Infinity1220se MSRP: $279.95
It seems like every loudspeaker manufacturer is producing pre-loaded ported enclosures, but few really stray from the norm to combat the inherent design flaw relevant to this type of system - the port. To put it simply, a port acts like the piston of a speaker... or should. The "flaw" that plagues conventional ports happens as the power increases - the column of air moving in and out of the port no longer holds together as the pressure changes, essentially rendering the port useless. The by-product of this is distortion and poor transient response.
Infinity's Reference 1220se subwoofer system might just hold the solution to the inherent "flaw" with its new Slipstream port. Slipstream uses a unique mathematically shaped flare rate that isn't to be confused with the normal radius edge found on other ports. As a result, the area of the port in the middle can be much smaller than its mouth, allowing the port to be shorter than its cylindrical counterpart with a surface area the same as Slipstream's mouth. The combination of the flare rate, large port surface area outside the box and smaller central tube creates an increased pressure at the port'smouth and a reduced air velocity within. This keeps the moving air column inside the port stuck together, virtually eliminating port distortion and inferior transient response.
Moving past the innovative engineering, the Reference 1220se enclosure is pretty standard otherwise, made of 31/44" MDF covered in charcoal-colored carpet to support the 12" driver. Adorned by a large Infinity badge, silver plastic cladding covers the enclosure's entire face with metal mesh protecting the woofer. The right side of the box has two terminal cups - one for accepting the amplified signal and the other for a switched 12-volt supply for the LEDs discreetly mounted within the cladding. The Slipstream port sits topside of the modestly sized enclosure, measuring 21.1" x 6.6" x 17.1". Four plastic mounting feet of questionable integrity are supplied.
InstallationTo my delight, the manual actually includes advice on locations to mount the enclosure. While there are no words, a single picture displays two possible positions for the enclosure in the back of what appears to be an SUV. Additional illustrations depict the enclosure's dimensions and locations to attach the supplied mounting brackets, relating the two terminal cups on the side of the enclosure and a diagram depicting what the terminals are to be connected to. Specifications and the warranty are in 12 languages, with the latter being vague as to duration. Power handling for the 2-ohm sub is stated as 300 watts RMS and 1,200 peak.
I loaded the sub in the rear of my 4Runner and connected the leads from my 1-ohm stable amplifier to the terminal. Connecting the LED lighting took a bit longer as it needs to be connected to a switched source.
Once wired, I positioned it in the two locations displayed in the manual. Both yielded the same results, so I left the unit against the seatback facing the rear.
ListeningHitting it off, I played Diana Krall's "I Don't Know Enough About You." The transition between the midbasses and the sub enclosure was about as good as I've heard with this song. The bassist was upfront and never sounded peaky or boomy as with many other ported enclosures. If there had been a bit more resonance in the strings on low notes, the bass would've sounded more natural.