Moving back to track 5 on the 1997 version of the IASCA test disc the low frequency response was better from the organ 14 seconds into the track. The fundamentals could be felt at a higher level then in the sealed enclosures. Moving through the tracks I found the subwoofers to be more musical with more impact and low frequency extension. This was a definite improvement over the response of the sealed enclosures. However, it was still fairly easy to drive the subwoofers to the point of audible distortion. (It should be noted that the amplifier used for testing is capable of producing in excess of 900 watts with less then 1% distortion into that load.) I moved on to Faith Hill's "Breathe" and the subs provided a very reasonable rendition of the low frequencies. I decided from there that it was time to move to some more aggressive software so I dropped in Crystal Method. I was greeted by a 126 dB response on track 1. That surprised me, getting that from a pair of $75.00 subwoofers. From there I moved into Limp Bizkit's "Three Dollar Bill" CD which has some fast hard-hitting kick drum low frequency information on it. The subwoofer system pulled them off surprisingly well even with the faster bass passages (as long as I didn't "drop the knob"). Finally I moved on to listen to the Eagles' "Hell Freezes Over" and Selena Anthology CDs. I was surprised by the performance of the SA-100 subwoofers in the vented enclosure with this material. They were capable of producing solid bass with volume levels in the 110 to 118 dB range without audible distortion. The Selena Anthology disc 1, track 1 belted out 128 dB which also matched the peak SPL on track 32 of the IASCA Test Disc which is where the maximum SPL before audible distortion was recorded.
ConclusionThe SA-100 is a very affordable subwoofer that will please many listeners. However, I was not particularly impressed with its performance in sealed enclosures. If you have the space for the vented enclosure the SA-100 subwoofers are capable of a very respectable performance with moderate power levels. And the SA-100 is a viable option for budget-conscious consumers. This sub will provide you with a healthy low-end response with good overall attack. For $75.00 each the performance is surprising.