The NOVA 12 sits third in Wharfedale's four-model NOVA subwoofer series, above the NOVA 8 and NOVA 10 and below the flagship NOVA 15. Wharfedale positions it for larger listening environments and immersive home cinema systems, pairing a 300mm long-throw active driver with a matching downward-firing passive radiator to deliver deeper extension and greater dynamic impact than the smaller models while keeping the definition that two-channel music demands.
Driver and Bass Loading
The active 300mm (12in) bass driver is a newly engineered long-throw design built on a rigid, lightweight paper cone treated with a proprietary coating for stiffness and self-damping. It is mounted on a heavy-duty die-cast chassis and uses an oversized high-roll surround with a high-excursion motor system, and a large-diameter voice coil is specified for thermal efficiency and power handling. An aluminium shorting ring within the motor reduces inductance modulation as the voice coil moves through the magnetic gap, improving linearity and lowering distortion artefacts.
In place of a conventional reflex port, the NOVA 12 uses a downward-firing, mass-loaded auxiliary bass radiator (ABR) of the same 300mm diameter, built around a dual-suspension design. Working alongside the active driver, the ABR extends low-frequency output from a more compact enclosure while avoiding the turbulence, chuffing, port compression and unwanted resonance a port can introduce. Acoustic loading is optimised individually for each model in the series, and the NOVA 12 reaches 28Hz at -6dB.
Amplification and DSP
A high-current Class D amplifier delivers 280W nominal and up to 770W peak, giving the larger driver the grip it needs through demanding musical passages and high-impact film effects. Peak power here describes the maximum short-term output the amplifier can produce, providing the headroom to reproduce sudden low-frequency transients with control rather than compression.
DSP-controlled Dynamic EQ manages output in relation to input level, so the balance between extension and weight holds up from late-night listening through to full-scale playback, while protecting the system against overdrive. Two DSP operating modes are provided: Music mode prioritises speed, definition and controlled integration with the main loudspeakers, while Movie mode is tuned to add low-frequency weight, scale and impact for films, games and soundtracks.
Setup and Connections
Stereo line-level input is provided on two RCA sockets, with the right channel able to accept an LFE feed from an AV receiver or processor, and a stereo line-level output on two further RCA sockets passes the signal on. Speaker-level connection uses four 4mm binding posts, which suits traditional stereo amplifiers with no dedicated subwoofer output.
Level, crossover (adjustable from 40Hz to 160Hz) and 0 or 180 degree phase controls sit on the rear panel, alongside a switchable auto-sense function that drops the subwoofer into standby after 20 minutes without a signal and wakes it when one returns, drawing under 0.5W while idle. A 12V trigger input allows the subwoofer to be switched by a connected amplifier or processor, and a USB port is provided for firmware updates.
Cabinet and Finish
The cabinet measures 443 x 435 x 487mm including plinth, rubber pads, grille and terminals, and weighs 29.3kg. It is finished in Matte Black, carries a removable front grille and is supplied with a power cord, rubber feet pads and a manual.