IK iLoud Sub: Affordable Calibrated Subwoofer for Immersive Audio
When it comes to "room calibration", the primary target is always low frequencies. If a monitoring manufacturer doesn't offer a subwoofer with calibration support, their entire calibration system remains incomplete.
Take IK Multimedia and ADAM Audio, for instance - whilst both have released calibrated monitor speakers, they've been limited to 2.0 systems, unable to handle 2.1, surround sound, or immersive audio production. This essentially locks them out of film and television work.
Well, it looks like IK has finally crossed that threshold with their brand new:
The iLoud Sub comes bundled with IK's own ARC measurement microphone straight out of the box.
Integrating directly into IK's monitoring calibration ecosystem, you can use the ARC X software for calibration immediately.
Let's take a closer look at the design. Yes, you're seeing correctly - the iLoud Sub does indeed feature "three drivers".
However, the two units on the left and right sides are actually "passive radiators", whilst the single "active driver" sits front and centre. The subwoofer uses a Class D amplifier with 160W RMS power, and IK claims it can reach down to 25Hz at -6dB.
There's a potential design challenge here - it feels like you might accidentally press on the drivers whilst moving it.
Fortunately, the iLoud Sub is compact (24.4 x 25 x 28.3 cm) and lightweight (7.1 kg), with recessed feet underneath, making it easy to lift and carry.
The ideal pairing for the iLoud Sub is naturally IK's own iLoud series monitors, but thanks to its "adjustable crossover" design and native support for "ARC acoustic calibration",
IK officially states it's compatible with other brands as well.
They've even put images directly on their official website showing products from Genelec 8000, Kali LP-UNF, KRK Rokit and ADAM T series, complete with setup scenarios...
And truth be told, they do look rather good together...
The iLoud Sub's connectivity includes unbalanced RCA common in consumer audio, as well as balanced XLR for professional audio applications.
The rear panel USB port serves dual purposes - software control and direct USB-DAC decoding. Beyond that, they've added Bluetooth input support as well.
Whilst IK hasn't disclosed the specific Bluetooth version, given the AAC/SBC codec support only and the absence of latency specifications (Bluetooth 5.3 onwards saw significant latency reductions), we can reasonably infer it's likely a pre-Bluetooth 5.3 version.
The iLoud Micro Monitor's published Bluetooth latency is 155ms, suggesting it also uses a pre-5.3 version.
The iLoud Sub leaves some professional specifications unpublished, such as input level (which determines compatible audio interfaces), and THD, which affects low-frequency clarity, amongst others.
But none of this really matters... because the key point is that it's "sufficiently affordable".
Building a complete 7.1.4 immersive system with it works out to just €3,600 EUR / £3,156 GBP.
This is currently the most affordable solution with "native DSP acoustic calibration"... It'll be more stable than third-party calibration (such as SoundID Reference) with lower latency, and costs nearly half of what the previously cheapest Genelec 8320 + 7350 setup would set you back.
Of course, suppose you don't need a multi-channel setup and simply want to enhance the low-frequency experience of your desktop. In that case, the iLoud Sub is still quite suitable, as
6.5-inch compact subwoofers are genuinely rare in the professional audio industry.
Within IK's own product range, a 6.5-inch subwoofer pairs nicely with the 3.5-inch iLoud Micro Monitor (Pro) and iLoud MTM MKII, though matching it with the 5-inch Precision 5 feels rather strained...
Looking at it this way, IK's next step should probably involve launching a larger subwoofer - perhaps an 8-inch model.
