The Paradigm Defiance V12 subwoofer is part of the company's Defiance series of affordable models and is the largest of the V-series models. connection), Anthem Room Correction (ARC) auto-calibration system, and all this at very attractive prices. Note that the function of calibrating the sound of a subwoofer depending on the conditions of its placement is generally unusual for subwoofers of this price range cost $799.99
At the same time, the presence of ARC is especially useful for a subwoofer, because it is at the bass that the effect of room acoustics is greatest. And if you take this factor into account when setting up the sound of the subwoofer, you can optimally integrate it into the main system.
Construction and design
The Paradigm Defiance V12 may be quite complex on the inside, but on the outside it looks quite ordinary. It's basically a black cube with a front-facing speaker and simple, straight lines that make it look old-school.
However, the attention to detail in the exterior of the Defiance V12 is noticeable: it has a nice textured finish and a protective pin-mounted fabric mesh that covers the entire front panel. The cabinet is mounted on sturdy feet that not only provide good stability, but also provide enough clearance for the downward-facing bass reflex to operate.
The Canadian build quality is excellent considering the price, and the subwoofer doesn't take up too much space in the room. Paradigm managed to fit this unit with a 12-inch woofer into a 419 x 456 x 454mm (WxHxD) cabinet, and the subwoofer weighs 19.1kg.
Connections and control
The Paradigm Defiance V12 is equipped with a good set of inputs: it has stereo line inputs and an LFE input, as well as acoustic high-level inputs. There is also a connector for connecting an additional wireless module.
The lack of physical controls is surprising, and the subwoofer has only a power button and a volume knob on the chassis. The reason for this is that Paradigm offers to use the excellent mobile application Paradigm Subwoofer Control (iOS and Android) to control the subwoofer, from which all modes of its operation are available.
There is a switch on the back to choose between app control or physical controls, however the latter is only limited to volume control. The application, which can be accessed via Bluetooth, has a well-designed and intuitive user interface with a wide range of control functions. On its main page, you can set the volume, choose from Movie, Music or Night sound modes, turn ARC on or off, and even run a test tone from 20Hz to 120Hz.
This last feature is unique to my knowledge and really useful as it allows you to find out exactly at what frequency resonances and overtones occur in a room. If any are found, it is almost always possible to determine their source, and then muffle it, for example, using a piece of electrical tape or some kind of vibration damping material.
There are also low-pass filters, smooth phase control and bass boost operating in the range of 20-30 Hz with a level of ± 10 dB. Although the control application cannot be considered unique, the presence of ARC is very interesting, especially for a model of such an affordable cost (we will look at how this feature works in more detail later).
Features and Specifications
The Paradigm Defiance V12 features a 12" polypropylene cone woofer reinforced with carbon strands, inverted suspension and dust cap. The greater the speed and amplitude of the diffuser movement, the deeper and more powerful bass it can reproduce. To achieve this goal, Paradigm has developed Active Ridge Technology (ART), which uses a special gimbal design to allow free movement of the diaphragm with large amplitude. Paradigm claims that the result is a 3dB increase in sound pressure while reducing audible distortion by 50% compared to conventional speakers of the same size.
The woofer located on the front panel is loaded onto a phase inverter, the outlet of which is located on the bottom panel of the case. Paradigm claims the Defiance V12 has a frequency response of 23Hz to 200Hz (+/- 3dB) and the built-in Class D amplifier is rated at 120W RMS (250W peak).
An important advantage of the V12 is the presence of the Anthem Room Correction system, which can be considered almost unique for models of this price. It provides the flexibility to integrate the subwoofer into the system once it has been placed in the room, which is always a challenge. ARC Mobile uses your mobile device's built-in microphone, although you can also buy an additional and more accurate ARC universal microphone (it's included free with the company's more expensive X-series subwoofers). The app is intuitive to use, the entire setup takes minutes with easy to follow prompts, and measurements are made at five points around the listener/spectator area.
In the process of these measurements, the sound data is fed into the ARC processor, which, based on them, calculates the necessary frequency response correction and loads the resulting result into the subwoofer's memory. This is a really useful feature that ensures the precise integration of the sound of the subwoofer and the main system, as well as the effective elimination of room resonances.
For all models except the V8, Paradigm also offers an optional WT wireless module that simply plugs into a dedicated slot on the rear panel. When using it, the need for an audio connecting cable is naturally eliminated. The wireless connection operates at a distance of up to 5 meters, at a carrier frequency of 2.4 GHz with good noise immunity.
Setup and operation
The Paradigm Defiance V12 is extremely easy to set up and all you have to do is connect a cable from the LFE output of the AV receiver to the subwoofer - of course, if you do not plan to use an additional wireless transmitter.
While the V12 has a handy feature called ARC, the more you place it, the easier it will be for the correction system to adjust its sound. The optimal placement of any subwoofer in a room is usually determined by experimentation, but this work is worth doing for the best result. One handy trick for doing this is to place the subwoofer in the spot where you plan to watch movies, and then move around the room to find the spot where the bass will sound the most balanced. After that, you simply change places with the subwoofer. The fact that you can turn on the test tone in the Paradigm subwoofer application makes this task much easier.
The Paradigm Subwoofer Control App is a pleasure to use, as it not only provides flexible subwoofer adjustment, but also allows you to do it right from your favorite seat, rather than running to the subwoofer control panel and back. On the main menu, you can select one of three listening modes (Cinema, Music or Night), as well as adjust the volume, turn on the test tone and ARC correction.
From the main page, you can also go to the settings page, where you will find separate tabs for volume control, low pass filter, phase/polarity, listening modes, bass level, room correction, set password, rename, reset settings and more information. If you are using the V12 with an AV receiver or processor, you simply set the recommended volume level, turn off the bypass low pass filter, and select the required phase/polarity.
The listening modes speak for themselves: Movie makes the bass more powerful and deep; Music is the default setting and gives the most balanced overall sound for accurate sound reproduction, while Night reduces bass levels for a more relaxed listening experience. Personally, I preferred using the Music mode, which provided deep yet balanced and controlled bass. But if you like punchy, punchy bass, you can choose the Movie mode or play around with the bass boost settings.
As already mentioned, starting the ARC Mobile feature is not difficult at all. The first page explains what ARC Mobile is and offers the option to start it, turn it on or off (the latter can also be done from a remote app). If you are using your smartphone's microphone, simply hold it at ear level with the microphone pointing towards the subwoofer. You then take five measurements, starting at the location where you will primarily be while watching movies and listening to music, and then at four additional locations around it, spaced at least 50 cm apart. Once you have finished measuring, the app will calculate the correction and load it into the subwoofer's memory. You can then turn this ARC feature on or off while listening.
Sound quality
The Paradigm Defiance V12 may not break records when it comes to amplifier power or frequency response, but the 12" woofer and bass reflex make it sound very convincing. The subwoofer reproduces deep yet controlled bass with crisp detail. A good example is the musical number Rewrite the Stars from The Greatest Showman, which gives the subwoofer a great opportunity to show off its musicality. This song uses bass in a very interesting way, and the V12 worked it out very accurately.
The subwoofer's ability to produce deeper bass than one would expect given its specifications could be appreciated at the beginning of this film. The soundtrack begins with the circus crowd singing and stamping their feet to the beat of the title track. The powerful deep bass of the Defiance V12 makes the stands where the crowd sits rumble to the beat of the music. While the soundstage doesn't have the same scale as larger, more powerful models, the V12 sounds very even and consistent with the rest of the system, with all the nuances confidently conveyed.
This sense of balance and coherence is perfectly demonstrated during the climactic shootout in the film Wind River, where precise bass gives each shot an extra touch. The Paradigm has fast enough bass to make every shot sound clear and impactful. What's more, the subwoofer makes the difference between the sound produced by a pistol, a shotgun, or a powerful .50 caliber sniper rifle. The latter, by the way, rumbles very impressively!
While the V12 is a very high quality subwoofer on its own, its ARC capability gives it an added edge. The correction applied by the software makes the sound of the sub even more accurate and clear. Turning the ARC setting on and off may not make a huge difference in sound, but using it makes the bass better integrated with the rest of the system. The result is a low-frequency basis for the entire sound that maintains its overall balance and neutrality without compromising fidelity.
These last two characteristics are masterfully demonstrated during the first test scene in the movie Ready Player One. There are plenty of bright bass effects here: the noise of engines, the roar of a Tyrannosaurus rex and even the growl of King Kong! The V12 handles them all perfectly, combining seismic depth with high bass speed. It's a complex soundtrack, with an insane mix of sound effects, each looking to grab your attention. The subwoofer makes all effects easy to hear, which enhances their overall effect on the audience.
When it comes to the deepest basses used in the movie Terminator: Dark Fate, while they can confuse less powerful subwoofers, the V12 does a great job of keeping it completely cool. The Defiance V12 may not have the punchy bass that larger models with the most powerful amplifiers provide, but it still perfectly handles the many low-frequency sounds, transmitting them effectively.
A good example is the scene in which one cargo plane intentionally crashes into another, and then a parachuting armored car tumbling through the air, crashes into a dam, and ends up sinking into the river below. This continuous stream of explosions and rumbles is handled by the V12 without loss of clarity or focus, creating palpable bass waves in the room. Even if this subwoofer is not capable of reproducing infra-bass at frequencies below 20 Hz, for a conventional system its capabilities are more than enough, and besides, it sounds focused and accurate.
Conclusion
The Paradigm Defiance V12 is a truly quality, reasonably priced subwoofer that delivers focused, deep bass. It delivers the fast and precise sound of a closed-box design, while maintaining the wide bass response of a bass-reflex model. The Defiance V12 subwoofer delivers fast and detailed bass, yet impressive depth.
The availability of a remote control application and the ARC placement sound correction function are advantages of this model, and they are not found in subwoofers of comparable cost. The design of the Defiance V12 is simple and elegant, and its build quality is very good. The Paradigm is often associated with high-end acoustics, but the Defiance V12 subwoofer is a very good value.
Website: Paradigm V12
Quality build
Good bass range
Anthem Calibration System
Remote Control Application
Profitable price
Cons
nothing at this price
Ratings
Sound Quality: 10
Build Quality: 9
Quality/Price: 10
Verdict: 9.5
| Key Specifications Paradigm Defiance V12 | |
|---|---|
| Type of | with phase inverter |
| Woofer: | 12" front |
| Amplifier: | class D, power 120 W RMS / 250 W peak |
| Phase: | smooth adjustment 0 - 180 degrees |
| Frequency range: | 23Hz - 200Hz (+/- 3dB) |
| Input filter: | 35 Hz - 120 Hz bypassable |
| DSP: | there is |
| Automatic equalizer setting: | there is |
| Remote control: | Yes, via mobile app (Bluetooth connection) |
| Inputs: | linear RCA, acoustic |
| Dimensions (W x H x D): | 419 x 456 x 454 mm |
| The weight: | 19.1 kg |
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