H-Audio Soul review

Hillbilly SQ · 09-16-2009

I managed to get my hands on a pair of the Soul mids to test out. Like all my reviews I'm going to keep it short and sweet and answer questions as they come up. They replaced my Focal Polyglass mids that are smooth as a babies butt BUT also lack articulation at times. They're a very forgiving mid if you just want to throw them in the doors, do some mild eq work and call it a day with good results. The Soul mids were quite a culture shock but mostly in a good way. They...

are so articulate I'm hearing stuff I've never heard before in music

can be overly sensitive to bad recordings but if you like the music who cares?

have a poly/aluminum blend to reduce ringing up top. I still wouldn't take them over 2500hz no matter what slope you use. I'm not saying you can't go up to the 4khz in the specs but they start to break up when that high...at least to me.

Midbass is really snappy...really the whole mid is snappy to where I had to decrease the delay on my tweets to get the impulse right. Until I reset impulse delay on my tweets these mids WOULD NOT stage for nothing. No amount of l/r eq centering helped before that but finally got everything dailed in. Now they're staging and sound very real doing it. You almost feel like the band is there. I've never heard something like a trumpet sound so real coming through a playback system. I could hear the air coming through the horn.

OK enough rambling about how realistic these things sound. If you want something that will let all the details through without compromise these mids are for you. If you want something that will say "welcome home big daddy" no matter how bad the recording these mids ARE NOT for you. To me these make me feel like I'm hearing music in its rawest form without anything trying to be hidden. If you want great accuracy they're worth a try and if you don't like them I'm sure you could get most of your money back fairly easily. Here's a few pics for your viewing pleasure.

**Boostedrex** · 09-16-2009

Wow, so I take it these will be staying in the truck? It's impressive to hear that they are so accurate and clean. Where do you have them crossed?

stuckinok · 09-16-2009

Nice review...

So were they a good match with your ceramics? How were they as far as midbass performance? How low did you cross them?

Hillbilly SQ · 09-16-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boostedrex

Wow, so I take it these will be staying in the truck? It's impressive to hear that they are so accurate and clean. Where do you have them crossed?

2500 and tweets at 4k. Can't for the life of me remember what my slopes are because I was all over the place finding the sweet spot for acoustical phase.

Hillbilly SQ · 09-16-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by stuckinok

Nice review...

So were they a good match with your ceramics? How were they as far as midbass performance? How low did you cross them?

100 on the bottom and they match perfectly with the ceramics. Midbass is nice and punchy. Not heavy at all. I prefer to cross my mids high to cut down on distortion and my sub can get up that high with ease so why stress the mids if you don't have to?

**Boostedrex** · 09-16-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hillbilly SQ

I prefer to cross my mids high to cut down on distortion and my sub can get up that high with ease so why stress the mids if you don't have to?

I couldn't agree more! Thanks again for doing the review.

**unpredictableacts** · 09-16-2009

How much burn time at the moment Chris? I do hope that once you think you have that 100hour burn in mark that you will cue us in on another review. And let us know how they compare to the ebony mids as well.

I was actually surprised to see this review up so early.

Hillbilly SQ · 09-16-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by unpredictableacts

How much burn time at the moment Chris? I do hope that once you think you have that 100hour burn in mark that you will cue us in on another review. And let us know how they compare to the ebony mids as well.

I was actually surprised to see this review up so early.

Just an initial review. So far probably 15 hours. I'm sure they'll smooth out quite a bit in the coming weeks. I've been wanking on them pretty hard as well at times.

RUBBER DUCKY · 09-16-2009

they look solid

well built

chadillac3 · 09-16-2009

That has to be the ugliest baffle I've seen in quite some time.

ItalynStylion · 09-16-2009

Wow Chris! I'm impressed that you got them in already! Those Focal's had big shoes to fill (IMO) and I'm happy to see that the Souls were up to the challenge!

Deton Nation · 09-16-2009

Is there a website for H Audio? I want to check out the specs.
thanks.

Hillbilly SQ · 09-16-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deton Nation

Is there a website for H Audio? I want to check out the specs.
thanks.

H-Audio Inc. USA

Hillbilly SQ · 09-16-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by ItalynStylion

Wow Chris! I'm impressed that you got them in already! Those Focal's had big shoes to fill (IMO) and I'm happy to see that the Souls were up to the challenge!

I'll promise you the Focals will be used again. They're currently packed up tight and on the top shelf of my closet

I liked them too much to get rid of.

Deton Nation · 09-16-2009

Is there a phase plug in the center? If not are drivers with phase plugs usually better?
Mike

**H-Audio - AKA - Here-I-Come** · 09-16-2009

Thank you for the encouraging and great review sir. They should get even better with some more brake in.

Megalomaniac · 09-16-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deton Nation

Is there a phase plug in the center? If not are drivers with phase plugs usually better?
Mike

The ebony has it not the soul

thsiow10 · 09-17-2009

The fountek FR88EX black cone (Limited Edition) same as next trinity - Titanum Magnesium Injected Alloy Cone?

PlanetGranite · 09-17-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by thsiow10

The fountek FR88EX black cone (Limited Edition) same as next trinity - Titanum Magnesium Injected Alloy Cone?

Aside from nominal impedance and sensitivity, everything else (including frequency response) is spot on . . . so . . . good question?

Hillbilly SQ · 09-17-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by chadillac3

That has to be the ugliest baffle I've seen in quite some time.

Function over form as long as it can't be seen

Actually that goes in my file of what NOT to do but it still works and isn't noticable behind the panel.

Megalomaniac · 09-17-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by thsiow10

The fountek FR88EX black cone (Limited Edition) same as next trinity - Titanum Magnesium Injected Alloy Cone?

Please do a search this has been covered twice now, with photos. The trinity is a much smaller driver, you can mount it nearly anywhere.

friction · 09-17-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by thsiow10

The fountek FR88EX black cone (Limited Edition) same as next trinity - Titanum Magnesium Injected Alloy Cone?

fountek left trinity right.

fountek uses a alumium cone with mylar dustcap

the trinity is all the way magnesium blend alloy cone

Deton Nation · 09-17-2009

How would these stand up as a replacement for the pioneer 720 6.5" mids? In a 2.1 way system. Looking for options.

Hillbilly SQ · 09-17-2009

I never cared for the prs720 mids but will say the Soul mids would be a major step up in clarity.

a$$hole · 09-17-2009

Should work

^^^^

Very Nice review Chris !!

09-16-2009	#1 (permalink)
Hillbilly SQ DIYMA Addict Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Pinnacle, AR Age: 28 Posts: 9,588 iTrader: (9)	H-Audio Soul review I managed to get my hands on a pair of the Soul mids to test out. Like all my reviews I'm going to keep it short and sweet and answer questions as they come up. They replaced my Focal Polyglass mids that are smooth as a babies butt BUT also lack articulation at times. They're a very forgiving mid if you just want to throw them in the doors, do some mild eq work and call it a day with good results. The Soul mids were quite a culture shock but mostly in a good way. They... are so articulate I'm hearing stuff I've never heard before in music can be overly sensitive to bad recordings but if you like the music who cares? have a poly/aluminum blend to reduce ringing up top. I still wouldn't take them over 2500hz no matter what slope you use. I'm not saying you can't go up to the 4khz in the specs but they start to break up when that high...at least to me. Midbass is really snappy...really the whole mid is snappy to where I had to decrease the delay on my tweets to get the impulse right. Until I reset impulse delay on my tweets these mids WOULD NOT stage for nothing. No amount of l/r eq centering helped before that but finally got everything dailed in. Now they're staging and sound very real doing it. You almost feel like the band is there. I've never heard something like a trumpet sound so real coming through a playback system. I could hear the air coming through the horn. OK enough rambling about how realistic these things sound. If you want something that will let all the details through without compromise these mids are for you. If you want something that will say "welcome home big daddy" no matter how bad the recording these mids ARE NOT for you. To me these make me feel like I'm hearing music in its rawest form without anything trying to be hidden. If you want great accuracy they're worth a try and if you don't like them I'm sure you could get most of your money back fairly easily. Here's a few pics for your viewing pleasure.
	09 Ram Quadcab...880prs...Custom overbuilt Zuki 4ch...H-Audio X-Soul2...PG x400.1...2 RE10's Sonic bliss is only as difficult as you want it to be.

09-16-2009	#3 (permalink)
stuckinok DIYMA freshman Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Rio Rancho, NM Age: 26 Posts: 196 iTrader: (4)	Re: H-Audio Soul review Nice review... So were they a good match with your ceramics? How were they as far as midbass performance? How low did you cross them?
	Team Closet Full of Gear (while having a stock system in the car)

09-16-2009	#7 (permalink)
unpredictableacts The Anti-Rice Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: rockTOWN Age: 29 Posts: 4,823 iTrader: (15)	Re: H-Audio Soul review How much burn time at the moment Chris? I do hope that once you think you have that 100hour burn in mark that you will cue us in on another review. And let us know how they compare to the ebony mids as well. I was actually surprised to see this review up so early.
	**WARNINGSide effects of car audio addiction include: Runny nose, anal leakage, a reduction in supplied semin, and ear bleeding...so enjoy.**

09-16-2009	#9 (permalink)
RUBBER DUCKY DIYMA freshman Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Perth Posts: 31 iTrader: (0)	Re: H-Audio Soul review they look solid well built
	Last edited by RUBBER DUCKY; 09-16-2009 at 11:41 AM..

09-16-2009	#10 (permalink)
chadillac3 DIYMA Enthusiast Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Cedar Rapids, IA...but HOOK 'EM HORNS! Age: 31 Posts: 1,775 iTrader: (17)	Re: H-Audio Soul review That has to be the ugliest baffle I've seen in quite some time.

09-16-2009	#11 (permalink)
ItalynStylion DIYMA Loyalist Join Date: May 2008 Location: DFW Texas Posts: 3,420 12V Company: Stereo Clarity Position: Owner iTrader: (3)	Re: H-Audio Soul review Wow Chris! I'm impressed that you got them in already! Those Focal's had big shoes to fill (IMO) and I'm happy to see that the Souls were up to the challenge!

09-16-2009	#12 (permalink)
Deton Nation DIYMA freshman Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Long Island Posts: 159 iTrader: (0)	Re: H-Audio Soul review Is there a website for H Audio? I want to check out the specs. thanks.

09-16-2009	#15 (permalink)
Deton Nation DIYMA freshman Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Long Island Posts: 159 iTrader: (0)	Re: H-Audio Soul review Is there a phase plug in the center? If not are drivers with phase plugs usually better? Mike

09-16-2009	#16 (permalink)
H-Audio - AKA - Here-I-Come DIYMA Enthusiast Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Miami Age: 38 Posts: 1,677 12V Company: H-Audio Inc USA Position: National Product Director iTrader: (38)	Re: H-Audio Soul review Thank you for the encouraging and great review sir. They should get even better with some more brake in.
	"Its All About What Sounds Right" Mark A. Brooks H-Audio Inc. USA Website: H-Audio Inc USA

09-17-2009	#18 (permalink)
thsiow10 DIYMA freshman Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Portland Posts: 91 iTrader: (6)	Re: H-Audio Soul review The fountek FR88EX black cone (Limited Edition) same as next trinity - Titanum Magnesium Injected Alloy Cone?

09-17-2009	#23 (permalink)
Deton Nation DIYMA freshman Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Long Island Posts: 159 iTrader: (0)	Re: H-Audio Soul review How would these stand up as a replacement for the pioneer 720 6.5" mids? In a 2.1 way system. Looking for options.

09-17-2009	#24 (permalink)
Hillbilly SQ DIYMA Addict Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Pinnacle, AR Age: 28 Posts: 9,588 iTrader: (9)	Re: H-Audio Soul review I never cared for the prs720 mids but will say the Soul mids would be a major step up in clarity.
	09 Ram Quadcab...880prs...Custom overbuilt Zuki 4ch...H-Audio X-Soul2...PG x400.1...2 RE10's Sonic bliss is only as difficult as you want it to be.

09-17-2009	#25 (permalink)
a$$hole DIYMA Psychopath Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Wrong side of the tracks Age: 16 Posts: 13,619 iTrader: (14)	Re: H-Audio Soul review Should work ^^^^ Very Nice review Chris !!
	"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us."Ralph Waldo Emerson

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