Small box, big tricks

A mid-range subwoofer from MartinLogan, the Dynamo 800X crams features and flexibility into a compact cabinet. Richard Stevenson is very impressed

- Richard Stevenson

THE MIDDLE MODEL in MartinLogan's five-strong Dynamo series of active subwoofers, the 800X is a svelte little box of joy subtly finished in a satin black with Poirotlike abilities to reveal greasy fingerprints - have a cloth handy. The film noir styling continues to the chunky feet, complete with spikes and seamlessly integrated rubber spike covers for hard floors.

Core specifications are right on the money, with the sealed enclosure featuring a 600W peak-rated Class D amp, a single 10in driver (terminated with an inverted surround, said to reduce air turbulence), and both line-level and speaker-level analogue connections. There's then Bluetooth connectivity for MartinLogan's Sub Control app (iOS and Android), plus an input for the company's £200 approx SWT-X wireless module. This fits into a neatly designed docking pocket on the back of the woofer, so doesn't stick out.

AV INFO

PRODUCT: 10in active subwoofer with ARC EQ

POSITION: Middle model in the five-strong Dynamo series

PEERS: MA Silver W-12; SVS SB-2000 Pro; REL T7x

In a feature I certainly haven't come across before, the feet surrounding the Dynamo 800X's smooth concave driver unbolt and can be fitted to the rear panel, allowing you to rotate the whole sub so the driver faces forward. If you are sticking this model in a cabinet where the usual 360-degree bass radiating from a down-firing driver will get largely obstructed, the front-facing option makes a whole lot of sense. Okay, the connection panel and controls end up on the bottom, but with the Sub Control app handling all the bases (there are no crossover or phase dials on the Dynamo 800X itself), plus a bit of cable-routing creativity, it's eminently workable. MartinLogan even supplies the sub with a grille cover for the front-firing setup.

ARC angel