Sound QualityBoom and OutputEase of InstallationOverall Value
As part of their new 2007 product line, Fusion has put together the Power Plant Bass Pack. The PP-PK112 provides a complete bass-ready system out of the box. Upon opening the large carton, I was surprised by the multitude of items supplied. First, the ported enclosure contains a single, dual voice coil Fusion 12" subwoofer mounted off-center on the front face, adjacent to the front-firing port. The woofer's cone bears Fusion's Power Plant graphic raised up across the entire surface. Fusion lined the heavy-duty walls of the enclosure with acoustic sound dampening to provide a rigid structure for enhanced bass reproduction. The stylized box features a couple of accent pieces including a tapered neon green ring around the woofer's foam surround, the company's name embroidered on the top and the Power Plant open three-ring graphic on the sides. A 1,000-watt mono-block amplifier (PP-AM10001) along with a complete 4-gauge amplifier wiring kit accompanied the loaded enclosure. The subwoofer enclosure measures 15.1" x 16.6" x 22".
InstallationThe PP-PK112 provided all of the resources needed to make installation almost effortless. The 4-gauge amplifier kit comes complete with 4-gauge power and ground wire along with an under-the-hood fuse, remote wire and a set of neon green RCAs. I mounted the ported enclosure in the trunk, firing towards the rear. The box was wide enough to install the mono-block amplifier on the back, allowing for direct connectivity to the heavy-duty threaded speaker terminals located there. I was surprised to find that Fusion did not include mounting hardware. It would have also been great if they had provided a set of Allen keys for the amplifier connection blocks. A color-coded pamphlet displaying a detailed system diagram gave information regarding installation and connectivity for the PP-PK112. Meanwhile, a separate manual supported the amplifier. Both products' manuals clearly indicated the terms and conditions of Fusion's 1-year warranty.
ListeningThe 12" woofer had a smooth presentation, maintaining an even balance throughout its frequency response. Output from the subwoofer definitely will not make it an SPL champion, but for a single 12", it was more than respectable.
The PP-PK112 showed its versatility, performing well with all musical genres. Kick drums were not sloppy, but seemed to lack snap and initial impact. The ported enclosure seemed to have little negative effect on the overall musical presentation of the subwoofer, with no noticeable peaks in the frequency response. Output tapered off at the extreme low octaves but was not a major problem as they were still audible and present. I grew so fond of the subwoofer's performance as the listening session continued that I decided that it would make a great mainstay in my everyday system. At the end of my listening session, it was obvious that Fusion developed a well-rounded subwoofer system intended to give a balanced performance across the acoustic board.
ConclusionPacking both performance and value in a single package, the PP-PK112 is a great product. At $429.99, it is perfect for consumers looking to upgrade their sub-less system on a budget. The PP-PK112 provides a one-stop-shopping experience, eliminating the need to piece together a subwoofer system on your own. Let's face it, you can search high and low to piecemeal together a 1,000-watt subwoofer system for a little less than Fusion's option, but when you can run down to your local shop and pick this complete system, why waste your time? Fusion has done all the work to provide you with a complete, and painless, performance-packed solution.