High End Subs (non mainstream)

[zodiacfish 10+ year member]

I''ve been scouring the internet to find info on two particular subs, but I come up pretty dry.

I'm looking for Phase Linear's Aliante SI, well known for extremely high quality SQ, but the company seems to have disappeared from the map! If anyone's had experience with these, it would take very little convincing for me to try and pick one up on the lone UK site that sells them.

Ground Zero Audio is the other, and in particular, their GZNW 12's. They've got a plutonium line of subs that has ridiculous power handling (4500 W RMS!). A little much for me, but anyone ever use this brand?

I know it has nothing to do with performance, but both look gorgeous!

Neither is sold in the US unless imported. Anyone from UK or Europe have opinions on these? How about other obscure brands that fly under the radar with a rep for HQ?

Click to read more...

 

[cdj 10+ year member]

Here is the German site for the Aliante.

http://www.phase-linear.de/produkte.asp?p=subwoofer&grp=6&view=landing&lang=EN

Here is a U.S. source for the Aliante. They aren't listed on the site but are available. If you call/e-mail them they can provide you info.

http://www.theautophile.com/

 

[Steven Kephart 10+ year member]

Ground Zero is an interesting case. At least if I remember everything correctly. There was an American company with that name that screwed over a bunch of people then went out of business. But now there is a European company with that same name. I believe they sell product over here, and possibly through Josh Laine. Maybe he could either verify this information, or give the proper information.

Steven Kephart

Adire Audio

 

[audioholic 5,000+ posts]

If by GZNW's you mean the Ground Zero Nuclears, they were bad *** subs for their day. They were one of the first ultra high excursion subs on the market. But today's 'super subs' pretty much get louder, and stay cleaner (especially the BL optimized drivers) than the Nukes did. Dont think they can be bought new anymore because as Mr Kephart said above, I heard GZ America went out of business, but Ive seen a nuke or two on ebay still from time to time. But, Id chose a XXX, Brahma, W7, IDMax, GTi or one of a few other new subs over a Nuke. If you haven't checked out these subs, you should. better performance than the old Nuke, and yes as gorgeous as the Nuke was, these look even better (especially the Brahma and XXX //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif).

 

[denim 5,000+ posts]

I feel Crystal is not mainstream really

 

[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

Here is a U.S. source for the Aliante. They aren't listed on the site but are available. If you call/e-mail them they can provide you info.
http://www.theautophile.com/

Yup....talk to Peter over there. Very nice and helpful guy in my experiences.

 

[Electrodynamic 10+ year member]

If by GZNW's you mean the Ground Zero Nuclears, they were bad *** subs for their day. They were one of the first ultra high excursion subs on the market. But today's 'super subs' pretty much get louder, and stay cleaner (especially the BL optimized drivers) than the Nukes did. Dont think they can be bought new anymore because as Mr Kephart said above, I heard GZ America went out of business, but Ive seen a nuke or two on ebay still from time to time. But, Id chose a XXX, Brahma, W7, IDMax, GTi or one of a few other new subs over a Nuke. If you haven't checked out these subs, you should. better performance than the old Nuke, and yes as gorgeous as the Nuke was, these look even better (especially the Brahma and XXX //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif).

U.S. GZ was Russian-owned and produced some severe long-excursion, high-power handling drivers for their day (one of the highest in both categories if memory serves me correct). The whole "wide surround" debate was started largely because of them. But in today's terms, they (Nuke's) are horribly inefficient. If you can pick up some U.S. Hydrogen's, go with them instead. Much more efficient and a lot better at "ground pounding" than their Nuke siblings. Good luck finding U.S. Hydro's though. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/banghead.gif.8606515f668c74f6de0281deb475b6fd.gif

 

[sungwei 10+ year member]

Kickers! Yeah!

 

[zodiacfish 10+ year member]

U.S. GZ was Russian-owned and produced some severe long-excursion, high-power handling drivers for their day (one of the highest in both categories if memory serves me correct). The whole "wide surround" debate was started largely because of them. But in today's terms, they (Nuke's) are horribly inefficient. If you can pick up some U.S. Hydrogen's, go with them instead. Much more efficient and a lot better at "ground pounding" than their Nuke siblings. Good luck finding U.S. Hydro's though. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/banghead.gif.8606515f668c74f6de0281deb475b6fd.gif

Interesting that one would recommend a sub that is marketed as a lower line...I actually chose my w3's over w6's because I like their 'sloppiness' with most of the music I play.

Thanks, cdj, for the links. I contacted the USA distributor for Ground Zero, but he's been a little slow to get back to me, so I think I'll be a guinea pig for those Aliante's. 2 12's or 15's...

If I was into ground-pounding, I would have went with the GZ's. Judging by their specs they're not any less efficient than any other manufacturer. Besides, people like to collect and drive old cars despite their inefficiencies, don't they?

 

[zodiacfish 10+ year member]

Yup....talk to Peter over there. Very nice and helpful guy in my experiences.

I take it you've bought several then? How do you like them relative to others you've owned?

 

[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

I take it you've bought several then? How do you like them relative to others you've owned?

Sorry, never bought them from him...and I don't personally own any. But I do know for a fact that he (Peter @ theautofile) carries them. He is on many of the boards under the screen name "autofile".

If it helps, go over to http://www.elitecaraudio.com/forums/ (you will need to register before you can view the forums) and do a search for the aliante. Or, ask them how the users over there have liked them. I know there are a ton of ppl over there that have experience with them (and I think Peter frequents that forum, I'm not sure how often he is on this forum).

 

[enorfrog 10+ year member]

still looking for the aliante?

found one on ebay....it is in europe.

i am in europe and use the USPS for shipping to save on expenses.

if you want to try for it and need help getting it back without much shipping, pm me...

 

[saywhat? 5,000+ posts]

get RE8's thats all u need.

 

[`pr0digy 10+ year member]

get RE8's thats all u need.

Although it seems most of this board would agree with you, there are, in fact, other subwoofers that are as good/better than RE.

 

[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

Although it seems most of this board would agree with you, there are, in fact, other subwoofers that are as good/better than RE.

You forgot to add Kicker.....there are other subs that are as good/better than Kicker also (but 85% of this board wouldn't admit to that).