The SS line of subwoofers is the more affordable part of the Critical Mass family of subs that includes the acclaimed UL Series of drivers. They're inexpensive enough that you might be able to buy two! Something that's a bit foreboding with the UL's. Considering they cost an arm and a leg - a good example of getting what you pay for - bass fanatics no doubt will welcome the SS models as an alternative. Critical Mass' intent was to take some of the revolutionary technology in the UL series and incorporate it into an entry-level design to maximize the performance-to-cost ratio. As the saying goes, more bang for the buck. Let's see if that's true.
Description I had already been anticipating the arrival of the SS102 on my doorstep, so when I saw the package at the front door I knew, or at least I thought I knew, what it was. But when I picked up the box, it was so light that I couldn't imagine that it actually contained a subwoofer.
But sure enough, it certainly looked like a subwoofer, even if it didn't exactly weigh like one. The sub didn't come with an instruction manual; instead all the instructions and description of the subwoofer seem to have been written on the side of the carton. It explained that Critical Mass used portions of the new technology incorporated in their UL series of subwoofers. The description explained that by combining engineering with technological advances in materials they have been able to create a high performing subwoofer that weighs around 14 lbs. It seems unbelievable, but it's why the box was so light!
Critical Mass Ss102 Subwoofer Review
To keep things at a minimal poundage, the frame on the SS102 resorts to a standard stamp steel variety with a couple of vents below the spider mount and coated with a gray, texture paint. The cone is made a sheet-molded polymica and is attached to the frame via a compressed foam surround. In the center of the cone is an inverted polymica dome with a slightly gaudy looking Critical Mass logo boasting the sub's power handling at 1,000 watts.
With the woofer flipped over, the large push terminals hanging onto the side of the frame on a plastic plate are visible. The tinsel leads are jacketed to help maintain a stiff posture and use of foam padding to keep them from smacking the back of the cone under high excursion. The motor is covered by a rubber boot, as is the mounting edge of the frame; the latter acts as a gasket. Below the gasket is a generic looking motor that uses a ferrite magnet and a vented pole piece. All in all, the SS102 doesn't show itself as being a visual performer, just like its $2,000 brother.
Installation I've been interested in Critical Mass drivers for some time, so I was excited to get down to business. Looking to cut up some MDF, I looked for the enclosure specification on the carton and was surprised that the subwoofer called for an enclosure with a 0.47ft3 internal volume. Taking this internal volume into account, I wasn't sure if I would get the low-end frequency extension that I like. The first enclosure I built was a tad small, resulting in horrible performance from the subwoofer. Not good. This time I made the calculations myself and had the box created again. Voila! It was exactly 0.5ft3 for a much better performing product (more on that later). More than that, I found it kind of crazy how a box of this size could weigh almost the same as the subwoofer. With the proper enclosure, I loaded the subwoofer into the trunk of a 2001 Honda Accord and prepped for amplification.