Subwoofers — Monitor Audio Vestra W12

The Vestra W12 is the middle model of the Monitor Audio Vestra subwoofer series, which also includes the W10 and W15. According to Monitor Audio's Technical Director Michael Hedges, Vestra extends the company's independent subwoofer line with more choice for system matching and budget, and it is intended for stereo and AV systems built on the Bronze and Silver Series. The W12 is priced at GBP 750 in the UK and USD 1,199 in the United States, and it carries a 5-year warranty.

Key specs that matter

This active subwoofer has a sealed bass alignment and one 305 mm high linear-excursion triple suspension driver with a C-CAM cone. Its high-efficiency Class-D amplifier is rated at 500 W instantaneous (RMS). In-room frequency response is 17-200 Hz (-6 dB). Maximum usable SPL is 115 dB peak, measured to CTA-2010-B, Z-weighted, in half-space. Low-pass filter frequency is adjustable from 32 to 200 Hz (-6 dB), and input impedance is 47 kOhms. External dimensions with all accessories in place are 385 x 371 x 401 mm (H x W x D), weight is 18.3 kg, and finishes are Matte Black and Matte White with a cloth-covered grille.

Engineering and use context

C-CAM stands for ceramic-coated aluminium magnesium, a lightweight and rigid cone material that Monitor Audio uses to minimise flexing. On the W12 and W15 the driver has a triple suspension. Long copper voice coils, improved venting and FEA-optimised steel components are specified to minimise distortion and heat, and a custom surround maximises cone area. In the Vestra range the W10 and W12 use sealed enclosures for flexible placement, while the W15 is ported, and amplifier ratings across the series run from 250 to 500 W.

Phase is set by a 0 or 180 degree toggle switch. Equalisation is done in DSP, with three preset modes named Impact, Movie and Music. Auto Music Sensing switches the subwoofer on when a line-level signal above 3 mV arrives and puts it into standby after 20 minutes without signal. A universal mains input accepts 85-265 V AC at 50-60 Hz, and power consumption at one eighth of maximum output is 120 W. Monitor Audio presents the series as a choice for multi-subwoofer AV systems, used alone or in multiples.

Pairing

Inputs are a stereo pair of unbalanced RCA connectors and a separate unbalanced RCA LFE input. The LFE input matches the subwoofer output of an AV receiver or processor, and the stereo inputs match the pre-out of a preamplifier or integrated amplifier. A 12 V trigger on a 3.5 mm mono jack allows switching on with the amplifier.

Alternatives

The Monitor Audio Vestra W10 is the compact sealed model of the series, with a 254 mm driver, a 250 W Class-D amplifier and a 344 x 330 x 360 mm cabinet.