4 5
COMPSUBWOOFER
INSTALLATION
Pro Tip: You are one ZX
Mono-Amplifier and a few
cables away from a slamm’in
system! The Kicker ZX line of
mono-amplifiers make it easy
to upgrade to rock-solid bass
with your existing or stock
source unit. Please ask your
dealer about the Kicker ZX
Amplifier upgrades.
VentedEnclosureApplications
Ported Comps? Absolutely...and with a vengeance! These enclosures incorporate massive slot-loaded
(rectangular) ports with ultra low air velocity for ground pounding street bass that will make your “skin
bounce on your bones!”
These boxes are the enclosure of choice for outrageous street bass and high performance SPL
contests. If space is not a problem and you want to get the most from your Comp, try one of these
ported designs. You will not be disappointed.
The ported Compact design increases bass efficiency and fits in many space-limited applications.
Although it is the smallest recommended ported enclosure, the output from 30 to 80 Hz will be
considerably higher than that of any sealed box. The SPL / Deep Bass ported design has even more
output in this crucial frequency band.
The SPL / Deep Bass is the largest and most efficient enclosure design. The SPL / Deep Bass delivers
the sonic output needed to win SPL contests and it produces bass notes “all the way down to the
cella”. This design turns heads and jump starts your heart.
Model:
C8
C10
C12
C15
VentedSPL/DeepBass (MaximumEnclosureVolume)
1.2 ft
3
(34L) + port displacement
1.5 x 8” (3.8x20.3cm) port, 12.25” (31.1cm) long
Power Handling = 55W RMS
1.75 ft
3
(49.6L) + port displacement
1.5 x 10.5” (3.8x26.7cm) port, 13.25” (33.7cm) long
Power Handling = 150W RMS
2.25 ft
3
(63.7L) + port displacement
2 x 12.5” (5.1x31.8cm) port, 16.375” (41.6cm) long
Power Handling = 150W RMS
4.0 ft
3
(113.3L) + port displacement
3 x 15.5” (7.6x39.4cm) port, 16.5” (41.9cm) long
Power Handling = 250W RMS
VentedCompact (MinimumEnclosureVolume)
.66ft
3
(18.7L) + port displacement
1.5 x 8” (3.8x20.3cm) port, 18” (45.7cm) long
Power Handling = 55W RMS
1.25 ft
3
(35.4L) + port displacement
1.5 x 10.5” (3.8x26.7cm) port, 14.5” (36.8cm) long
Power Handling = 150W RMS
1.75 ft
3
(49.6L) + port displacement
2 x 12.5” (5.1x31.8cm) port, 16” (40.6cm) long
Power Handling = 150W RMS
3.0 ft
3
(85.0L) + port displacement
2.75 x 15.5” (7x39.4cm) port, 17” (43.2cm) long
Power Handling = 250W RMS
BoxBuildingNotes
Use 3/4” (1.9cm) or thicker MDF (medium density fiberboard) and seal the joints with silicone. Use the
“template” inside your Comp’s shipping carton to mark the mounting hole, then cut directly on the line.
These designs need internal bracing. Add triangular bracing between each of the larger unsupported
panels. See Figure 3.
All the cubic feet (L) measurements in this manual include the displacement of the woofer. For the
vented enclosures the displacement of the port must be calculated and added to the internal volume of
the final design. Use the outer dimensions of the port and multiply “X x Y x Z”, convert to cubic feet, for
example the C12 vented compact design’s external port dimensions are, using 3/4” (1.9cm) MDF:
[ (12.5” + 1.5” total MDF wall thickness) x (2” + 1.5” total MDF wall thickness) x 16”] x (1 ft
3
/ 1728 in
3
)
= .45 ft
3
, and add this number to the internal volume of the enclosure, C12’s 1.75 ft
3
+ .45 ft
3
= 2.20
ft
3
. See Figure 4. Due to the necessary length of these ports, you may want to fold the port along the
bottom and back walls. It will be impractical to use round ports for these designs.
Do not install a port opening against a solid surface, such as an internal brace, back-panel or trunk wall,
seat or interior panel of your vehicle. The port opening must remain unobstructed. Use the smallest
dimension of the rectangular port as the minimum amount of space between the port opening and any
solid surface to insure unrestricted airflow.
A Note on PowerHandlingCapacity
Comp subwoofers will handle massive amounts of power in any of the recommended enclosures,
minimum or maximum. The smaller enclosures are best for use in limited-space applications.
The larger recommended enclosures will yield slightly more bass at the lowest frequencies.
The infinite baffle (free-air) mounting method will handle moderate amounts of power
and take up less trunk or passenger space.
If you prefer an ultra-smooth bass response, you should loosely fill your Comp enclosure with
poly-fil stuffing. Ported designs will require covering the end of the port (located inside the box) with grill
cloth, chicken wire, or expanded metal to prevent the poly-fil from exiting the port. The use of poly-fil
will slightly decrease efficiency, but will deepen and extend the low frequency output.
For more advice on box building, refer to your Authorized Kicker Dealer, or click on the Support tab on
the Kicker homepage, www.kicker.com. Choose the Technical Manuals link and then download or view
the corresponding information. Please E-mail support@kicker.com or call Technical Services
(405) 624-8583 for specific or unanswered questions.
Note: The use of a subsonic filter will significantly increase the power handling.
The power handling specifications in these charts are calculated using a 25Hz, 24dB per octave subsonic filter.
Figure 4
D = 3 x 3 for C15, C12
D = 2 x 2 for C10, C8
D
D
D
Figure 3
INSTALLATION
The displacement of the port must be calculated and added to the internal volume of the final design.
The dimensions for X, Y, and Z may vary based on the thickness of the material used to make the port.
