KICKER L7X-b-230418 L7X-Series Subwoofers Owner’s Manual

KICKER L7X-b-230418 L7X-Series Subwoofers

Overview

IMPORTANT SAFETY WARNING
PROLONGED CONTINUOUS OPERATION OF AN AMPLIFIER, SPEAKER, OR SUBWOOFER IN A DISTORTED, CLIPPED OR OVER-POWERED MANNER CAN CAUSE YOUR AUDIO SYSTEM TO OVERHEAT, POSSIBLY CATCHING FIRE AND RESULTING IN SERIOUS DAMAGE TO YOUR COMPONENTS
AND/OR VEHICLE. AMPLIFIERS REQUIRE UP TO 4 INCHES (10 CM) OPEN VENTILATION. SUBWOOFERS SHOULD BE MOUNTED WITH AT LEAST 1 INCH (2.5 CM) CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE FRONT OF THE SPEAKER AND ANY SURFACE. KICKER PRODUCTS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING SOUND LEVELS THAT CAN PERMANENTLY DAMAGE YOUR HEARING! TURNING UP A SYSTEM TO A LEVEL THAT HAS AUDIBLE DISTORTION IS MORE DAMAGING TO YOUR EARS THAN LISTENING TO AN UNDISTORTED SYSTEM AT THE SAME VOLUME LEVEL. THE THRESHOLD OF PAIN IS ALWAYS AN INDICATOR THAT THE SOUND LEVEL IS TOO LOUD AND MAY PERMANENTLY DAMAGE YOUR HEARING. PLEASE USE COMMON SENSE WHEN CONTROLLING VOLUME.

The L7X reimagines the massive power-handling and motor of KICKER’s legendary line of L7 SoloX subwoofers with the most up-to-date engineering, materials, and design concepts. If you want the absolute best in SPL performance and rock-bottom bass, then look no further than KICKER’s award-winning pedigree with this celebrated line of subs. And remember that the driver is only half the equation. Without the immense power needed to push these subwoofers, you’re short-changing yourself. Use these subs with our high-powered Warhorse amplifiers to crush the competition and get all the low-frequency output you’re looking for!

Specifications

| L7X10| L7X12| L7X15
---|---|---|---
Woofer [in, mm]| 10, 25| 12, 30| 15, 38
Recommended Amplifier Power [Watts RMS]| 1000-2000| 1000-2000| 1000-2000
Frequency Response [Hz]| 25–100| 20–100| 20–100
Magnet Diameter [in, cm]| 8 11/16, 22| 8 11/16, 22| 8 11/16, 22
Total Magnet Weight [oz, kg]| 406, 11.5| 406, 11.5| 406, 11.5
Voice Coil Diameter [in, mm]| 3, 75| 3, 75| 3, 75
Voice Coil Winding Width [in, mm]| 2.5, 62.5| 2.5, 62.5| 2.5, 62.5
Top Plate Thickness [in, mm]| .5, 12| .5, 12| .5, 12
Rated Impedance [Ω]| 1 or 2| 1 or 2| 1 or 2
Xmax (Linear Excursion) [mm]| 1.25, 31.25| 1.25, 31.25| 1.25, 31.25
Mounting Cutout [in, cm]| 9-5/16, 23.7| 11-1/16, 28.1| 13-3/4, 34.9
Mounting Depth [in, cm]| 9-7/16, 24| 10-1/8, 25.7| 11-9/16, 29.3

Note:
All specifications and performance figures are subject to change. Please visit www.kicker.com for the most current information. To get the best performance from your new KICKER speakers, we recommend using genuine KICKER accessories and wiring. Please allow two weeks of break-in time for the speakers to reach optimum performance.

Pro Tip:
You’re a KICKER amplifier and a few cables away from a full system upgrade that will dominate any factory system! KICKER line of amplifiers make it easy to upgrade to solid bass with your existing or stock source unit. Also, ask your dealer about KICKER Speaker upgrades.

Installation

Wiring Configuration

L7X-Series subwoofers are made with dual 1Ω or 2Ω voice coils. Both coils must be connected to a source of amplification. The Dual 1Ω will provide a 0.5Ω load wired in parallel or 2Ω load wired in series. The Dual 2Ω will provide a 1Ω load wired in parallel or 4Ω load wired in series. Make sure your source unit or amplifier is rated at the correct ohm load for operation.

The subwoofer wire should be kept away from sharp edges and avoid the possibility of getting pinched by the trunk. If a factory hole and grommet do not exist or are inaccessible, you must drill a hole through which to run the wire. Be careful not to drill into other wiring or existing mechanisms. Any time a wire is run through a hole, it
is necessary to insert a rubber or plastic grommet to protect the wire from damage.

Series Wiring

• Dual 1Ω Voice Coils = 2Ω Load
• Dual 2Ω Voice Coils = 4Ω Load

Parallel Wiring

• Dual 1Ω Voice Coils = 0.5Ω Load
• Dual 2Ω Voice Coils = 1Ω Load

Box Building Notes

Use 3/4” (1.9cm) or thicker MDF (medium density fiberboard) and seal the joints with silicone. Use the “template” inside your L7X subwoofer’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.

All the cubic feet (L) measurements in this manual include the displacement of the woofer. For 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”, and convert to cubic feet, for example, the L7X12 design’s external port dimensions are, using 3/4” (1.9cm) MDF:

• (13” + 1.5” total MDF wall thickness) x (3.5” + 1.5” total MDF wall thickness) x
• (36.5”) x (1 ft3 / 1728 in3 ) = 1.53 ft3

Then, add this number to the internal volume of the enclosure:

• 3 ft3 + 1.53 ft3 = 4.53 ft3

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 ensure unrestricted airflow.

You can loosely fill your 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 by making your subwoofer think it’s in a bigger box.

Add triangular bracing between each of the larger unsupported panels. The mounting baffle should be double the 3/4” wall.

• L7X12, L7X15: D = 3” x 3” (8cm x 8cm)
• L7X10: D = 2” x 2” (5cm x 5cm)

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. Please e-mail support@kicker.com or call Technical Support at 405-624-8583 for specific or unanswered questions.

Vented Enclosures

L7X subwoofers will handle massive amounts of power. Vented enclosures increase bass efficiency and have significantly more output from 30 to 80 Hz. The output will be considerably higher than that of any sealed box.

Re-Cone Kit

The L7X has been designed for competitive use and, because there is no glue utilized in the re-cone process, the cone can be replaced in minutes if failure occurs in the field. The Re-Cone Assembly consists of a pre-assembled cone, surround, and voice coil that will be bolted into the L7X motor and Basket Assembly and can be purchased on the KICKER website here.

Use the following steps to rebuild the L7X. Do not use power tools for this rebuild! The L7X magnet is extremely powerful and may cause personal injury or damage to items. Use caution around objects that contain magnetic material. Begin by removing the subwoofer from its mounting location and disconnecting all wiring.

Using a 4mm Allen Wrench, remove the eight M5x0.8x10mm bolts securing the Surround Mounting Flange to the Basket Assembly.

Remove the Surround Mounting Flange from the Basket Assembly.

From the magnet side (bottom) of the Basket Assembly, use a 4mm Allen Wrench to remove the eight M5x0.8x16mm bolts securing the Spider to the Basket Assembly.

From the cone side (top) of the Basket Assembly, pull the Cone Assembly out of the Basket Assembly.

Clean and remove all debris from the Voice Coil Gap.

NOTE:
The L7X magnet is extremely powerful. Do not allow objects containing magnetic materials to fall into the voice coil gap. These objects may become stuck, rendering the subwoofer useless.

WARNING!
The Voice Coil Alignment Pins are very sharp and may cause serious injury or death if handled improperly. Use caution while handling. With the Basket Assembly laying on its side, insert a Voice Coil Alignment Pin into each of the eight holes of the subwoofer motor. The pin’s head must contact the motor. Finesse may be required to achieve contact.

After all the Voice Coil Alignment Pins are inserted, push the pins towards the magnetic pole until the pins are held to the pole magnetically. Space the pins evenly around the pole.

With the Basket Assembly still laying on its side, insert the new Cone Assembly into the Basket Assembly. Pay close attention and ensure that the pins lay inside of the voice coil, allowing the voice coil to smoothly slide into place over the magnetic pole.

Secure the Spider to the Basket Assembly using the eight M5x0.8x16mm bolts. Loosely start all bolts before tightening. Torque the bolts to 20in-lbs in the sequence shown below.

Turn the speaker upright and install the Surround Mounting Flange over the Surround.

Secure the Surround Mounting Flange to the basket with the eight M5x0.8x10mm bolts. Loosely start all bolts before tightening. Torque bolts to 20in-lbs in the sequence shown below.

Remove the Voice Coil Alignment Pins from the motor.

Warranty

When purchased from an Authorized KICKER Dealer, KICKER warrants this product to be free from defects in material and workmanship under normal use for a period of ONE (1) YEARS from the date of the original purchase with the receipt. If this product is identified as “Refurbished” or “B Goods”, the warranty is limited to a period of THREE (3) MONTHS from the date of the original purchase. In all cases, you must have the original receipt. Should service be necessary under this warranty for any reason due to manufacturing defect or malfunction during the warranty period, KICKER will repair or replace (at its discretion) the defective merchandise with equivalent merchandise. Warranty replacements may have cosmetic scratches and blemishes. Discontinued products may be replaced with more current equivalent products.

This warranty is valid only for the original purchaser and is not extended to owners of the product subsequent to the original purchaser. Any applicable implied warranties are limited in duration to a period of the express warranty as provided herein beginning with the date of the original purchase at retail, and no warranties, whether express or implied, shall apply to this product thereafter. Some states do not allow limitations on implied warranties; therefore, these exclusions may not apply to you. This warranty gives you specific legal rights; however, you may have other rights that vary from state to state.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU NEED WARRANTY OR SERVICE:
Defective merchandise should be returned to your local Authorized Stillwater Designs (KICKER) Dealer for warranty service. Assistance in locating an Authorized Dealer can be found at www.KICKER.com or by contacting Stillwater Designs directly. You can confirm that a dealer is authorized by asking to see a currently authorized dealer window decal.

If it becomes necessary for you to return defective merchandise directly to Stillwater Designs (KICKER), call the KICKER Customer Service Department at 405-624-8510 for a Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA) number. Package only the defective items in a package that will prevent shipping damage, and return to:

Stillwater Designs
3100 North Husband St Stillwater, OK 74075.

The RMA number must be clearly marked on the outside of the package. Please return only defective components. The return of functioning items increases your return freight charges. Non-defective items will be returned freight collected to you. For example, if a subwoofer is defective, only return the defective subwoofer, not the entire enclosure. Include a copy of the original receipt with the purchase date clearly visible, and a “proof-of-purchase” statement listing the Customer’s name, Dealer’s name and invoice number, and product purchased. Warranty expiration on items without proof of purchase will be determined by the type of sale and manufacturing date code. Freight must be prepaid; items sent freight-collect, or COD, will be refused.

WHAT IS NOT COVERED?
This warranty is valid only if the product is used for the purpose for which it was designed. It does not cover:

• Damage due to improper installation
• Subsequent damage to other components
• Damage caused by exposure to moisture, excessive heat, chemical cleaners, and/or UV radiation
• Damage through negligence, misuse, accident, or abuse. Repeated returns for the same damage may be considered abuse
• Any cost or expense related to the removal or reinstallation of the product
• Speakers damaged due to amplifier clipping or distortion
• Items previously repaired or modified by any unauthorized repair facility
• Return shipping on non-defective items
• Products with tampered or missing barcode labels
• Products with tampered or missing serial numbers
• Products returned without a Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA) number
• Products purchased from an UNAUTHORIZED dealer
• Freight Damage
• The cost of shipping the product to KICKER
• Service performed by anyone other than KICKER

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE?
KICKER strives to maintain a goal of one-week service for all acoustics (subwoofers, midrange drivers, tweeters, crossovers, etc) returns. Delays may be incurred if a lack of replacement inventory or parts is encountered. Failure to follow these steps may void your warranty. Any questions can be directed to the KICKER Customer Service Department at 405-624-8510. Contact your International KICKER dealer or distributor concerning specific procedures for your country’s warranty policies.

Guarantee

Contact your International KICKER dealer or distributor concerning specific procedures for your country’s warranty policies.

Our goods come with guarantees that cannot be excluded under the Australian Consumer Law. You are entitled to a replacement or refund for a major failure and for compensation for any other reasonably foreseeable loss or damage. You are also entitled to have the goods repaired or replaced if the goods fail to be of acceptable quality and the failure does not amount to a major failure.

P.O. Box 459 Stillwater, Oklahoma 74076 USA.
(405) 624–8510.

References

• Car Audio, Home & Personal Audio | KICKER®

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