In this article, we’ll take a deep dive into the Rockford Fosgate P300-12. This powered and boxed subwoofer is the complete package with a built-in amplifier and custom-sealed enclosure. Let’s go deep.
No matter how good you think your speakers are, they can’t handle the lowest frequencies thrown at them by hip-hop, rock, and electronic music. Without a subwoofer, you’re missing out on a tactile layer in your favorite tunes – the bass that brings your music to life.
Subwoofers produce frequencies from around 20 Hz (hertz) to 200 Hz – the lowest tones, and the ones we feel in our bones. A high-quality subwoofer adds a new dimension to your sound system and physicality to your music as you feel it thumping through your car’s seats.
Of course, building an aftermarket sound system can be intimidating – especially with the convoluted specifications of subwoofers on the market. Subwoofers require a lot of power – meaning they need an amplifier – and for optimized sound, they need an enclosure that lets them pulse the bass through a layer of air.
But you can simplify the demands of your aftermarket system by buying a subwoofer with an enclosure and built-in amp. That’s exactly what Rockford Fosgate is offering with the P300-12.
Recently, the Rockford Fosgate P300-12 was picked as one of the best car subwoofers on the market. Now we’re going to take a deep dive into this impressive product and find out why.
What’s In The Box for the Rockford Fosgate P300-12?
Don’t be overwhelmed when you open up the packaging for the P300-12. There’s quite a bit of kit, but the included owner’s manual talks you through it. Here’s what’s in the box.
- Subwoofer enclosure of dimensions 15” x 19.8” x 11” x 7”. This is loaded with a 12-inch woofer and a built-in amplifier.
- Two pre-installed 10 amp ATO blade fuses
- Two spare 10 amp ATO blade fuses
- One removable power plug
- 10-inch Signal input harness
- Allen key (3mm)
- Remote Punch Level Control
- A robust mounting bracket
- One 17.5-foot Punch Level Control cable with a 3.5mm stereo jack plug on both ends
- Two 3/8ths-inch mounting screws for the Punch Level Control
- Mounting straps
- Five-language install and operation manual, in English, French, Spanish, German and Italian.
That’s a lot to consider – but this all-inclusive kit is deceptively simple to install. Aside from a few tools for mounting, you just need to run power, ground, and signal wires to get this subwoofer pumping the bass.
View Latest Price on Amazon →First Impressions
At 15” x 19.8”, with an 11” base depth tapering to 7”, it’s a sizable piece of kit, but weighing in at just 29.6 lbs it’s pretty easy to move around and install. If you’re opting for a 12” subwoofer, then size isn’t your number-one concern and unlike shallow mounting subs that fit under your seats, you’ll need to clear some trunk space for this bad boy.
It’s an impressive unit. The enclosure feels robust in your hands and the metal mounting bracket ensures it’ll be protected on the road. And a glance at the owner’s manual – available in 5 languages – reassures that the installation process is manageable for even car audio beginners.
Compatibility
If you can fit this beast in your vehicle then you don’t need to worry about compatibility. The inclusive system will work with both an aftermarket sound system or your OEM (original equipment manufacturer) audio system’s RCA signal.
Key Features: Rockford Fosgate P300-12
When a 12-inch subwoofer comes with an enclosure and an amplifier, there’s a lot to consider. Let’s look at the key features of all the components.
Subwoofer
The 12” subwoofer is from Rockford Fosgate’s Punch range and has 300 watts of RMS power (the amount of power it can run at continuously). You wouldn’t want to go much lower than this for a powerful sound system, but thanks to the carefully paired amplifier and custom enclosure you know the sub will operate efficiently to offer maximum sound with minimal power.
Key components are the paper cone – a high-performing material – and the dual voice coil which allows for flexible wiring setups.
It’s a proprietary high output subwoofer and can handle high power with low distortion to provide sound quality that satisfies audiophiles. Rockford Fosgate’s subwoofers are renowned for an old-school “punchy” bass and the P300-12 delivers a satisfyingly tight sound without any distortion or echoing boom.
Amplifier
The solid 300-watt amplifier is built to match the subwoofer, so there’s nothing under or overpowered here. You know you have a system that’s working perfectly.
Enclosure
The custom-sealed enclosure is built with 5/8ths-inch MDF (medium density fiberboard). MDF’s medium density is the ideal material for this, limiting distortion and letting the low frequencies resonate, and the box has been sealed with an industrial heat-activated vinyl for a slick look and a durable, bump-resistant finish.
There’s a “closed-loop” design to ensure optimized performance between all three components – the sub, amp, and enclosure. The sealed enclosure performs expertly to provide a tight and accurate bass, further enhancing the P300-12’s characteristic punch and providing the perfect power-handling complement to the sub and amp.
Materials
From the metal mounting bracket to the heat-activated vinyl finish, Rockford Fosgate has built a really robust enclosure that can handle life on the bumpy road. There’s an extruded aluminum heatsink included which protects your sub from any excess heat produced by all that power.
Layers of Protection
If you’re planning on putting this subwoofer through its paces – and with 300 watts of RMS power, I don’t blame you – you’ll be pleased to know there are multiple layers of protection designed to ensure the subwoofer can handle the heat. The system includes over-voltage protection designed to prevent damage in case of a power surge, as well as heat protection in-built at every layer.
Remote Bass Level Controller
Chances are you’re tucking this hefty subwoofer in the back of your vehicle, but you don’t want to have to pop the trunk every time you need to adjust the bass. The remote bass level control gives you convenient access to the bass level so you can adjust it according to passenger preference, or what your song choice requires.
It’s a wired remote, so you’ll need to run that wire from the back and place the remote at a convenient spot on your dash.
Customizable Sound
The built-in adjustable gain lets you balance the bass output to perfectly compliment the other speakers in your system while the bass boost can crank to bass for when you really want to rock it.
This system is great for those with a varied music taste – let the bass drop when you play rap and hip hop, or dial it back for classical music.
And the built-in 0°/180° phase switch lets you delay the subwoofer signal, helping the low frequencies to integrate perfectly with the higher tones from your stereo speakers.
Easy Installation
An all-inclusive package with a built-in amp will always be easier to install than multiple component pieces, but Rockford Fosgate has simplified things further with the P300-12. Detachable power and ground connectors mean fewer crimped connections and the subwoofer features an intelligent auto turn-on/off function that eliminates the need for an additional turn-on wire, simplifying your wiring setup further.
Full Specifications:
Here are the full specs of the P300-12, at a glance.
- Active/powered 12″ subwoofer with 300W amplifier and enclosure
- 300 watts RMS power
- 12db/Octave low pass crossover
- Frequency response from 35-150 Hz
- 0°/180° phase switch
- Remote bass level control
- Built-in adjustable EQ
- Frequency response: 35-150 Hz
- Wedge design with dimensions: 15”W x 19.8”H x 11”D1 x 7”D2
A Critical Look At The Rockford Fosgate P300-12
There’s no doubt that we’ve got a well-built and decently-powered subwoofer on our hands, but there are a few things Rockford Fosgate could do better. More transparency on the actual subwoofer would be a start. We know it’s from the 12-inch Punch range, featuring 300 watts RMS power, with dual voice coils and a paper cone – but we don’t know any deeper specs about the actual sub.
And while Rockford Fosgate has clearly gone to lengths to make this subwoofer package easy to install, they could surely have stretched to the inclusion of a wiring kit. After all, Rockford Fosgate makes one of the best subwoofer wiring kits on the market, and it would have been a grand gesture to include it at the price.
View Latest Price on Amazon →The Good, The Bad and The Ugly: The P300-12 At A Glance
There’s a lot going for the Rockford Fosgate P300-12, but there are a few drawbacks to consider. Here are the pros and cons at a glance.
What We Liked
- Easy installation
- 300 watts RMS power
- Works effectively with OEM head unit and factory speakers
- Custom-built sealed enclosure
- Premium materials
- One-year warranty
- Great value for money
What Could Be Improved
- A pretty hefty unit so make sure you have the space
- Doesn’t include a wiring kit
Who Is The Rockford Fosgate P300-12 For?
As a top rated subwoofer, the P300-12 would be a good pick for anyone looking to upgrade the bass of their car’s sound system. But the custom enclosure and in-built amplifier make this an especially good pick for those who want to simplify their build.
Whether you’re new to the world of aftermarket sound, or you want to rejig your system without dancing a jig around multiple components, this powered subwoofer and enclosure combo will make installation a breeze.
300 watts of RMS power isn’t going to blow your mind but it’ll be enough to blow your socks off when you crank this subwoofer. And thanks to the custom enclosure and compatibly-powered amp, you know it will be running at maximum efficiency.
View Latest Price on Amazon →Wrapping Up…
The P300-12 might look expensive at first, but once you start unraveling the components, including the built-in amplifier and custom-built enclosure, it becomes clear this is a value-for-money subwoofer.
While 300 watts of RMS power won’t wake up the neighborhood, it’s ample power for serious sound.
With robust construction and everything included for optimized performance, the Rockford Fosgate P300-12 is a great option for beginner builds or anyone who wants to simplify their system.
