Are Crunch Subwoofers Good? (Buy Or Avoid?)
Anyone in love with high-fidelity sound understands that heavenly feel of driving in your car with a robust subwoofer banging in the background. There is no denying that you need a solid subwoofer to achieve this feel. But do Crunch subwoofers count among the good ones you can buy? Conversely, is it a brand you should avoid?
Crunch subwoofers have a spectacular bass delivery, with frequency response as low as 15Hz. This lavishes you with deeper audio playback levels. Indeed, the sound is more precise, minimally distorted, and ultimately more immersing. Crunch subs are built to last with powerful surround and befitting back venting technology. These subwoofers are also affordable. That said, some users we interviewed complained that Crunch subs’ performance drops at high excursion.
For those who don’t know much about Crunch’s subwoofers, you couldn’t have been at a better place. This guide will expansively review critical aspects of this subwoofer manufacturer like motor design, frequency range, power, durability, and others.
Who Produces Crunch Subwoofers, and Where?
While Crunch has been producing subwoofers for the last 30 years, it was integrated into the Maxxsonics family in 2001.
Maxxsonnics is a leader in the American audio engineering industry. Most Crunch subs are designed and assembled in Maxxsonnics facilities in Chicago, Illinois.
This makes Crunch an American-built subwoofer brand.
Power
We were impressed with the power these subs come with. This was sufficient to drive the lower frequencies critical to a rich bass experience.
A significant fraction of the Crunch subs we saw either had a Class D Monoblock amplifier or the standard class AB amp.
This versatility was essential in producing maximum power for various music types, from heavy rock to electronic dance music.
While an 800W output was the most prevalent we saw in Crunch’s lineup, it is worth noting that some models like the Crunch PX-2025 could deliver a whopping 2000W.
The surround design we saw in Crunch subs significantly enhanced the power handling capacity. Commonly, we saw Crunch subs fitted with a poly cotton spider.
This meant that these subs didn’t struggle to manage higher power levels. The distortion at these elevated power outputs was still fairly minimal.
Motor
The design of Crunch subwoofer motors didn’t disappoint us. Most of the subs we saw from this producer came with vented high-energy motors.
This vented design helped reduce distortions, especially at high excursion levels. It achieves this by suppressing the non-linear spring phenomenon typical of the air stuck behind the sub’s dust cap.
We were also impressed with the heavy magnet design of these motors. This meant Crunch subs produced enough power to drive hi-fi sounds at louder intensity.
Frequency
The frequency range is broad, making Crunch subs more accommodating of your existing audio stack in your car or home stereo setup.
40Hz-200Hz was the dominant frequency range we saw from this manufacturer. We must add that we saw some Crunch models with a frequency response falling as low as 15Hz.
Sound quality
All audiophiles agree on how agonizing distortions can be. We were relieved to find Crunch invested a lot in boosting the accuracy of its sounds.
We saw this in the voice coil design. Most Crunch subs are fitted with a 2″ voice coil. This substantially improves heat distribution. Ultimately, the sub gave off far fewer distortions.
These subs also suppressed distortions with the cone and surround design. We came across a lot of Crunch subs made from injection-molded polypropylene cones.
Coupled with their UV-resistant foam surround, these subs delivered deep bass with the slightest distortions.
Durability
Here is another aspect where Crunch subwoofers impressed us. Crunch’s emphasis on the longevity of their subs was demonstrated in the venting and frame design of their subs.
Most Crunch subs are furnished with stamped steel baskets, high-density MDF, and directional heat sinks.
The heavy-duty steel frame these subs possessed had the unique advantage of back venting. These made Crunch subs more reliable as they boasted superior ventilation and power handling.
That said, many audiophiles tend to prefer cast frames. This is because such frames had superior rigidity and geometry. Specifically, the latter allows for better delivery of the back-wave from the driver.
Crunch subs beat a lot of the subs in the market in heat dispersal. The directional heat sink build of Crunch subs meant that generated heat was quickly dissipated before it accumulated and affected the amplifier.
Thanks to this, the amps in Crunch subs could run way longer without getting dangerously hot.
Lastly, the build of the subwoofer enclosure was worth commending. Built from high-density MDF, these enclosures – enhanced with internal bracing – were robust and fit to stand the test of time.
Installation
Here, our appraisal is a bit mixed. Most Crunch subs come with spade terminals.
Now, here is the controversy. If you have used spade terminals before, you will agree they are one of the best connections you can get for your speaker wires.
It is worth appreciating how such spade terminals neatly pack the strands while ensuring that your wire ends don’t unravel.
On the less optimistic side of things, these spade terminals mean that it takes a bit longer to connect your Crunch subs.
Compared to banana plugs, spade terminals are a bit more challenging to screw in place – especially for beginners.
Price
We will explicitly state that Crunch speakers are among the cheapest in the market. The price range sits between $60 and $160.
The CRW12D4 CRW 12 was one of the cheapest we saw in Crunch’s lineup. It sold for around $65 (depending on your dealer).
On the other end, the Crunch CR-212A was one of the most expensive Crunch offered. This guy cost around $160. We couldn’t complain much either as it could deliver up to 1000W.
Do Crunch subwoofers have warranty cover?
Crunch has a detailed warranty policy for their subwoofers. We will explain it carefully.
Fundamentally, all Crunch subwoofers are covered by a 12-month warranty policy if you meet the requirements.
With this policy, Maxxsonics – Crunch’s parent company – assumes responsibility for repairing and replacing any malfunction in your Crunch sub due to defects in workmanship or material design.
If you meet the conditions, you can return your Crunch sub to Maxxsonics through the authorized dealer you purchased it.
For any inquiries regarding warranty and returns, you can contact Maxxsonics via +49 7253 9465-93. You can also send them an email via speakers@audiodesign.de.
Best Crunch Subwoofers review
In this section, we took some time to test out Crunch subs to determine which best combined the qualities (and features) we desired.
The Crunch CRW12D4 and the Crunch CR-212A marveled us most. Let us tell you what we liked about them.
Crunch CRW12D4
We loved how the Crunch CRW12D4 delivers deep bass. This entertained us with superior audio playback levels, especially when driving around with your favorite song gushing out.
We must commend the accuracy of the sound. Unlike other speakers that meted excruciating distortions on us, the sound was cleaner and completely enveloped us.
The dual voice-call feature was also an important stakeholder in the precision of the sound at high excursions.
For the power, the Crunch CRW12D4 had an RMS of 400 watts, with the maximum output staked at 800W.
While not the loudest we have seen, the power was fairly enough to drive our desired hi-fi frequencies.
The motor worked well with the heavy-duty stamped steel basket. Being powder coated, we didn’t have to worry about the system rusting too soon.
We also commend the back venting functionality the motor had. Altogether, it upgraded its capacity to handle higher SPLs and power levels.
With all these said, we think this subwoofer is best suited to smaller (preferably sealed) chambers like your car. We were not too impressed when we used it for larger enclosures that were vented.
Crunch CR-212A 1000w Dual 12″ Powered Loaded Subwoofers
If you love it really loud, then you will feel at home with this guy. Yes, we couldn’t help crushing on the Crunch CR-212A.
It delivered as much as 1000W, with admirable versatility in amplifier input. This sub works well with Molex or RCA amplifier inputs.
This makes its range of integration broader as it can work with your higher-level speakers or more conventional RCA inputs.
If you have a more spacious car, then you will enjoy banging deep bass with the Crunch CR-212A. Its bass boost feature is switchable to +6dB -. This means you have enhanced capacity to modulate the bass delivery.
Lastly, this sub comes with resin-reinforced cotton and a directional heat sink. This lends this sub improved capacity to manage the coil while dissipating heat faster.
Resources
Customer reviews: CRUNCH CR212A CR-212A
Crunch CR-212A | Special Edition Subwoofer Package