S2/12t
The Genesis ServoSub™ 2/12t is a unique subwoofer that is universally installer friendly. It delivers prodigious output capability with unparalleled delicacy and articulation in a heavily-braced enclosure with a unique shape that allows it to be located at a sidewall, rear-wall or even in a corner.
Its form factor makes the S2/12t an ideal partner for surround or rear speakers in either home theater or multi-channel music applications. With low frequency capability down to 16Hz, the S2/12t is able to distribute bass around the room as part of a multi-channel system. The Genesis LFE Blend™ technology allows the S2/12t to be used BOTH to augment the low-frequencies of the surround or rear speakers, as well as to perform as a subwoofer for the low frequency effects of a multi-channel sound system.
Designed to work in multi-subwoofer installations, the S2/12t fits nicely into corners of rooms. Placed in this manner, it will excite every mode in the room at its operating frequencies. This will give the best, tightest, smoothest, and most impactful bass in well-designed rooms. Check the acoustics of your listening room with The Sweet Spot calculator on Stereophile's Guide to Home Theatre.
The S2/12t features two 12-inch ribbed aluminum cone woofers and a built-in 500W servo-controlled Class-D discrete MOSFET bass amplifier that provides great impact, extraordinary control and thermal stability even when playing the most demanding sources at high volume.
Technical Details
Genesis has over 30 years of experience in designing servo-controlled woofer systems. All this and more have been mastered to develop the S2/12t.
Two Twelve-Inch Low Frequency Transducers
The S2/12t uses dual woofers that are made of lightweight yet inherently stiff aluminum. These precisely ribbed and contoured cones are free of the transient-blurring artifacts imposed by lesser materials, and have absolutely no breakup modes within their operating bandwidth. The cones are thus capable of handling huge power and transients, and yet maintain the extremely low coloration that is the hallmark of Genesis.
With two 12-inch woofers, the S2/12t is able to easily transfer power into the resistive air load in the room. This results in it being able to produce satisfying and relaxing very low-frequency ambient sound. The ability to "move air" also embodies the S2/12t with great dynamics and impact.
The S2/12t Servo Controlled Bass Amplifier
A precision accelerometer mounted to the woofer continuously monitors motion and sends a signal to high-speed circuitry that compares actual cone movement to the input signal. This comparison circuit identifies and then corrects any deviation from the input, even when it includes complex, rapidly evolving musical bass lines or cinema special effects.
With this servo control, the transducers are essentially massless and anechoically flat. While typical non-servo woofer systems have distortion levels that exceed 10% at even moderate levels, the servo bass system reduces this distortion to below one percent at almost any output level.
The servo system places extraordinary demands on the amplifier since the system uses enormous amounts of current to precisely control the woofer. The S2/12t's proprietary and ultra-efficient 500W Class-D discrete MOSFET switching amplifier is a prime example of intelligent power application in the service of sonic subtlety, delivering musically accurate and floor shaking bass.
The S2/12t features a separate input with Genesis' LFE-Blend™ technology that seamlessly mixes the home theater LFE input into the bass signal of the high-level speaker input or pre-amp level input. This allows the S2/12t to be used both as a subwoofer to augment a satellite surround speaker, and as a home theater LFE subwoofer at the same time. A buffered daisy-chain LFE output allows a link to other subwoofers via balanced XLR, and/or single-ended RCA connections.