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SPEAKERS AND SUBS
Woofers are simple devices. They pump air. How they do this, is complicated. Today, there are woofers of many shapes, sizes, and price levels, from extremely moderate to so expensive you need access to a trust fund to get one. At an MSRP of $129.99, the Oz Audio V12.2-4 is a very good example of a moderately priced woofer.
First Look
The V12.2-4 is a 12-inch, 4-ohm woofer from the Vector2 series of Oz Audio. According to Oz Audio, this woofer is designed to provide accurate low-frequency response in sealed, vented, and bandpass enclosures. The V12.2-4 cone is polypropylene and uses a high-grade treated large-roll foam surround to connect the cone to the powder-coated stamped steel basket. A cotton poly blend flat progressive spider helps keep the 2-inch 4-layer aluminum former voice coil in alignment. A rubber magnet boot highlights the chrome bumped backplate and covers the magnet structure. Simple spade terminals provide connection for the woofer to an amplifier.
Closer Look
The polypropylene cone is extremely rigid. In fact, I was able to support the weight of the woofer with only two fingers placed on the underside of the cone. The voice coil uses a thermoset copper wire wound on an aluminum former. The voice coil gap tolerance is held within 0.0001 of an inch to maximize thermal heat transfer efficiency of the voice coil. The result is a woofer designed to handle a continuous 250 watts RMS with peak power handing of 500 watts RMS.
Manuals/Web Support
The owner’s manual for the V12.2-4 provided specifications and recommended enclosures for sealed and vented designs. The enclosure designs were also available on Oz Audio’s Web site, www.ozaudio.com. The enclosure ranged from 1.00 to 2.25 cubic feet in size. My only criticism of the enclosure recommendations was the suggestion of a 3.5-inch-diameter port. Although this may be available, the standard 3-inch or 4-inch diameter port would be preferred. The owner’s manual also included a recommended bandpass enclosure.
Installation
Since no enclosure was provided, I researched the owner’s manual, Web site, and called technical support for suggestions. Based on my particular situation, I decided to go with the larger vented enclosure at 2.25 cubic feet with a 4-inch diameter port 10 inches long. The tuned frequency of the box is 33 Hz and the claimed 3 dB down point of the enclosure is 30 Hz. The dimensions of the enclosure is 24 x 17 x 14 inches using 3/4-inch MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard). The combined weight of the woofer and enclosure is 47.16 pounds with the woofer weighing in at 9.32 pounds. This compares to 31.5 pounds (enclosure and woofer) for the smallest recommended sealed enclosure.
Sound Q & Performance
The reality of subwoofer enclosures is the larger the box, the greater the output. This is the reason I chose the larger vented enclosure. Plus, the vehicle planned for this test is a minivan. Also, the larger vented enclosure extends about a half an octave lower than the other recommended enclosures.
The peak output of the enclosure in the vehicle is 50 Hz, with only a 5 dB difference in output at 31.5Hz (see Chart 1). With 250 watts applied, the V12.2-4 delivered an impressive 127 dB at 50 Hz down to 122 dB at 31.5 Hz. This is a lot of SPL for a large vehicle such as a van. In a smaller vehicle, I could easily see an increase of +3 to +6 dB, The woofer was smooth and well controlled. There were not audible noise issues.
With 500 watts applied, the Oz Audio Subwoofer delivered a whopping 130 dB at 50 Hz. At 20 Hz, the woofer delivered an impressive 115 dB. It’s important to note that at 500-watt input, I was unable to bottom out the woofer, though I did hear some audible port noise and woofer strain at this SPL level. Long term playing at this power output level would seriously strain and potentially damage the woofer.
Summary
The overall performance of the Oz Audio V12.2-4 woofer is quite impressive. With a reasonable amount of power, the V12.2-4 was able to achieve very good SPL output in a rather large vehicle. The spectral balance of the Oz Audio woofer is extremely linear from low signal levels up to its continuous rms power rating. In a smaller vehicle, this woofer would generate some really impressive SPL output! When you consider its moderate price tag, the V12.2-4 is a great choice for anyone looking to add bass to his or her system.
The Oz Audio v12.2-4 At A Glance
Strengths: Great sound quality, installation flexibility, crossover tuning flexibility
Weakness: Outboard crossover requires disassembly for tweeter level adjustment.
Best use: Great for use in mid to high-end stereo systems.
Performance Value:
****
Performance vs. Weight:
***
Power vs. Efficiency:
***
Manuals, Online Support:
***
Oz Audio v12.2-4 SPECS
Price & Contact: $129.99 (MSRP); Tel: 561-998-0211; www.ozaudio.com
In-car Measured Spl (peak @ 50hz):
1 watt: 105 dB
250 watts: 127 dB
500 watts: 130 dB
Published specs:
Fs: 25 Hz
Qts: 0.445
Qes: 0.47
Qms: 8.5
Re: 3.3 ohms
Le: 3.9 mH
VAS: 80 liters
XMAX: 10 mm
DB/SPL 1W/M: 88.2 dB
DB 2.83Volts/Meter: 91.5
RMS/Peak Power: 250/500
General Info:
Cone Material: Mineral-filled talc impregnated Polypropylene
Voice Coil Diameter: 2 inches (50 mm)
Magnet Weight: 50 oz
Mounting Diameter: 11.0 inches
Mounting Depth: 5.125 inches
Warranty: 90 days or 2 years if installed by authorized dealer
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