The whole world of music only opens up through low tones, which is why we have many advocates of well-made subwoofers in the LowBeats series. The subwoofers don’t always have to be huge, as we have learned from many years of work. The MicroVee from Velodyne has been conjuring up more than surprising performance from its modest dimensions (22.9 x 22.9 x 24.4 cm) for many years. Its extremely stable aluminum housing, the perfect workmanship and the size make it compatible with almost all living rooms. With the Velodyne MicroVee MKII, the “lady woofer” now has an upgraded successor and surprises even more: In smaller stereo constellations, it is a high-end solution to the problem – and an attractive approach to the extra portion of clean deep bass.
Velodyne MicroVee MKII: the concept
First of all: Even if the datasheet states an impressive 2,000 watts of peak power, the MicroVee MK II is definitely not a home cinema action machine that takes the plaster off the ceiling. Physics doesn’t play into that. However, dismissing it as a toy is also wrong. The way in which it is made must command respect from the high-end: The Velodyne has absolutely nothing in common with the mini woofers from the cheap range.
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Let’s take a look at the hardware: Almost 10 kilograms of cleanly processed aluminum rest on the base, which is smaller than a DIN A4 sheet of paper. The folded profile around it is ultra-stiff and bordered at the front and rear with around 1 cm thick aluminum plates. The effort is not exaggerated. There is immense pressure in the subwoofer housing; classic wooden cases quickly start rattling. The fairly stiff, blunt rubber cones supplied ensure decoupling from the ground. They dampen well, but nothing wobbles.
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As always, the driver information has to be put into perspective. The so-called 6½-inch woofer used here only has a net acoustically effective membrane diameter of 5 inches (13 cm). That was also the case with the predecessor. But compared to the old MicroVee version, a 2,000-watt class D power amplifier now drives the ultra-stiff aluminum membrane; with the predecessor it was “only” 1,200 watts.
That sounds exaggerated, but it guarantees that the power amp can push the cone exactly where it is supposed to work. And it succeeds although the case is much too small. The trick behind it lies in the active membrane control “Dynamic Drive Control System” (DDCS), which the new MivroVee has inherited from the legendary DD series subwoofers. It works like this: A piezo pick-up on the voice coil reports the actual diaphragm position in a control circuit with the output stage – and the power plant constantly pushes or pulls the voice coil from the actual to the target position. It takes strength, a lot of strength. What’s more, thanks to the almost twice as powerful power amp, the distortion was reduced by a sixth.
And so that even more deep bass comes out, the Americans used two passive membranes. Technically, they are related to a bass reflex tube in terms of their effect, but they still leave the housing closed. And so the flow and other disturbing noises that are forced to occur inside when moving large amounts of air cannot escape. The two passive membranes are excited by the rearward sound of the “active” woofer, whose magnet alone accounts for 20 percent of the total weight at 1.8 kilograms. Due to the opposite attachment of the passive membranes, their momentum of movement is eliminated.
The back offers surprises. In addition to the usual controls for level and cut-off frequency, toggle switch for automatic switching on via audio signal or continuous operation, as well as phase reversal, there is also a switch to switch off the internal crossover. This avoids double filtering with a corresponding active crossover in the amplifier or receiver.
The speaker and mini-jack connections are unusual, but hip and practical for exactly this product. Both are available as inputs and outputs and allow looping through, i.e. from the source into the Velodyne MicroVee MKII and then on to the loudspeakers – or into a second MicroVee. The only thing is that the cable clamps are a bit simple. The main connection does not have a protective conductor. This is to avoid ground loops.
Exemplary measurements
If you look at the frequency responses, you can see that a sense of proportion was used here, because the developers don’t even allow real low bass. With the given membrane size, no profitable effective sound pressure could be generated. Instead, the little cube marches from 45 Hertz to a good 150 Hertz, if you take a tube of ±3 dB as a benchmark, even if the controller is optimistically labeled with 200 Hz at the stop. The middle position “80 Hz” lets through up to almost 100 Hz. But that’s nothing special for analog controls on subwoofers; they go more or less all and across all brands more according to the moon. Hence my tip: if possible, measure!
Speaking of measuring: How well the filters are designed can be seen by placing the ideal filter (dark green) over the measurement (blue). You can see the 36dB/octave of the high-pass and the adjustable low-pass filtering with 12dB/octave are exactly maintained. Before I come to the subject of distortions: A small demonstration of how ingeniously the little powerhouse is constructed and processed:
The linearity of the dynamic properties and above all the distortions in the limit range largely define the possible use and potency of a subwoofer. Dynamically, the active membrane control ensures that the Velodyne MicroVee MKII sounds the same and equally precise at every level. And: thanks to the active diaphragm control, it slows itself down in the lower limit range: you only break the little cube with bad intentions.
Velodyne MicroVee MKII: Sound and Application
What is such a small subwoofer used for? In smaller home cinemas, it is ideal, where in a small space and due to the apartment building, huge levels, and the fattest bass are not popular anyway. But I see even greater potential in smaller stereo applications. Because even if the noble 2-way monitors sound quite good: Only rarely can they be set up so uncompromisingly that the stage image and bass match perfectly. This is not a problem with a connected subwoofer, because you can then optimize two criteria separately. Incidentally, this also applies to loudspeakers whose frequency response is already so low as that of the subwoofer.
And I never tire of emphasizing that a clean bass also significantly improves perception and differentiation in the midrange. And no passive speaker can do it cleaner than the controlled, extremely low-distortion, super-dynamic bass of the Velodyne. Is it because of the complex membrane control? The new MicroVee MKII has practically no sound of its own, sounds extremely precise, and is therefore predestined to complement audiophile monitors – also in a double pack for more flexible room adjustment or stereophonic bass.
Conclusion
Velodyne, the veteran flagship subwoofer maker, is recently in German hands (at Audio Reference ‘s) and the MicroVee MKII is among the first revised products. The result is more power and better control. A massive 2,000 watts generate a surprisingly potent, super-dry bass thanks to active membrane control with three ultra-stiff aluminum membranes that are barely the size of a saucer. The ingeniously stiffened metal housing should also contribute to this. The mini cube does not experience vibrations or high-frequency noise, even if it is pushed to its performance limit of up to 100 dB. You can hardly bring high-end bass into the room more unobtrusively. Whether small home cinema or audiophile bass support for monitors – the Velodyne MicroVee MKII delivers!
FAQs for Velodyne MicroVee MKII
1. What is the driver size of the Velodyne MicroVee MKII?
The MicroVee MKII features a 6.5-inch high-excursion driver designed for impressive bass performance.
2. What is the power output of the Velodyne MicroVee MKII?
The subwoofer has a peak power output of 300 watts and an RMS power output of 125 watts.
3. What is the frequency response of the MicroVee MKII?
The frequency response ranges from 30 Hz to 120 Hz, providing deep bass suitable for both music and home theater applications.
4. Can the MicroVee MKII be used for both music and home theater?
Yes, the Velodyne MicroVee MKII is versatile and designed for use in both music and home theater systems, delivering powerful bass for a variety of audio formats.
5. How do I connect the MicroVee MKII to my audio system?
The subwoofer features RCA inputs (line-level and LFE), allowing easy connection to a variety of AV receivers and amplifiers.
6. Are there adjustable settings on the MicroVee MKII?
Yes, the MicroVee MKII includes adjustable controls for volume, phase (0° or 180°), and a low-pass filter (variable from 50 Hz to 120 Hz) to optimize its performance.
7. What are the dimensions and weight of the Velodyne MicroVee MKII?
The MicroVee MKII measures approximately 12.5 inches high, 10.5 inches wide, and 12.5 inches deep, and it weighs around 22 pounds.
8. Does the MicroVee MKII require any special setup?
The MicroVee MKII is designed for easy setup and integration. Simply connect it using the RCA inputs, adjust the settings, and you’re ready to enjoy enhanced bass performance.
9. What is the cabinet material of the MicroVee MKII?
The cabinet is constructed from high-quality MDF (medium-density fiberboard), which helps reduce vibrations and resonance, ensuring better sound quality.
10. What warranty does the Velodyne MicroVee MKII come with?
Warranty details can vary, so it’s best to check with the retailer or Velodyne’s official website for specific warranty information.
Specifications
- Driver Size: 6.5-inch high-excursion driver
- Power Output:
- Peak Power: 300 watts
- RMS Power: 125 watts
- Frequency Response: 30 Hz to 120 Hz
- Crossover Frequency: Adjustable from 50 Hz to 120 Hz
- Inputs:
- RCA inputs (line-level and LFE)
- Controls:
- Volume control
- Phase adjustment (0° or 180°)
- Low-pass filter control
- Cabinet Type: Ported design (rear-firing port)
- Cabinet Material: MDF (medium-density fiberboard)
- Finish: Black satin finish
- Dimensions:
- Height: 12.5 inches
- Width: 10.5 inches
- Depth: 12.5 inches
- Weight: Approximately 22 pounds
Additional Features
- Magnetic Shielding: Yes (to minimize interference with other electronics)
- Placement: Ideal for small to medium-sized rooms, can be positioned in corners or against walls for optimal bass performance.
