Musical mastership for the low end.
Written: Apr 23 '02 (Updated May 20 '02)
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Pros: Superb sonic performer. Extremely adaptable for working w/ different speaker/amp setups.
Cons: Small enclosure critical to keep from blowing driver; higher power brings best out.
The Bottom Line: Pricier than most comparable subs, the BA Pro 12.5LF does set a quality level for all types of music that is difficult to match.
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| monoblocks's Full Review: Boston Acoustics ProSeries 12.5LF Car Subwoofer Dr... |
The best thing about mobile subwoofers is:
a) being able to crack plaster from 100 yards away,
b) impressing onlookers with the massive thumps to disguise the fact that your car's sorry excuse of an engine couldn't overtake a paraplegic in a power wheelchair (w/ only a half-charge on its battery at that),
c) the ability to recreate the mating call of 1000-ton granite boulders in heat,
d) the capacity to redefine the mating calls of humans with low bass pulses (or so you guys like to think),
e) the aptitude to fool yourself into thinking you're now cool,
e) irritating the heck out of your neighbors, especially that one with the stupid dog that's always doing it in your yard,
f) all of the above,
g) none of the above, because it's sound quality that really counts.
I suspect if you selected (g), then you'll be most happy with the BA Pro 12.5LF.
When I first started looking at adding a subwoofer to my system over a year and a half ago, the Boston Acoustics Pro series of subwoofers were presented to me by the sales guy down at the mobile toy store as a woofer that emphasized sonic quality over sound pressure levels. It's strange that there always seems to be these two camps, always at polar opposites from one another: sonic precision vs. high thump levels. Everywhere I ask or read, it always seems like it's the same argument. Yet, with the BA Pro 12.5LF, I think I've got a subwoofer that's more than capable of achieving both.
I'm not any sort of expert on subwoofers, whether in the car or for the home. I've always look at these devices as just another piece of the puzzle in using quite unnatural objects (like CD players and power amplifiers) in recreating the perfect, 'natural' sound. My experience with them has been with the few examples I've owned now or in the past, and through auditioning them in the showroom. Most of my friends don't have or use them, at least in their cars. I don't really get into the specifications, and worrying about such nuances like getting the low pass point just right; having subs for the sake of claiming them as some sort of techno-geek status symbol just isn't me. Nor is there any appeal in the amount of bass thump a sub can recreate. Whether the guy in the Camry sitting next to me at the stoplight is feeling it in the molars when I hit the boost is not my idea of creating social harmony. But I do appreciate when the music that my speakers reproduces is full and complete; if it means that subwoofers are the only means to complete the low end frequencies, then a sub is what I have to have.
In truth, a good subwoofer has been more important to me in a quality home theater setup than for a music system design, either at home or in the car. Reproducing the full range of a breathtaking sound effect from a DVD is more critical in my mind than the ability to redo some low frequency drum machine on some dime-a-dozen danceclub remix. But I've discovered through experience that a high quality subwoofer certainly enhances the musical experience, making all types of music fuller and richer, whether it's hip-hop or listening to the 1812 Overture.
The BA Pro 12.5LF is certainly up to the challenge. The 12.5LFs are available for either 4 or 2 ohm loading, and are rated for amplifiers with power from 50 to 1200 watts. From what I've been told, they work excellently in multiple-subwoofer installations, though the only personal experience I've had with such a setup was in a demonstrator Honda at a dealer's showroom--from what I remember, the sound was astounding. But even with a single-driver setup (such as in my car), bass reproduction is tight and solid, with none of the fluttery sloppiness that lesser units more interested in achieving chronic dB levels seem to be straddled with. Low end hits are precise and sharp, with little if any after resonance. However, like so many subs the 12.5LFs do better as the amplification power increases. As it is, my lone 12.5LF has a 250-watt monoblock (that WORD again) amp to drive it; the BA Pro does very well with low to moderate listening levels, but when fully extending my car's audio system on those rare occasions, the 12.5LF does seem to run out of steam. I've contemplated replacing the sub amp with something more robust, but the fact that I don't listen to music at ear-piercing levels as I did in my youth, plus the fact that these more powerful amps seem to always be HUGE in size (thus eliminating even more free volume out of the trunk of my car) keeps the charge card safely in its slot in my wallet.
One piece of information vitally important about the BA Pro series of subwoofers in general is the need to strictly adhere to the manufacturer's specifications concerning the volume of the subwoofer enclosure; it's especially important to get the word out for those who are do-it-yourselfers. The BA Pro subs tend to be designed to work best in a sealed enclosure, whether it's a custom one or an off-the-shelf box. Moreover, there are limitations on how large an air volume these enclosures can be, varying depending on the specific sub and the number of drivers being used in the installation. From what I was told and have read on the internet, a single 12.5LF installation such as the one I have must have an enclosure with an air space that is 1 cubic foot in size or less, else when pushed to its limits the excess amount of volume will contribute to a quick demise of the $300 subwoofer. Blowing out three bills isn't my idea of impressing anyone, even if you didn't choose item (g) up above.
As for the mounting and firing position of the subwoofer itself, the BA Pro like most subs is flexible enough to be facing just about in any direction. Of course the actual firing position chosen will depend on the circumstances within your particular car; in my three-box sedan, the 12.5LF is in the trunk facing rearwards, mounted against and centered on the back of the fixed rear bench seat. Because I could use this location (cars with fold-down rear seats would have a tough time with this placement, at least with having to deal with the intrusion on functionality and practicality), I decided against firing the subwoofer directly into the seatback, choosing instead to use the trunk itself as something of a soundbox to reflect the sub's sound energy. As it is, there's a good amount of low end sound from back there, and I've received a fair number of positive comments with how good the sub performs and sounds.
The BA Pro 12.5LF also does a very good job of complementing the rest of my speakers. The rear speakers are a pair of Boston Acoustic RM-9 6x9s, which were originally chosen for the task of rear infill use. However, the smooth, warm sound of these speakers in the car make them worthy of being the primary speakers, and where the low end limit of the large drivers of these RM-9s is reached, the 12.5LF takes up the slack quite nicely. With the a/d/s separates up front distributing the bulk of the music information, the Boston drivers in back tend to add a firm and neutral punctuation to any music I listen to.
Perhaps the only reservation I have with the 12.5LF is the price. As good as this subwoofer is, there are some more than adequate alternatives that could save you some serious money. I thought the various 12" JL Audios were good auditioners, as were the Image Dynamics, though both tended to favor sound pressure levels over musicality, in my opinion. But the possibility of saving a $100 or even more isn't something to ignore. In my case I went with what I though would work best for me, and in 18 months I haven't been disappointed. The Boston Acoustics Pro 12.5LF (say THAT five times really fast) is serious design for the music lover, who can punch it if needed from time to time.
For those who want a great musical subwoofer, this one's a RECOMMEND.
(Additional info: since this was originally written, I've swapped the a/d/s fronts out for a set of superb Focal Utopia 165W two-way separates...the shop doing the work did a beautiful job in getting the BA and the Focals in tune with one another. Transition from the midbass/woofer of the Focals to the sub information from the BA Pro is nearly seemless, with very little directionality to the sub at all. Despite being in the trunk, the sub info sounds as if it's coming out the front end of the system like it's supposed to, which goes to show just how important a professional installation is to getting the best out of a sound system. A VERY nice subwoofer, indeed.)
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 275
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Epinions.com ID:
monoblocks
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Location: PacNW
Reviews written: 36
Trusted by: 3 members
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