A passive in-wall subwoofer system for new builds: the two opposed 95 x 390 mm Carbon-X drivers of the SFC12-SW, mounted in a dedicated extruded aluminium back box more than a metre and a half tall.
SFC12-SYS: the box is part of the design
The weakness of in-wall subwoofers is that the volume behind them changes from wall to wall, and the result with it: bloated, weak or muddled bass depending on the cavity. The SFC12-SYS removes that variable because it comes with its own box, an extruded aluminium housing tuned to the drivers, to be built in during construction. It measures 1564 x 372 x 100 mm, weighs 29.9 kg and behaves identically in every installation. Response runs from 20 to 150 Hz, with extension to 17 Hz (DIN).
The drivers are those of the SFC12-SW: two long-throw Carbon-X cones, light, stiff and damped, with super-neodymium magnets, patented ART surrounds and 25 mm six-layer voice coils on Kapton formers with twin Nomex spiders. They work in opposition, so the forces cancel inside the box instead of passing to the wall; a proprietary isolating mount stops residual vibration reaching the structure. The driver baffle is die-cast aluminium.
Once the job is done only a slim frameless grille remains visible, almost flush with the wall and paintable; it attaches with neodymium magnets and isolating pads that keep it decoupled, and fitting it calls for plasterboard at least 12.7 mm thick. The system is set up for the Paradigm X-500 (one SFC12-SYS) and SVX-1202 (two) amplifiers, which look after its DSP and protection; the maker advises against amplifiers of other brands. Designed, built and tested in Canada.
Specifications
- Type: passive in-wall subwoofer system with dedicated back box
- Enclosure: extruded aluminium, die-cast aluminium baffle
- Drivers: 2 opposed Carbon-X cones, 95 x 390 mm
- Surround: moulded-on ART
- Magnets: super-neodymium
- Voice coils: 25 mm, 6 layers, Kapton former
- Response: 20 to 150 Hz
- Bass extension: 17 Hz (DIN)
- Peak input power: 500 W
- Impedance: suits 8 ohm amplifiers
- Amplifiers named by Paradigm: X-500, SVX-1202
- Back box depth: 87.1 mm
- Plasterboard: at least 12.7 mm thick for the grille
- Mounting size: 1563.9 x 372.3 x 99.8 mm
- Weight: 29.9 kg
- Grille: magnetic, frameless, paintable
