SPEAKERS AND SUBS
Polk Audio DB212-2
By Paul Sonoda
Posted on Tuesday, Nov 1, 2005

We live in an instant society — we want it now. Want more bass? How quickly can I have it? It’s gotta look great too. Well, the design team at Polk Audio agrees. Their efforts have produced the db212-2. How does the ready to go enclosure perform? Let’s find out.

First Look
The Polk Audio db212-2 is a ready-to-go enclosure using two 4-ohm, 12-inch woofers. The woofers are wired in parallel to a single terminal connector. According to Polk Audio, the resulting impedance of 2 ohms is optimized for low-impedance capable Class D amplifiers.

The curved front face of the enclosure is formed using automotive-grade ABS plastic with a silver finish. Cool grills that resemble wheel spokes protect the woofers. Both the grilles and the front baffle can be custom painted to match the cosmetic theme of your vehicle.

To seal the front baffle, Polk Audio adds a sheet of elastomaric damping material that is said to isolate the front baffle from the rest of the enclosure. Polk Audio uses it patented Power Port venting technology that reduces air turbulence at the port mouth for more bass output and reduced port noise when compared to traditional port designs. The rest of the prefabricated enclosure is made with internally braced 3/4-inch MDF. The back of the enclosure is sloped to break up standing waves inside the enclosure. The slope also follows the rake contour of typical rear seats. Black automotive carpet finishes off the enclosure. No doubt about it, the enclosure looks awesome.
 
Closer Look
The woofers used in the Polk Audio db212-2 are the same woofers offered in the “DB” series. They utilize a stiff Polypropylene cone with a rigid ABS dust cap to maximize stiffness and to lower distortion. The cones are connected to the frame via a Santoprene surround that resists performance changes when exposed to extreme temperatures, humidity, and sunlight. To control the motion of the woofers, the DB212-2 woofers use a flat NOMEX spider (NOMEX is the material used to make fireproof race suits) connected to a four-layer Kapton voice coil former.

A unique feature to Polk Audio is the Klippel laser analyzer. Polk Audio uses this state-of-the-art testing device in the design process to optimize motor and suspension design. According to Polk Audio, the result is superior cone travel linearity for flatter response and lower distortion.

Manuals/Web Support
The owner’s manual for the Polk Audio db212-2 is very basic. There’s a diagram for connecting the enclosure and specifications for power handling and frequency response. To be fair, what else is needed? The Polk Audio Web site, www.polkaudio.com, was easy to navigate. I was able to quickly find information on the db212-2, and I was able to download a PDF manual and the specifications of the woofers. My only complaint is the inconsistencies between the specs reported on the Web versus the supplied owner’s manual. (The downloadable owner’s manual did match the supplied manual.) Aside from that, there is also an explanation of features that truly features the benefits of the Polk Audio db212-2. Nicely done.

Installation
Installation of a ready-to-go subwoofer system by its very nature is easy. The overall dimensions of the Polk Audio db212-2 (16-1/4 inches H x 34-1/8 inches W x 17-1/8 inches D) will fit vehicles with larger trunks without a hitch, while smaller vehicles may be a problem. My sedan test vehicle was a tight fit  — I had to remove the rear plastic trim to get the enclosure to fit inside. However, once installed, the enclosure looked like it was custom fit for the vehicle.

Generally, I recommend having your authorized Polk Audio dealer perform the installation. If you already have an amplifier installed, the reality it that it would be easy to do this install yourself. However, if you want the best results, your Polk Audio dealer is trained to get the most from your system.

Sound Q & Performance
The performance of the Polk Audio db212-2 was quite good. With only one watt into 2 ohms, the db212-2 delivered an impressive 103.9 dB at 30 Hz. With 500 watts supplied, the db212-2 delivered a peak SPL of 127.4 at 50 Hz. Increasing the power input to the maximum rated power handling of 720 watts, the db212-2 delivered a maximum of 128.5 dB at 40 Hz. From 30 Hz up the system was very impressive. At 20 Hz, output was reduced which seem to indicate a port tuning of around 30 Hz.

The woofers did not sound strained in any of my tests — a result of excellent enclosure design by Polk Audio. Unlike many companies that tune enclosures for maximum SPL output (or maximum boom), Polk Audio tuned the db212-2 for great sound quality. The bass sounded smooth and well controlled. A really well built, pre-built enclosure.

Summary
If you’re looking for a ready-to-go enclosure that looks great and perform well, look no further. The Polk Audio db212-2 fits the bill. For a reasonable price, the db212-2 delivers the looks as well as provides very respectable frequency response and SPL output. It will handle a fair bit of power, too. Combine the Polk Audio db212-2 with a good Class D amplifier that’s able to drive 2-ohm loads and you won’t be disappointed.   <<