I am a huge car audio enthusiast. Ever since my first car back in 1997, I have been trying to push the envelope on what my vehicles can do. My very first car, a 1995 Mustang started out with the most simplistic of sound systems, featuring a floating box for ease of removal, with a couple of 12" subwoofers and just a basic amp. I upgraded the deck, the wires, and all of that, but at the end of the day, it was still your basic sound system.

Since then I have done much more work, including a full car audio system on my competition 2003 Toyota Celica GT-S. I went all out on that car, with custom fiberglass enclosures, custom highlights, and lots of performance to go along with it, including nine 10" subwoofers, and more door speakers than anyone could ever imagine. There were amps all over the place, extra batteries, capacitors, everything. It was definitely the sport compact car audio enthusiast's dream setup.

Ever since then I have been involved in the industry, attending shows, working on comptetition cars, while trying to avoid sinking too much money into my own vehicles, as I have a son to feed now. Regardless, I have managed to create quite the impressive sound system in all three of my vehicles, and plan on doing substantially more into the future.

But the one that comes from all of this, is that I truly do know my car audio. I have tried so many different subwoofers, played around with numerous decks, and seen a large variety of application combinations that have worked and haven't worked. I have touched hundreds of systems in my years, and with that experience, I know what will work and what won't work.

Rockford Fosgate Punch Stage 2 P212 S4 Subwoofer
Rockford Fosgate has long been the undisputed leader in car audio. There are few companies that are capable of producing as high grade of a product as Rockford does. They have managed to not only create quality sound, that holds up to the pressures of competition and road use, but they also make good looking subwoofers that will last seemingly forever. They also produce the most consistent products on the market, never forgetting what got them to the top at the same time. No matter how big they become, they seem to always keep their underground mystique, which many brands such as Kenwood, Pioneer, and Sony just don't have. Rockford still has their hardcore fan base, that are all Rockford or nothing at all.

One of Rockford's most successful line of products is their Punch line of subwoofers. These are hard hitting subs, that are generally the top of their class in every aspect of the word.

Sound Quality
As always the Rockford Punch 2 12" subs produce the same quality sound that you would expect from Rockford Fosgate. The 500 watts of peak power, keep these subs within a high quality range of subwoofers, that have great response, allowing them to flex frequently and catch virtually all bass hits, without skipping, or distorting the bass sound in the process. These particular subs have amazing sound quality that you generally only expect out of a home theater setup. They produce virtually no distortion when assembled under the manufacturer's specifications, and have an intense low to mid range sound, that is truly shows why these subwoofers are on top of their class.

To ensure the highest quality sound, I would suggest using dynamat or some other noise deadening material in order to prevent the trunk rattle that these speakers will undoubtably cause when cranked up.

This particular speaker provides more than enough power for the large majority of consumers, while giving more bass than most consumers will ever use. However, if more bass is needed, you will have more than enough power to truly get things going, and due to the smaller size, you won't have to worry about blowing out your cones as easily as you would with a much larger speaker.

Durability
All Rockford products are built super strong. These are subwoofers made for competition. Rockford definitely doesn't take their subwoofer construction lightly and always uses high grade materials, taking the time required to ensure the highest degree of performance and durability. You just sort of assume these things when you purchase a rockford fosgate setup.

I have seen these subs perform in so many different competitions but like all other Rockford subwoofers, you really don't see any blow out, just going to show the quality and consistency of their products.

Product Details
* 12" 4-ohm subwoofer
* molded polypropylene woofer cone with foam surround
* 60-ounce magnet
* frequency response: 20-200 Hz
* power range: 50-200 watts RMS
* peak power handling: 400 watts
* sensitivity: 86 dB
* top-mount depth: 5-13/16" (without removable magnet cover. With cover, depth is 6-1/8")
* sealed box volume: 0.85 cubic feet
* ported box volume: 1.75 cubic feet
* Recommended Q-Logic Box Type: 1, 2, 3
* warranty: 1 year

Final Thoughts
While I don't think that you can ever go wrong with Rockford Fosgate subwoofers or amplifiers, I do think that you can get a higher performing subwoofer in this class for around the same price. This is a great performing subwoofer, it has everything that you could want out of a subwoofer in this class, with great sound quality, a flashy design, and great durability, however you are paying for the name brand more than you are paying for anything else. You could accomplish twice as much power production by spending a little bit more and picking up an Infinity Perfect KAPPA. It's going to give you more bang for your buck, while still giving you the durability that you expect from Rockford Fosgate. However, if you have the money to blow and you're looking to keep your entire system Rockford Fosgate, you can't go wrong with this product.

I guess ultimately you need to ask yourself whether or not you want perfection without distortion with the Rockford Fosgate or if you need more bass with a tiny bit of slight distortion which a much more powerful sub. It's all about personal preference in sound quality.

Car Audio/Video Reviews by Richard Ramsey
Kicker Solo Baric L7 Subwoofer
Kicker Solo Baric L5 12" Subwoofer
Kicker Solo Baric L5 15" Subwoofer
Kicker CVR12 Subwoofer
Kicker Comp VR 05CVR84 Subwoofer
Kicker Solo Baric L5 with enclosure
Alpine Type R SWR-1042D Subwoofer
Alpine Type R SWR-1242D Subwoofer
Alpine Type X SWX-1242D Subwoofer
Alpine Type E SWE-1242 Subwoofer
Alpine Type S SWS-1242D Subwoofer
Infinity BASSLINK Subwoofer
Infinity KAPPA PERFECT 10.1 Subwoofer
Infinity KAPPA PERFECT 12.1 Subwoofer
Rockford Fosgate Punch Stage 3 Subwoofer
Rockford Fosgate Punch Stage 2 Subwoofer
Rockford Fosgate Power Stage 1 Subwoofer
Sony Xplod XS-L123P5 Subwoofer
Audiobahn AW1200 Subwoofer

Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 150