The Infrasonic Experience from a Monster 64 inch Subwoofer – Ascendo’s The64 Sub Pro

Posted by Tan       

This listening session at Dato’ Danon Han’s audio den was not only entertaining and a massive eye-opener, it was also educational. It was an experience that could easily change the Hifi world view of many audiophiles. 

When you’re already running a flagship-level setup which includes the Gryphon Kodo—a massive, four-tower loudspeaker system—you have to wonder what the next logical step up even is.

Dato’ Han has been contemplating this challenge for some time.

When Ascendo came to our shores bringing in their infrasonic subwoofers, they won over many Malaysian enthusiasts with their deep, clean and tactile bass performance. Many of these infrasonic subs found their homes in local systems.

Dato’ Han wanted to push the envelope even further. Never one for half measures, he decided to chase single-digit bass frequency extension and in the process became the first person in Southeast Asia to own the Ascendo The64 Sub Pro infrasonic subwoofer. This massive 64-inch subwoofer handles home theatre duties, but the coolest part for me is that it's also wired up for pure, two-channel HiFi music. Amazingly, it handles both duties like a absolute champ.

I was excited when I received an invitation to attend a launch and demo event at Dato’ Han’s place after the team at AV Designs (Ascendo’s Malaysian distributor) finished installing and calibrating the system. I had no doubt that this Ascendo giant would impress with AV duties after experiencing its smaller siblings in AV Designs’ showroom, for me, the real treat was finally getting to hear how a monster infrasonic subwoofer behave when properly blended into a dedicated two-channel music system.

I really respect Dato’ Han’s approach to the demo. He clearly put a ton of effort into painstakingly selecting the right tracks, leaving no stone unturned. The playlist ranged from quiet, simple solo vocals all the way to bombastic audiophile tracks.

Yes, you read that right, simple and quiet solo vocal. Common sense says that there is not much low bass content there, so why bother playing it through the monstrous Ascendo? But reality showed otherwise. When the Ascendo was turned on in an A/B comparison, the vocal showed up more naturally, less edgy in the highs (!) and less hifi-ish overall, the soundstage opened up and the atmosphere in the soundstage became more distinct. These were beneficial though not massive changes, but it was amazing that the Ascendo could improve on such simple music.

There was simply no debating on on what the 64 inch infrasonic sub brought to the table when we switched over to full range, dynamic, and more challenging music. The extra bass extension beneath every track was instantly apparent, adding a ton of heft to the performance while staying agile and transparent, the latter was no mean feat for any 2-channel system with subwoofer. Every single bass note came through clean and clear. Higher up the frequency range, it did the exact same magic trick as with the solo vocals—the whole presentation felt more natural, removing a tiny bit of top-end edginess I didn't even know was there until it was gone. Big sounds got even bigger, the soundstage expanded, and the music felt truly majestic.

A little bit of excursion from the 64 inch driver goes a long way

The fact that the Ascendo could dig up so much hidden details from the same recordings - especially when paired with a beast of a speaker like the Gryphon Kodo - was staggering.

We also got to experience the Ascendo The64 Sub Pro on movie duties. Suffice to say that the Ascendo The64 infrasonic sub blew us away. It was impactful, immersive, deep, dynamic – the kind of performance that would scare the daylights out of many AV enthusiasts.

Dato' Danon Han's is the Ascendo-certified first unut of The64 Sub Pro in Southeast Asia

To top it all off, Ascendo’s co-founder, Geoffrey Heinzel, was there with us. He shared his philosophy on why infrasonic bass is so crucial to overall sonic performance, and how Ascendo became a pioneer in the space. For him, smaller subwoofers that compromise on size and true bass depth just don't cut it.

After experiencing Data’ Danon Han’s system, I can’t disagree.

If you already own a high-end system and are still wondering where your next performance upgrade will come from, an Ascendo Infrasonic Subwoofer could be the answer. Give AV Designs a call to experience - 03-62411237.

Details of the Ascendo The64 Sub Pro can be found here.

Bass Goes Bigger: Revisiting AV Designs with the Ascendo 32-Inch Subwoofer

 Posted by Tan

After my last jaw-dropping encounter with AV Designs’ seismic subwoofer setup—where a 24-inch Ascendo woofer redefined what “low-end” meant (read it here) - I was invited back for a follow-up session. This time, things had gotten more serious. The 24-incher was replaced with the 32-inch Ascendo subwoofer that I alluded to in my last post.

Yes, 32 inches. And yes, when you thought bass could not have gone deeper and deeper, this hunk of a subwoofer made a big difference - and profoundly so.

The moment the system engaged, the large room was totally filled. There was an unmistakable sense of scale - the soundstage had grown further, with instruments and effects occupying a more expansive, three-dimensional space.

Bass dug even deeper into the floor, the sound effects from Hollywood blockbusters spreading out around, beneath and above, enveloping you fully. And yet, counterintuitively, everything felt more relaxed. I could not imagine myself saying this comparing with my previous experience with the 24 inch sub, but gone was the ever slightest hint of strain that I didn't even know was there until I experienced its big brother here. Bass line emerged with a natural ease that was almost uncanny, with each bass notes unfurled even more effortlessly.

Despite its sheer size, this sub wasn’t overbearing. What truly impressed me was how coherently the new sub integrated with the rest of the system. James Tan and the AV Designs team had clearly spent considerable effort tuning the setup. The balance remained impeccable. The integration of the 32-inch monster into the existing five-subwoofer array (including dual 21s and dual 18s) was executed with excellence. Each was meticulously integrated and calibrated to provide a bass response that’s linear, clean, and enveloping.

Music and movie sound tracks alike benefited. Music was provided with a rock solid foundation, the mid and highs were even smoother than before. Explosive scenes from action soundtracks hit with visceral impact but with none of the muddiness lesser systems suffer from.

AV Designs continues to chase the limits of what’s possible in the home setting, and this latest installation isn’t just about brute force. It’s about control, precision, and not least excitement. Absolutely an experience that should not be missed by any serious AV enthusiasts and audiophiles. 

Contact AV Designs 03-62411237 for enquiries and audition.

3Hz Bass Experience with Multiple Ascendo Subwoofers

Posted by Tan

Yes, you read that right—3Hz bass, not 30Hz or 300Hz. While 3Hz is inaudible to the human ear, its presence can be powerfully felt. Unfortunately, words alone can’t capture the sensation of 3Hz bass, so the next best thing is to let you see it in motion.

In the video clip below, a 24-inch Ascendo subwoofer took center stage, playing a track that plunged into sub-bass frequencies as low as 3Hz. Although the phone microphone may not have captured the deepest bass notes (recording instead their higher harmonic frequencies), the camera revealed the subwoofer driver working hard to deliver these astonishingly low frequencies. At certain moments, I could see the driver’s movement more clearly rather than just a blur, visually indicating how low the bass notes being played was.

Track title - "Critical Havocs - Infrasonic Death (under 3Hz)"

This was also the first time I literally felt “pants-flapping bass” from a home theater or HiFi system. Squatting down in front of the massive sub to film the driver, I was surprised to find my pant legs flapping in sync with the bass. What I had thought was just a figure of speech turned out to be entirely real!

AV Designs has pushed boundaries by installing five Ascendo subwoofers in their main home theater room. This setup featured two 21-inch subwoofers at the front, alongside two 18-inch subs and a massive 24-inch sub at the back. But why so many subs you ask? Wouldn't such overwhelming bass energy drown the space and render soundtracks or music unbearable and unlistenable?

The answer is "No". The goal of employing multiple subwoofers isn’t to add more and excessive bass, but to ensure a smooth and linear bass response. In typical listening rooms, bass peaks and troughs occur due to the physics of bass propagation. Strategically placing multiple subwoofers allows the system better ability and flexibility to cancel those peaks and fill in the troughs. Of course, I am putting this lightly, James Tan of AV Designs explains that achieving this linearity requires both expertise and significant effort to properly calibrate the system. 

This was an amazing experience for me. The system delivered outstanding performance not just for movie soundtracks but also for music.  The bass rumbled and was also impactful and fast, yet it exuded nuances and details that added immense depth to the listening experience when the recording called for. It’s evident that systems struggling with bass issues—such as boomy, muddy, or bloated bass—compromise not just the low-end but also the midrange and treble. In fact, it affects the entire listening enjoyment.

This demo highlighted how a clean, well-balanced bass foundation can transform audio quality. A precise bottom end opens up the sound, enhances dynamic expression, improves the music’s flow, and anchors the soundtrack and music, allowing it to truly flourish.

AV Designs was not stopping here in their quest for even greater bass. After this, the 24-inch subwoofer will be replaced by an even larger 32-inch Ascendo subwoofer. An even more amazing bass experience awaits.

The 32-inch Ascendo sub that will take up residence in AV Designs' main HT demo system next

Contact AV Designs 03-62411237 for enquiries and audition.