Q 1. I've read many comments about the Kraken focusing on its power mainly, but there isn't much subjective information (impressions) about its performance compared to other subwoofers. Can I ask if the bass produced by a Kraken is more intense, faster, and more visceral than the best PA subwoofers on the market, and even HIFI subwoofers like the JL Gotham v2? Or is it just a more powerful output with more headroom? I'm already familiar with the specifications (which I must add are impressive), I'm asking this to know how the bass of a Kraken sounds and feels before purchasing it.
Yes, it is more intense and more visceral than other subs. With deeper notes it feels like swimming in bass. At higher notes, the impact from one unit is eye-ball rattling.
Q 2. Can the midbass of a Kraken be compared to that of an Ampeg 8x10? Or is it even better? In terms of punch, speed, transient peaks, dynamics, etc.
I've never compared it to an Ampeg 8x10 but the general pattern is that an 8x10 cabinet doesn't have a crossover, so it will sound like an unprocessed full-range with a blown tweeter. Although the frequency response will be far from flat, (read as it will be peaky) its output will tend to slope upwards towards the sensitivity peak of the 10” drivers. Although the 8x10 can get loud, it will have significantly less output below 100Hz and significantly more output above 100Hz until the 10” drivers roll off somewhere in the upper midrange. The Kraken is a subwoofer, and although its output can be described as brutal and violent, without midrange and highs to accompany it, it could “seem” to lack impact in comparison to an 8x10. This is because the higher frequencies contribute to the impression of impact and speed. For a full comparison to an 8x10, you need to include a mid-high, at which point the comparison is chalk and cheese.
Q 3. Considering the power of the Kraken is RMS and its bass extension (23Hz), I see a lot of potential for cinema applications. So, could I use a Kraken for a 50 to 100-person cinema room and get an IMAX-like experience? Have you ever played a movie with intense bass on the Kraken out of curiosity?
Definitely, and we've played some movies on it and scared the living daylights out of folks! Close Encounters of the Third Kind is especially fun. ;) (Master and Commander, Battleship, Iron Man, the list goes on.)
Q(s) 4. I've had many subwoofers for home use, and some perform very well at concert or reference level in movies, indoors of course, ranging from the Paradigm SUB 2, JL Gotham v2, JTR Captivator ulf4000, Rel n25 (I've sold most of them to keep trying subwoofers, it's addictive). Sometimes I throw crazy parties in my garden for hours (easily more than 6 or 8 hours), I just have to open the glass doors and turn my system towards the garden to play music. The problem is that most of my subwoofers get too hot when playing loud, trying to maintain 120dB, and none of them reached peaks of 130dB in deep bass (JTR Captivator and JL Gotham came close) outdoors, not to mention the coverage distance (very little). And they all seemed to be reaching their limit all the time.
My question is... could I use a Kraken in my room? Or would that be too crazy?
Crazy is a relative term. I have a Kraken in my office. I don't need to turn it up much, but you can definitely use it in a small space.
For example, how linear is the Kraken? Does it sound equally good at low volume or does it need to play loud to get Kraken-level bass?
The Kraken is very linear. The processing allows it to provide flat frequency response to remarkably high output levels. The very lowest frequencies compress out first due to limitations of excursion, port air flow and coil temperature. Thus its maximum output SPL capabilities rise as frequencies rise. This is common with all subs. The difference is how loud and how deep the capabilities of the Kraken are before it starts to compress. Kept to levels that aren't dangerous to your hearing, your building and your relationships with your neighbors, the Kraken sounds as smooth as cooked chocolate pudding with whipped cream. Not instant pudding. And not redi-whip, real heavy whipping cream.
And obviously, being in my room, could a Kraken play lower? Maybe down to 15Hz? Or is it limited?
The room dimensions combine to cause what's known as “Cabin Gain”. Essentially a 12dB/octave rise in measured SPL at frequencies below its onset. This produces an effect that allows higher SPL to be measured in the room at lower frequencies than would be possible outside the room. The tuning frequency of the box ultimately limits the lowest frequency that can be produced safely at high SPL. Inside the cabin, (room) that frequency shifts very slightly lower, but, the SPL at that frequency shifts up significantly. (more significantly the smaller the room is) The lowest the cabinet can go still needs to be limited by the processing necessary to prevent damage when not in a small room, but its effective frequency response does extend lower when in a confined space. It won't be flat to 15Hz, no. It might make it to 19 or 18Hz, depending on how small the room is.
And would a Kraken in my room perform close to one of those subwoofers I mentioned in terms of bass quality?
No, a Kraken in your room risks structural damage. Just sayin. ;)
Q 5. I see that the Kraken is efficient, does this mean it is also low distortion? Could I play a Kraken at very high volumes for hours without getting tired or feeling fatigue?
Yes, but also no. Distortion increases exponentially with level, so having excess capability allows you to keep distortion to a minimum. This is the benefit of having an excessively capable box like the Kraken. Ultimately you will feel fatigue, but not because of anything related to distortion from the cabinet. It's just too intense. You can't stand it for very long and you'll need to back it off. In other words, high SPL is relative and this is likely to produce higher SPL than you're used to unless you're into very loud car audio systems. The effect is a bit unexpected. Very low frequencies at high SPL make your eardrums move much more than they are equipped to. If you haven't ever felt that, it's quite strange and it gets uncomfortable pretty quickly. The distortion, in this case, is essentially within your ears rather than from the cabinet.
Another effect is that of intermodulation distortion. When the bass is so intense that it modulates the air pressure to the point that the mids and highs sound like they are playing from behind a fan. The mids and highs are not distorting themselves but the changes in the pressure of the air through which they are traveling affects their propagation and their perceived levels.