When added to a series of full-range IG series speakers the NEAR® IGS12 subwoofer adds the last half-octave of bass foundation that makes music really come alive. The IGS12 delivers unparalleled low-frequency performance via groundbreaking design. The IGS12 remains musical at any playback level and is capable of withstanding almost any abuse.

Why In-Ground?

The NEAR® IGS subwoofers look and sound great when used as freestanding on-ground speakers that can be camouflaged among planters and pots. But we primarily designed them to be partially buried in the ground, affording homeowners superior sound performance, lower visibility and ultimate security.The packed earth around the speaker dampens enclosure wall resonances to zero, allowing all of the woofer energy to go into moving air rather than the cabinet. In-ground installation also reinforces bass response by providing an infinite baffle to focus the sound waves. The IGS12’s bass impact is visceral, precise and detailed.

Exceptional Durability

Like other NEAR®speakers, the IGS12 is truly weather-proof, not just “weather-resistant” and can be used totally exposed to the elements. The IGS12 enclosure is color-through, Linear Low-Density Polyethylene that sheds moisture, dirt and chemicals. The UV inhibitor pigments are embedded uniformly throughout the material so the sun won’t fade or yellow the color and garden tools won’t mar their looks.

Superior Technology, Superior Sound

The IGS12 utilizes an MDT metal alloy diaphragm woofer with dual voice coil UDIO technology along with the Magnetic Liquid Suspension (MLS) technology patented by New England Audio Resource in 1993. These are the same materials and technologies employed throughout the IG Series to ensure timbre consistency and system design flexibility.

The IGS12’s 12-inch driver is loaded into a sealed bandpass enclosure – the perfect solution to the challenges of delivering bass reliably outdoors. In 1998 Bogen Communications, Inc.  on behalf of its NEAR division, patented this concept of in-ground bandpass subwoofers, a technique that is widely copied today.

In a bandpass design the woofer sits in a sealed enclosure – perfect for protecting the business end (motor, voice coil, suspension) from outside contaminants such as moisture, debris and wildlife. The better protected front (cone) side of the woofer fires into a ported enclosure to take advantage of the high acoustic efficiency of a vented alignment. In this way the IGS12 is the best of both worlds – sealed and vented.