Starke SW12 subwoofer review

Starke is a relatively new brand in the world of subwoofers, and seeks to offer a range of high value for money subwoofers that can compete with other internet based companies.

The technical specs off their website:

http://www.starkesound.com/news-feed-category/products/subwoofers/sw12

Review equipment:

Sony ZD9 75"
(Sony TV review)
Denon AVC X8500H

(Denon AVC X8500H review)

Dynaudio Confidence 1 Platinum
( Dynaudio C1 Platinum Review )

Sony UDP X800

(Sony UBP X800 Review )
Sony UDP X700

Dynaudio Confidence C1 and Centre Platinum front and centre

Usher 520 side surround back

Monitor Audio RXFX in dipole mode for rear surrounds

JL Audio E112 subwoofer

REL 1205 subwoofer

Anthony Gallo A'Diva for ceiling Atmos placement

QED XT Revelations for front and centre speakers

QED Micro speaker cable for the surrounds

Monoprice Premium Cables from 4k players to amp and onwards to the TV

Audioquest Snake subwoofer cable 

Blue Jean subwoofer cable

Wireworld Oasis 6 & 7 Interconnects

Wireworld Oasis 6 power cables

Assorted Xindak, PS Audio and other power cables

MK wall power sockets

PS Audio Juice Bar

Rhodium Right Angle Plug adapters for USA power cables

Auralex subdude platform and Mopads under centre speaker

http://peteswrite.blogspot.com/2019/04/my-setup-42019.html

So what are the special bits?

450W amp – that’s RMS

Long throw 12” woofer

XLR inputs

High Level Inputs

Small form factor

The sub itself doesn’t weight that much – around 20kg.

So how do they sound?

The sub has some decent specs, with a -3db at 23 hz rating, and the sealed cabin does give it some tight bass.

The cabinet itself is almost a cube, measuring about 15 inches or so all round. It can be placed into small spaces.

I have used it alone, with another brace of 12” subwoofers – the REL 1205 and the JL Audio E112.

In many ways, this sub is similar to another sub I acquired recently, the REL 1205:

(https://peteswrite.blogspot.com/2019/04/rel-ht1205-review.html). Small, quite powerful and using a sealed box.

So after doing some running in, I let it loose on my system. Now I deliberately let it do the heavy lifting in my system, then I also swopped out the JL Audio E112, which is also a 12” sub, but has more than twice the power, and weighs a lot more too.

I tried using the same movie as I did before: 13 Hours and Lone Survivor. The first has some suspense moments as well as the obligatory explosion to test the limits of the sub and it does really put some stress on it. The second title also has some bass, and the thud from the rifle fire is very meaty and substantial with my E 112.

The first impression is that it’s very similar to the REL 1205:

Tight bass, very musical and can go quite deep, but the total SPL output will be less than the best subs.

It displayed no distortion when asked to play loud, and interestingly, it did not ‘walk’ unlike the REL. Also, I felt that it was a little less boxy than the REL. Otherwise the two subs could be cousins.

Actually when you use it alone, it’s quite impressive. But if you have some other sub around like the JL Audio E112, you do feel the difference.

It does come up a bit short. That mighty woofer on the E112 is in a different class, but for around one third to half the price, it does very well indeed and isn’t really embarrassed by the E112. If you can use a pair of them, placed in different areas, I think it will give you a lot of what the E112 gives and yet spread the bass out nicely.

If you push it harder, it does quite well, and digs deep without sounding stresses or boxy. It does have a slightly sonic signature to the Rhythmic F12 and is like a REL or the E112 'lite'. 

I also listened to some music and it’s very musical too. Less ‘thuddy’ than you expect, but again the E112 does better in music, but it keeps up in timing and depth pretty well.

My final thoughts?

The Starke SW12 is a solid, value for money sub, and you won’t go wrong with it as a single unit if you are starting out. If you manage to get it on offer, that’s even better and do consider getting a brace of these. Two of them can give far more expensive subs a good run for their money. It’s also a very good balance between home theatre and music. For the money, ported subs will plunge the depths more and dig out more SPL, and get you more of that trouser flapping bass. More expensive models will do that and give tight bass. But they cost significantly more, are much larger in size or don’t do that well in music.

All in all, a good entry level sub for the discerning home audio enthusiast that needs a sub that does well in music and home theatre.

Pros:

Small footprint and easy to move about.

Solid value for money

Cons:

Not going to give you the biggest SPLs and will not play to it’s best in a large room

Can’t plunge the depths or give the kind of SPLs that Hsu / SVS or other HT internet companies can do.

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 I have no financial interest or other interests in any of the items / events I write about.