Paradigm Seismic 110 – 10" Powered Subwoofer

Paradigm Seismic 110 – Sealed Active Subwoofer

The Seismic 110 is Paradigm's compact industrial design subwoofer — design innovation delivering maximum performance from a minimal footprint, born of a true collaboration between industrial, mechanical, electronic and acoustic design. Unlike many subwoofers on the market, the Seismic 110 has no off-the-shelf parts: it is a completely custom build in which every component and the amplifier are purpose-designed and appointed to ensure the highest power and greatest level of reliability from the smallest possible physical envelope. A single 10-inch ultra-high-excursion driver with ultra-low-distortion split voice-coil construction is capable of two full inches of cone travel, paired with a built-in Ultra-Class-D™ amplifier housed inside the curvilinear diecast monocoque cabinet, delivering low-frequency extension down to 18 Hz from a sealed enclosure.

• (1) 10" (254 mm) high-excursion mineral-filled co-polymer polypropylene cone driver
• 850 watt RMS Sustained / 1,700 watt Dynamic Peak Ultra-Class-D™ amplifier
• ±3 dB 17 Hz – 250 Hz Frequency Response (on-axis)
• 18 Hz (DIN) Low Frequency Extension
• Sealed cabinet
• Room correction ready: Anthem Room Correction ARC® (sold separately)
• Weight: 37 lbs (16.8 kg)
• Made in Canada
• 3 Year Limited Warranty

Highlights & Key Technologies

Ultra-High-Excursion Bass Driver
Getting maximum performance from the smallest envelope required a bass driver custom-designed in every aspect. The 10" (254 mm) mineral-filled co-polymer polypropylene cone features RCR™ resonance control ribs on the underside, and its low-profile geometry is achieved through a unique two-part construction: using the principle of triangulation to lend maximum strength to a compact form factor, a support cone with I-beam cross-sectional support arms locks the flat outer cone to the voice-coil, with the surround over molded to the outer edge to become an area of high strength when bonded to the outer cone. The overmolded inverted corrugated Santoprene® surround — derived from research performed on Paradigm's award-winning Signature Series speakers — allows for extreme excursion while retaining stability and exceptional centering characteristics, and its inverted design contributes to the compact low-profile form factor of the overall cone assembly. Extreme long-winding-width voice coils (almost 60 mm per coil) allow 2" (50 mm) of extremely linear excursion with vanishing low levels of distortion, while the 1-1/2" (38 mm) split voice-coil construction uses oppositely wound turns on each coil to effectively eliminate motor non-linearity; high temperature wire (adhesive rated to 450°F / 232°C) ensures long-term reliability and very high power handling, and Apical™ formers contribute to high stiffness. Dual spider suspension keeps the voice-coil perfectly centered during extreme excursion, AVS™ Airflow Ventilation System cooling provides forced-air cooling during large musical transients and chassis convection cooling at all other times, and a 10-lb (4.5 kg) computer-optimized triple magnet assembly with Balanced Field Geometry produces a powerful high-density symmetrical magnetic forcefield while minimizing inductive distortion. The low-profile high-pressure die-cast aluminum chassis controls flexing and ringing — aluminum is non-magnetic so stray magnetic losses are eliminated — with a shallow basket designed to perfectly accommodate the low-profile cone, and two 1/2-inch (12 mm) thick steel top plates provide plenty of close-contact heat-dissipating surface area and thermal mass to maximize power handling.

Ultra-Class-D™ Amplifier
The Seismic 110 features a state-of-the-art Ultra-Class-D™ amplifier housed inside the industrial design cabinet, with more than 90% efficiency and prodigious total output: 1,700 watts of Dynamic Peak Power and 850 watts of RMS Sustained Power. The fully integrated heat-dissipating amplifier follows the shape of the cabinet to maintain the overall low profile, mounted directly to the amplifier plate to provide both EMI and shock protection, with a preamp cover that eliminates any possibility of air leaks. Its low-noise, ultra-high-power, compact transformer (0.4 lb / 0.18 kg) boasts an ETD-core developed particularly for applications that require high power in a small format; the switched-mode power supply benefits from the highest quality MOSFET transistors, noise-suppression networks, and an advanced control circuit, resulting in tremendous current with ultra-quiet operation. The full-bridge Ultra-Class-D™ output stage operates from split power supply rails ensuring exceptionally low distortion while increasing the speed of the switching and dramatically increasing switching efficiency, and the novel Adaptive PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) power processor minimizes distortion and optimizes efficiency — conventional Class-D designs have very low power supply rejection, whereas Paradigm's Ultra-Class-D™ design inherently rejects variations in the power supply. Precision components and dual-sided military spec (FR-4 rated) glass/epoxy circuit boards deliver superior 'Reference' quality performance with an enviable degree of reliability, unique temperature sensors maintain a safe operating temperature even under extreme operating conditions, and advanced short-circuit protection uses a Silicon Controlled Rectifier (SCR) to disable the output stage should current through the MOSFETs exceed an internally preset limit — essentially a 'latching' device, the SCR will not allow the output stage to be re-enabled until power is reset, with reaction time typically within 10 µs. Paradigm's Digital Signal Processing (DSP) design uses sophisticated mathematical algorithms to "shape" the frequency response, ensuring accurate, consistent and musical bass without audible distortion, even when the subwoofer is playing at its loudest level.

Room Correction & USB / PBK Interface
Even when the Seismic 110 is perfectly positioned, the room can still have a negative impact on performance: room dimensions, dead spots, archways, even furniture placement can turn a room into an additional instrument playing alongside musicians or movie scores with unwanted contributions of coloration and resonance. Paradigm's Perfect Bass Kit (PBK, sold separately) — based on research conducted by the National Research Council — analyzes the subwoofer's response in your room, then sets about perfecting that response through scientific calculation. The USB port / PBK interface allows for connection of the Perfect Bass Kit digital room correction system as well as potential future upgrades to software installed in the subwoofer; the product page additionally lists Anthem Room Correction (ARC®) (sold separately) as the supported room correction system, and firmware updates are available via Paradigm.

Input & Control Facilities
The low-level RCA input allows connection from the RCA (S/E) Left and Right or Sub/LFE outputs of a preamplifier/processor or other suitable low-level source, while the low-level balanced XLR input connects from the balanced XLR Sub/LFE output and provides the lowest noise and distortion possible — particularly important for long cable runs where noise and distortion could degrade performance. Auto On/Off eliminates the need for a manually operated power switch, turning the subwoofer on when there is an input signal and off after a period of time with no signal, while Trigger On/Off allows the subwoofer's power to be controlled by components that have a trigger output (preamp/processor, etc.). The continuously variable Subwoofer Cut-Off (35 Hz – 150 Hz) controls the subwoofer's upper frequency cut-off to match the low-frequency roll-off characteristics of the system's speakers, with a Bypass Option that lets the preamp/processor's or receiver's internal bass management system provide the crossover function; the Subwoofer Level control balances the subwoofer's level with the other speakers in the system, and continuously variable Phase Alignment (0° – 180°) accurately synchronizes the subwoofer and front speakers through their bass frequency overlap region.

Partnered with the NRC
Paradigm is partnered with Canada's world-renowned NRC in ongoing research to reveal the true nature of sound and human hearing. Findings influence design and performance specs, resulting in a uniquely realistic listening experience, backed by sound science.

Details & Specifications

DESIGN
Design: Single high-excursion driver, sealed enclosure, patented built-in Ultra-Class-D™ power amplifier, USB port

AMPLIFIER
Amplifier: High-Current Discrete-Output: 1,700 watts Dynamic Peak / 850 watts RMS Sustained (per datasheet); Power measurements underway to ensure compliance with new FTC regulations (per product page)
Amplifier Features: Auto-On/Off; Trigger-On/Off; soft clipping; electrical shorting protection; thermal protection

ROOM CORRECTION
Room Correction: Anthem Room Correction (ARC®) (sold separately) (per product page)
Accessory (sold sep.): Paradigm Perfect Bass Kit™ (per datasheet)

BASS DRIVER
Low Frequency Driver: 254-mm (10 in) high-excursion mineral-filled co-polymer polypropylene cone with RCR™ resonance-control ribbing on underside; FEA-optimized overmolded, inverted Santoprene® surround; 38-mm (1-1/2 in) diameter split voice-coil construction (60-mm coil lengths); dual Nomex® spiders; high-temperature Apical™ formers; dual 12-mm-thick top plates; 10-lb (4.5 kg) triple ceramic (hard ferrite) magnet structure; AVS™ die-cast heatsink chassis

PERFORMANCE
Frequency Response On-Axis: ±3 dB 17Hz – 250Hz
Low-Frequency Extension: 18 Hz (DIN) — *DIN 45 500. Indicates -3 dB in a typical listening room.
Subwoofer Cut-Off Frequency: Variable 35 Hz – 150 Hz; Bypass Option
Sub/Sat Phase Alignment: Variable 0° – 180°

INPUTS
Line-Level Input: RCA (S/E) Left and Right or Sub-Out / LFE or Balanced XLR. From Sub-Out / LFE-Out of preamp/processor or other line-level source
Line-Level Input Sensitivity: 100 mV mono
Line-Level Input Impedance: RCA: 10k ohms; XLR: 20k ohms

PHYSICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Height, Width, Depth: 34.3 cm x 29.8 cm x 32.0 cm / 13-1/2 in x 11-3/4 in x 12-9/16 in (Measurements reflect the highest, widest and deepest points on the subwoofer and include non-removable feet)
Weight (unpacked): 16.8 kg / 37 lb each
Finishes: Satin Black

WARRANTY
Warranty: 3 Year Limited Warranty — free of manufacturing and/or material defects for a period of three (3) years from the date of the original retail purchase from an Authorized Paradigm® Dealer