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 40CWS152

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 40CWS152 15" 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 600 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.

Highlights:

15" 2-ohm subwoofer
injection-molded polypropylene cone
ribbed foam surround
suitable for free-air use
power handling: 50-600 watts RMS
peak power handling: 1200 watts
frequency response: 25-500 Hz
sensitivity: 90.3 dB
top-mount depth: 7"
sealed box volume: 2.25 - 5.00 cu. ft.
ported box volume: 3.00 - 4.00 cu. ft.
warranty: 1 year
Our 60-day money-back guarantee

Preliminary info from the manufacturer

Our Product Research team will verify these specs and supply more detailed information once we receive the product.

Features and Specs


Size Loading...	15 -inch
Impedance Loading...	2 ohms
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Surround Material Loading...	---
Ideal Sealed Box Volume (cubic feet) Loading...	N/A
Ideal Ported Box Volume (cubic feet) Loading...	N/A
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Sensitivity Loading...	90.3 dB at 1 watt
Frequency Response Loading...	25 - 500 Hz
RMS Power Range (Watts) Loading...	50-600
Peak Power Handling (Watts) Loading...	1200
Top Mount Depth (inches) Loading...	7
Bottom Mount Depth (inches) Loading...	---
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Parts Warranty Loading...	1 Year
Labor Warranty Loading...	1 Year

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.