Boston Acoustics Pro Series 8.4LF

Price Paid:  $225.00 from Electronic World

Year / Model Reviewed:
 2000

Summary:
These 8" subs are to be compared with 10" subs in order to have a fare competition, They look good and sound even better.

Strengths:
Interier volume is only 0.3 cubic feet, High power handling, Design for sealed boxes only.

Weaknesses:
Too Heavy.

Similar Products Used:
Haven''t tried anything else.

Price Paid:  $210.00

Year / Model Reviewed:
 2000 Boston Pro 8.5LF

Summary:
If you want "booty bass" then these are not for you. If you are looking to have your guts shaken, then go get some 12's. If you are looking for sound quality, these are the sub's for you. Two Pro 8.5's will help round out any system.

Strengths:
Great sound quality, hardly need any airspace, clean and tight

Weaknesses:
If you're looking for booty-shaking bass, it's not here,it's in the 12's

Similar Products Used:
MTX 3000 10's, JL 12W3, Infinity Perfect 12

Summary:
After living with the dual boston's for a few weeks (posted the original review only after 2 days). I've noticed a few more things.
I was fortunate to attend an open house at my installers and there were over 10 demo vehicles there. ALL these systems had dual 15" subs (mostly image dynamics IDW-15 or McIntosh).

Afterwards when listening to my system, 8" was not enough obviously, but after the "aural recollection" of the 15" systems faded, I noticed that the bass from the boston's was still good and tight. Although it doesn't pound as hard as the 15", it's a very comfortable amount of bass. It doesn't give you a headache and it sounds very natural. In other words the bass notes are closer to real instraments. i have never been in to earth shattering bass so I feel that bass that is noticeable but properly imaged (in front of you and behind the vocals) is ideal, NOT the "in your gut and at your back".

I'm now planning to build a custom enclosure under the back seats firing the subs forward. This should give me a little more bass (no seats to dampen the sound) but also help place the bass properly in the sound stage.

Summary:
I just upgraded from a 10" JBL GTX in a sealed box to a dual (2) 8" Bostons also in a sealed box. What a difference in loudness and tightness in the bass. I was always a bit dissappointed in the JBL. The JBL was loud but not as tight bass as my previous Solobaric (stolen).
Back to the Boston set; I saw them on sale and wonder if it would be a noticeable upgrade as opposed to just upgrading to a better 10". Any reservation I did have are all gone. I've played all sorts of music genres (rock, big band, clasical, R&B and Rap) and the extra bass can be heard and felt!! I especially noticed an improvement in light rock tracks. Even though these songs aren't bass oriented, the vocals and ambiance improvement immensely.

after selling my old 10" box, this was only a $300 upgrade.