Kicker ES104, ES124, ES154 User Manual

2

Introduction

ES

Subwoofer Owner’s

Manual

Models:

ES154 / ES124 / ES104

ES Subwoofers

Attention:

Please record your purchase information in the area

below. We recommend attaching the original sales

receipt to this manual for future reference.

If you require service on this speaker during the

warranty period, you will need to provide this

information and a copy of the original sales receipt to

Kicker for validation of warranty repairs.

ALWAYS KEEP YOUR RECEIPT!

Authorized Kicker Dealer:
Purchase Date:
Speaker Model Number:

Speaker Serial Number:

Congratulations!

You have purchased one of the most

versatile subwoofers in car audio.

The ES Subwoofer was designed

by the award-winning KICKER speaker

design team, tested in the judging lanes

of International Sound Competitions, and

proven on the Street to deliver the

ultimate in low bass output, durability

and outrageous SPL.

This is your “fuel for Livin’ Loud

™

”!

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

3

Features

Features

 Injection Molded Polymineral Cone with ISD

™

(Inverted Structural Dome) is a high performance

composite, which remains rigid, minimizes cone flex and lowers
harmonic distortion. The ES Subwoofer’s cone moves as a
light weight piston, exhibiting power and control.



Double Stitched Surround adds a mechanical fastener to

the chemical adhesives. This duo prevents the cone and
surround from separating in the harshest conditions.



Optimized Polyfoam Ribbed Surround Radius allows

extended cone excursion for additional bass output and higher
SPL, and couples the suspension into a conjoined linear­motion body.



High-Temp Polyimide Film Voice Coil Former

improves sonic and conductive properties, and prevents
thermal-electrical meltdown.



Ultra-Length Voice Coil sustains enormous cone excursion

and provides extra heat dissipation.



High-Power Tinsel Lead Wires eliminate broken leads and

power loss, due to the common use of “insufficient-gauge” lead
wires.

 Spring-Loaded Nickel Plated Terminals flawlessly

connect medium to heavy gauge speaker wire to the
high-power tinsel lead wires.



Two-Piece Vented Hyper-Extended Blackened Pole
Piece and Backplate

1. Optimizes heat transfer efficiency for cooler operation
and maximum power handling ability.

2. Eliminates erratic magnetic flux from the voice-coil gap.

3. Releases pressure under the suspension for uniform
cone movement and responsive low bass.

4. Prevents the voice-coil from bottoming out and
corresponding damage.



New Enhanced BAM (Basket and Motor) Assembly

utilizes a high strength steel basket, features a low-profile open
design, and provides a solid foundation for the
precision-aligned motor assembly.



Perimeter Venting in the BAM relieves pressure from

under the spider, supports a linear excursion, and helps
dissipate heat from the voice coil and motor structure.

ES Subwoofers

4

Specifications

Performance

Model: ES104 ES124 ES154
Woofer Size, in (cm)

Nominal Impedance [Zn], ohm
Resonance Frequency [fs], Hz
Sensitivity [SPLo], dB @ 1W, 1m
Effective Piston Area [Sd], in2(m2)
Power Handling Watts, Peak (RMS)
Effective Frequency Range, Hz
Effective Excursion [EXmax™], in (mm)
DC Resistance [Re], ohm
Voice Coil Inductance [Le], mH
Voice Coil Diameter [d], in (mm)
Voice Coil Length [h], in (mm)
Mechanical Q-Factor [Qms]
Electrical Q-Factor [Qes]
Total Q-Factor [Qts]
Force Factor [BL], Tm
Equivalent Volume [Vas], ft3 (L)
Moving Mass [Mms], oz (g)
Outer Frame Diameter, in (cm)
Hole Cut-Out Diameter, in (cm)
Mounting Depth, in (cm)

12 (30.5)
4

30.4

88.7

80.4 (.0519)
375 (125)
27-1000
.29 (7.5)

3.65

2.70
1 1/2 (38.5)
1 (25.4)

11.99
.575
.547

11.44

3.45 (97.7)

3.80 (107.7)
12 1/2 (31.8)
11 (27.9)
5 13/16 (14.8)

10 (25.4)
4

34.8

86.3

56.7 (.0366)
300 (100)
30-1000
.29 (7.5)

3.71

2.65
1 1/2 (38.5)
1 (25.4)

12.27
.703
.666

9.92

1.65 (46.7)

3.01 (85.3)
10 11/16 (27.1)
9 1/4 (23.5)
4 11/16 (11.9)

15 (38.1)
4

20.0

89.6
130 (.0840)
450 (150)
25-500
.41 (10.5)

3.24

3.17
2 (49.5)

1.22 (31)

12.08
.422
.407

13.96

11.15 (315.7)

7.14 (202.4)
15 7/16 (39.1)
13 7/8 (35.2)
6 15/16 (17.6)

ES Subwoofers

Installation

5

Installation

The Kicker ES Subwoofers are designed to be extremely versatile. ES Subwoofers excel in a sealed or vented box, and they

surpass the competition on an infinite baffle (free-air) installation.

Infinite Baffle Mounting

The infinite baffle mounting method effectively utilizes the rear deck and trunk space of most sedan type vehicles. Mark the rear
deck or parcel shelf for the hole cut-out diameter of the subwoofer and cut the holes. The rear deck may need to be reinforced to help
hold the weight of the subwoofer and to keep it from flexing during playback. Mount 3/4” (1.9 cm) thick MDF (Medium Density
Fiberboard) to the bottom of the deck. Mark the MDF and cut the holes. If MDF is not available in your area, use marine grade
plywood.

To optimize the infinite baffle installation, prevent the trunk, or rear, sound waves (generated from the back of the subwoofer cone)
from entering the passenger area of the vehicle. Gaps or holes in the trunk area may be filled with silicone.

ES Subwoofers

Note: To get the best performance from your ES Subwoofer, we recommend

using genuine Kicker Accessories and Wiring.

6

Installation

Box Building Notes

A Note on Power Handling Capacity

ES Subwoofers will handle large amounts of power in any of the

recommended enclosures, sealed or vented. The smaller

enclosures are best for use in limited-space applications. The

larger recommended enclosures will yield slightly more bass at

the lowest frequencies. The infinite baffle (free-air) mounting
method will handle moderate amounts of power and take up

less trunk or passenger space.

The cardboard “Template” inside your ES Subwoofer’s
shipping carton can be used as a pattern for cutting the speaker
mounting hole in your enclosure. The cardboard template is the
same size as the ES Subwoofer’s basket. After marking your
baffle with the template, make sure to cut directly on the line.
This will maintain the proper baffle cut-out size for the ES
Subwoofer’s basket.

All the cubic feet numbers given in the following pages include
the displacement of the woofer. For the ported enclosures the
displacement of the port must be added to the final design.

Always use 3/4" (1.9 cm) or thicker MDF and make sure all the
joints are fastened and well sealed. The peak pressure in a
ported box can exceed that of a sealed enclosure. All of these
designs need some internal bracing. Add 2" x 2" (5 cm x 5 cm) to
3" x 3" (8 cm x 8 cm) triangle braces between each of the larger
unsupported panels.

Kicker recommends using a high-grade wood glue and silicone
sealer for an airtight box.

x = 3" x 3" for ES154, ES124
x = 2" x 2" for ES104

Note: If you prefer an ultra-smooth bass response, you should

loosely fill your ES Subwoofer’s enclosure with poly-fil (polyester
fiberfill) 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 being blown out of
the port. The use of poly-fil stuffing will slightly decrease
efficiency, but will deepen and extend the low frequency output.

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 or the diameter of
the round port as the minimum amount of space between the
port opening and any solid surface to insure unrestricted airflow.

For more advice on box building, click on the SUPPOR

T tab
on the Kicker homepage, www.kicker.com. Choose the
Technical Support tab, choose the Tech Manuals tab, and then
download or view the corresponding information. Please E-mail
[e-mail] or call Technical Services [phone]
for specific or unanswered questions.

ES Subwoofers

X

X

X

7

Installation

Recommended Enclosures

ES Subwoofer Sealed Enclosure Applications

The Kicker ES Subwoofer excels when used in the recommended sealed boxes. These sealed enclosure designs will give the
smoothest response with increased energy at the lowest frequencies, 20 to 30 Hz. These designs deliver massive amounts of high
impact bass and can be driven with high levels of amplifier power.

The ES Subwoofer’s high performance suspension system can operate in a larger sealed enclosure without sacrificing its power
handling ability. This maximum enclosure volume application is ideal for SQ (ultra sound quality) installations. The SQ enclosure
generates a very flat response curve and superbly extends sub bass.

ES Subwoofers perform well in any size sealed enclosure between the Compact and SQ volume recommendations. These
systems will exhibit benefits of both designs: Compact produces high impact bass and SQ generates low bass frequency protraction.
Overall, the system will sound more like the recommended enclosure design it is closest to in enclosure volume.

These enclosure recommendations have been calculated with the airspace inside the enclosure and include the displacement of
the woofer. Do not make the airspace greater than the SQ (Maximum Enclosure Volume) recommendation.

Recommended Sealed Enclosures - Moderate Efficiency

Model Compact (Minimum Enclosure Volume) SQ (Maximum Enclosure Volume)

ES104 1.0 ft3Power Handling = 150W RMS 2.4 ft3Power Handling = 150W RMS

28.3 L 68.0 L

ES124 1.25 ft

3

Power Handling = 150W RMS 3.5 ft3Power Handling = 150W RMS

35.4 L 99.1 L

ES154 2.25 ft

3

Power Handling = 250W RMS 5.0 ft3Power Handling = 250W RMS

63.7 L 141.6 L

ES Subwoofers

8

Installation

Panel Dimensions for Minimum Recommended Sealed Enclosures using 3/4” (1.9 cm) thick MDF:

1 in = 2.54 cm
1 in = 25.4 mm
1 ft

3

= 28.32 L

Model

ES104
ES124
ES154

Volume, ft3(L)

1.0 (28.3)

1.25 (35.4)

2.25 (63.7)

Panel A

13.5 x 13.5

14.5 x 14.5

17.25 x 17.25

Panel C

12 x 12
13 x 13

15.75 x 15.75

Panel B

13.5 x 12

14.5 x 13

17.25 x 15.75

Note: All sealed box airspace should be filled to 50% loose poly-fil stuffing. Please allow two weeks of break-in time for the
ES Subwoofer to reach optimum bass performance.

ES Ported (Vented) Enclosure Applications

Ported ES Subwoofers? Absolutely...and with a vengeance! These enclosures incorporate huge tube ports with high-impact air
velocities for sheet metal bending street bass that will make your “skin bounce on your bones!” These boxes are the enclosure of
choice for outrageous street bass and high performance SPL contests.

The ported Compact design increases bass efficiency and fits in many space-limited applications. Although it is the smallest
recommended ported enclosure, the output from 30 to 80 Hz will be considerably higher than that of any sealed box. The two other
ported designs have proportionately more output in this crucial frequency band.

The SPL / Deep Bass is the largest and most efficient enclosure design. The SPL / Deep Bass delivers the sonic output needed to
win SPL contests and it produces bass notes “all the way down to tha cella”. This design turns heads and jump starts your heart.

If space is not a problem and you want to get the most from your ES, try one of these ported designs. You will not be
disappointed.

The following page shows a chart with the three Recommended Circular Port Enclosure sizes for each ES driver.

ES Subwoofers

9

Installation

Note: The use of a subsonic filter will significantly increase the power handling. The power handling specifications in this chart are calculated using a 25 Hz, 24 dB per

octave subsonic filter. All specifications and performance figures are subject to change. Please visit kicker.com for the most current information.

Recommended Circular Port Enclosures – High Efficiency

Model Compact SPL / Deep Bass

1.25 ft3(35.4 L) + port displacement

1.5” x 10.5” port, 14.5” long

(3.8cm x 26.7cm x port, 36.8cm long)

Power Handling = 150W RMS

1.75 ft

3

(49.6 L) + port displacement

2.0” x 12.5” port, 16” long

(5.1cm x 31.8cm port, 40.6cm long)

Power Handling = 150W RMS

3.0 ft

3

(85.0 L) + port displacement

2.75” x 15.5” port, 17” long

(7.0cm x 39.4cm port, 43.2cm long)

Power Handling = 250W RMS

ES104

ES124

ES154

1.75 ft3(49.6 L) + port displacement

1.5” x 10.5” port, 13.25” long

(3.8cm x 26.7cm port, 33.7cm long)

Power Handling = 150W RMS

2.25 ft

3

(63.7 L) + port displacement

2.0” x 12.5” port, 16.375” long

(5.1cm x 31.8cm port, 41.6cm long)

Power Handling = 150W RMS

4.0 ft

3

(113.3 L) + port displacement

3.0” x 15.5” port, 16.5” long

(7.6cm x 39.4cm port, 41.9cm long)

Power Handling = 250W RMS

ES Subwoofers

10

08102005+05ES SUB

ES Subwoofers

Warranty

INTERNATIONAL WARRANTY

Contact your International Kicker dealer or distributor concerning

specific procedures for your country’s warranty policies.

P.O. Box 459 • Stillwater, Oklahoma 74076 • U.S.A. • 405 624-8510

WARNING:

KICKER drivers 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!

"Fuel for Livin' Loud" refers to Kicker Car Stereo Brand's zest for life and encouraging our

customers to do their best ("Livin' Loud") in all aspects of their lives.

Kicker's line of speakers and amplifiers are the best in the car audio market, thus they represent
the "fuel" for living loud in our customer's "car stereo" aspect of their lives. We encourage all of

our customers to obey all local noise ordinances and regulations in regards to legal and

appropriate listening levels outside of the vehicle.

11

Notes

Notes

Tech Lines

ES Subwoofers