We've spotted a trend among Canadian speaker manufacturers: they make some of the very best low-priced to midpriced subwoofers. Take Mirage's Omni S10 subwoofer ($500 list). It features a 10-inch woofer with the brand's patented ribbed Elliptical Surround, which Mirage says it developed to minimize distortion and play deeper bass with greater output volume. Unusually, the sub has two smallish down-firing ports to augment the woofer's bass.
So far, so good, but the S10's real secret weapon is a newly developed amplifier that can produce an instantaneous peak of 800 watts, and 200 watts of continuous power. The 200-watt specification is based on a true FTC rating; most sub power numbers are wildly optimistic. The S10 sits in the middle of Mirage's five-model subwoofer lineup, which also includes two 8-inch models, a 12-inch model, and a massive dual 8-inch model.
Mirage Omni S10
The Good
The Bad
The Bottom Line
Subtle curves on the cabinet and a sculptured grille enhance the S10's tastefully executed design. Volume, crossover, and phase controls are all conveniently located near the top of the front baffle, and since the grille covers the controls, you never accidentally disturb the settings. The S10's rear end is home to all-metal speaker-level inputs and a direct RCA subwoofer input. The S10 is definitely a full-size subwoofer; it's 17 inches tall, 14.7 inches wide, and 18.5 inches deep. Construction is satisfyingly robust, so we weren't surprised to note that it weighs 41 pounds. The S10 is available in three finishes: platinum, cherry, and black.
The subwoofer's superbly controlled bass served Mirage's stellar Omnisat speakers with a rare precision. It steadfastly provided the ominous low-end support that added to the Unspeakable DVD's grip on our attention. The unerring match-up was equally evident on CDs and DVDs, and the S10's bass bravado exceeded our expectations of what a $500 subwoofer can deliver. For more on how the complete system sounds, check out the Omnisat review.