Car Stereos: pair a sub to an amp, kicker solo baric, kicker solo baric l7

Question
I just purchased a 12'' Kicker Solo-Baric L7, and I am just wondering if you have any recommendations for an amp to power this sub to it's full potential. If you don't have any specific amps in mind then at least what specs i should be looking for in an amp. Also if you think this sub would sound better in a sealed or ported box. Thanks Brian, I look forward to hearing back.

Eddie

Answer
Hi Eddie,

The answer to your question depends on whether you have the dual 4-ohm version of the L7, or the dual 2-ohm version.  Amplifiers typically have different power ratings at different load impedances.  If you have the dual 4-ohm L7, then you'll need to look at the 2-ohm rating of your amplifier; if you have the dual 2-ohm version, then your final load impedance will be 1 ohm or 4 ohms.  

You should get good results with an amplifier rated between 500 and 750 watts at your sub's impedance.  For example, if you have the dual 4-ohm sub, a good amp would be Kicker's ZX750.1.  It's rated for 750 watts at 2 ohms, so it would be a perfect match for your sub.

If you have the dual 2-ohm sub, picking an amp might be a bit harder.  You'll either have to find an amp that's 1-ohm stable, or one that can produce over 500 watts RMS with a 4-ohm load.  A mono amp is usually the best choice for subs, but in this case you might be able to find a 2-channel amp that can be bridged for 500-750 watts at 4 ohms. Such an amp would probably be less expensive than a mono amp with that much 4-ohm power.

Personally, I'd pick a sealed box for that subwoofer, but extra-loud bass isn't all that important to me.  If you're interested in getting the maximum output from your sub, then a ported box will probably suit you better.  The L7 owner's manual includes plans for building both ported and sealed boxes.  If you're planning to buy a pre-built sub box, then I'd definitely get a sealed box.  Don't use a ported box unless you're building your own (using the plans provided by Kicker) or purchasing a box designed specifically for the L7.

If you use a ported box with your sub, make sure you get an amplifier with a subsonic filter (sometimes called an infrasonic filter).  Ported boxes give you more output over a range of bass frequencies, but the trade-off is that they can't handle extremely low bass tones.  A subsonic filter cuts off the extra-deep bass to prevent damage to the sub.  If you use a sealed box, a subsonic filter isn't required, because the box itself will roll off the lowest frequencies.

Hope this helps!

Brian