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Rockford Fosgate

Product Spotlight: Rockford Fosgate M2-65 and M2-65B Marine Speakers

Rockford Fosgate M2-65

I remember when only one or two large car audio companies offered products designed specifically for marine applications. These days, there are dozens of brands in that market. From my extensive hands-on research, I can tell you that Rockford Fosgate is one of the brands you’ll want to check out for your boat. Their engineering-based marine speaker solutions are truly unique in the market. This Product Spotlight will examine the M2-Series M2-65 and M2-65B 6.5-inch Color Optix marine speakers.

Rockford Fosgate Marine Speaker Features

As is typical of Rockford Fosgate, they offer diverse speaker solutions to suit every application and budget. The Marine series starts with the affordable M0 line, which features white or black 6.5-inch coaxial drivers. From there, you step up to the M1 line, adding 6-, 6.5- and 8-inch drivers with Color Optix integrated RGB LED lighting. These speakers can handle even more power so that they can play louder. At the top of the marine speaker series are the M2 speakers. In this line, you have 6.5-, 8- and 10-inch coaxial drivers, with the two larger offerings available with a conventional tweeter or a small compression horn.

The M2-65 and M2-65B speakers are 6.5-inch coaxial drivers with your choice of white or black (the B at the end of the part number) grilles. The speaker system includes two drivers, stainless-steel grille inserts, mounting hardware and speaker wire pigtails with high-quality Deutsch connectors.

They are rated to handle 150 watts of power continuously with peaks of 300 watts. Efficiency is specified as 91.8 dB at 1 watt/1 meter. The drivers have a nominal impedance of 4 ohms and require 2.49 inches of mounting depth in a 5.36-inch cutout in your boat.

Rockford Fosgate M2-65
The M2-65B marine speaker set includes a pair of 6.5-inch coaxial speakers, wire pigtails, stainless steel hardware and grille inserts.

Marine Speaker Chassis Design

The woofer basket is injection molded from PA66 with UV inhibitors, a plastic mixture reinforced with 30% glass fiber for added thermal stability, damping and rigidity. As mentioned, electrical connections to the speaker are made via integrated Deutsch connector sockets.

The speaker’s chassis includes cooling vents with a nano-coated mesh screen to help keep water out. The basket conceals a -12 dB/octave crossover for the tweeter. They call this their Integrated Concealed Crossover design.

The speakers have a 12-spoke plastic grille made from ultraviolet- and salt-resistant Centrex plastic. As mentioned, the laser-cut stainless-steel inserts are also included in the package. Just let your installer know what look you want; they can take care of everything during installation.

Rockford Fosgate M2-65
The fiberglass-reinforced PA66 chassis includes Deutsch connectors for the speaker and connection to the Color Optix RGB LED lighting.

Speaker Component Features

The mineral-filled polypropylene woofer cones feature a co-molded thermoplastic elastomer synthetic rubber surround. The surround uses the Vertical Attach Surround Technique mounting geometry where it attaches to the chassis. This feature increases cone area, which improves sensitivity and bass output. A 1-inch diameter, high-temperature Kapton voice coil former is at the base of the cone. The large diameter of the voice coil is the key reason these speakers are rated to handle 150 watts of power continuously. A linear aramid-polyester spider provides good cone control and high excursion levels. The tinsel leads, attached to gold-plated brass terminals in the chassis, are encased in rubber to protect them from water damage.

The 1-inch tweeter in the speaker’s center features a design that Rockford Fosgate calls PXNX. It uses a pair of compact neodymium slugs for excellent efficiency.

Rockford Fosgate M2-65
The 1-inch PXNX tweeter is designed to offer exceptional clarity and great efficiency with its dual magnet motor design.

Color Optix RGB LED Lighting

A second four-pin socket on the speaker chassis provides access to the Color Optix RGB lighting. Your installer can power the lights using the Rockford Fosgate PMX-RGB LED lighting controller. The controller works with the RF Connect app on your smartphone to let you select the light color or illumination pattern. The RF Connect app is available for both Android and iOS mobile devices.

The LEDs are mounted to the underside of the grille. An optically clear, UV-stable coating protects the lighting from water damage. When on, the lighting makes the woofer cone glow in your choice of thousands of colors. You can also use the RF Connect app to select color-shifting patterns.

Rockford Fosgate M2-65
The M2-65B and M2-65 include Rockford Fosgate’s Color Optix integrated RGB LED lighting.

Element Ready Design Ensures Reliable Performance

Rockford Fosgate doesn’t pull any punches when it comes to ensuring that their marine audio products can withstand whatever Mother Nature throws their way. Their Element Ready design covers water resistance and UV and salt exposure. In terms of waterproofing, these speakers carry an IPX6 rating. Ultraviolet exposure testing passes the ASTM G154 500-hour accelerated UV test. Salt exposure is evaluated using the ASTM B117 500-hour salt-fog test. Finally, many marine and powersports speaker manufacturers overlook vibration and impact testing. Rockford Fosgate uses the ISO60068-2-64 Vibration testing standard to ensure that the speakers can take a beating as your boat hits even the gnarliest waves. Rockford Fosgate backs the M2 speakers with a two-year warranty against manufacturing defects.

Rockford Fosgate M2-65
All Rockford Fosgate marine speakers pass their torturous Element Ready testing to ensure that they’ll perform reliably in your boat.

Upgrade Your Boat with Rockford Fosgate M2-65 or M2-65B Speakers Today

If you’re shopping for high-performance marine speakers for your boat, drop by a local authorized Rockford Fosgate retailer today to audition the M2-65 and M2-65B speakers. They can design a marine entertainment system with a source unit, high-performance amplifiers, speakers and subwoofers so that your boat sounds the best on the lake or river. To find a retailer, use the locator tool on their website. For more information about Rockford Fosgate products, visit their website, Facebook page, Instagram feed or YouTube channel.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

Filed Under: ARTICLES, Marine Audio, Products, RESOURCE LIBRARY Tagged With: Marine Audio, Rockford Fosgate

Product Spotlight: Rockford Fosgate M2D2-10I and M2D4-10I Marine Subwoofers

Rockford Fosgate M2D2-10I

When choosing subwoofers for a boat audio system, having the correct drivers for the application is crucial to designing a system that sounds good and will last for years. The marine audio fanatics at Rockford Fosgate have a subwoofer solution for every application. We will examine the 10-inch M2-Series M2D2-10I and M2D4-10I subwoofers in this spotlight.

Subwoofer Solutions for Every Application

Before we discuss the M2D2-10I and M2D4-10I subwoofers, we should discuss all available options. The M2-Series includes subwoofers for relatively small sealed or ported enclosures and the I-series for infinite baffle applications. You can choose from 10- or 12-inch woofers with dual 2- or dual 4-ohm voice coils. You can also choose from black or white “sport” grilles. All 16 different M2-Series subwoofers also include a stainless-steel grille insert so you can pick your style before installation.

The M2D2-10I is a 10-inch subwoofer with a white grille and dual 2-ohm voice coils. Its brother is the M2D4-10I, which has dual 4-ohm coils. The same drivers are available with black grilles in the M2D2-10IB and M2D4-10IB.

Rockford Fosgate M2D2-10I
You can choose black or white grilles with either dual 2-ohm or 4-ohm voice coils in the 10-inch M2-Series marine subwoofers.

10-inch Infinite Baffle Subwoofer Specifications

The Rockford Fosgate M2D2-10I and M2D4-10I are rated to handle 400 watts of continuous power with peak power rated at 1,600 watts. The drivers have an efficiency of 90.3 dB and an Xmax specification of 11 millimeters of excursion in each direction. These subwoofers have a stiff aramid-polyester spider with a linear rate to control cone motion without an enclosure. The result is a driver that plays loudly without concerns about the woofer cone bottoming out.

Marine Subwoofer Features

These subwoofers are based around a 30% fiberglass-reinforced PA66 nylon basket. The mixture includes UV inhibitors, so the plastics won’t chalk, fade, crack or discolor when exposed to the sun. The electrical connections are made via Deutsch/Amphenol connectors with gold-plated brass terminals molded into the basket. The basket also has integrated cooling vents protected with nano-coated mesh to keep water out.

The woofer cone is made from mineral-filled polypropylene. The mineral powder adds thermal stability and improves the damping characteristics. A large 2-inch Kapton voice coil serves as the heart of the subwoofer. The tinsel leads from the voice coil to the terminals are encased in silicone to protect them from damage. Rockford Fosgate includes a VERSA switch that lets your installer quickly select between series and parallel wiring to simplify the installation. For dual 2-ohm models, the VERSA switch allows you to select between 1-ohm (parallel) or 4-ohm (series). On dual 4-ohm models, you can select 2-ohm or 8-ohm.

Rockford Fosgate M2D2-10I
The VERSA switch allows your installer to select series or parallel wiring to speed up installation.

The top of the cone is bonded to a UV-stable, injection-molded foam surround. The surround mounts vertically to the edge of the basket. Rockford Fosgate calls this their Vertical Attach Surround Technique, a design that increases the effective cone area while maintaining standard mounting dimensions. The effective surface area of the M2D2-10I subwoofer is 363 square centimeters or 56.72 square inches. Popular competing products have 320 to 340 square centimeters. When it comes to optimizing efficiency, cone area matters.

Designed for Durability

The Rockford Fosgate engineering team takes reliability seriously. Their marine speakers and subwoofers pass torture tests to earn their Element Ready label. These include 500 hours of accelerated UV and salt fog testing, an IPX6 water intrusion rating and durability testing that meets the ISO60068-2-64 standard. A two-year warranty backs the M2-Series marine subwoofers against manufacturing defects.

Color Optix Integrated Lighting

Nobody can think of a wakeboard boat without thinking about style. As mentioned, you can choose from white or black sport grilles and decide whether you want the stainless inserts installed. Rockford Fosgate has integrated RGB LED lighting under the grille in a design they call Color Optix to take things a step further. You can choose from thousands of illumination colors using the RF Connect smartphone app with the optional PMX-RGB lighting controller. You can also configure color-shifting patterns if you want. Of course, the wiring for the lighting, along with the circuit boards, also meets the Element Ready requirements.

Rockford Fosgate M2D2-10I
The M2-Series subwoofers feature Color Optix RGB LED lighting, which illuminates the woofer cone in thousands of colors.

Infinite Baffle Installation Simplicity

We should clarify the definition of an “infinite baffle” subwoofer installation. This refers to mounting the subwoofer in a location where the sound coming from the back of the driver can’t mix with the sound from the front. In short, it’s like mounting the subwoofer in a wall that extends forever. In a boat, a storage locker under a seat is one of the most common installation locations. Many infinite baffle subwoofers are mounted in the podium in a center-console boat.

Rockford Fosgate M2D2-10I
The front storage locker of this Yellowfin fishing boat serves as an ideal installation location for infinite baffle subwoofers.

Upgrade Your Marine Audio System with Rockford Fosgate M2 Subwoofers Today!

Whether you want your marine audio system to play louder or deliver a solid kick, the Rockford Fosgate M2D2-10I and M2D4-10I infinite baffle marine subwoofers are perfect. Drop by a local authorized retailer today to discover how these subwoofers can transform your time on the water. For more information about Rockford Fosgate products, visit their website, Facebook page, Instagram feed or YouTube channel.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

Filed Under: ARTICLES, Marine Audio, Products, RESOURCE LIBRARY Tagged With: Rockford Fosgate

Product Spotlight: Rockford Fosgate Can-Am Defender Audio System

Defender Audio

The Can-Am Defender is a work-focused side-by-side, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have fun while getting things done. Rockford Fosgate, the undisputed leader in powersports audio upgrades, proudly announces their Stage 1 roof audio upgrade for select 2017 and newer Can-Am Defenders. Let’s check it out!

What Is the Rockford Fosgate DEFEND17-STG1?

Can-Am seems to have decided that very few Defenders come with an audio system. Rockford Fosgate comes to the rescue with their DEFEND18-STG1. This compact audio system mounts to the roof right by the front windshield and includes a PMX-1 media receiver and a pair of 5.25-inch TMS5 Element Ready speakers in custom enclosures.

Defender Audio
The DEFEND17-STG1 is the perfect all-in-one audio system upgrade for select 2017 and newer Can-Am Defender side-by-sides.

PMX-1 Source Unit Features

The heart of the DEFEND18-STG1 Defender audio system is the PMX-1 media receiver. This compact source unit features a 2.3-inch dot-matrix display protected by a tempered glass screen. Unlike similar units with plastic front panels, you don’t have to worry about scratches, fading or yellowing with the PMX-1. A large rotary volume control is in the center, and easily accessed buttons on either side make using the radio while wearing work gloves a non-issue.

The PMX-1 is most commonly connected to a smartphone via Bluetooth. You can stream music stored on your phone or from an online service like Pandora, iHeartRadio or Spotify. The Bluetooth connection supports the AVRCP protocol, so you can change tracks from the radio. The PMX-1 includes an AM/FM tuner with weather band support. It also has a stereo auxiliary input and a USB port, which means you can easily connect a thumb drive to play MP3 or WMA audio files.

Defender Audio
The compact PMX-1 media receiver mounts just above the rear-view mirror for easy visibility and control.

The PMX-1 includes a built-in four-channel amplifier rated to produce 25 watts of power into 4-ohm speakers. That’s about 20% more power than most car radios. The radio also has a built-in seven-band equalizer to let your installer fine-tune the performance of your audio system.

You can even control the PMX-1 from your iPhone or Android smartphone using the RF Connect app. Download the app and pair your phone to give you source and volume control while you’re having lunch or hanging out by the campfire. Rockford Fosgate’s optional PMX-BTUR Bluetooth universal remote is a very worthwhile upgrade. With this remote attached to your steering wheel, you can control the audio system wirelessly.

Defender Audio
The optional PMX-BTUR Bluetooth remote for the PMX-1 makes adjusting the sound system on the trails easy.

TMS5 Speakers Deliver Big Sound

Initially designed for the Tour-Pak speaker locations on the back of many Harley-Davidson motorcycles, the TMS5 speakers are a perfect fit for the Defender audio system. These 5.25-inch coaxial drivers feature carbon-fiber reinforced polypropylene woofer cones with a Santoprene rubber surround for excellent longevity. An ultra-efficient neodymium ring magnet motor works with the oversized 35-mm voice coil to produce impressive output with minimal power.

A 25-mm proprietary film dome tweeter with a neodymium magnet handles high-frequency reproduction. An integrated phase plug over the tweeter helps deliver even sound distribution through the listening environment. The heart of these speakers is a glass-reinforced polymer frame that can withstand extreme temperatures. Rockford Fosgate rates the TMS5 speakers as being 91 dB efficient (at 1W/1M) and capable of handling 65 watts of power. As is practice with Rockford Fosgate, these specifications comply with the CTA-2031 standard, so you know you can trust them.

Defender Audio
Speaker pods that mount to the roof of your Defender serve as an ideal enclosure for the TMS5 speakers.

Features of the DEFEND17-STG1

No speaker will sound good without an appropriate enclosure. The DEFEND17-STG1 system includes durable, weather-resistant pods that attach to the steel roll bar on your Defender. Once in place, the bracket and mounting panel for the PMX-1 source unit fit in the middle to hold everything securely. Your installer doesn’t have to drill holes or cut anything to complete the installation. Rockford Fosgate includes all the wiring and fasteners needed to complete the installation.

Defender Audio
The DEFEND717-STG1 works with two- and four-door Defenders and mounts securely at the top of the windshield.

Designed to Sound Great for Years

All Defender audio system components feature Rockford Fosgate’s Element Ready design. This means they’re constructed from UV-resistant materials, so they won’t fade, yellow or crack. They are also weather-resistant, so they’ll continue to work if they get wet, dusty or muddy. Where Rockford Fosgate takes things further is their testing to ensure that the products can handle extreme temperatures. Whether blasting through the woods on a hot August afternoon or returning from a mid-winter hunting expedition, you can count on your audio system to keep working. The Defender system is also engineered to cope with the impacts and vibration that are typical for side-by-side and off-road applications. Rockford Fosgate stands behind its powersports audio upgrade solutions with a two-year warranty.

Defender Audio
Water, dirt, dust, extreme temperatures and vibration are no match for Rockford Fosgate’s Element Ready powersports products.

Upgrade Your Can-Am Defender with Rockford Fosgate Audio Today!

If you’re looking for a great way to add an audio system to your Can-Am Defender, visit the Rockford Fosgate website and check the compatibility chart to make sure your model year and trim level are compatible. You can find an authorized Rockford Fosgate Dealer near you using their Locator Tool to purchase the system and have it installed. Be sure to check out Rockford Fosgate on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram to see what other amazing car audio, marine, motorcycle and powersports audio products they are introducing.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

Filed Under: ARTICLES, Products, RESOURCE LIBRARY Tagged With: Rockford Fosgate

Product Spotlight: Rockford Fosgate Jeep Audio Kits

 Jeep Audio

Rockford Fosgate has entered the Jeep audio system upgrade market with solutions like no other. If you have a 2018 through 2023 Wrangler four-door or a 2020 or newer Gladiator, the new Stage 5, 1,800-watt all-in-one audio kits are the only premium solutions on the market. Let’s look at what makes these sound system upgrades unique.

Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator Stereo Upgrades

Let’s start with the components common to the 18WRNGLER-STG5 and 20GLADR-STG5 kits. Both kits include a pair of Element Ready Rockford Fosgate M5-series amplifiers. A four-channel M5-800X4 amplifier provides up to 100 watts of power to each front and rear speaker, and an M5-1000X1 can crank up 1,000 watts of power to the system’s subwoofers. The kit includes a mounting plate that securely locates the amplifiers under the driver’s seat.

The Wrangler and Gladiator kits include two sets of TMS65 6.5-inch Element Ready speakers in Jeep-specific enclosures. The front speaker pods are a drop-in fit for the lower part of the dash, while the rear speakers are in a new soundbar overhead enclosure. The kits also include a set of M2-TS 1-inch tweeters on mounting plates for the dash.

 Jeep Audio
Jeep-specific speaker pods loaded with TMS65 coaxial speakers deliver clear and detailed sound.
 Jeep Audio
A set of M2-TS 1-inch tweeters on top of the dash ensures that every note is reproduced with exceptional clarity.

Both systems include a digital signal processor with a pre-loaded tune. The processor can detect the type of vehicle it’s installed into (Wrangler or Gladiator) and load a calibration optimized for that particular Jeep. The DSP integrates seamlessly with the factory-installed source unit and detects which radio is connected through its CAN bus communication. When combined with the Jeep-specific settings on the amplifiers, your installer doesn’t have to spend any time configuring the system, worrying about load resistors or measuring voltage or frequency response. The Rockford Fosgate R&D team has done all that work for you!

 Jeep Audio
An included digital signal processor handles all system integration and calibration to deliver stunning sound quality.

All of the upgraded components mount to the factory fastener locations. The R&D team at Rockford Fosgate 3D-scanned every part of the vehicle and created the pods, brackets, wiring and enclosures to fit perfectly with no modifications. Integration wiring features factory-style connectors and T-harnesses, so no cutting or splicing is required. Each kit has a fuse holder on a custom bracket and all the power wires for the amplifiers. Finally, a remote subwoofer level control mounts in the dash and looks like the controls on the radio. How’s that for classy?!

 Jeep Audio
The TMS65 speakers in the overhead speaker enclosure sound great, and Rockford Fosgate nailed the styling.
 Jeep Audio
A custom subwoofer level control matches the cosmetics of the climate and audio system controls.

2018-2023 Jeep Wrangler Subwoofer System

Now, let’s talk about what’s unique to the 18WRNGLER-STG5 kit. This system includes a pair of subwoofer enclosures that fit by the rear windows in the cargo area of the Wrangler. Each enclosure features a T1S2-12 12-inch subwoofer. These aren’t dainty little shallow-mount subwoofers. The T1-series slimline subwoofers are top-of-the-line drivers that feature technologies like the IDHS copper cap heat-sinking shorting ring and VAST surround design. The cones are a matrix of carbon fiber, PMI and glass fiber, so you know they will sound great, even with the volume cranked!

The design of the subwoofer enclosures and the overhead soundbar match the cosmetics in the vehicle while looking cool. All enclosures feature Element Ready materials and designs, so they won’t fade from UV exposure, melt in the hot sun or crack in cold winter climates. Anyone who sees your Wrangler will know you’re serious about sound and quality at first glance.

 Jeep Audio
Element Ready subwoofer enclosures feature T1S2-12 Power Series 12-inch drivers.
 Jeep Audio
The Rockford Fosgate subwoofers look right at home in the back of your Jeep and deliver tight, deep bass.

If you have a Wrangler Unlimited with the premium audio system, Rockford Fosgate created the WRNGLR-TRIM to return the cargo area to its original condition so the new subwoofers fit perfectly.

 Jeep Audio
If your Jeep has the premium audio system, the WRNGLR-TRIM kit will restore it to stock to work with the upgraded subwoofers.

Jeep Gladiator Subwoofer System

The Rockford Fosgate subwoofer system for the Gladiator fits under the rear seat and features a pair of 10-inch T1S2-10 Power Series subwoofers. The enclosure is made from an Element Ready material that will face all the challenges you or Mother Nature can throw its way. In the enclosure, you’ll see metal inserts for mounting hardware and a spot for the OEM bolt holder. There are no worries about keeping the hardware for the doors safe. The 20GLADR-STG5 includes a jack relocation bracket behind the rear driver’s side passenger seat. The Rockford Fosgate team has indeed thought of everything!

 Jeep Audio
The 20GLADR-STG5 kit includes an under-seat subwoofer enclosure loaded with Power Series T1S2-10 shallow-mount subwoofers.

World-Class Jeep Audio System Upgrades

Whether your Wrangler or Gladiator came with the base-level sound system or the premium option, the Rockford Fosgate Jeep audio upgrade kits are perfect for people who are serious about their music. From flawless radio integration, seamless mounting and premium audio components to perfect fit and finish and professionally tuned sound, there is nothing like the 18WRNGLER-STG5 and 20GLADR-STG5 on the market. You even get your own Rockford Fosgate Jeep rubber duck with the system. We doubt you’ll give this one to a fellow Jeeper, though!

 Jeep Audio
Each Jeep audio kit includes a Rockford Fosgate Jeep rubber duck, paying tribute to the act of Jeep ducking. #duckduckjeep

If you’re ready for serious sound in your 2018 to 2023 Wrangler four-door or 2020 or newer Gladiator, drop by a local authorized Rockford Fosgate retailer and ask about the Stage 5 Jeep audio upgrade kits. You can find an authorized retailer near you using the Dealer Locator on the website.

For more information about Rockford Fosgate audio products for your car, truck, motorcycle, side-by-side or boat, follow them on Facebook and Instagram and check out their amazing videos on YouTube.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

Filed Under: ARTICLES, Products, RESOURCE LIBRARY Tagged With: Rockford Fosgate

Product Spotlight: Rockford Fosgate T1D212 and T1D412

Rockford Fosgate T1D212

Without investing in an understanding of the technologies that improve speaker performance by reducing distortion, choosing one driver over another based on features and specifications alone can be challenging. The 12-inch Rockford Fosgate T1D212 and T1D412 are good examples of premium subwoofers laden with modern tech that outshine competing products. Let’s take a deep dive into the 12-inch T1 Power Series subwoofers from Rockford Fosgate.

Rockford Fosgate T1D212 and T1D412 Features and Specifications

The T1D212 and T1D412 are identical subwoofers, aside from their voice coil impedance and some minor variances because of differences in moving mass. The T1D212 has a pair of 2-ohm voice coils, while the T1D412 has dual 4-ohm coil windings. Both drivers are rated to handle 800 watts continuously, with peak power ratings of 1,600 watts.

Rockford Fosgate built both solutions around unique die-cast aluminum baskets featuring Flex-Fit. The Flex-Fit feature means the mounting locations for the hold-down screws are slotted to allow the driver to be aligned perfectly with the rest of the installation. Each driver includes an aluminum trim ring with a mesh grille to conceal the mounting hardware for a clean and classy appearance.

Rockford Fosgate T1D212
The Rockford Fosgate T1D212 and T1D412 subwoofers include a cast aluminum trim ring and mesh grille.

The cast aluminum basket incorporates cooling vents under the spider mounting lip. These vents help hot air escape from the top of the motor. They also prevent pressure build-up under the cone and spider at higher excursion levels to improve linearity. The T-yoke includes a vent to improve power handling and release pressure under the dust cap.

Rockford Fosgate T1D212
Cooling vents in the basket and the T-yoke improve linearity and power handling.

These T1-Series subwoofers feature Rockford Fosgate’s Inductive Damping Heat Sink. While this feature looks at first glance like a way to help improve motor cooling, it has a second equally important benefit. When current from the amplifier passes through the voice coil winding, it produces a magnetic field. This field interacts with the stationary magnets in the speaker to push the cone outward or pull it rearward. However, as the voice coil moves through the magnetic gap, that motion creates a secondary magnetic field in the voice coil that can oppose the field created by the amplifier. The result is reduced efficiency and some midbass output attenuation. The IDHS system helps to short out this unwanted current flow. As a result, subwoofers with this technology play louder with the same power as drivers without it. Including IDHS also improves midbass performance, making subwoofers like the T1D212 and T1D412 seem to “hit harder” than those without it. Win, win and win.

Rockford Fosgate T1D212
The IDHS feature improves power handling and sound quality.

These Power Series subwoofers feature 3-inch diameter anodized aluminum voice coil formers wound with copper-clad aluminum wire. While using CCAW seems counterintuitive based on everything we know about connecting amplifiers to batteries, it reduces the weight of the moving assembly in these subwoofers while providing a specific impedance. As such, this conductor choice allows the design engineers to specify a specific impedance and moving mass. The latter improves midbass performance. Good midbass is crucial to getting the subwoofers’ output to blend seamlessly with the midbass drivers in the front of the vehicle.

A Kevlar fiber-reinforced paper cone is bonded to the voice coil assembly. Reinforced paper is ideal for woofer cones as it offers an excellent stiffness-to-mass ratio. A tall rubber surround that uses Rockford Fosgate’s Vertical Attach Surround Technique geometry provides the upper compliance. The VAST design allows for increased cone surface area by moving the outer attachment point closer to the perimeter of the basket. The 12-inch T1 subwoofers have an effective piston area (Sd) specification of 548 square centimeters. Popular comparable subwoofers from other brands have 486 to 510 square centimeter piston area specifications. With VAST, you get a lot more subwoofer for your money.

Each subwoofer uses a pair of progressive-roll poly cotton spiders. A spun-laced, Nomex-reinforced collar strengthens the connection between the spiders, the voice coil and the cone. The tinsel leads from the voice coils are sewn to the spiders to ensure silent operation at extreme power levels. Rockford Fosgate provides spring-loaded push terminals capable of accepting 8 AWG wiring for speaker wire connections. A jumper block integrated into the speaker connection block simplifies selecting between voice coil series and parallel wiring. Rockford Fosgate calls this their SWIFT terminal design.

Rockford Fosgate T1D212
The SWIFT feature simplifies the choice of series or parallel wiring and keeps everything tidy.

T1-Level Power Series Subwoofer Applications

Using the Box Advisor on the Rockford Fosgate website, we see a recommended sealed enclosure volume of 1.25 cubic feet for the T1D212 and the T1D412. This enclosure results in an F3 frequency of 43.03 hertz and a Qtc of .745 for the T2D212. The slightly lower moving mass (Mms) and higher resonant frequency (Fs) of the T2D412 results in a Qtc of 0.862 and an F3 of 40.43 hertz. Both would sound magnificent.

Rockford Fosgate T1D212
The 1.25-cubic-foot sealed enclosure response: T1D212 in red, T1D412 in yellow.

The Box Advisor suggests 1.75 cubic feet tuned to 40 hertz with a 4-inch diameter round vent for vented enclosures. This design produces a nice bump at 53 hertz, adding more than 6 dB of efficiency over the sealed enclosures. The F3 frequency for these designs is right around 32.5 hertz. Based on the excursion graphs, an infrasonic filter set to 25 hertz would keep cone excursion under control in the bottom octave. If you want to trade that bump for increased low-frequency output, lowering the enclosure tuning to 33 Hz is an option. However, the difference isn’t significant, and the infrasonic filter remains required either way.

Rockford Fosgate T1D212
The 1.75-cubic-foot, 40-hertz-tuned vented enclosure response: T1D212 in red, T1D412 in yellow.

Premium Power Series Subwoofers from Rockford Fosgate

In the land of “bigger is better,” Rockford Fosgate’s T1 subwoofers include features you won’t find on most products with similar ratings. No, these aren’t inexpensive options, but the added features outlined above more than justify their price by measurably improving performance. If you’re serious about bass that sounds great, hits hard and performs reliably, drop by a local authorized retailer and ask about the Rockford Fosgate T1D212 and T1D412 Power Series subwoofers. You can find a Rockford Fosgate dealer near you using the locator on their website. Follow Rockford Fosgate on Facebook and Instagram, and check out the fantastic videos on their YouTube channel.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

Filed Under: ARTICLES, Products, RESOURCE LIBRARY Tagged With: Rockford Fosgate

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