It started off with a phone call from Ashley with regards to a new series of DD that was soon to be hitting the shores of New Zealand.

Most people know that I was the first to receive a pair of REDLINE 715 SERIES so Ashley & Lance thought I’d be a good candidate to try out one of the REDLINE 800 SERIES.

Firstly, I’d like to point out that this subwoofer is the 18″ in the new 800 series & is first of its range in the SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE. That on its own its insane!

Once the package arrived I opened it up & the first thing I thought was… “DAMN thats going to be heavy” followed by ” did the boys send me the right sub??” Reason I thought this is because the motor in size looks to be the same as the 99 series.

Man its pretty impressive! Looking at the cooling set up I could see this wasn’t going to get hot in a hurry. And the direct connection with more than enough cable to wire it all up. I was guaranteed that the 4″ coil rated at 2krms would handle the abuse that I am known to throw at a subwoofer.

Specs… 

Power Range: 1000-2000 RMS, 6000 Peak
Voice coil diameter: 4″, USA made, aluminum wire on aluminum former.
Motor size: triple stack magnet, CnC 15mm top plate, double vented, outer shorting ring.
Excursion: 75mm
Spiders: Built-in double lead wire, progressive roll, 5 layers.
Cone/surround: Nonpressed synthetic pulp, EROM surround with red stitching.
Net weight: 52 pounds, 23.7 kilos

Digital Designs is introducing a new subwoofer series aimed at the bass cruising market. If you like your bass powerful for an entire evening long cruise, the new 800 Series is made just for you. The 800’s DD exclusive motor is designed around a humungorific USA made all aluminum voice coil and features double motor venting, basket venting and outer shorting ring/heat sinking to ensure the highest long term heat dissipation possible.

The suspension is a combination of the DD innovation EROM surround with an exclusive 5 layer spider system which both gives precise coil movement and long term durability under heavy use.

The new 800 Series is some serious equipment that exceeds the needs when a system designer is going all out in the pursuit of the ultimate bass experience.

The 800 series woofers features:

Double Stitched EROM Surrounds
High-temp 4.0″ all aluminum voice coils
1000w-2000w RMS, 6000w Peak
9 layer laminated spiders
Non-pressed paper cones
Cast aluminum basket with cooling vents
10-AWG Direct Connect Leads
Back plate coil gap venting
3-Way cooling
Extended pole piece
325oz triple stack magnet

The 800 series will be offered in 12″, 15″, and 18″ basket sizes with your choice of dual 1 ohm or dual 2 ohm voice coils.

Continuous Power Range: 1000-2000 watts
Burst Power: 6000 watts
Impedance Options: D1.0 Ohm/ D2.0 Ohm
Suspension Type: Triple stack 9 layer composite
Woofer Diameter: 18″
Coil Diameter: 4″
Magnet Weight: 325 oz
*SPL: 91.34 dB @ 1w/1m
Fs: 34.32 Hz
QTS: .517
Qes: .574
Qms: 5.197
VAS: 4.41 cubic feet
**Xmax: 18 mm
2-Way Suspension Travel: 80mm
Displacement: .27 cubic feet
Frame OD w/ gasket: 18.5625″
A – Frame OD w/o gasket: 18.25″
B – Cutout Diameter: 16.6875″
C – Mounting Depth: 10.25″
D – Motor Diameter: 9.5″
E – Motor Height: 3.75″
F – Surround Height: 1.25″
Shipping Weight: 59.1 lbs

*SPL (1 W / 1 m) is not an accurate indicator of a subwoofer’s output capability and should not be used as a comparison to other subwoofers to determine which one is “louder”

**Xmax specifications are derived via one way voice coil overhang method with no correction factors applied.

Parameters are ran after initial suspension break in and will change over the products lifetime

Now I’m powering this subwoofer with my Atomic 5krms @ 1 ohm, 2x 100ah batteries and major part in my set up being the custom MECHMAN alternator supplied by DC-TECH.

Through out the playing time the 818 has not once got hot or smelly. On a few occasions I have found myself “turning down” my bass control as the sub has progressively worn in. The 818 I found to play very clean and controlled, being designed to be played loud. Not once has it sounded out of place if you know what I mean.

Having to compare the 700 series to the 800 series, I soon heard a massive difference between them. While 700’s were loud, the 800 had just sounded so much stronger, cleaner and far more brutal.

Being  “kind on your budget” this sub makes it a sensible buy aswell as being easier on your pocket for those DD fanatics out there.

BUILD QUALITY: *****

VERSATILITY: **** 1/2

SOUND QUALITY: **** 1/2

VALUE FOR MONEY: **** 1/2

PROS: 4″ US Made coil, excellent cooling system, doesn’t look like a budget subwoofer.

CONS: 1 is never enough.

Jason Sanders – Audiophile – Audiofanatic