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JL Audio 12W3v3-2

W3v3 Series 12" 2-ohm subwoofer

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Item# 13612W3V32 offer details

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JL Audio

Our take on the JL Audio 12W3v3-2

Remarkably realistic bass

JL Audio designed their W3v3 subwoofers to deliver powerful, accurate bass with a medium-power amplifier. Their extensive motor assembly research resulted in a design that ensures smooth, precise cone movement at any power level. Exclusive cooling features shunt heat away from the sub's internal motor structure for long term durability and reduced distortion. The W3v3 sub works well in a sealed or ported enclosure.

JL Audio W3v3 exploded view

Well-rounded performance

JL Audio W3v3 interior

The 12W3v3-2 subwoofer boasts a 12" mineral-filled polypropylene cone with a distinctive metallic JL Audio medallion. A patented design eases the stress felt by the rubber surround during cone movement, for increased reliability and consistent bass output. The removable, customizable trim ring accepts optional JL Audio grilles, and can be painted to enhance your installation.

Highlights:

  • 12" 2-ohm subwoofer
  • mineral-filled polypropylene cone with nitrile-butylene rubber surround
  • power range: 100-500 watts RMS
  • peak power handling: 1,000 watts
  • frequency response: 22-200 Hz
  • sensitivity: 87.15 dB
  • top-mount depth: 6-5/8"
  • sealed box volume: 1.25 cubic feet
  • ported box volume: 1.75 cubic feet
  • warranty: 1 year
  • Our 60-day money-back guarantee

Priced per speaker
 

Hands-on research from the Crutchfield Labs (what are the Labs?)

Features and Specs

Features and Specs
Size
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12 -inch
Impedance
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2 ohms
Cone Material
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Mineral-filled poly
Surround Material
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Rubber
Ideal Sealed Box Volume (cubic feet)
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1.25
Ideal Ported Box Volume (cubic feet)
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1.75
Port diameter (inches)
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N/A
Port length (inches)
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N/A
Free-Air
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No
Dual Voice Coil
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No
Sensitivity
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87.15 dB at 1 watt
Frequency Response
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22 - 200 Hz
RMS Power Range (Watts)
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100-500
Peak Power Handling (Watts)
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1000
Top Mount Depth (inches)
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6 5/8
Bottom Mount Depth (inches)
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N/A
Cutout Diameter or Length (inches)
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10 7/8
Vas (liters)
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79.47
Fs (Hz)
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27.97
Qts
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0.5
Xmax (millimeters)
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13
Parts Warranty
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1 Year
Labor Warranty
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1 Year

Product Research

Product Research
What's in the box?

Download owner's manual

  • 12" Subwoofer
  • Black plastic trim ring
  • Owner's Manual

Our Product Research Team

At Crutchfield, you'll get detailed, accurate information that's hard to find elsewhere. That's because we have our own in-house Product Research team — they open the box, verify contents, check the owner's manual, and record dimensions, features and specs. We stay on top of new products and technologies to help people make informed choices.

Features
Enclosure Compatibility

Features

Dynamic Motor Analysis (DMA): DMA is JL Audio's proprietary method aimed at improving dynamic motor behavior. As a result of DMA optimization, W3v3 motors remain linear in motor force over a very long range of excursion, and also maintain a highly stable fixed magnetic field in the gap over a wide power range. The result is vastly reduced distortion, faithfully reproduced transients, and tight, clean, articulate bass.

Floating Cone Attachment Method (FCAM): JL Audio's patented FCAM technology is an innovative method of bonding the surround/cone assembly to the voice coil/spider assembly. This assembly technique ensures proper surround geometry in the assembled speaker for better excursion control and dynamic voice coil alignment.

Vented Reinforcement Collar (VRC): The Vented Reinforcement Collar is a composite structure that addresses two issues related to reliability. By reinforcing the critical junction between the cone, voice coil and spider, the VRC greatly reduces failures due to glue breakdown or material weaknesses. It does this by greatly increasing adhesive contact area and providing stress relief to the spider material at excursion extremes. the VRC also feature slots that facilitate air flow directly onto the voice coil windings to reduce thermal compression effects and enhances reliability.

Spider/Lead Wire Assembly: The W3v3 features a unique spider, coil and terminal subassembly which is assembled prior to installation in the speaker frame for optimum alignment and glue-joint integrity. The spider is insert-molded into a composite carrier tray which also incorporates the terminal assembly and lead wire strain relief features for enhanced reliability and optimal alignment of parts. The flying lead wires are carefully controlled and strain-relieved without resorting to woven-in lead wires, which can degrade spider performance.

Elevated Frame Cooling: The elevated frame design of the W3v3 delivers high-velocity air flow through slots directly above the top plate to the voice coil of the speaker. This not only enhances power handling, but also sound quality by minimizing dynamic parameter shifts and power compression.

Surround Stress Relief: By creating a radiused feature on the edge of the cone, stress is relieved from the surround material at maximum forward excursion, resulting in longer life and more consistent surround behavior.

Customizable Trim Ring: The woofer comes with a removable ring made of black ABS plastic which can be painted to match the installation theme and create a personalized look. You can purchase optional grille mesh inserts which are specifically designed to fit into the inner diameter of the trim ring.

Enclosure Compatibility

Recommended Sealed Box Volume: The sealed box size recommended by JL Audio is 1.25 cu/ft. A diagram is provided in the owner's manual for a sealed box with external dimensions of 23" W x 14" H x 10" D, assuming 3/4" thick material. (If you are using 5/8" thick materials, you should subtract 1/4" from each dimension.)

Recommended Ported Box Volume: The ported box size recommended by JL Audio is 1.75 cu/ft. A diagram is provided in the owner's manual for a sealed box with external dimensions of 29" W x 14" H x 12.625" D, assuming 3/4" thick material. (If you are using 5/8" thick materials, you should subtract 1/4" from each dimension.) A slot port is recommended with the following dimensions:

  • Slot Width=1.375"
  • Slot Height=12.5"
  • Slot Length=26.125" (a right angled port with a 13.5" extension)
 

Product Reviews

Review Summary

Average Customer Review:

14 people say:
(14)
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4 customers also rated:

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1-10 of 14 items >> Sort Results By: Date Reviewed | Rating | Helpfulness
 
5 out of 5

Your Sub Search Ends Here

Written By newby, Denver, CO on Wednesday, May 05, 2010
Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?)
Crutchfield Customer Review

The reviewer purchased this item from us, verified by the email address on the order.

 
This thing flat out beats any sub in this price range. Now I know JL is more SQ oriented which is why I purchased this sub. I also like the bass to get LOUD so I threw this puppy in a ported box built to JL specs and it booms. Like really booms, but still sounds great at the same time not muddy or distorted. I have it running off the sub channel of the Kicker ZX700.5 which puts out about 400W-500W on the sub channel. One 12w3v3 is more than enough bass for even the most bass hungry of listeners. BUY THIS SUB period
7 out of 7 people found this helpful
Was this review helpful?    Yes | No
 
5 out of 5

Kickin

Written By 64Malibu09, California on Sunday, September 05, 2010
 
Let's just quote 40water for this review
"Got Van Damme kickin' in the trunk"
4 out of 4 people found this helpful
Was this review helpful?    Yes | No
 
5 out of 5

Amazing

Written By Josh B, Denver, CO on Friday, December 31, 2010
 
This is such a clear and durable sub. Iv'e had the Sub for three years now and have never had to re-solder any connections like u find in the Alpine subs nor have i had to do anything to take care of it. bottom line It's a beast!!!
4 out of 4 people found this helpful
Was this review helpful?    Yes | No
 
5 out of 5

Amazing

Written By Greg, NOVA on Monday, June 22, 2009
Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?)
Crutchfield Customer Review

The reviewer purchased this item from us, verified by the email address on the order.

 
Installed in a sealed box and being powered by a Alpine M-500 amp and the bass is perfect. We knew the 6.5" speakers would not produce enough bass so we wanted to add a sub but worried that a 12" sub in a small Integra would overwhelm it so we went with a sealed box. The bass is amazing and the statement I think that describes it the best was my son after the first drive - "You can hear the bass but you can feel it even more"
4 out of 4 people found this helpful
Was this review helpful?    Yes | No
 
5 out of 5

WoW!!! Tremendous Bass!!!

Written By Nick, Columbus,GA on Monday, April 14, 2008
 
WoW!! I couldnt believe my ears when I turned this thing up. I have a kenwood Excelon Reciever with a Mtx 1000 watt amp at half power and these subs pound!! My rearview mirror cant stay straight at 10 out of 50 % volume!! I love them and deff reccomend to beginner car audio buyers!!!
11 out of 14 people found this helpful
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5 out of 5

An Excellent Product

Written By William, Waltham, MA on Tuesday, June 03, 2008
Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?)
Crutchfield Customer Review

The reviewer purchased this item from us, verified by the email address on the order.

 
After trying to solve my vehicles bass issues with smaller or lesser subwoofers, I finally solved my issue by purchasing the JL Audio 12W3v3-2, had a custom enclosure made for the set-up and powered the sub with a single channel JL Audio Amp. I listen to primarily alt rock and the solid bottom complete with car vibrating bass now fill the interior of the car. Make sure the speaker is properly powered and enclosed and you will be very happy with the selection of this incredebly well built speaker. The box needed for the speaker is surprisingly small and truck space is not an issue. I'm a big fan of this product.
4 out of 4 people found this helpful
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5 out of 5

Solid bass for the money

Written By myriad1973, Toledo, OH on Friday, March 20, 2009
 
This subwoofer is rock solid! I have it in a 1.5 cubic foot sealed enclosure, powered by an Infinity Kappa Five amp (300 watt sub channel). The enclosure is slightly oversized, but it brings out a little more depth that is solid down to 30 Hz, with flat response. I primarily listen to progressive rock, which usually involves the use of bass synthesizers. When you turn it up, this sub is capable of giving you a back massage! I would recommend this sub to anybody looking for quality sound with depth and excellent transient response.
6 out of 6 people found this helpful
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5 out of 5

Fantastic

Written By Ants, boston on Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?)
Crutchfield Customer Review

The reviewer purchased this item from us, verified by the email address on the order.

 
Very impressed with the quality of sub. Double ported box with a jl x 500/1 mono. When this sub gets broken in; and actually starts to flex...it slams, not only slams but it sounds good on all types of music. I have it hooked up to kenwood indash; which gives you all the little controls for your amp and speakers. Crutchfield has been one of the best places to sell electronics at a fair price. I will not buy my car electronics anywhere else. Also 2 day shipping for free!!
Pros:
everything
Cons:
none
3 out of 3 people found this helpful
Was this review helpful?    Yes | No
"Coolness Factor"
Build Quality
Ease of Use
Sound Quality
Value
 
5 out of 5

Great Sub

Written By Emilio I, Santa Cruz, CA on Friday, April 27, 2012
Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?)
Crutchfield Customer Review

The reviewer purchased this item from us, verified by the email address on the order.

 
I have this sub hooked up to an Alpine MRP500 amp and put it in ported S/O box in the back of my tacoma extra cab. I am more than impressed with this set up. It hits hard and also sounds very clean and not distorted at all. I am definitely a JL fan now.
Pros:
Solidly made Sounds Great basically just an awesome sub.
Cons:
The only con i could possible think of right now is that if i turn up the bass all the way it is overpowering in my truck. But seriously I don't think there are any.
Was this review helpful?    Yes | No
"Coolness Factor"
Build Quality
Ease of Use
Sound Quality
Value
 
5 out of 5

Great Sub

Written By Rob, Guam on Wednesday, May 23, 2012
 
This sub is awesome. I have been driving a friend's car while he is deployed and he has 2 15" I think they are called "punchers" and this one 12" hits harder than both of his. The JL is running on 500rms and my friends 15's are running off about 320rms a peice. Bottom line I am a fan of this company, they have impressed me with this sub.
Pros:
Build quality, sound
Cons:
cost
Was this review helpful?    Yes | No
"Coolness Factor"
Build Quality
Ease of Use
Sound Quality
Value
 
1-10 of 14 items >>

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Learn more about Component Subwoofers

Subwoofer Shopping Guide

Subwoofer Shopping Guide

Ken Nail
7/13/2008
based on 260 ratings (18 comments)
 

Subwoofers are speakers dedicated solely to reproducing low frequencies. No matter what kind of music you like, or at what volume you listen to it at, they can be a crucial part of your overall...

 
Video: How to Choose a Subwoofer

Video: How to Choose a Subwoofer

Ken Nail
9/14/2010
based on 469 ratings (23 comments)
 

The first step to choosing a subwoofer actually begins with the enclosure and how you want the sub to perform. In this video we'll tell you about the different types of subwoofer enclosures...

 
Dual Voice Coil Subwoofers

Dual Voice Coil Subwoofers

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6/16/2003
based on 144 ratings (209 comments)
 

Dual voice coil subwoofers are a popular choice among car audio enthusiasts who want more flexibility in wiring their sound systems.

 
Subwoofer Enclosures

Subwoofer Enclosures

Crutchfield Writing Team
3/12/2012
based on 319 ratings (58 comments)
 

The type of bass you get from your component subwoofer doesn't depend on the woofer alone. You'll need a strong, tightly constructed enclosure for optimum subwoofer performance.

 
Tuning Your Subs

Tuning Your Subs

Buck Pomerantz
12/9/2011
based on 287 ratings (93 comments)
 

Having a subwoofer in your car is a good thing, but if the subwoofer isn't properly tuned, it won't sound as good as it should. This article describes how to adjust your amplifier so that your...

 

Accessories

Things you'll need

Sealed & Ported Boxes
Choose a sealed or ported box to house your subwoofer.
Sound Ordnance™ Bass Bunker
Sealed single 12" subwoofer enclosure (Model BB12-125S)
$59.99
In Stock
 
 
Sound Ordnance™ Bass Bunker
Ported single 12" subwoofer enclosure (Model BB12-150V)
$59.99
In Stock
 
 
Sound Ordnance™ Bass Bunker
Ported single 12" subwoofer enclosure (Model BB12-200V)
$59.99
In Stock
 
 
Sound Ordnance™ Bass Bunker
Sealed dual 12" subwoofer enclosure (Model BB122-100S)
$79.99
In Stock
 
 
Sound Ordnance™ Bass Bunker
Sealed dual 12" subwoofer enclosure (Model BB122-125S)
$79.99
In Stock
 
 
Sound Ordnance™ Bass Bunker
Ported dual 12" subwoofer enclosure (Model BB122-175V)
$79.99
In Stock
 
 
Show more items

Accessories we recommend

Speaker Wire
It's critical to have good wire, and none is included with the sub.
StreetWires 12-gauge Ultra Cable™ Speaker Wire
Blue/copper jacket — priced per foot
$1.00
In Stock
 
 
StreetWires 14-gauge Ultra Cable™ Speaker Wire
Blue/copper jacket — priced per foot
$0.75
In Stock
 
 
StreetWires 14-gauge Super Cable™ Speaker Wire
Translucent blue jacket — priced per foot (Clear)
$0.99
In Stock
 
 
StreetWires 16-gauge Super Cable™ Speaker Wire
Blue jacket — priced per foot
$0.40
In Stock
 
 
Stinger PRO Series 16-gauge Speaker Wire
Black jacket — priced per foot
$0.30
In Stock
 
 
Show more items
Dynamat
Reduce ambient road noise and your vehicle's "rattles," for better sound inside your car.
Dynamat 19100
License Frame Kit
$14.99
In Stock
 
 
Dynamat Xtreme Wedge Pack
1 sheet, 4 square feet
$39.99
In Stock
 
 
Dynamat SuperLite Tri-Pak
Triple package — 3 sheets, 12 square feet (Model #10612)
$69.99
In Stock
 
 
Dynamat Xtreme Trunk Kit
5 sheets, 20 square feet
$169.99
In Stock
 
 
Dynamat Dynaliner
One 54" x 32" sheet (1/8" thick)
$69.99
In Stock
 
 
Show more items
Grilles
Add a grille and keep your sub safe.
JL Audio SGR-12W3v3/W1v2
Grille for 12" W3v3 and W1v2 subwoofers
$19.99
In Stock
 
 
Box Hardware
These can be useful if you are building a custom box.
Springback Handle
$9.99
In Stock
 
 
Corner Protectors
$9.99
In Stock
 
 
Rubber Feet
$5.99
In Stock
 
 
Speaker Wire Terminals
If you're building your own sub box, add speaker wire terminals for easy speaker wire connections.
Metra Speaker Terminal
Round terminal cup with spring clip connectors (for do-it-yourself box builders)
$3.99
In Stock
 
 
Metra Speaker Terminal
Square terminal cup with spring clip connectors (for do-it-yourself box builders)
$3.99
In Stock
 
 
Metra Speaker Terminal
Square terminal cup with binding post connectors (for do-it-yourself box builders)
$9.99
In Stock
 
 
Metra Speaker Terminal
Round terminal cup with binding post connectors (for do-it-yourself box builders)
$9.99
In Stock
 
 
Show more items

Extras

Test Discs
Autosound 2000 discs are designed to test specific performance parameters of your vehicle's audio system.
Autosound 2000 CD Set
$69.95
In Stock
 
 
 
Add selected to cart
 

For a more in-depth review and enhanced detailed information on the JL Audio 12W3v3-2, please visit the Crutchfield website product page (/ISEO-rccbcspd/p_13612W3V32/JL-Audio-12W3v3-2.html ).

Recommended Accessories See more accessories

Your featured item

JL Audio 12W3v3-2
JL Audio 12W3v3-2
W3v3 Series 12" 2-ohm subwoofer
$279.99
In Stock
 
 

Sealed & Ported Boxes

Sound Ordnance™ Bass Bunker
Sealed single 12" subwoofer enclosure (Model BB12-125S)
$59.99
In Stock
 
 

Speaker Wire

StreetWires 12-gauge Ultra Cable™ Speaker Wire
Blue/copper jacket — priced per foot
$1.00
In Stock
 
 

Dynamat

Dynamat 19100
License Frame Kit
$14.99
In Stock
 
 

Grilles

JL Audio SGR-12W3v3/W1v2
Grille for 12" W3v3 and W1v2 subwoofers
$19.99
In Stock
 
 

Protect your gear with an extended warranty

Add 3 Year Warranty
Square Trade Warranty
$38.99
In Stock
 
 
 
Add selected to cart
 
JL Audio 12W3v3-2