Music producers are always on the lookout for a product that will give them an edge when it comes to getting a better mixdown in their studios. Some prefer monitors, some headphones, it all comes down to personal preference.
For many producers, a fully decked out music studio just isn’t possible, so they are left to make use of whatever space they can work with, even when the said space is less than ideal. The biggest issue with working in less than ideal spaces is managing the low end.
Many times the monitors are too big, or too small to get an accurate measurement. And if you prefer headphones, sometimes they just lack the oomph you get from a pair of good speakers. So, is there a cost-effective way to resolve this issue? There are quite a few options you can try out, but we’ll be talking about just one, the new SubPac M2X Wearable Physical Audio System
What Is It? How Does It Work? Is It Worth It?
The Subpac is the brainchild of EDM-loving Toronto local collective StudioFeed. The M2X is the latest model in the line of wearable products that help you experience music in a novel way. The Subpac is essentially a small, backpack-sized wearable subwoofer. The goal of this product is to create an incredibly immersive audio experience, and we have to admit, it does an incredibly good job at it!
The Subpac was born of the simple observation of the way we consume music. Thanks to tech advancements in recent years, almost anyone can produce a piece of high-fidelity music, but the way we consume it has severely dropped in quality.
Most of the time we consume music via our AirPods or tiny computer speakers.
The way we consume music today leaves a lot to be desired. Everything sounds flat and colorless, no matter how good your earphones or computer speakers are. Most people can’t afford a pair of hi-fi speakers, or just don’t have the room for them. This is where Subpac comes into play, giving your favorite tracks much-needed color and oomph that’s often missing.
All this is well and done, but how does the Subpac work? That’s an excellent question! The subwoofer is housed in the sleek tortoiseshell looking backpack that’s connected to a headphone amplifier that allows you to adjust the levels of the subwoofer to your desire.
The intensity ranges from a slight boost to a full-blown body shaking you can only experience on live shows.
There are two ways to connect your audio source. The first is to use a standard aux cable, plug your audio source into the amplifier, and then plug your headphones into the amplifier as well. The second is to use a Bluetooth wireless connection.
Both options work well and without a hiccup, but we prefer the wire connection since Bluetooth is prone to interference.
So, is Subpac worth the money? To some, this question seems like a no-brainer, but to others, this is a very valid question.
The answer to this question, however, depends on what you are trying to achieve.
Are you looking to enjoy music in a much more in-depth way? Are you looking for means to make up for less than ideal monitoring situations? Are you looking for a good way to reference your music and get an idea of what it would feel and sound like in the club?
If you answered yes to the first question, then we would say yes, Subpac is worth every cent.
For the second question, our answer is maybe. It all depends on the type of producer you are and how you like to work. As for the final answer, it’s a bit tricky because there are never too many ways of cross-referencing your work. Having the ability to feel your kick drums pounding your chest is really nice, but it is also a sign of whether your low end is as tight as you want it to be.
So, now that you’ve got a basic rundown of what the Subpac is all about, let’s pick it apart and take a closer look at its pros and cons.
In-Depth Look At SubPac
So, as you might have already read, SubPac recently released the M2X, a wearable backpack version of their groundbreaking sub-bass tactile audio system.
The SubPac M2X utilizes proprietary tactile transducers and vibrotactile membranes to create an enhanced vibratory field for optimum efficiency, impact and, most importantly, comfort. Compared to the previous M1model, the M2X features a slimmer amplification box, a Bluetooth receiver, and a high capacity Li-ion rechargeable battery.
The patent-pending M2 allows you to bring the sub wherever you want.
Here’s what John Alexiou, SubPac CEO has to say about M2X: “We are on a mission to introduce the physical dimension of music and sound to the world.
With the SubPac M2, we have created the most immersive wearable audio experience to date. Anyone can now experience audio the way the creator intended – full immersion, anywhere, anytime.”
This novel audio gadget is used by the music industry’s leaders around the world and has become the industry standard in tactile bass for music and gaming enthusiasts.
Speaking about gaming, this product opens a whole new world of immersion when in VR gaming. The coolest thing about Subpac is that it doesn’t require any tampering with the audio content, all you have to do is plug everything in, and you’re ready to go.
The applications for SubPac have been pushed far beyond just music production. SubPac can be seen in Peugeot’s “Fractal” concept car, it’s also a part of the VR enhanced premiere of Universal Pictures Jurassic World. Not only that, but this device is also used at Rock In Rio Festival to help deaf and hearing-impaired to feel music for the first time.
Design
When compared to the earlier M1 model, the M2X looks like it came straight out of a high-budget sci-fi flick. While the M1 featured a soft fabric design, the SubPac M2X features a firm, molded design with a rubberized exterior coating. On the rear interior, the M2X is slightly raised to ensure a good press against your back, which is essential to the experience it’s delivering.
The shoulder straps on the M2X are wider than on the M1. They are made out of cushioned nylon weave. This means that the M2X is more comfortable to wear than the M1.
The M2X also features adjustable chest straps that slide up and down and a waist strap.
The battery offers around five hours of operation with a moderate amount of bass. You can expect a shorter battery life if you crank the intensity all the way up.
All in all, M2X’s aesthetic improvements add smooth and sexy lines. We especially like the contouring on the rear of the backpack. It is clear as day that Studiofeed hired a talented industrial designer to make all these much-welcomed updates to the design. Some might find the M2X a little bit cheesy, but overall it’s certainly stylish.
Fit
Out of the box, you’ll need to adjust all straps on the M2X so it provides a snug and comfortable fit. The snug part of the fit is key to the M2X’s ability to transfer the vibrations to your body correctly.
There are a few things we found interesting when adjusting the straps. The height adjustment on the chest strap was a bit difficult. It took some solid force to lower the height level on the chest strap. However, once the strap was set, it seemed unlikely to budge.
Another thing we noticed is that the waist strap is a bit uncomfortable because it’s a bit stiff. Because of this, it requires a significant amount of tension to pull in the lower half if you adjust it too tight, which can be irritating to the area around your stomach.
With all that said, after a couple of minutes of adjusting the waist strap and finding the sweet spots, we found the M2X comfortable for extended wearing periods.
Specs And Features
Let’s go over the specs:
- Frequency Response: 5hz – 130hz
- Wired input: 3.5mm stereo
- Wireless input: Bluetooth 4.0 with A2DP Streaming
- Charger:15V 1.6A 24W w/ Intl IEC-c7 cables
- Rechargeable Battery: 10.8V, 2300mAh Li-ion battery (6+ hours per charge)
- Dimensions: 17” x 12” x 1.5” (43cm x 30cm x 4cm)
- Weight (including battery): 4.8lbs (2.2kg)
Now, let’s take a look at the advertised features:
- New materials and design for the enhanced vibratory field.
- New optimized tactile transducers for improved accuracy and energy efficiency.
- New ergonomic design for maximum impact, body contact, and comfort.
- Nanosilver treated materials to control bacteria and odor from active use.
- Slimmer control box with dedicated placement points on the unit.
- Flexible control cable for greater ease of movement.
- Bluetooth 4.0 input with A2DP streaming.
- High capacity Li-ion rechargeable battery now runs 6+ hours per charge.
Setting Up The Test
Before we can start with the test proper, we have to set it up.
To see how to the Subpac fairs in music production we went to a home studio of one of our local producers. The studio was perfect for the test since it was rather large, had no sound insulation, and neighbors that just can’t wait to file another noise complaint.
The studio includes a small Adam A3X near-field monitors and an Adam Sub7 subwoofer. Our local producer was a perfect candidate for the SubPac M2X since he can only blast his subwoofers for short periods, not too loudly, and never late at night.
To start the test, we had to spend some time dialing in the SubPac and calibrating it. The process is straightforward since you only have one option, which is intensity.
Here are the steps you need to take to calibrate your SubPac:
- First, we downloaded this calibration track
- Select a song that is either similar in style and production, and preferably in the same key as the audio track, you are mixing or producing.
- Before turning on the SUBPAC, adjust the volume of the reference track in your main monitors so that the kick drum in the reference song is the same volume as the kick drum in the song you are mixing or producing.
- Turn on the SubPac and play the reference song while you increase the intensity dial on SubPack’s amplifier until you reach a suitable level. If this level is different than the one achieved from listening to the calibration track, make a note of the level difference.
- Now use the SubPac without adjusting the intensity to compare the reference track to your track and make adjustments accordingly. Try to match the intensity and volume in the sub-bass and bass frequencies of your track or mix to the reference song.
After we finished calibrating the M2X, the producer made a few tweaks so we get more control over it.
Looking over the specs, the producer was impressed by how wide the crossover is. His Sub7 has a variable crossover frequency control, which he normally sets to 75Hz for a “tighter” bass frequency response. Unfortunately, there is no crossover frequency control on the SubPac.
However, he managed to find a workaround. He routed the signal through multiple outs on his audio interface and then filtered the output to the SubPac. He said this method more accurately represented the low-frequency range he is accustomed to working with.
The Test
We ran several tests with the producer and with us. Amazingly we all reached more or less the same conclusion.
Without using a filter for the crossover, we referenced the SubPac M2X standing in the front of the near-field monitors. We repeated the same test with a set of professional headphones. The results were the same in both tests, the lows were well represented and the kick drum had punch and was distinguishable from underlying heavy baselines.
Even though the SubPac performed admirably in both tests, we preferred headphones. We reasoned that it had something to do with closed listening environment. It made us feel that the overall experience was more cohesive and connected.
We also liked using the SubPac while listening to both the nearfields and the subwoofer. With this method, we were able to feel simultaneously to what’s happening with the low end.
Please note that because of our close proximity to the monitors, the delay between the SubPac and the Monitors was hardly noticeable.
If you’re planning on putting distance between your speakers and the SubPac, you will have to compensate for latency. The equation is roughly 1 millisecond per foot.
Without a doubt, it’s incredibly fun and informative to feel what the bass is physically doing to your body. It is an incredibly insightful and worthwhile experience.
With that said, we all agreed that this is a feeling we can get accustomed to. While a subwoofer’s output is omnidirectional and transmits over the air, the SubPac is a tactile component that you strap onto your back. Comparing the feeling you get from standing in front of a subwoofer and having a SubPac strapped on is like comparing apples and oranges.
The bass response from the SubPac is more like something you’d expect to feel in a loud club rather than in a studio environment.
When you’re in a club, the bass is hitting you in the gut and the chest. However, the M2X is hitting your upper back. At one point in the test, we decided to flip the SubPac and found it delivered a more realistic feeling. We also noticed that the M2 became a bit tiring after a while. This could be on us, though. The SubPac definitely requires getting used to.
Please note that we conducted the test while standing. The SubPac is better suited for use when standing. In fact, it’s meant to be used while standing.
If you want the same experience while sitting, we recommend you check out SubPac S2. Even though you can use the M2X while leaning against the back of the chair, you will notice a considerable change in response. This is caused by the pressure between the chair and your body. Depending on the chair, some resonances will be added or subtracted from the response.
Conclusion
If you like making EDM, but don’t have access to listening to your tracks in a club environment, the SubPac is an excellent choice for you. Live performers and DJs alike may find the SubPac M2X as a good way of monitoring.
If you’re a sound designer, you might enjoy this device because it allows you to enjoy tuning low frequencies by feel rather than just by listening if you are a gamer, you might enjoy it even more.
We found it particularly useful for tuning kick drums and bass since we could physically feel the low frequencies while we played around with the adjustments.
Although it’s not a replacement for an actual subwoofer, the SubPac M2X is a unique tool that provides much needed tactile feedback.
What are your thoughts on the SubPac? Leave us your thoughts down below in the comments!
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:
Oculus Quest Review – A true Game-Changer
Best Free Mobile VR Games In 2019
