Kicker SOLOX Owner's Manual

Kicker SoloX Subwoofer

Recommended Applications / Version 1.1

January 14, 2002

SOLOX

Technical Manual

Features

y Mica Filled Polypropylene with a Titanium Deposit Impregnated Cone An Ultra High Performance look that makes the SoloX truly a statement piece. Look at it this way, we needed a high tech look to the SOLOX because the first thing you notice about speakers are their cones!

y Advanced Cone Technology The outer edge of the cone has been rolled to increase cone rigidity to decrease cone flex under high excursion. The cone gives you deeper and stronger bass at higher listening levels with less distortion due to less tendency to flex. Because, when a woofer cone flexes, there is a loss of output. This loss of output translates into less bass.

y Massive Surround Radius High SPL=VMAX=Cone area + Xmax + surround radius. What does this mean? According to Dr. Koneairea, the Vmax of the driver takes into account the cone area as well as the Xmax of the driver. To increase the Xmax - the distance the cone can move in one direction - the surround must be large enough to handle the demands. Taking this into consideration, the new SOLOX surround has been designed to handle the massive power needed for high SPL.

y SPAIR (Simple Pull Apart Insertable Replacement) (Patent Pending) Because this woofer assembly weighs over 100lbs. (or 45.36 kGs. to you across the pond!) we developed a removable soft parts assembly to ease the installation and removal of the speaker. Makes repairs ...a snap!

y SLAM (SPAIR Lockdown Attachment Mechanism) The aluminum frame attached to the SPAIR properly secures the removable speaker assembly (SPAIR) to the BAM (Basket And Motor assembly). With the excursion capabilities of this woofer it is very important that there is a tight seal against the BAM to allow the speaker to perform properly.

y SPLAT (Speaker Precise Location Alignment Tool) Locates and anchors the BAM to the baffle of your enclosure. A picture frame like structure that must be used to insure a solid mount. It is inserted into the enclosure prior to the BAM being installed. Once the BAM is in place the SPLAT is located on the baffle around the rear of the speaker. The supplied mounting hardware should be inserted to make sure the SPLAT stays put. Once all 4 screws are sufficiently tightened, the BAM will be secure.

y ARCTIC Cap (Aluminum Rapid Cooling Thermal Induction Centering Cap) Mounted on top of the extended pole--piece it is responsible for insuring the voice coil on the SPAIR is properly centered when inserted into the BAM, adds more mass for increased thermal transfer from the voice coil to the pole piece and channels air into the “X” Vent for increased cooling.

y S4 Quad Spider Array One spider cannot handle the demands alone. Our engineers had to design a quad spi- der array that would keep up with the demand of the enormous motor structure. 4 Poly nomex spiders make up the array to properly center the voice coil under high excursion.

y Triple Stack Custom Tooled Magnets With excursion capabilities of this monster speaker a single magnet structure just would not do. We figured it worked for Wendy’s, why not us? Triple stack is the only way to satisfy even the largest appetite for sound and with a BAM this big, a single just wouldn’t fill the appetite of the SOLOX.

y Stitched Surround A signature of KICKER woofers has always been the stitched surround. It prevents the sur- round from separating from the cone at high excursions. When the woofer is moving back and forth it puts a lot of strain on the adhesive that is holding the surround to the cone and often causes the two to separate. Stitching the surround to the cone eliminates this from happening.

If stitching were inexpensive, everybody would do it!

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y ISD (Inverted Structural Dome

))

Kicker was one of the first companies to switch to the Inverted Structural Dome. We have designed a cone with a groove for the ISD to lock into, further adding strength to structure. When a cone reaches it’s peak it wants to buckle because it’s momentum keeps it moving out. The ISD provides structural support for the cone to resist buckling. NOTE: When the cone buckles, the output of the woofer decreases. Therefore, the ISD is not just a cosmetic thing, it is an integral part of the woofer to maintain it’s maximum performance. While everyone has outies we decided innies work better!

y Dual Ultra-Length High-Temp 3.5” Voice Coils For high excursion, increased power handling and flexible wiring options. With the increased circumference of the coil we needed to increase the size of our pole-piece. Our engineers locked themselves in a room and got out their slide rules and calipers to come up with the proper size pole needed for such an enormous motor structure. OK, so they just flipped a coin!

y Strain Relief Boots for Tinsel Lead Wires Large heavy gauge tinsel lead wire with strain relief boots. Because the cone moves in and out with such force our engineers came up with strain relief boots for the lead wires. This reinforces the lead wire so it will not break under stress.

y B3-Link 3-Way Connection System which allows you to use

1. Binding post

2. Terminal Block

3. Barrier strip for connecting the speaker wires.

y Uniplate V.2 with Vented Hyper-Extended Pole (Patent Pending)

1. Utilizes “X” Vent technology to insure proper heat dissipation. Slits were cut into the pole piece. The slits

increase the surface area of the pole as well as channel the air down the pole keeping it cooler.

2. Provides enhanced heat transfer for cool operation and maximum power handling. The heat is transferred from the pole piece to the back plate, effectively acting like a radiator in an engine. This lowers the operating temperature of the voice coil. Note:The increase in temperature increases the impedance of the

speaker. This results in lower output and is referred to as Power Compression.

3. Reduces non-linear magnetic fields around the voice coil gap for superior cone motion control. The

extended pole assures the voice coil is always in the magnetic field when moving peak to peak. When the speaker reaches it’s Xmax, the voice coil is still in the gap between the pole piece and magnet structure due to its extended pole-piece.

4. Releases pressure under ISD for freer cone motion and enhanced low frequency response. Air trapped under the ISD is forced out though the pole-piece to allow the cone to move freely. Heat and pressure build up under the ISD and need to be released to allow the speaker to function properly.

Features cont.

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SoloX Cutaway View

Thank you for your support of Kicker products, and especially our SOLOX square subwoofer. The SOLOX is truly a unique product in the world of subwoofers. Our technical and R&D staffs have designed some extreme enclosures beyond the small sealed boxes KICKER woofers are famous for. They have truly outdone themselves with the SOLOX.

In this paper we will explore some applications for the SOLOX complete with box drawings and cut sheets plus some important information regarding the break-in period for this ground-breaking speaker.

Important Break-In Information

Due to the complex nature of the SOLOXs they require a little extra time to break-in. Especially in sealed enclosures, break-in is a must in order for woofers to produce optimum low bass response. Due to the high performance suspension system incorporated in the SOLOX it is very stiff “out of the box”. Approximately two weeks of daily playing will allow the suspension to break-in and reach its optimum equilibrium. The “broken-in“ sub will exhibit stronger bass performance, smoother response, and greater low bass extension.

For those of you with more sophisticated audio equipment, the SOLOX can be broken-in on the test bench overnight with the following procedure.

SOLOX Freeair Break-in Procedure

1. Connect the speaker to a power amp with a minimum of 100 watts. The speaker should not be mounted in

any enclosure - just freeair.

Please make sure it will not walk off the bench while it is playing!

2. Connect an audio generator to the input of the power amp, and adjust the generator to approximately 25Hz.

3. Now adjust the gain on the amplifier and generator so that the cone is moving to Xmax. This can be deter-

mined visually by looking at the “blur depth” of the logo on the ISD. A close approximation will do. On the S18X this will be about 1-1/2”.

NOTE: Keep in mind that as the speaker is used under normal conditions the break-in will continue, so if you don’t have time for the complete break-in period the speaker will still break-in itself under normal usage.

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Break-In Procedure

Sealed Enclosure Applications

The SOLOX is designed for Vented enclosure/ High SPL applications and that is where maximum output and power handling will be achieved. If you are willing to give up maximum SPL and power handling for more low bass output, then you can utilize our sealed enclosure recommendations.These sealed enclosure recommendations will give the smoothest response with the most energy at really low frequencies, around 20 to 30 Hz.

The recommended Tuner sealed box will deliver massive amounts of high impact bass and can be driven with punishing levels of amplifier power.

One of the benefits of the SoloX series high performance suspension system is that they can operate in larger sealed enclosures for ultra low bass performance (SUV applications) while still maintaining excellent control and power handling.

SOLOX series woofers also perform well in any sealed enclosure between the Tuner and SUV sizes. These systems will exhibit some benefits of both (high impact and low extension) generally sounding more like the box to which they are most closely sized.

These enclosure volume recommendations are for the airspace inside the enclosure and include the displacement of the woofer. Do not make the airspace any greater than recommended.

S18X

Recommended Enclosures

Model Tuner minimum: 3 cu.ft., F3= 31.6Hz,

Pmax= 6000W

Tuner maximum: 6 cu.ft., F3= 26.5Hz,

Pmax= 3500W

SUV minimum: 9 cu.ft., F3= 24.8Hz,

Pmax= 3000W

SUV maximum: 12 cu.ft., F3= 23.8Hz,

Pmax= 2500W

For more enclosure choices check out our website www.kicker.com or call Jerimy “WB” in Technical Services at

1-405-624-8583.

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The most basic and simple of all speaker enclosures is the sealed box or acoustic suspension design.

The acoustic suspension design has several advantages; it is easy to build, easy to tune and offers high power handling, tight response and extended low end output. Acoustic suspension enclosures roll off at 12 dB per/octave. Cone motion is better controlled at all frequencies because of the constant pressure on the back side of the cone, which enables you to run more power to the woofer. They are called acoustic suspension enclosures because the air inside the box acts like a viscous brake to control the woofer. That is why the box

must

be sealed tight and braced. Shown below is an example of bracing needed. If there are any air leaks in the enclosure, the woofer cannot function properly.

Pros 1 - High power handling capability 2 - Extended low frequency response and smooth rolloff (12 dB/octave). 3 - Excellent transient response. 4 - Tolerant of minor enclosure size variations. 5 - Easiest enclosure to build.

Cons 1 - Not as efficient as other designs.

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Characteristics of Sealed Enclosures

Sealed Box Response Curves

S18X 3.0cu.ft.

S18X 6.0cu.ft.

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SOLOX S18 Sealed Tuner Minimum Response Curve

10 Frequency 50 100 Hz 500 1K

Graph 1 > Acoustic On Axis Response: SPL, Phase dB

SOLOX S18 Sealed Tuner Maximum Response Curve

10 Frequency 50 100 Hz 500 1K

Graph 1 > Acoustic On Axis Response: SPL, Phase dB

Sealed Box Response Curves

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S18X 9.0cu.ft.

SOLOX S18 Sealed SUV Maximum Curve

10 Frequency 50 100 Hz 500 1K

Graph 1 > Acoustic On Axis Response: SPL, Phase dB

S18X 12.0cu.ft.

SOLOX S18 Sealed SUV Minimum Curve

10 Frequency 50 100 Hz 500 1K

Graph 1 > Acoustic On Axis Response: SPL, Phase dB

Ported/Vented Enclosure Applications

Ported SOLOXs incorporate massive slot loaded ports with ultra low air velocity for ground pounding street bass that will make your hair stand on end (if you have any left)! These are the enclosures of choice for outrageous street bass and high performance SPL contests.

The following chart shows three recommended ported enclosures for each Solo-Baric driver.

Tuner has increased bass efficiency over a sealed enclosure, yet can still fit in tighter applications. It is the smallest design that will work well for each woofer. Although it is the smallest ported enclosure the output from 30 to 80 HZ will be considerably higher than that of a sealed box. The two other ported designs have proportionately more output in this region.

SUV is a medium sized enclosure that will kick out bass that can be heard for blocks away. And it does go LOW!

SPL is a high efficiency enclosure that delivers the output necessary to put up the big numbers.

If space is not at a premium and you want to get the most from your SOLOX, try one of these designs. You won’t be disappointed. You may want to take a look at The Truckers Car Wash Enclosure if you got the room for it!

Note: You must add the port volume to the volume of the box! See the cut sheets.

Recommended Ported Enclosure

– High Efficiency –

Model Tuner SUV SPL

S18X 5 cu.ft. Port: 60sq.in. x 14.5” 10 cu.ft. Port: 150 sq.in. x 21” 10 cu.ft. Port: 300sq.in. x 9”

Fb= 35Hz, Pmax= 5000W Fb= 35Hz, Pmax=4500W Fb= 56Hz, Pmax= 10000

(with 25hZ subsonic filter) (with 25hZ subsonic filter) (Above tuning freq. only)

* See below!

*This enclosure is intended for SPL ONLY! It is designed to be used with test tones above 56Hz! Playing

music with frequencies below 56Hz will result in very, very bad things happening!! In other words,

THIS IS AN SPL ENCLOSURE ONLY!

NOTE: The use of a subsonic filter is necessary to insure the life of the woofer in a ported enclosure.

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Characteristics of Vented Enclosures

A vented enclosure is not much more complex than a sealed box. It consists, basically, of a box with a hole in it. However, despite its simple design, vented boxes are considerably harder to get good performance from than sealed boxes - although many times the extra effort can be worth it.

The vent in the enclosure interacts with the volume of air in the cabinet and the driver to help increase output and reduce cone excursion at and around the tuning frequency. In fact, at box tuning, almost all the bass is produced by the vent - NOT the woofer.

The trick in building a vented box is to get the right size enclosure and the right size vent. You can’t be to far off on either of these factors or your speaker’s performance will suffer. In particular, using a too-small box or a toohigh vent tuning frequency can eliminate bass instead of increasing it. Porting a sealed box that is too small usually does nothing to improve frequency response. The vents placement within the enclosure is also important. You must leave at least the equivalent of the vents diameter between the vent and any inside wall. For example, you would not place a vent with a 3” diameter within 3” of any wall. The same is true for clearance between the vent opening and the bottom of the enclosure.

Pros 1 - Reduced cone excursion and reduced distortion around vent tuning. 2 - Increased output capabilities around vent tuning. 3 - Vented boxes give you that extra “Bump” that is preferred in certain types of music.

Cons 1 - Total loss of cone control below vent tuning, which can result in high distortion and driver mechanical failure. 2 - Midrange sound coming from inside the box through the vent can produce unpleasant sound coloration. 3 - Vented enclosures are more sensitive to changes such as temperature, humidity and driver fatigue. 4 - Enclosure design is more complex and the enclosure itself must be more solidly constructed because internal pressure at frequencies around vent tuning can be nearly twice as high as a sealed enclosure. 5 - Vented enclosures usually don’t sound as fast as sealed boxes because the resonant effects of the vent tuning which is always slightly out of phase with the driver’s output.

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