Note that this is a discontinued product. You may want to visit the brand's page here to browse their newer products.
What reviewers think
Bloggers and YouTubers have tried this product—so we've summarized their strongest opinions below. Links to full reviews follow.
All
Impact MKII 12
reviews
Manufacturer details
- Driver: 12" forward firing
- Amplifier: Class D 275 watts dynamic 165 watts RMS power
- Frequency Response: (± 3 dB) 29 – 140 Hz
- THD: < 0.5 % (typical)
- Low Pass Crossover: 50 Hz to 200 Hz
- Phase: 0 or 180 degrees
- Magnet Structure: 5.6 lbs.
- Voice Coil: 2" copper wound
- Cone: Reinforced Coated Fiber
- Inputs: RCA Line Level, LFE and Speaker Level inputs
- Input Impedance: 65K ohm (for LINE INPUT jacks), 1.2K ohm (for SPEAKER LEVEL INPUT terminals)
- Sensitivity-Line Level: 1.0 V
- Outputs: Left and right speaker level pass-through
- Dimensions (H/W/D): 15.1" x 14.2" x 18.9" (38.4 x 36 x 48 cm)
- Shipping Weight: 38 lbs.
Brand highlights
Taking a step back to look at reviewers' thoughts of the brand's entire lineup—not just this product—what stands out most is the following:
- Velodyne subwoofers are engineered with a focus on both music and home theater, striving to provide a balanced experience suitable for diverse audio content.
- The DB series emphasizes sealed enclosure designs, prioritizing superior tonal quality, tighter, more articulate bass, and reduced overhang for musical instruments.
- They are committed to creating smaller subwoofer designs that do not sacrifice large driver or high excursion performance, enabling the products to fit well into various environments and applications.
Select products
MicroVee X:
- Positioning: Compact subwoofer designed for small spaces.
- Description: Offers impressive bass performance in a compact size, making it ideal for small rooms or setups where space is limited. Features a 6.5-inch active driver with two passive radiators, providing powerful bass that rivals larger models like the Deep Blue series. Its Digital Drive Control System ensures precise bass reproduction.
Impact X:
- Positioning: Mid-range subwoofer series for versatile use.
- Description: Delivers powerful low-frequency sound with efficient front-firing drivers, suitable for both music and home theater applications. Features a Class D amplifier and anti-clipping circuitry, offering a balance between performance and affordability. Compared to the Deep Waves series, it provides more power and flexibility with its DSP presets.
Deep Waves:
- Positioning: Affordable subwoofer series with app control.
- Description: Combines high precision and performance with extensive customization options. Features a front-firing active driver with side-firing passive radiators, offering a presence in home theaters that rivals the more expensive VI-Q series. Its iWoofer app allows for easy adjustments.
Deep Blue:
- Positioning: Versatile subwoofer series for various setups.
- Description: Offers a wide range of sizes, from 8 to 15 inches, providing options for different room sizes and audio needs. Features a quad voice coil and solid MDF cabinet, ensuring high efficiency and minimal distortion. Compared to the Impact X series, it offers more flexibility in setup and connectivity.
VI-Q:
- Positioning: High-performance subwoofer series with advanced features.
- Description: Combines high-quality driver configurations with modern technology, such as the iWoofer app for room adjustment and a 25-band parametric equalizer. Offers more power and precision than the Deep Waves series. Its sealed cabinet design and professional connectivity options make it suitable for high-end home theater systems.
Digital Drive Plus:
- Positioning: Flagship subwoofer series with cutting-edge technology.
- Description: Redefines subwoofer performance with digitally controlled drivers and advanced calibration algorithms. Offers the highest precision and power in the lineup, with 1,250 watts RMS and 3,000 watts impulse power, surpassing the capabilities of the VI-Q series.
Our take on the brand
Look inside the brand
Our interview with the brand
What are two key technological innovations or strong opinions that differ you from other brands?
Digital High-Gain Servo Control
Velodyne was a pioneer in integrating real-time servo-feedback control in subwoofers. This patented technology uses an accelerometer to monitor and correct the diaphragm's movement with extreme precision, reducing distortion to less than 0.5%. This level of accuracy results in exceptionally clean, accurate bass even at high output levels, something most competitors can’t achieve.
Auto-EQ Plus Room Calibration
We also stand out with our Auto-EQ Plus system, which adapts the subwoofer’s output to the acoustics of any given room. Using a microphone for measurement, the system automatically adjusts the bass response for optimal performance, eliminating the need for complex manual adjustments.
What's your approach to customer support?
Customer support is extremely important to us. In most cases, customers should reach out to their local dealer or distributor first; they are trained to assist and provide fast, local solutions. However, our service team in Germany is always available for direct assistance when needed. We offer in-house repairs, spare parts (even for many legacy models), and we try to go above and beyond with trade-in options and consultation to keep Velodyne Acoustics products performing for decades.
What are your favorite tracks for showcasing the strength of your products?
"Royals" by Lorde (for tight, controlled bass dynamics)
"Why So Serious?" by Hans Zimmer (The Dark Knight OST) (for deep extension and subsonic detail)
"No Sanctuary Here" by Chris Jones (for weight and rhythm in lower registers)
What other products pair best with yours?
We often see fantastic synergy with Wilson Audio speakers. Their clarity and dynamic range complement our fast, articulate subwoofers beautifully. For two-channel and home cinema alike, it’s a powerful match.
Used
Velodyne
What if you spend more?
Convenient adjustment and configuration with the Velodyne Acoustics Auto EQ app (available on the Apple Store and Google Play Store): In combination with the provided microphone, calibration and fully automatic room optimization is absolutely hassle-free. Numerous settings are also available to individually tailor the sound to your own preferences. Ultra-compact MDF cabinet with internal bracing to eliminate disruptive resonances. Powerful up to 800 W maximum output with Class D amplification; oversized ferrite magnets Perfect connections for everyone: professional XLR connections, RCA input sockets for the left and right channels, and speaker terminals
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Product Strengths
- Deep and clean bass from a very compact cabinet, making it space-saving
- Integrated room calibration with included microphone and stand, which effectively compensates for room modes
- App with EQ and convenient control
- Design incorporates a force-cancelling design with an active and passive driver to reduce cabinet movement and improve bass precision
- Variety of connectivity options, including XLR, RCA, and high-level inputs
Product Considerations
- Comes without any grills, which may be a consideration if there are babies or animals
- Instructions manual might be outdated
- App's EQ adjustments are somewhat cumbersome, as the changes cannot be heard live during setting
- More precise phase adjustment in the app would be useful
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Compared to SVS 3000 Micro, the MiniVee X is much cleaner at 80dB, exhibiting lower second harmonic distortions between 30 and 40 Hz
Takeaway: The MiniVee X is a compact subwoofer with great features for fine-tuning sound to the listening space. It delivers clean and precise bass, making music and movies sound great.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Quad voice coil provides high efficiency, fast rise times and pulse fidelity with double ferrite magnets Enclosed cabinet made of solid MDF material prevents distortion and vibration With adjustable level, crossover frequency and phase, the Deep Blue subwoofers can be flexibly adapted to the listening room and existing equipment For connectivity, RCA input jacks are provided for the left and right channels, as well as a dedicated subwoofer input with loop-through capability
Product Strengths
- Delivers deep bass and tactile response, especially welcome when movie-watching
- Large driver provides a seat-of-the-pants feel, making it the center of the action
- Nimble and accurate despite the amount of driver being moved, partly due to its sealed design
- Integrates seamlessly with main channels, giving the impression of an almost limitless full-range speaker, rather than a separated subwoofer and main
Product Considerations
- Lacks advanced features like app control, EQ, digital filtering, remote, preset modes, wireless connection, or 12V trigger
- Exposed wood where the driver opening was machined through the baffle is a basic black pigment which stands against the otherwise smooth woodgrain veneer finish of the rest of the sub
- At very high volumes, the amplifier may struggle with very heavy and long synthetic bass, particularly when combined with a strong bass drum
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs SVS SB16-Ultra: The DB-15 is lighter, suggesting it's built to a different price point
Takeaway: The Deep Blue 15 delivers deep and impactful bass, suitable for both music and movies, in a relatively compact sealed cabinet. It is an attractive option for those seeking a large-driver subwoofer without wanting to color the source with a boom-box.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Active 10-, 12- and 15-inch drivers of the three models deliver powerful low frequency sound with the bass reflex port on the bottom or back. Nine DSP presets adjustable via remote control on the 15-inch model (four on Impact X 10 and 12 inches). With 600 watts of maximum power (1,000 watts on the 15-inch model), the classic Class D amplifier provides enough power for the grand home theater experience. Anti-clipping circuitry to limit amplifier distortion.
Product Strengths
- Superb detail and punch for both movies and music
- Impressively deep bass levels without sounding bloated, retaining good articulation and detail
- Taught and punchy bass that remains controlled even during intense action sequences
- A front-mounted LED display and remote control for volume, phase, and crossover frequency
- Sound modes or EQ presets
Product Considerations
- Packaging could be improved to provide better protection during shipping
- Spring clip connectors are disliked on the back of the subwoofer
- Frequency adjustment via remote was found to be somewhat vague
- The feet are non-adjustable and may cause stability issues on uneven hard floors
- The remote doesn't clearly show when phase is switching
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Newer Impact models are considered phenomenal, while older ones were just okay
- Two Impact X's can be purchased for the price of one DB, making it potentially a better value
- While the Impact X 12 does not dip as low as the 15 inch or the SVS PB, it offers plenty of heart-pounding bass for the average listener
- The Velodyne Impact-12 sound is reminiscent of one of its forebears, the CHT-12R
Takeaway: The Impact X subwoofer offers a lot of value with its impressive bass performance and features like a remote and LED display. It's a great option for those seeking a powerful and affordable subwoofer for both movies and music.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Quad voice coil provides high efficiency, fast rise times and pulse fidelity with double ferrite magnets Enclosed cabinet made of solid MDF material prevents distortion and vibration With adjustable level, crossover frequency and phase, the Deep Blue subwoofers can be flexibly adapted to the listening room and existing equipment For connectivity, RCA input jacks are provided for the left and right channels, as well as a dedicated subwoofer input with loop-through capability
Product Strengths
- Good authority in its sound
- Bass extended fairly low—lower than its spec sheet would suggest
- At lower volumes, the bass was pretty good
- Class AB design aims to provide higher fidelity
- Featured chassis mounted RCA's
Product Considerations
- At louder volumes, the subwoofer started to draw attention to itself
- Speed really started to fall by the wayside at louder volumes
- The cabinet is simply not up to snuff
- Cabinet is not braced at all, and it's fairly thin
- The pull tab on the grill looks a little bit cheap
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Rhythmic L12 extends lower, can play louder, is more articulate with its bass, its speed and transients are better, the bass is deeper, and the bass note distinction is better; the Rhythmic L12 at $589 is superior
Takeaway: The Deep's bass is fairly deep, speedy, and articulate at low volumes. The class AB amplifier is intended to give the user that desired quality.
Video review
Our take on the brand
What competes at this price?
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- The SC-602 houses two 200-watt digital amplifiers that power two separate subwoofers
- The SC-602 incorporates an automatic five-band equalizer to correct for the effects of room modes
- The separate amplifier of the SC-602 makes installation easy and potentially less expensive
Product Considerations
- The EQ function of the SC-602 is not particularly powerful and optimizes performance only for one listening seat
- The SC-602 applies the same EQ curve to both subwoofers
- The auto EQ has a maximum boost or cut of ±3 dB, which limits its ability to correct more significant issues
- With only five bands of EQ to work with, the auto EQ's limited resolution allows some response errors to fall through the cracks
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- In comparison to Velodyne's standalone SMS-1 sub equalizer, the reviewer was able to do much better using the manual adjustments available on Velodyne's standalone SMS-1 sub equalizer
- Unlike Audyssey MultEQ, the SC-602 doesn't allow one to move the microphone to several positions, so one can get the best averaged response for several listeners
Takeaway: The Velodyne SC-600 and SC-602 provide a way to easily integrate dual subwoofers into a system, with the SC-602's automatic EQ feature simplifying setup. This system could be a worthwhile option for those looking for a straightforward solution to improve bass response in their home theater.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Compact size makes it easy to integrate into various rooms and setups
- Delivers deep and clear bass
- Powerful amplifier for its size
- The SVS app allows for easy and precise tuning of the subwoofer
- Dual opposing drivers cancel out mechanical energy, minimizing cabinet vibration
- No speaker-level connections, limiting setup options for some stereo systems
Product Considerations
- Can be expensive compared to other subwoofers with similar output, especially if size is not a primary concern
- Limited output compared to larger subwoofers, potentially not ideal for large rooms or bass enthusiasts
- Power cord length can be restrictive when finding optimal placement
- Woofer placement can be tricky, because the opposing drivers might be too close to side walls depending on placement
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- SVS 3000 Micro has better adjustability than Sunfire
Takeaway: The SVS 3000 Micro is a small but capable subwoofer that delivers impressive bass performance for its size, enhanced by a user-friendly app for fine-tuning, and is a great option for those needing a compact solution without sacrificing sound quality. It is small and easy to integrate into a listening room.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Tight, responsive, and controlled bass performance across the frequency range
- Compact size, which is helpful for those with size constraints
- Superb adjustability and control using the SVS app
- Powerful 325W RMS amplifier
- The included app offers fine-tuning options, including equalization for room correction
Product Considerations
- At the highest drive level, it can incur a fair amount of distortion
- The PB-1000 Pro had more headroom at higher frequencies than the SB-1000 Pro, which may have been deliberately reduced to provide a cleaner sound for music
- The feet for the subwoofer are short and may not be ideal for thick carpets
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- The SB-1000Pro is a whole package upgrade compared to the Velodyne DLS-4000, with more bass down low and more impactful sound
- The PB-1000 Pro goes deeper in frequency response and is much bigger
- The SB-1000Pro provided more solid and richer sound with more robust bass compared to the Paradigm Premier 700F floorstanding speakers
- SB-1000 Pro has richness and punch that the Sonos Sub cannot match
- The SB-1000 Pro has such good control and has no weakness at reasonable listening levels compared to the Boston Acoustics VR500
Takeaway: The SVS SB-1000 Pro is a compact subwoofer that offers impressive bass performance and extensive control options. With its user-friendly app and powerful amplifier, it is an excellent choice for enhancing both music and home theater experiences.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- The PB-1000 Pro can push low frequencies to reference levels without distortion
- The PB-1000 Pro has an updated control panel and app that allows the user to adjust many parameters to get their preferred sound
- The ported design allows for a much thicker and fuller bottom end
- The PB-1000 Pro is able to deliver chest-rumbling subsonic frequencies
Product Considerations
- The PB-1000 Pro may lack the punch of smaller subwoofers due to the larger driver requiring more power to move at the same speed
- The size of the PB-1000 Pro may be an issue for some
- The vinyl finish may not be appealing to everyone
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs Klipsch 8-inch Subwoofer: The PB-1000 Pro's bass has more body and is more rounded and refined, while the Klipsch has more punch and speed
Takeaway: The PB-1000 Pro is a subwoofer that offers great value and is designed to provide deep and clean bass. It has the ability to recreate powerful effects in action movies and blends well into many systems.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Good, clean bass sound
- Nice aesthetic design and materials
- Vast improvement over previous Klipsch subwoofers
- Digs deep, reaching down to 16.5 hertz
- Rounded corners help maintain rigidity
Product Considerations
- Port chuffing can be noticeable at high volumes around 20 hertz
- May lack power for some users, and some felt it could benefit from more RMS power
- The power indicator is on the front, which some may not prefer
- Deep, which can create placement issues
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs SVS PB-1000 Pro: The RP-1200SW provides a larger cabinet, a bit more power, and fuller sound in the lower frequencies
- Vs RSL 12s: The RSL 12s has an even larger sense of scale, but the RP-1200SW offers a more classical vented design with more rumble
- Vs SVS PB 2000 Pro: The SVS PB 2000 Pro has more output
- Vs SPL-120: The RP-1200SW has much less port chuffing
Takeaway: The Klipsch RP-1200SW is a good sounding subwoofer that is a big step up from older Klipsch subs. It is a worthwhile consideration if one is already in the Klipsch ecosystem or is looking for a solid home theater subwoofer.
Video review
Our take on the brand
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