I have recently started using the Caintuck Betsy Baffles. I use a REL T5 subwoofer with them. It is a down firing sub. I’m blown away with the sound I’m getting!  I figured they would sound good with acoustic music and small combo jazz, but rock such as Yes and Alan Parsons just sound incredible.  But I’m wondering how much better the bass would be with one of Randy’s open baffle bass units?  Does anyone have an opinion on this?

Thanks showme.  The Zrock is definitely on my list of upgrades!

Thanks for the response Ed.  I may end up getting at least one of Randy’s 12” units.

I’m gonna back Maddog’s play and say that my dual 15” Caintuck Audio Hawthorne subs were a major step improvement in my system when an increase in low end is needed.  I don’t always engage this supplemental bass system with my Omega SAHO’s since they have so much tight, tuneful and voluminous bass on their own, but when I do, boy do those OB bass drivers deliver that Randy built using Bubinga wood!  

I use a LabGruppen amplifier and couldn’t speak more highly.  They are a bit pricey but I had two lower priced, but highly regarded pro amps in place prior, and none come close to the LabGruppen.  

When done well, adding tasteful bass to the Betsy OB’s from Caintuck makes for a combination that is hard to beat.  Just speaking to what I have heard, it is impossible to beat in the “bang for the buck” category.  But this is my opinion based on my ownership of Betsy Baffles and Caintuck OB Hawthorne bass drivers - up against all that I have heard in my listening room and the insane systems at the audio shows I have attended.  

I had a really nice and musical Vienna Acoustics sealed subwoofer.  It was no match for OB bass drivers with the Betsy’s.  For fast, nimble, and undistorted musical bass, they are the bees knees.  Now for home theater, that is another discussion.  

I agree with all that is said above about OB bass.  Like maddog, I use augies powered by two crown amps.

But in order to get that full range sound (below 40hz) I ended up building a sub and powering it with a plate amp.  It is not small but it integrates very well and gives you more bass you can feel.

I have tried my OBs without the augies and just the sub and this did not integrate well at all.  

So I guess my recommendation is augies or alphas in OBs and if you want a little more low end extension, then add a sub.  But keep it crossed below 50hz for integration.

I'll risk swimming upstream and say that I have a pair of REL T7i and absolutely love them.

Spent a lot more money though.........
I was thinking resale value down the road.

@ 60 hz
They (REL T7i) have a front firing 8" and a down firing 10" passive, so I would think if needed they could be run higher.
The things are tiny too at barely over a square foot, another factor for me.

Can someone clarify how two of Randy’s woofer units with plate amps would connect to my SE84UFO?

with my betsy's ive tried the following:
1) augie's (2x) w/ gallo sa
2) A15 w/ gallo sa
3) dayton titantic 12" closed passive with gallo sa


i like the augie combo the best, but i use these in my main 2ch setup with maggies.... and i don't have room for 2x ob mid-subs.

second is the dayton titantic, which ive been using for about 1yr now and have been very happy with.

i use this system for 2ch and and 2.1ht use.


just my 2cents..

Well, I went ahead and ordered a pair of Betsy Baffles direct from Randy because I only wanted the standard Red Oak ply with edge banding...


I'm hoping they're a good pairing with my new SE 84 UFO Zen amp...

I'm still wondering if I could run my other speakers in parallel off of the same amplifier output terminals... My current speakers are about 90DB efficient, and the Betsys are around 92 DB...


I figure the combined nominal impedance would be about 3.5 ohms...


But the disparity in efficiency might be a problem... Anyone want to chime in on this?   (m.)