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noviygera wrote:

I thought I'd let you know that I ordered four of those Aura subs. Thanks for the advice, if I receive them (I hope so), I will install them into my new listening room. This will take a while because I still have a few months away from completing the construction and moving in, but as soon as this happens I will post my findings. My expectations are not set too high, as I was initially planning on building vertical arrays with eight 12" vifa NE bass drivers per side but the ready made Aura solution seemed more practical. We'll see...

Yep, it is interesting how you find them. I need to warn you however, that most frequently people who follow my advise in audio do end up with disappointments as they foolishly feel that following somebody’s path eliminates a need for them to spend own efforts. Anyhow, for all intended purposes I think you got a very good deal.  I pay for my Auras $500-$700 each and it was 10 years back. You got your for $1400, including the boxes and shipping crates – not bad at all. In addition it is my observation that the drivers installed in enclosure are generally in better shape then those that lived non-mounted.

When you get the speaker you would wan to rotate then 180 degree and to break them in a little. Put the speaker face to face, let say 3-4 inch apart, wire then in opposite phase, and driver write noise through then for a few days. Do not overcook them and do not get too loud, user moderate volume. This will softer the suspension for 5-15Hz.

You will need to fine a right power amp to drive them. The power amp type that I use for my ULF I would not user for your Auras, particularly if you have more or less large room at LF. You would need a high current amp able to deal with reverse current and with impedance dive that will coming from that very strong motor when the cabinet port hit its resonance. Also, please, do acknowledge my experience about the crossover – it is very important.  If you remember I did not like at all the harmonics of my bass when I went line level with my SS driving my ULF. I did like the result and it is what I use now when I put a tube crossover into the game. So, the conclusion that I made for a long time ago is that SS can’t drive bass – it has shape but it has no taste or smell. In my case I used the 2-tubes 12AX7 crossover to override with own distortions the tonal impotence of my SS bass amp. The best would be of cause to has a good tube DSET with ultra low output impedance to drive your Auras but good lack to find 250-400W DSET.

Do not even attempt to use them over 35-40Hz. They will work but they will sound not good. Those drivers are 30Hz solution with sharp filter and it is where they need to be used. You might experiment with closing the port.  Aura must be used in sealed box and the ported solution is not good no matter what. For the sealed box you will need 12 cub feet and up. I heard contradictory comments about it and I do not have my own opinion about it. If I did it I would go with 18-20 cub feet but do not hold me labile.

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