Subwoofers — Canton Power Sub 12

With a 12-inch class driver, the Power Sub 12 ranks above the Power Sub 10 and Power Sub 8 in the first-generation Power Sub line from Canton. The German manufacturer builds it as a classic cube that can extend any of its own hi-fi loudspeakers or support speakers from other brands. Canton lists it at EUR 849 each in Germany. Finishes are matt black decor and matt white decor, and a fabric front panel with rounded corners clips onto the baffle by magnets.

Key specs that matter

At the front sits one 308 mm titanium woofer, and a passive membrane with an identical diameter is fitted in the base of the enclosure. The amplifier module provides 200 W continuous and 380 W music output. Canton specifies reproduction from 20 to 200 Hz and a variable transition frequency of 50 to 200 Hz. The enclosure measures 36 x 47.2 x 49.8 cm. Net weight is 24 kg. Idle power draw in standby amounts to 0.32 W.

Engineering and use context

This is a bass reflex design in which the port is replaced by the downfiring passive diaphragm, cut from rigid MDF. Canton states that coupling the radiator to the forward-facing woofer raises output capability and pushes the lower limit further down. The titanium driver is fitted with a multiply folded wave surround, which in Canton's words allows considerably greater stroke than a standard roll surround while reducing distortion. The SC protection circuit keeps the amplifier and driver out of harmful overload. A room compensation switch with three steps adapts the bass output to different positions in the room, so placement is less critical. Gain, phase and crossover can all be changed, and a signal-sensing circuit switches the sub on and back into standby automatically. The feature list also names a double cone, Bass Guide, digital signal processing and adjustable feet that can take spikes or absorbers.

Pairing

The power stage is fed via high-level or low-level connections. Two cinch sockets receive the low-frequency channel of a home cinema processor, and a cinch output is available too. Two sets of speaker terminals, which accept banana plugs, let a two-channel integrated lacking any LFE socket drive the Power Sub 12 in parallel with the main pair. The box includes the subwoofer, fabric cover, mains cable and operating manual.

Alternatives

The Canton SUB 300 uses a driver of the same size and the same music rating behind a steel grille.