What's a component sub and why would I want one?

A component sub is simply a speaker that's designed to reproduce bass once it's installed in a compatible enclosure. Think about the impact of a movie soundtrack in a big theater or even in your own home HDTV setup. A component sub can add the same kind of power to the music in your car. And a car sub is not all about the boom that you hear on a street corner (although that's cool too) - you can pair a component sub with your choice of enclosure to get bass just the way you like it, from tight and punchy to fat and loose. And once you experience music in your car with a well-tuned subwoofer, you'll never go back.

Our take on the Kicker 40CWS122

by John Pollard

Legendary bass, awesome price

If you're looking to add some boom to your car's sound system, Kicker's CompS line will get your car shaking without draining your wallet. These subs are the latest in the legendary Kicker Comp line that started in 1986, with a proven pedigree when it comes to delivering powerful bass.

The heavy steel basket cuts down on unwanted vibrations.

Kicker technology at work

Kicker's 40CWS122 12" subwoofer features a flex-resistant polypropylene cone for hard-hitting lows without distortion, while the ribbed foam surround promotes long excursion and helps to keep the cone on target. The sub's steel basket provides a reliable foundation for big bass, and its extensive venting ensures long-lasting performance that won't break down when the bass gets heavy.

2-ohm impedance for more power

This sub handles 300 watts RMS to bring out the depth your music's been missing, and its 2-ohm impedance brings out max power from your mono amp. This versatile sub works well in sealed or ported enclosures, and it's even suitable for free-air applications.

See more info on this item

Highlights:

12" 2-ohm subwoofer
injection-molded polypropylene cone
ribbed foam surround
suitable for free-air use
power handling: 50-300 watts RMS
peak power handling: 600 watts
frequency response: 27-500 Hz
sensitivity: 88.3 dB
top-mount depth: 5-3/8"
sealed box volume: 1.25 - 3.50 cu. ft.
ported box volume: 1.75 - 2.25 cu. ft.
warranty: 1 year
Our 60-day money-back guarantee

Shop all Kicker Component Subwoofers

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

Features and specs chart | What’s in the box? | In-depth notes

Features and Specs


Size Loading...	12 -inch
Impedance Loading...	2 ohms
Cone Material Loading...	Polypropylene
Surround Material Loading...	Polyurethane
Ideal Sealed Box Volume (cubic feet) Loading...	N/A
Ideal Ported Box Volume (cubic feet) Loading...	N/A
Port diameter (inches) Loading...	N/A
Port length (inches) Loading...	N/A
Free-Air Loading...	Yes
Dual Voice Coil Loading...	No
Sensitivity Loading...	88.3 dB at 1 watt
Frequency Response Loading...	27 - 500 Hz
RMS Power Range (Watts) Loading...	50-300
Peak Power Handling (Watts) Loading...	600
Top Mount Depth (inches) Loading...	5 3/8
Bottom Mount Depth (inches) Loading...	N/A
Cutout Diameter or Length (inches) Loading...	10 7/8
Vas (liters) Loading...	95.18
Fs (Hz) Loading...	30
Qts Loading...	0.559
Xmax (millimeters) Loading...	0
Parts Warranty Loading...	1 Year
Labor Warranty Loading...	1 Year

Product Research

What's in the box?

Download owner's manual

One 12" Single 2-ohm voice coil subwoofer
Four 0.25" Crimp on quick slide terminals
Owner's manual
2 Kicker decals
Template on box

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.

Subwoofer Features
Enclosure Compatibility

Subwoofer Features

Ribbed Surround: The optimized ribbed polyurethane helps eliminate flex and distortion.

Spiralead Tinsel Leads: The durable Spiralead tinsel leads are woven into the woofer's spider, for added strength and reliability.

Steel Basket with Vented Pole Piece: The steel basket's vented pole piece and Kicker's Quad Venting slots contribute to the woofers' efficient cooling and durability.

Speaker Terminals: Each speaker terminal has two 0.25" push-on terminals (crimp-on quick slides included).

Enclosure Compatibility

Enclosure Versatility: The Kicker Comp subwoofer is versatile, performing well in vented or sealed enclosures, and in free-air applications.

Sealed Enclosures: A sealed enclosure design offers the smoothest response, with increased energy at the lowest frequencies (between 20 to 30 Hz).

Minimum enclosure volume: 1.25ft³
Maximum enclosure volume: 3.5 ft³

Ported Enclosures: A ported (vented) enclosure design is typically more efficient than a sealed enclosure.

Minimum enclosure volume: 1.75 ft³ with a 2" x 12.5" slot port opening that is 16" deep
Maximum enclosure volume: 2.25 ft³ with a 2" x 12.5" slot port opening that is 16.375" deep

Infinite Baffle Mounting: The Kicker Comp subwoofers are also designed to be used as free-air drivers. The infinite baffle mounting method effectively utilizes the trunk of a sedan as the enclosure.

Product reviews from the Crutchfield Labs (what are the Labs?)

Video: Kicker Yellow Series Car Audio Gear

Zak Billmeier

2/19/2013

Kicker's Yellow Series of amps, speakers and subs gives you the performance you expect from Kicker at a more affordable price. And this year's models are better than ever.