Focal Sub12 – 13-Inch Professional Studio Subwoofer

Product Description

The Focal Sub12 is a high-output professional studio subwoofer designed for demanding recording, mixing, mastering and immersive audio environments. Built around a 13-inch ultra-high-excursion W-cone driver and a powerful 600-watt RMS amplifier, it delivers deep, controlled bass with the dynamic headroom required for critical low-frequency monitoring.

Engineered and manufactured in France, the Sub12 combines Focal's composite sandwich-cone technology with a reinforced, front-ported enclosure and comprehensive professional bass-management controls. With low-frequency extension to 28Hz and a maximum peak SPL of approximately 125dB at one meter, it is particularly well suited to larger studios and high-performance monitoring systems using Focal Trio6, Solo6 and Twin6 monitors.

13-Inch W-Cone Driver

At the heart of the Sub12 is a 13-inch (33cm) ultra-high-excursion woofer featuring Focal's proprietary W-cone construction.

The composite sandwich diaphragm places a structural foam core between two layers of glass fiber. This construction is engineered to balance rigidity, low moving mass and internal damping, helping the driver reproduce powerful low frequencies while limiting unwanted cone resonance.

The large driver provides the displacement needed for demanding bass-heavy recordings, making the Sub12 suitable for evaluating kick drums, bass instruments, synthesizers and low-frequency effects with greater confidence.

600 Watts RMS with 1,000 Watts Peak Power

The Sub12 uses a high-power amplifier delivering 600 watts RMS and up to 1,000 watts of peak power.

This substantial amplification allows the 13-inch driver to reproduce demanding low-frequency passages with the headroom required in professional monitoring environments. Its specified frequency response extends from 28Hz to 400Hz, while maximum output reaches approximately 125dB peak at one meter.

The combination of high output, deep extension and controlled driver movement makes the Sub12 suitable for larger control rooms, electronic music production and immersive audio installations where low-frequency accuracy is essential.

Reinforced Cabinet and Low-Noise Bass-Reflex Design

The Sub12 features a heavily reinforced enclosure designed to withstand the mechanical demands of its large, high-excursion driver.

A substantial front-facing laminar port incorporates optimized internal and external flares to reduce airflow turbulence and audible port noise. Internal bracing helps minimize cabinet vibration, allowing the subwoofer to deliver powerful bass without unnecessary mechanical coloration.

The front-ported configuration also provides placement flexibility in professional studios, where available space and room layout may restrict conventional subwoofer positioning.

Integrated side handles make it easier for two people to transport and position the substantial enclosure.

Professional 2.1 Bass Management

The Sub12 includes comprehensive bass-management facilities for integration with professional studio monitors.

Balanced XLR left and right inputs accept signals from a monitor controller, mixing console or audio interface. Matching balanced XLR outputs allow the Sub12 to feed the main monitors, with selectable high-pass filtering to manage the frequencies sent to them.

An adjustable low-pass crossover controls the frequencies reproduced by the subwoofer. Together, these features allow engineers to configure the transition between the Sub12 and their main monitors according to the room, speaker placement and monitoring requirements.

Dedicated balanced XLR LFE input and output connections provide additional flexibility for compatible multichannel and immersive monitoring systems.

Adjustable Phase, Polarity and Input Sensitivity

The Sub12 provides extensive rear-panel controls for accurate integration into a professional monitoring environment.

Adjustable phase, switchable polarity, low-pass filtering and high-pass settings allow the subwoofer's response to be tailored to the main monitors and listening position. Selectable +4dBu and -10dBV sensitivity settings accommodate different professional and consumer-level source equipment.

These adjustments are particularly valuable when integrating a large subwoofer into an acoustically treated control room or an existing monitoring system.

Footswitch Bypass for Critical Mixing

An external footswitch connection allows the Sub12's bass-management system to be bypassed during listening sessions.

Engineers can compare a mix with and without the subwoofer to evaluate low-frequency balance and how the recording may translate to smaller playback systems.

The Sub12 also includes footswitch input and output connections, allowing bypass control to be linked across multiple Sub12 units in larger monitoring installations. A defeatable automatic standby function provides further operational flexibility.