Phoenix Gold RSD12 Car Audio Test Report

Next, I played "Boxenkiller" from the Focal Demonstration Disc 4. The bass drum and bass guitar were reproduced tightly and with force. The RSd12 was very impressive sounding and I frequently reminded myself that it costs only $169.99. The RSd12 has some real gusto. I really like how smooth the frequency response sounded and that there was nothing pulling the imaging to the rear of the vehicle where I had the enclosure installed.

Score: 9/10

On the final 2 albums, Phil Collins DVD Finally, The 1st Farewell Tour and Eminem's The Eminem Show, the Phoenix Gold continued its masterful reproduction of the bass lines. It hit hard and went down to the lowest notes on the recordings with force.

Score: 7/10 (Phil Collins)

Score: 8/10 (Eminem)

Conclusion

As you can probably tell from what you've read to get to this paragraph, I really liked the way the Phoenix Gold RSd12 performed. It sounded awesome and, in light of the price of this subwoofer at only $169.99, I have to give it a very high recommendation for you to listen to and to purchase. Phoenix Gold did not bow down to the pressures of chrome and flames. Instead they produced a fantastic-sounding subwoofer and the sound is what we buy speakers for, isn't it? For me the answer to that question is a resounding YES! Sound is the most important reason to buy any speaker.

Great Sound at $170

Text: Casey Thorson

Speaker technology is getting better, no doubt. The evidence can be read in the subjective portion of this test and verified in the subjective score chart. So I pose this question: What makes this Phoenix Gold subwoofer sound better than most we have tested at this price level?I spoke with Errin Keeling, technical product trainer at Phoenix Gold, to get the lowdown on the build of this subwoofer. What I found was a subwoofer that was fairly average in its parts and assembly. From the outside, the speaker looks like a normal subwoofer, albeit with its own cosmetic appeal. At first glance, you will notice the proprietary stamped steel, 4-spoke frame painted with a satin black texture coating that is the foundation for this sub. Just below its spider-mounting platform molded into the frame are four slot vents protected by perforated chrome sheetmetal. These slots allow the voice coil to "breathe" under high power.

I started off with Diana Krall's Love Scenes album. The RSd12 produced very clear note delineation. I was immediately impressed with how flat the frequency response was, from the very lowest notes all the way up the scale. There was no annoying upper bass hump that ruins the image location of the subwoofer and colors the sound quality. The big stand-up string bass was snappy, forceful and really energized the air within the listening vehicle.

Score: 8/10

At the front of the sub, a butyl-rubber surround attaches the frame to an injection-molded, aluminum-plated grained polypropylene cone. Unlike a lot of new woofers using a single uniform cone, PG uses a yester-tech dust cap. Although it may not have the soothing appeal a single-piece unit has, the use of a large dust cap on this cone does have its benefits: It adds rigidity to the cone when applied properly; and it allows the voice coil to easily be adhered to the cone using two glue joints (one on top of the cone and one below) instead of a single joint at its base. This is important since this area of a woofer sees the most stress.

The motor structure is rather conventional. It consists of a ferrite magnet sandwiched between a machined steel top plate and single piece t-yoke. The t-yoke is drilled through the pole with a radius at each end. While this will aid in cooling the voice coil, it is not the most effective form. The voice coil is large for this price range at 2.5" in diameter, with a total of three layers and is wound over an aluminum former. Signal enters the woofer through push terminals attached to a binding plate riveted to the frame. It is then sent to the voice coil via insulated tinsel lead wires. I was told these lead wires are molded to retain their shape so they never touch the cone.

Aesthetically, the woofer is complemented by a reversible, injection-molded rubber gasket that wraps over the mounting ring on the front of the basket. It has a pleasing design that incorporates the Phoenix Gold insignia. Over the motor is an agreeable injection-molded rubber boot that also includes the corporate logo.

As I mentioned earlier, this woofer is basic in its architecture. The majority of its parts are typical of a woofer in this price range. That brings up the question I posed in my intro: What makes this Phoenix Gold subwoofer sound better than most we have tested at this price level? According to Keeling, Phoenix Gold uses computer modeling software and specialized analysis tools such as SpeaD, Reverse SpeaD, MLSSA, LMS and LEAP. Keeling also mentioned that sound quality was top priority in the development of the Radial Sd line and a lot of listening was involved before the final product was determined. It just goes to show you that the general components of a subwoofer may be very common amongst subwoofers, but the design of those components, the materials, the alignment of the pieces and general construction can make a difference. The Radial RSd12 is a shining example of what a little (or a lot) of engineering can achieve.