OSD BLACK TREVOCE 12 EQ DSP SUBWOOFER - Triple Threat

OSD AUDIO is a maker of many audiorelated things, its extensive product line covering most bases for custom residential and commercial installations. But the company also has a fair number of consumer offerings, including a sizeable range of subwoofers.

- Al Griffin

Last year I reviewed its Nero TubeBass 10, a cylinder-shaped model that provided a decent wallop of bass given its compact size and $179 price. Now, for this review I’m stepping up to the Trevoce 12 EQ DSP, a flagship subwoofer from the company’s swanky Black Series that still tops out at a reasonable $600. (By the time you're reading this, a 15-inch model with a $799 price should be available.)

The Trevoce 12 EQ DSP combines a 12-inch front-facing active driver with a pair of 12-inch side-facing passive radiators. (Other models are available with 10- and 8-inch driver/passive radiator configurations.) OSD Audio specs “power handling” at 800 watts and frequency response as extending down to 18Hz +/-3dB. Impressive, but the main attraction of Trevoce models is the builtin DSP, which can be controlled using the third-party iWoofer iOS/Android app (free for the base version and $10 for a Pro one that adds auto room EQ and other features like an SPL meter).

According to OSD Audio, as of July 2021 the Trevoce 12 ships with a native DSP EQ curve that’s responsible for extending bass to below 20Hz. (An earlier version of the sub delivered around 6dB higher SPL, but had reduced low-frequency extension.) A notable feature of DSP/app control on Trevoce series subs is the ability to shape frequency response using 25-band parametric equalization, a process that can be carried out via your own golden ears or, even better, some type of speaker measurement software. OSD Audio’s sub is a 15-inch cube with gently rounded edges and a black

“synthetic-leather” finish. Substantial rubber cone feet isolate the Trevoce 12 from vibration, and its front-facing active driver is covered by a removable black mesh grille. The sub’s side-mounted passive radiators are exposed, with the pattern on the woven glass fiber surface lending it a high-tech look.