Inklang Ayers Sub Review

Test & Technology Active Subwoofer

The Hamburg-based company Inklang now has a very wide range of speakers in their program, so of course, a subwoofer is not missing. The Ayers Sub, like all Inklang speakers, is available in ten colors at no extra charge; if desired, an entirely individual color selection is possible for $63, gladly with telephone consultation.

The Ayers Sub is just as compact as the Velodyne and boosts its two 8.75-inch aluminum drivers with a 280-watt Hypex amplifier. The drivers are arranged in a push-push configuration. Since they face each other, each driver cancels out the movements of the other, resulting in a very quiet enclosure.

Special Features

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The signal reaches the woofer via RCA cables, and there’s plenty to adjust on the back. Naturally, you can adjust the volume, but also the crossover frequency is controlled here. Additionally, the Inklang is the only one in the test field to have a stepless phase control. You can choose whether it is permanently switched on or automatically turns on and off. It also has three EQ modes: Home Theater, HiFi, and Flat, with Flat operating without bass boosts, and the other two adding some (more) level. At Inklang, they are aware of the issue that many systems have too much gain, and they take this into account with the sub: its input sensitivity is uncritical, so the bass does not play too loud in any setup. Yet it has power; for its size, depth and level stability are outstanding. There is no app and therefore no room calibration. However, we did not miss it in the test; the Ayers Sub integrated very harmoniously with the compact speakers even without it. Managing Director Thomas Carstensen also explained to us that the omission of an app is intentional: “We have deliberately refrained from room correction/app control, as many hi-fi devices (both in stereo as well as in the AV segment) come with their own systems like DIRAC & Co. I consider app control for a subwoofer, which you usually set only once, as a gimmick”. As I said, we didn’t miss it. The reinforced enclosure is impressively heavy, wall thicknesses of at least 22 millimeters ensure stability. Another quote: “The enclosure remains completely quiet even under hard use.” There is nothing to add to that.

CONCLUSION: Even without room calibration, the Ayers Sub convinces across the board, especially in the lab. In addition, there is the typically large selection of colors from Inklang. The Ayers Sub is a great, excellently crafted, and sensibly generously equipped subwoofer. 

Inklang Ayers Sub

Closed side-firing subwoofer with two active drivers. Frequency responses are generally clean with a slight tendency to emphasize the frequency range around the cut-off frequency of the low-pass filter. Transmission range at minimum, medium, and maximum low-pass: 23-67/29-96/33-124 Hz. Room frequency response and distortion: distortion-free performance, pleasantly high maximum levels in relation to the compact and closed enclosure – maximum levels depending on the crossover setting: 101/106/109 dB SPL. Extra large adjustment range of the input sensitivity of 60 dB (Velodyne 40 dB, Nubert 21 dB). Power consumption standby/operation (idle): 0.5/8 W. Amplifier power according to manufacturer: 280 W.