1200D Specs
Price & Contact: $519; 800-765-7686;
Lanzar Car Audio
All measurements @ 14 volts unless otherwise specified.
Frequency Response (4-ohm IHF Load 100 Hz Ref. crossover @ highest setting): +1.2 dB, –3 dB @ 288 Hz
L/R channel error max deviation 20 Hz to 20 kHz: N/A
Signal-to-Noise Ratio (Below Rated Output, “A” weighted): -82.4 dB
Distortion at Rated Output @ 60 Hz: 0.8% @ 1200 watts
Output Power (Resistive) (4 ohms @ 60 Hz to 1% THD+N): 469 watts @ 14 volts, 456 watts @ 12.8 volts, 305 watts @ 10.5 volts
Output Power (Resistive) (2 ohms @ 60 Hz to 1% THD+N): 762 watts @ 14 volts, 748 watts @ 12.8 volts, 486 watts @ 10.5 watts
Output Power (Resistive) (1 ohm @ 60 Hz to 1% THD+N): 1262 watts @ 14 volts, 1007 watts @ 12.8 volts, 696 watts @ 10.5volts
Output Power (Reactive) {4-ohm IHF Load @ 60 Hz to 1% THD+N): 484 watts
Output Power (Reactive) (2-ohm IHF Load @ 60 Hz to 1% THD+N): 893 watts
Crosstalk @ rated output, 20 Hz to 20 kHz: N/A
Damping Factor @ 100 Hz: 45
Voltage for Rated Output: 376 mV to 2.9 volts
Idle Current Draw: 1 amp
Current Draw @ 1/3 Maximum Power: 44.7 amps @ 421 watts
Efficiency @ 1/3 Maximum Power: 67%
Power-Up Noise: 41.4 dB SPL
Power-Down Noise: 45.7dB SPL
by Brian Smith
The Vibe 1200D is a single-channel, class D subwoofer amp rated at 400 watts into 4 ohms, 750 watts into 2 ohms, and 1200 watts into 1 ohm. Features include variable low-pass crossover and subsonic filter, polarity reversal switch, line outputs, and wired remote gain control. The remote connects to the amp via the tried-and-true telephone-style cable and connectors although the interface is a push-button arrangement rather than the usual knob.
Performance
The 1200D is, hands down, one of the best things that I’ve ever seen from Lanzar. I’ll go ahead and tell ya’, I get a real skeptical feeling every time I see a 1-ohm power rating. Our 1-ohm test load has little notches in it representing each amp that released the magic smoke after a brief but passionate encounter. The 1200D not only kept in its smoke, but it seemed relatively comfortable with all of our test loads at, and beyond, its power ratings. If you are absolutely intent on spec shopping, then you will likely find other units with better numbers in some of the more meaningless categories. However, the 1200D has the important stuff covered. It produces lots of low-frequency power into both resistive and reactive loads and does so with class D efficiency.
Connections & Adjustments
Connections to the 1200D include RCA line-level inputs and outputs, wired remote receptacle, and captive-type terminal blocks for power, speaker and remote turn-on connections. Power and ground connections accept 4-gauge, while the speaker and remote turn-on connections accept 8-gauge wire. Adjustments include input sensitivity, a polarity reversal switch, subsonic filter cutoff frequency, and crossover cutoff frequency. Both the subsonic filter and the crossover provide continuously variable controls. The subsonic filter provides a 24 dB-per-octave slope and is variable over a range of 15 Hz to 52 Hz. The crossover provides an 18 dB-per-octave slope and is variable over a range of 51 Hz to 288 Hz. The wired remote is essentially a series input sensitivity control capable of varying the amp’s full sensitivity range only when the control on the amp is set to maximum.
Installation
Installation of the 1200D should be reasonably worry-free. It’s a bit larger than most of the class D units that we’ve seen, but it’s awfully hard to gripe about the size of a 1200-watt amp that you can hold with one hand. The 1200D has a healthy appetite, especially when driving low impedance loads. Of course, it’s not the current hog that a class A/B amp in this power range would be, but if you do the math, it turns out that making a kilowatt from a 12-volt system takes a boatload of amperage no matter how efficient the amp is. It stands to reason that if you need 100+ amps from a low-voltage power supply (i.e., your battery and alternator) then you should try to minimize the length of cable that you’re drawing the power through. Wire with a large cross-sectional area wouldn’t be a bad idea either.
The subsonic filter should be a huge benefit to those with tuned subwoofers and its cutoff frequency is thankfully adjustable to below 20 Hz for the rest of us as well. The crossover is also adjustable over a relatively sensible range although a bit more range at the lower end wouldn’t hurt.
