Name: SW4200
Manufacturer: Eclipse
Type: 12" subwoofer
Fs: 32hz
Qts: 0.56
DCR: 3.6 ohm (SVC 4 ohm nominal)
Vas: 2.75 Cubic Feet
Xmax: 0.27"
Pe: 250w
Overview: This is the entry level driver by Eclipse. You find this woofer in any dealer that sells Eclipse. The average dealer can get you one for $99. The internet can get you one for about $60 and whatever they feel like charging for shipping. I found this one on ebay for significantly less than both those but with no guarantee it'd work. I took a risk and was rewarded with a basically new SW4200 for peanuts.
Cosmetics:
Overall this woofer is polished on the outside, but still has rough edges. Like my Adire Shiva, the basket has sharp edges you should be careful with carrying around. The cone is concave with a full dustcap. The surround is treated foam, and seems a hint thicker than necessary. The spade terminals are thicker and heavier than the ones on any other woofer I've ever seen, to the point that they seem out of place against the rest of the woofer. The magnet and front / backplates look roughly cut, and could benefit from a rubber boot IMO. Overall it's easy to overlook the cosmetic flaws in this woofer.
8/10
Test setup:
My room!
16v 3.3am power supply attached to a Mobile Authority Rockbox. 8-12 wrms / channel.
Left channel attached to the Eclipse Woofer in 0.8 CF sealed dowfiring. Not crossed over.
Right channel attached to a 100uf capacitor, 12ohm resistor, and 2" Aura Midrange driver.
Listening:
I'll try to get a good variety of music.
Breaking Benjamin - Diary of Jane:
The woofer takes to the bass guitar much easier than it does to the percussion. Percussion hits seem weak but not out of place. Transients are accurate and easily blend in with the front. The low end is lacking authority, but the rolloff seems pretty smooth and it's not something I'd inherently miss, at least not in this song.
Temper D & K Fire - The Decision:
The fast paced beat of this hovers over the high end rolloff of the woofer. So in place of high speed "percussion" I get a slow rolling synthetic bassline. What little of the high beat it does play seems to fit in well but it's like the woofer decides what beats to play and which not to at it's own leisure, but in a very controlled manner. There is no low end at all.
Hybrid - Finished Symphony:
Again, the woofer blends nicely with the front end. Smaller notes in front end are omitted or at least hard to hear. The woofer has little trouble keeping pace with the front. Strangely enough, the lower frequencies came through on this song. Nothing to write home about.
Kolias - 250 bpm drum solo:
Honestly, I was expecting the woofer to mud out with this clip. Instead it kept easy pace. Little low end, as usual.
KMFDM - She Moves in Mysterious Ways:
The percussion and slow drumline are taken to quite well with nothing really for me to nitpick over besides the usual lack of low end.
Tristania - Beyond the Veil:
The woofer is more than humbled trying to fill in the guitar and percussion while the Aura sits back and laughs - making for a unique sound. The low end is not existant. In the chorus the woofer seems to pick what notes to play and what notes not to.
Overall:
It seems the more you give this woofer the more likely it is to mud out. Playing some of the fastest drumlines in the world is peanuts to it, but add in a bass guitar or an extra synth line and the quality drops. It lacks serious low end in the listening setup but I do not blame the woofer with it working on 10 watts.
I don't have any other woofers that retail in the same range of ~$60 online to compare this against. But in the sense of a woofer in general, I don't think it's as bad as I have been told. It takes to a lot of things without any hassle lacking only the low end. Considering the prices you find them for on ebay, I would label these as a feasable option for a street beater looking for a little SQ on a very tight budget.
Manufacturer: Eclipse
Type: 12" subwoofer
Fs: 32hz
Qts: 0.56
DCR: 3.6 ohm (SVC 4 ohm nominal)
Vas: 2.75 Cubic Feet
Xmax: 0.27"
Pe: 250w
Overview: This is the entry level driver by Eclipse. You find this woofer in any dealer that sells Eclipse. The average dealer can get you one for $99. The internet can get you one for about $60 and whatever they feel like charging for shipping. I found this one on ebay for significantly less than both those but with no guarantee it'd work. I took a risk and was rewarded with a basically new SW4200 for peanuts.
Cosmetics:
Overall this woofer is polished on the outside, but still has rough edges. Like my Adire Shiva, the basket has sharp edges you should be careful with carrying around. The cone is concave with a full dustcap. The surround is treated foam, and seems a hint thicker than necessary. The spade terminals are thicker and heavier than the ones on any other woofer I've ever seen, to the point that they seem out of place against the rest of the woofer. The magnet and front / backplates look roughly cut, and could benefit from a rubber boot IMO. Overall it's easy to overlook the cosmetic flaws in this woofer.
8/10
Test setup:
My room!
16v 3.3am power supply attached to a Mobile Authority Rockbox. 8-12 wrms / channel.
Left channel attached to the Eclipse Woofer in 0.8 CF sealed dowfiring. Not crossed over.
Right channel attached to a 100uf capacitor, 12ohm resistor, and 2" Aura Midrange driver.
Listening:
I'll try to get a good variety of music.
Breaking Benjamin - Diary of Jane:
The woofer takes to the bass guitar much easier than it does to the percussion. Percussion hits seem weak but not out of place. Transients are accurate and easily blend in with the front. The low end is lacking authority, but the rolloff seems pretty smooth and it's not something I'd inherently miss, at least not in this song.
Temper D & K Fire - The Decision:
The fast paced beat of this hovers over the high end rolloff of the woofer. So in place of high speed "percussion" I get a slow rolling synthetic bassline. What little of the high beat it does play seems to fit in well but it's like the woofer decides what beats to play and which not to at it's own leisure, but in a very controlled manner. There is no low end at all.
Hybrid - Finished Symphony:
Again, the woofer blends nicely with the front end. Smaller notes in front end are omitted or at least hard to hear. The woofer has little trouble keeping pace with the front. Strangely enough, the lower frequencies came through on this song. Nothing to write home about.
Kolias - 250 bpm drum solo:
Honestly, I was expecting the woofer to mud out with this clip. Instead it kept easy pace. Little low end, as usual.
KMFDM - She Moves in Mysterious Ways:
The percussion and slow drumline are taken to quite well with nothing really for me to nitpick over besides the usual lack of low end.
Tristania - Beyond the Veil:
The woofer is more than humbled trying to fill in the guitar and percussion while the Aura sits back and laughs - making for a unique sound. The low end is not existant. In the chorus the woofer seems to pick what notes to play and what notes not to.
Overall:
It seems the more you give this woofer the more likely it is to mud out. Playing some of the fastest drumlines in the world is peanuts to it, but add in a bass guitar or an extra synth line and the quality drops. It lacks serious low end in the listening setup but I do not blame the woofer with it working on 10 watts.
I don't have any other woofers that retail in the same range of ~$60 online to compare this against. But in the sense of a woofer in general, I don't think it's as bad as I have been told. It takes to a lot of things without any hassle lacking only the low end. Considering the prices you find them for on ebay, I would label these as a feasable option for a street beater looking for a little SQ on a very tight budget.
