MartinLogan Depth 212 lacquered black
Specifications and features
MartinLogan Depth 212: dual-woofer subwoofer
Reproducing ultra-low bass requires moving a great deal of air, and that energy tends to make the enclosure that produces it vibrate, potentially muddying the bass. MartinLogan’s answer is a pair of opposing 30 cm drivers, supported by 1,100 watts of amplification and digital processing that tailors playback to the room. It all reaches down to 18 Hz, in a gloss black finish.
Two opposing 30 cm woofers
A subwoofer must rely on a rigid structure, otherwise the forces generated by the drivers are transmitted to the enclosure and color the bass. The Depth 212 addresses the issue at its source with its BalancedForce configuration: two active 30 cm woofers are mounted opposite each other on two sides of the enclosure and operate in phase. The forces they produce mechanically cancel each other out, so energy is barely transmitted to the cabinet. Bass becomes cleaner and the enclosure remains silent, even at high levels. The cast aluminum baskets and long cone excursion allow substantial air movement without losing control.
The three-layer Carbon Aerocore cone
To reproduce articulate bass, the cone matters as much as power. Carbon Aerocore woofers rely on a three-layer structure with complementary roles: a rigid, lightweight outer carbon-fiber skin; an intermediate PMI foam core that stiffens the assembly without adding weight; and an inner fiberglass layer that damps resonances and ringing effects (the “ringing” that smears transients). The resulting cone remains rigid and stable while staying lightweight, allowing it to follow the finest passages. Each driver benefits from triple ventilation, beneath the spider, at the voice coil and at the core, as well as two copper demodulation rings that reduce distortion.
Power controlled by the Vojtko DSP
Amplification is Class-D, with 2,200 watts peak and 1,100 watts RMS, providing enough headroom to keep both woofers under control during demanding passages. The signal passes through a 64-bit Vojtko digital processing engine clocked at 500 MHz, which manages equalization, driver protection and frequency alignment. This combination reaches down to 18 Hz (at ±3 dB, anechoic measurement on the LFE input), placing it in the range where bass is felt physically as much as it is heard.
Calibrate bass to your room
In the bass range, the room matters more than the equipment: resonance modes create peaks and dips that even the best subwoofer cannot correct on its own. The Depth 212 includes Anthem Room Correction (ARC Genesis) acoustic correction and its microphone measurement system, supplied with its stand. Once the room has been measured, the response is smoothed at the listening position. Everyday adjustment is handled through the Bluetooth Subwoofer Control app: output level, low-pass filter cutoff frequency between 35 and 120 Hz in 1 Hz increments, filter order (bypass, 3rd or 4th order), phase from 0 to 180° in one-degree increments, polarity, and level adjustment between 20 and 30 Hz over ±10 dB. Three listening modes, Movie, Music and Night, adapt performance to the content, with the latter restraining bass for nighttime listening. All these settings can be adjusted in real time from the listening seat, while hearing the effect of each adjustment.
A massive enclosure cooled by its edges
The enclosure is heavily braced, with thickness varying from 25 to 76 mm depending on the areas under greatest stress. The amplifier is housed at the rear, usually the least refined side of a subwoofer, which MartinLogan chose to treat with the same care as the rest. The extruded aluminum parts covering the rear edges act as heat sinks and air intakes: cooling is achieved by convection, drawing in cool room air and expelling warm air from the amplifier. The inputs are located low at the rear, keeping cabling discreet and close to the floor. Anti-vibration feet are integrated beneath the enclosure, and carpet spikes are supplied. It measures 533 mm high, 503 mm wide and 518 mm deep, and weighs 57.6 kg, in a gloss black finish.
The touch interface hidden beneath the logo
For everyday use, the app is enough to adjust everything, but direct access is still provided on the subwoofer. The “zig” logo on the front panel is backlit, in the color of your choice or switched off for a discreet appearance. Pressing beneath this logo removes the front panel and reveals the concealed touch control interface (TCI): an LED display and six backlit touch zones whose lighting adapts to the displayed options, allowing the subwoofer to be adjusted without using the app.
Connect with or without wires
The Depth 212 accepts left, right and LFE RCA line-level inputs, balanced XLR inputs (left and right, or LFE on the right input), and left and right speaker-level inputs requiring banana plugs. An RCA subwoofer output carries the sum of the connected inputs, allowing a second subwoofer to be connected. A wireless receiver is built in and the transmitter is supplied: the subwoofer connects to the source without running a long cable across the room, which helps when the best location for bass does not match that of the electronics. In standby, power consumption remains below 2 watts with wireless active, and 0.5 watt without it.
In a high-end stereo system, this type of subwoofer extends the bass of the speakers without drawing attention to itself; in home theater, it provides the ultra-low bass of soundtracks. The Depth 212 is the 30 cm version of the range: above it, the Depth 215 uses the same design with two 38 cm woofers and dual amplification, for large rooms.
Technical specifications
Acoustic performance
- Frequency response: 18 Hz – 120 Hz ±3 dB (anechoic measurement via the LFE input)
Drivers
- Woofers: 2 × 300 mm (12”), cast aluminum basket, high excursion
- Carbon Aerocore diaphragm: three-layer structure
- Carbon fiber
- PMI foam
- Fiberglass
- BalancedForce configuration: two opposing active woofers
- Ventilation
- Under the spider
- Vented voice coil
- Vented pole piece
- Demodulation: two copper rings per driver
Amplification and signal processing
- Reference Class-D amplification: 2200 W peak, 1100 W RMS
- Digital processing: 64-bit, 500 MHz Vojtko DSP engine
- Acoustic correction: Anthem Room Correction (ARC Genesis)
Controls and settings
- Concealed Touch Interface (TCI): LED display, six backlit touch zones
- Subwoofer Control app: real-time adjustment of all parameters
- Bluetooth settings
- Level: -40 to +12 dB
- Low-pass filter: 35 Hz – 120 Hz (1 Hz increments)
- Filter order: bypass, 3rd, 4th
- Phase: 0 – 180° (1° increments)
- Polarity: normal or inverted
- 20-30 Hz level: ±10 dB
- Modes: Movie, Music, Night
- Backlit front-panel “zig” logo, configurable color or can be disabled
Connectivity
- Line-level inputs: left, right, LFE
- XLR inputs: left, right or LFE (on the right input)
- Speaker-level inputs: left and right (banana plugs required)
- RCA subwoofer output: sum of all connected inputs
- Wireless: built-in receiver, transmitter included
Cabinet
- Structure: multiple braces, variable thickness from 25 to 76 mm
- Cooling: amplifier concealed at the rear, convection through extruded aluminum fins
- Integrated anti-vibration feet
General
- Finish: gloss black
- Dimensions (H × W × D): 533 × 503 × 518 mm
- Weight: 57.6 kg
Power
- Standby, wireless disabled: 0.5 W
- Standby, wireless enabled: less than 2 W (transmitter and subwoofer combined)
Included accessories
- Calibration microphone and stand
- Wireless transmitter
- Carpet spikes
Frequently asked questions
Does the Depth 212 work with an amplifier that has no subwoofer output?
Yes. The high-level inputs connect to the amplifier’s speaker terminals using banana plugs, allowing you to add a subwoofer to an integrated amplifier or older amp without a dedicated output. RCA or XLR line inputs and the LFE input remain available for home theater amplifiers and modern preamplifiers.
Should it be placed in a corner or against a wall?
Positioning has a major effect on perceived bass due to room modes. Placement near a wall or in a corner boosts the level but may cause dips at certain frequencies. ARC Genesis correction and the phase, crossover, and level settings are specifically designed to compensate for these variations once the subwoofer is placed where it suits you best.
Can two subwoofers be used for more even bass?
Yes. The RCA subwoofer output duplicates the sum of the connected inputs to a second subwoofer, and two bass sources distributed around the room smooth room modes better than a single heavily driven subwoofer. This is a classic approach to achieving more even bass across multiple listening positions.
Does the wireless connection require anything on the source side?
No. The supplied transmitter connects to the subwoofer output of your amplifier or preamplifier and sends the signal to the built-in receiver. Settings adjustment, meanwhile, is done via Bluetooth and the app, independently of the audio connection.
When should you choose the Depth 215 rather than the 212?
The 215 uses two 38 cm woofers and doubles its amplification to move more air: it is designed for large rooms and high output levels. The 212, with its two 30 cm drivers, is sufficient for most living rooms while maintaining a more compact footprint. Both share the same design, correction and settings.
What comes with the subwoofer?
The Depth 212 comes with the calibration microphone and its stand, the wireless transmitter, and carpet spikes. The anti-vibration feet are integrated into the cabinet.
- Eco-contribution included in the sale price.
