons of room the dn12 would be a great choice, it shares the same amp as the dn15. Anyways, I love this subwoofer so much I have 2 and I want 2 more, Fantastic!

Love the depth this thing hits while still remaining musical

I'm picky when it comes to subwoofers, and I've tried about 10-15 of them. I want one that blends seamlessly with music, so you can't tell there's a subwoofer there until you turn it off and see what it was adding. Most subwoofers do not fit the bill for me. I find that they are made intentionally to be boomy, so you notice the subwoofer. This is probably a great selling point when you first get the subwoofer and like the noticeable bass, but I find that when you use it on a day-to-day basis, you notice the boominess and it gets fatiguing and distracts from the listening experience. Also, you have to worry about the neighbors hearing it, since this type of bass goes straight through the walls. I don't appreciate hearing my neighbors subwoofers and don't want to force the nuisance on my neighbors.The best subwoofer I've ever tried was a REL with speaker level inputs. It blended seamlessly, providing very musical, detailed bass that doesn't call attention to itself. Using speaker level inputs is critical for me, since I find it matches the tonality of the rest of the system much better than using pre-amp or LFE RCA signals. I'm using the REL in my primary system, but wanted to go with something a little cheaper for one of my other systems. Since this Deftech had speaker level inputs, I decided it was worth a try.I also prefer smaller subwoofers. Once you get to 10" or higher, the boominess is much harder to control, and it doesn't blend well and you notice it's there. It's very distracting. 8" seems to be about the sweet spot to get precise, controlled bass without the boominess.I can say that this subwoofer overall is not too bad. The bass is a tad on the boomy side and a bit rumbly, but still much better than most subwoofers that are larger. It's not quite controlled enough to blend well with music and doesn't come close to competing with the REL, but again, still better than most subwoofers out there. I ended up returning it because I couldn't configure it in a way where it blended well enough to disappear into the music while still filling in the low end, but if I had to live with it I could have.Other minor observations: I'm not a fan of having the cloth grill go completely around the sub. It means you pretty much have to grab the grill when picking it up and moving it around, and over time that will wear the cloth down. I would have preferred solid sides with a grill just on the front, even with the passives on the sides. I have a little Cambridge Audio subwoofer that has passives on the side, similar setup to the Deftech, but the grill is only on the front. I find that sub much easier to handle.Also, turning the volume all the way down to 0 doesn't completely silence the sub. In fact, the 0 level volume is loud enough that I didn't find the need to turn it up any further. I would have actually liked to turn it down a little further, but it doesn't give you that capability. I will say that this means the power is very adequate. You won't be needing to turn it up much at all if you want to get a thumping bass out of this.In comparison to other subs, as I previously mentioned, RELs are hands down the best at musicality and blending in with the music, very detailed and well controlled. The REL build quality is also far and away the best of any sub I've ever owned. I've tried SVS and Rythmik and found them to be boomy and not well controlled. If you're a bass head and want to shake the walls and pound your head with bass, this is probably what you want. But for someone who wants non-fatiguing music that won't bother your neighbors or make your head hurt, these are horrible. I've also tried Cambridge Audio and B&W subwoofers, and these tend to be better build quality, more musical, and better able to blend, but not quite approaching the level of the REL. I've also owned Klipsch and Polk subs. The very lower end ones are just muddy, poor quality bass. The slightly higher end Polk and Klipsch are a little better, around the level of this Deftech, but with lower build quality. However, they don't last long. With both the Klipsch and Polk, they both started having issues within about 5 years. The Klipsch tend to be worst (google "Klipsch subwoofer black goo of death"). The Polks last a bit longer and the issues are less severe, and I find the Polk bass to be a tad superior and better controlled than others in the same price range. I also tried an RSL 10" Speedwoofer, and it was one of the most impressive subs I've ever heard in terms of how detailed and controlled the bass was. In the end, I found that the 10" still produced too much bass for my tastes and I couldn't get it to disappear into the music like an 8" can.

Great addition , definitive is a great product I have mine paired up with some d17's floor towers couldn't be happier

Great sub, bought to replace a faulty 10 year old super cube. I was reluctant at first to purchase this sub in white but was pleasantly surprised how much nicer it was in person.

Excellent bottom end in a 1000 sq ft apt. I paired the sub with Definitive towers. Set your amp at LFP off. Set your sub at 90 set the volume at 12:00 ( half way on both dials. I’m hoping the auto on and auto off work good. It’s red on off and when a signal is detected it’s blue. The sound is clean and it’s a way better amplifier than the Super Cube 2000, which burned out way before it’s time. Wanna impress me? Send me credit on your first mistake. You made a nice sub this time. Good for you.Update: I’m a week in to this. It’s been a crossover setting nightmare. Since you can not manage bass from your amp, ( LPF- off on your surround settings) it’s spinning dials on the back of the sub. Musics playback sounds way different from movies. I like to set it and forget it. I’ll play with it some more but I like a bass blend during all playback. This thing kicks in big time on the low frequency you have it set at. If this is a mistake on my part in settings, let me know Definitive. I’m heavenly invested in your gear.

Product was not working, so I returned