ResoNix GUS-12 Shallow Subwoofer Geometrically Uncompromised Subwoofer The ResoNix GUS series subwoofers is our next major step forward, and honestly, something the car audio world has been missing for a long time. This line of subwoofers is designed and built around one idea, create a subwoofer that does not compromise in any direction. We wanted shallow mounting depth with real output capability, extremely low distortion, and excellent low frequency extension, and can handle very small sealed enclosures. Many companies claim to offer this, but nobody has been able to fully deliver all of it at the same time. The GUS line changes that. GUS, while named after my cat Gustavo, also stands for Geometrically Uncompromised Subwoofer, which describes the design goal perfectly. No compromises on geometry (both motor and mounting depth), no compromises on performance, and true to our motto; no gimmicks, no BS, pure performance. FAQ's Frequently Asked Questions are located further down this page and along with everything else on this page, address most questions about these subwoofers. We are happy to assist when needed, but as a very small team, we appreciate you reviewing the information on this page and the FAQs before reaching out. Reviews Be sure to check out The First Review by someone who got to hear our GUS-12 Pre-Production Prototype Revision 1 in my personal vehicle! The second review of our prototypes that we have sent around, posted by Luke of RW Soundworks. The Third Review of one of our prototypes that we have sent around, posted by BJ Kizer in Colorado. Why We Made Them Over the years, all of my personal favorite high performing subwoofers meant for small sealed enclosures have been discontinued, and nothing else currently available on the market has impressed me. Everything that claimed to be at least relatively shallow, or low distortion, or capable in tiny boxes while achieving low frequency extension either exaggerated the spec sheets or could not live up to their claims in real world use. I got tired of settling, and I got tired of waiting for someone else to make the subwoofers that I, and many others, wanted. So, I did what I always do and built our own, and we made them the best available. The GUS series subwoofers are the result of an absurd length and amount of discussion, planning, design, testing, and refinement. What came out of it all is the subwoofer I genuinely had always wished existed. Performance Highlights The main goal was simple, deliver industry leading distortion and output capability relative to the shallow depth and tiny box volume. The GUS line accomplishes exactly that. Distortion is extremely low across the board. Low frequency extension is far beyond what should be possible in this much airspace. Transient response is clean and controlled. And xmax capability is real, not a cherry picked optimistic number. Every major element of the design is fully optimized through Klippel LSI testing. Motor symmetry, suspension linearity, inductance stability, thermal behavior, and mechanical limits are all verified through controlled measurement. Engineering and Materials We started with a high motor force, ultra low inductance patent pending overhung motor design that has been FEA optimized, which allowed us to get the motor strength needed for real low frequency extension in genuinely small sealed enclosures. From there, the focus was simple, maximize linearity and minimize distortion. The motor geometry, coil length, gap structure, and flux distribution were all built to deliver clean, predictable force across the entire stroke instead of chasing saved pennies, high profits, and a nonsense marketing xmax number. The result is a motor with extremely stable and linear BL and inductance across stroke, excellent symmetry, and real, verified usable excursion. Copper shorting rings keep inductance low and controlled, which is a major reason why the GUS line has such low distortion and such clean transient behavior. The cone uses a Nomex honeycomb core with a carbon fiber facing. This structure gives us an extremely stiff, yet extremely lightweight diaphragm that resists the flex and breakup modes that typically show up in shallow geometry designs and flat cones. Keeping the cone stable directly reduces distortion and keeps output clean at high excursion. The cone also features a vented rear cone assembly that attaches to the voice coil former. This allows for the ability to mount the GUS series subwoofers in extremely shallow enclosures that may even completely block the rear pole vent, all while exhibiting no negative side effects due to the excellent venting at the rear cone assembly. The patent pending full length copper shorting sleeve design is a key part of how we keep inductance low and stable across stroke. The sleeve sits on the outside of the gap, with the voice coil positioned between the coil former and the sleeve, which helps reduce inductance modulation and keeps motor behavior more predictable over excursion. Its closer placement to the coil also helps pull heat out of the coil and motor, improving heat extraction and keeping conditions more consistent under load. The copper voice coil provides higher thermal handling than cheaper aluminum coils. This allows for more power over time before thermal compression sets in, meaning output and response stay more consistent during real listening instead of falling off as the coil heats up. The titanium voice coil former eliminates eddy current drag as the coil moves in the magnetic gap, which keeps the motor behavior more consistent as frequency and output rise. Titanium also has low thermal conductivity, so it helps direct heat away from the internal neo magnet and into the full length copper shorting sleeve, improving heat extraction and keeping motor conditions more consistent under heavy use. All of this comes together with careful but rugged assembly to deliver the performance goals we set from the beginning. Extremely low distortion, clean transient response, stable behavior at high stroke, and real output capability in enclosure sizes that would normally cripple your old favorite subwoofer. Every decision came down to one overarching goal. No shortcuts, period. How This Compares in the Real World Almost every shallow, and even regular depth subwoofer on the market that’s geared for sound quality systems is marketed as clean, high excursion, and capable in tiny boxes. The problem is that most of them fall apart as soon as you look at actual distortion and LSI (BL(x), CMS(x), Le(x), and QTS(x)) behavior. We have already tested most of them on a full Klippel LSI and TRF setup. The GUS prototypes outperform all of them on the metrics that matter. Distortion is lower, inductance is more stable, motor force stays cleaner through stroke, and the usable output is higher. The difference is not subtle. Independent Testing and Transparency We will be publishing full Klippel LSI and TRF data for every model in the GUS line, along with the upcoming PTR Ultra-Shallow and ODIN Infinite Baffle series subwoofers. This will be done for EVERY batch of subwoofers that we produce to ensure consistency and quality, and that nothing changes over time. The same level of transparency used in our independent subwoofer testing project will apply here, with the same format and the same test methodology. If you want objective data and real measurements, we are the only ones willing to show all of our cards. Weird, I wonder why. Our Promise The GUS line of shallow subwoofers is not just another product release that will further saturate the market. This is our biggest, and best project to date, and it sets the direction for the next chapter of ResoNix while still continuing our mantra of no gimmicks, no BS, pure performance, with real engineering, real measurements, and real performance that we fully stand behind. This is the subwoofer that I have always wanted. Now we get to share it with you.