KICKER

Recently, the folks at KICKER have given us a reason to take a look at a product that’s designed to literally shake the industry – the KICKER SoloXS L7XS subwoofers. Designed with massive continuous power handling, extreme excursion capability and some unique service features, these monster subwoofers will move air like few others. Let’s check them out!

KICKER SoloXS Specifications

The first thing you’ll notice about the KICKER SoloXS series subwoofers is that they are part of the L7 series, which means they are square drivers. KICKER specifies that the 12-inch drivers have an effective surface area of 625 square centimeters. Typical round 12-inch subwoofers are in the 450 to 550 square centimeter range, so this is a LOT more cone area per subwoofer. More cone area means more efficiency, which is king in the game of producing as much bass as possible.

Moving on, the Solo XS drivers are available in 12- and 15-inch sizes with your choice of one- or two-ohm voice coil impedance.

With respect to general specifications, the subwoofers are rated for 1,500 to 3,000 watts continuous power. While the power-handling numbers are impressive, the Xmax specification is otherworldly at 43.1 mm (1.71 inches). Frequency response is specified as 18 to 100 Hz for the 15-inch and 20 to 100 Hz for the 12-inch.

KICKER makes it clear that these subwoofers aren’t just one-note wonders. Despite their competition-level output capability, the SoloXS drivers are designed to deliver musical bass when installed in a properly designed enclosure.

Design Features

The SoloXS subwoofers are based on eight-spoke cast-aluminum frames with extensive cooling openings beneath the spider mounting ledge. At the base of the chassis is a massive triple-stacked 705-ounce ferrite magnet assembly. The T-Yoke beneath the magnets includes eight vents directly under the voice coil to allow hot air to escape from the motor assembly. KICKER calls this Forced-Air Cooling.

Knowing that these drivers might see as much as 55 amps of current through the voice coil, the electrical connections are appropriately beefy. The spring-loaded terminals can handle 8-AWG cables, but there is also a terminal block that accepts dual 4-AWG leads. This makes daisy-chaining multiple drivers together in parallel easy.

The voice coil windings in the SoloXS subwoofers have a diameter of 3.4 inches and are made of aluminum. Aluminum weighs about one-third as much as copper, so the mass savings are significant. The drivers use an oversized Nomex dual-spider design that purportedly allows up to 5 inches of peak-to-peak cone excursion. The cones are made from 4 mm-thick fiberglass-reinforced pulp paper and feature a carbon-fiber dust cap. The surround is made from nitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR) and includes proprietary vertical ribs at the corners to ensure unobstructed excursion. There are two rows of stitching to help keep the surround firmly attached to the cone.

Replaceable Cone Assembly

If you’ve attended an SPL contest, then you have likely seen a blown subwoofer or two. When competitors are trying to eke out every tenth or hundredth of a decibel of output from their systems, sometimes parts fail. KICKER knows that a blown subwoofer is a fast way to end your day. To that end, they offer recone kits for all four subwoofers. The assemblies include the cone, voice coil former, surround, spider and leads. The kits cost about 25% as much as a new subwoofer, so they are quite affordable in the grand scheme of things.

The key feature here is that no adhesives are required to perform the repair. The recone kits bolt into the basket using 16 hex-head fasteners in an aluminum ring around the top edge of the driver. There is another dozen fasteners under the spider plateau. Not having to worry about aligning the voice coil, how much glue to apply or waiting for things to set up is a massive time-saver and ensures the geometry of everything is perfect.

Lastly, the engineering team went to great lengths to ensure the users could choose either impedance of recone kits. If you want to switch from 2-ohm subwoofers to a 1-ohm impedance, just buy the appropriate part number.

Massive Bass for Your Ride

KICKER hasn’t left bass heads wanting for power. Their Warhorse WXA3600.1 amplifier is rated at 3600 watts of continuous power into a one-ohm load, ensuring the SoloXS subwoofers have the juice they need to perform.

If you are in the market for a subwoofer capable of serious output, then it’s time to drop into a local authorized KICKER retailer and ask about the SoloXS series of drivers. You can find a retailer near you using the locator tool on the KICKER website.

Be sure to follow our friends from Stillwater on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube to learn about the amazing products they offer and events they attend.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

Adding a subwoofer system to a pickup truck is one of the best audio system upgrades you can make. The mobile audio specialists at KICKER have developed an entire series of truck-specific enclosures that use their world-famous square L7T thin subwoofers to deliver maximum bass. Let’s take a look at the enclosure solutions offered by KICKER.

KFDL7T102 Subwoofer System for Ford Trucks

The KFDL7T102 is a dual custom-made down-firing MDF enclosure that houses a pair of 10-inch L7T square subwoofers. Combined, the enclosure can handle up to 1,000 watts of power. That’s not peak power, we’re talking 500-watts of continuous power handling per driver. That’s a great match for the CX800.1 or even better, the LX850.1 amp.

The enclosure features integrated bracing to ensure the panels are vibration-free, so your bass sounds tight and controlled. Rounded front corners match the contours of the seats for a tidy appearance and leg clearance while entering or exiting the vehicle. The system sensitivity is 87.1 dB at 1W/1M and the enclosure has a nominal impedance of two ohms.

The KFDL7T102 works with 2009 through 2026 Ford F-150 Crew Cab and 2017 through 2026 Super Duty Crew Cab trucks. Removal of under-seat items like inverters, spare tire tools or floor mats may be required to complete the installation of these subwoofer solutions.

KGMDL7T122 Subwoofer Enclosure for Chevy and GMC Trucks

The KGMDL7T122 is another custom enclosure that is designed for 2008 and newer Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickup trucks. The enclosure is contoured to fit the front corners of the bench seat and clear the hinge mechanism at the back. As with all the KICKER L7T truck enclosure, the KGMDL7T122 is finished in thick black carpet for great looks and durability.

The KGMDL7T122 has a pair of 12-inch L7T thin subwoofers that are wired to a nominal impedance of two ohms. Continuous power handling on the enclosure is an impressive 1200 watts, making it an ideal match for the CX1200.1 or the LX1250.1.

KRDL7T102 RAM Classic and K5RDL7T102 Fifth-Gen Truck Enclosures

If you own a RAM truck, then KICKER has a solution that should work with your application. The KRDL7T102 enclosure is designed for Classic-Series RAM trucks including 2002 through 2018 Ram Quad Cab, 2009 through 2018 Crew Cab, 2003 through 2026 RAM 2500/3500 Quad Cab, 2009 through 2026 RAM 2500/3500 Crew Cab and 2019 through 2024 Ram 1500 Classic Quad and Crew Cab trucks. The K5RDL7T102 enclosure is designed for fifth-generation Ram Crew Cab trucks from 2019 through 2026. If your truck has a flat floor under the back seat with no molded cup holder, then the K5RDL7T102 is the right solution for you!

Both of these enclosures feature a pair of 10-inch L7T thin subwoofers in an up-firing configuration. The subwoofers are protected with mesh grilles to protect the cones from running into the seat bottom. Power handling is 1,000 watts continuous and the system has a nominal impedance of two ohms.

KTDL7T102 for Toyota Tacoma Trucks

If you have a 2005 through 2023 Toyota Tacoma four-door pickup truck, then the KICKER KTDL7T102 is designed specifically for your application. This enclosure fits behind the rear seat instead of underneath it, so cab space is retained. The enclosure is home to a pair of square L7T 10-inch subwoofers and is wired to present a two-ohm load to the amplifier. A notch in the enclosure allows it to clear the split seat hinge mechanism. Grilles are included to protect the woofers.

Of course, the enclosure is wrapped in durable black carpet for a tidy appearance. A pair of KICKER badges let everyone know you are rocking bass provided by one of the best in business.

Upgrade Your Pickup Truck with KICKER Today!

If you have a Sierra, Silverado, RAM, F-150 or Tacoma, then KICKER has a subwoofer enclosure solution that will breathe new life into your car stereo. Many new solutions are coming soon, including a tailgate subwoofer for the Jeep Wrangler! For the latest information, check out the KICKER website and be sure to follow them on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube! You can find an authorized KICKER retailer near you using the Dealer Locator on the website.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

There are a dozen or so high-quality line output converters available to help your installer integrate an amplifier into a factory-installed audio system. That said, most of them are simple devices that do nothing more than adjust voltage gain and perhaps apply some equalization to the signal. KICKER’s KEYLOC is a unique solution because it features a built-in digital signal processor that undoes equalization, delays, and all-pass filters applied to the factory signal. The goal is to establish a clean signal that you can build on. Let’s check out the outstanding KICKER KEYLOC.

Basic Features of the KICKER KEYLOC

Let’s start with the basics. The KEYLOC is a two-channel line output converter that can accept up to 10 volts of signal in low-level mode and an impressive 40 volts in high-level mode. In low-level mode, the KEYLOC presents a 60-ohm load to the driving amplifier. Many factory-installed source units and amplifiers will go into protection mode without a proper load. External resistors are available from KICKER if needed for high-level operation. The maximum output of the KEYLOC is 10 volts.

The KEYLOC measures 5.5 by 2.75 inches in footprint and is 1.375 inches thick. A Molex connector on the left side includes two speaker input channels, power and ground connections, and remote turn-on and remote output wiring. The remote output activates automatically when the KEYLOC detects a DC offset voltage on the input speaker wires, enabling an aftermarket amplifier to turn on. There are a pair of RCA output jacks on the right side of the chassis to feed your new amplifier.

The top panel of the KEYLOC features two stereo potentiometers and a display with five LEDs. The pots are for adjusting input sensitivity and output voltage. The LEDs indicate power and are part of the signal testing and KEY processing features of the KEYLOC.

Audio Analysis Tool

Depending on the design of your factory audio system, it might be difficult to find a full-range signal. The Low, Mid, and High LEDs on top of the KEYLOC can be used with the provided pink-noise test track to determine whether you have a full-range signal. The Low indicator illuminates when there is sufficient audio information in the 20 Hz to 200 Hz range. The Mid indicator monitors 200 Hz to 2 kHz, and the High LED monitors audio above 2 kHz. If you are missing low- or high-frequency information, the KEY processing will not produce a full-bandwidth signal for your new equipment.

The KEY to Audio Excellence

The KEYLOC uses KICKER’s patent-pending KEY algorithm to analyze a special audio test signal. The signal includes sine sweeps, pink noise, and impulses, which reveal frequency response, signal delay, and all-pass filter processing. Once measured, the KEYLOC applies its own signal processing to eliminate these attributes from the audio signal. The result is a flat frequency response signal that will allow new speakers, amplifiers, and processors to sound amazing. The process is fully automated and takes between two and 10 minutes to complete. Your installer can even temporarily bypass the correction to demonstrate how much the system has improved thanks to the KEYLOC.

Why You Need the KICKER KEYLOC

Factory-installed audio systems are typically designed to extract the best possible performance from inexpensive speakers. As such, radios and amplifiers include signal processing such as equalization, delays, and all-pass filters to create an optimized listening experience. Don’t be fooled: this processing is present even in simple “radio-only” systems and isn’t exclusive to premium systems with complex multi-channel amplifiers.

The goal of upgrading a car audio system is, of course, to make it sound better. As such, you are likely to add subwoofers and new speakers to the vehicle. The equalization that worked with the factory speakers is not likely to be ideal for the higher-performance options you’ve chosen. Eliminating factory processing with a product like the KICKER KEYLOC is crucial to achieving great sound in your car, truck, or SUV. The KEYLOC is also great for motorcycles, side-by-sides, and marine applications.

Visit a KICKER Dealer Today

When it’s time to make your vehicle’s stereo sound better, drop by an authorized KICKER retailer to find out whether the KEYLOC is needed to undo the signal processing built into your factory-installed audio system. You can find an authorized KICKER retailer near you using the Dealer Locator on the KICKER website.

Be sure to follow Kicker on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube to keep up with the latest product releases from our friends in Stillwater.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.