ProSeries 12.5LF
10.5LF
8.5LF
Competitor Series 1500
1200
1000
800
Generator Series GS1500
GS1200
GS1000
Boston Acoustics Subwoofer
Installation Manual
Enclosure Recommendations
The ProSeries and Competitor Series subwoofers are
designed to deliver optimum performance in small
sealed enclosures. The Generator Series subwoofers are
designed for either sealed or ported enclosures. The fol-
lowing are the recommended enclosure volumes:
ProSeries
Competitor Series
Generator Series
Sealed Enclosures
12.5LF 10.5LF 8.5LF 1500
1200
1000
800
GS1500 GS1200 GS1000
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
Gross Internal Volume
-3dB Down Point—In Car
1.0ft
0.5ft
0.3ft
1.5ft
1.0ft
0.5ft
0.3ft 2.5ft
20Hz 20Hz
1.5ft
.75ft
20Hz
0.9
20Hz
0.8
20Hz
0.6
20Hz
1.36
1.56
20Hz
1.03
1.12
20Hz
0.92
0.98
20Hz
1.38
1.29
20Hz
1.18
1.09
System "Q"
(2Ω)
(4Ω)
0.69
0.73
1.63
1.5
1.1
0.95
0.7
Recommended Enclosure Dimensions (Internal)
Height
Width
Depth
10.5"
13.0"
13.0"
7.5"
6.5"
9.0"
9.0"
10"
16"
16"
10.5"
13.0"
13.0"
7.5"
6.5"
9.0"
9.0"
20"
16"
14"
12"
12"
11.0"
11.0"
11.0"
11.0"
16"
11"
13.5"
9.75"
Ported Enclosures (Generator Series only)
Gross Internal Volume
Tuning Frequency
GS1500
GS1200
GS1000
3
3
3
2.5ft
1.5ft
1.25ft
35Hz
4"D
35Hz
3"D
33Hz
3"D
Port Diameter
Port Length
11"L
7.3"L
11"L
Recommended Enclosure Dimensions (Internal)
Height
Width
Depth
20"
16"
14"
12"
14"
16"
11.5"
14"
13.5"
3
Calculating your enclosure volume:
Internal dimensions
Height (inches) x Width (inches) x Depth (inches) = Gross Internal Volume (cubic inches)
Gross Internal Volume (cubic inches)
= Gross Internal Volume (cubic feet)
1728
or:
Height (cm) x Width (cm) x Depth (cm)
= Gross Internal Volume (liters)
1000
Conversion Formulas
1" = 2.54cm
3
1ft = 28.32 liters
3
3
1ft = 1,728in
D
W
Remember to account for material thickness when
determining external dimensions.
H
4
Building an Enclosure
Use at least 3⁄4-inch MDF to build the enclosure (1-inch is
preferable). The joints should be liberally glued with car-
penter’s wood glue and screwed together with wood
screws and sealed internally with a bead of silicone rub-
ber or hot melt glue.
Drill pilot holes to prevent the wood from splitting and
tighten the screws as much as possible. Excess glue can
be wiped off with a damp sponge or paper towel.
Warning
It is extremely important to completely seal the enclo-
sure. Even small leaks can have a dramatic effect on sub-
woofer performance. Look, listen, and test for leaks at all
joints, around the subwoofer perimeter, and at the wire
entrance location.
Glue
Screws
Sealant
5
Locating Subwoofer Enclosure
in Vehicle
The placement of the enclosure is one of the most
important factors concerning installation. As each vehi-
cle’s interior acoustics are different, experimentation is
the key to optimizing performance.
Hatchbacks/Sport Utility Vehicles
Locate the enclosure in a rear corner for maximum out-
put. Experiment with the subwoofer’s placement.
Hatchback Installation
Warning
Make sure the enclosure is securely mounted in such a
way as to not shift or fly forward in the event of an acci-
dent or sudden stop.
6
Sedans
Provide as clear a path as possible into the cabin by
venting through a folded-down arm rest, venting through
the rear deck, or venting through an unused speaker
opening in the rear deck. Keep any restrictive materials
such as wood, hard plastic or metal from directly block-
ing the subwoofer.
Sedan Installation
7
Wiring
2 ohm subwoofers
One 2Ω sub
Two 2Ω subs, series
Two 2Ω subs, parallel
Three 2Ω subs, series
Four 2Ω subs, series/parallel
8
Wiring
4 ohm subwoofers
One 4Ω sub
Two 4Ω subs, parallel
Three 4Ω subs, parallel
Four 4Ω subs, series/parallel
Four 4Ω subs, parallel
9
ProSeries
Competitor Series
Specifications
12.5LF
10.5LF
8.5LF
1500
Nominal Size
12" (30cm)
11" (280mm)
10" (25cm)
8" (20cm)
15" (38cm)
1
3
7
Mounting Cutout Diameter
Mounting Depth—Front Mounted
Mounting Depth—Rear Mounted
Recommended Amplifier Power
Nominal Impedance
9 ⁄8" (232mm)
7 ⁄16" (183mm)
13 ⁄8" (353mm)
5
3
1
3
5 ⁄8" (143mm)
4 ⁄4" (121mm)
4 ⁄16" (104mm)
7 ⁄4" (197mm)
3
11
1
6 ⁄8" (162mm)
5" (127mm)
50–1100 watts
2Ω/4Ω
4 ⁄16" (119mm)
8 ⁄4" (210mm)
50–1200 watts
50–750 watts
50–1000 watts
2Ω/4Ω
2Ω/4Ω
2Ω/4Ω
ProSeries
Competitor Series
Theile/Small Parameters
12.5LF
(2Ω)
12.5LF
10.5LF
(2Ω)
10.5LF
(4Ω)
8.5LF
(2Ω)
8.5LF
(4Ω)
1500
(2Ω)
1500
(4Ω)
(4Ω)
Resonant Frequency (F )
30Hz
84 liters
2.97ft3
0.45
31Hz
84 liters
2.97ft3
0.57
33Hz
35 liters
1.24ft3
0.44
34Hz
35 liters
1.24ft3
0.53
35Hz
21 liters
0.74ft3
0.33
36Hz
21 liters
0.74ft3
0.40
34Hz
35Hz
s
Equivalent Volume (Vas)
155 liters 155 liters
5.47ft3
0.72
0.81
8.3
5.47ft3
0.85
0.97
8.3
Total Q (Qts
Electrical Q (Qes
Mechanical Q (Qms
Compliance (Cms
)
)
0.47
0.61
0.47
0.57
0.35
0.42
)
9.8
9.6
8.0
7.8
9.0
9.0
)
230µm/N 230µm/N 255µm/N 255µm/N 330µm/N 330µm/N
142µm/N 142µm/N
Moving Mass (Mms
Cone Area (Sd)
)
121g
117g
90g
86g
63g
60g
148g
145g
510cm2
51mm
1.6Ω
510cm2
51mm
3.1Ω
315cm2
51mm
1.6Ω
315cm2
51mm
3.1Ω
215cm2
51mm
1.6Ω
215cm2
51mm
3.1Ω
876cm2
51mm
1.6Ω
876cm2
51mm
3.2Ω
Voice Coil Diameter
Voice Coil DCR (Re)
Voice Coil Inductance @ 1kHz (Le)
0.40mH
8.5mm
40mm
0.46
0.55mH
8.5mm
40mm
0.39
0.40mH
8.5mm
35mm
0.26
0.55mH
8.5mm
35mm
0.25
0.40mH
8.5mm
35mm
0.25
0.55mH
8.5mm
35mm
0.22
0.45mH
5.5mm
40mm
0.73
0.62mH
5.5mm
40mm
0.64
Linear Excursion—One Way (Xmax
)
Peak-to-Peak Maximum Excursion
Reference Efficiency (ηo
)
We provide Theile/Small Parameters for those interested in
studying subwoofers further. We do not recommend you use
computer software to determine enclosure sizes or type.
While high–end enclosure design software may be useful for
engineering purposes, it cannot completely predict perform-
ance in a given vehicle and should not replace a real enclosure
that has been tested and listened to in a car. Please use our
recommended enclosures for optimum performance.
10
Competitor Series (continued)
Generator Series
1200
1000
800
GS1500
GS1200
10" (25cm)
GS1000
12" (30cm)
11" (280mm)
10" (25cm)
8" (20cm)
10" (25cm)
10" (25cm)
3
1
7
3
9 ⁄16" (234mm)
7 ⁄8" (181mm)
13 ⁄8" (353mm) 11" (280mm)
9 ⁄16" (234mm)
5
3
3
3
6 ⁄8" (169mm)
6" (153mm)
5 ⁄8" (137mm)
6 ⁄4" (172mm)
5 ⁄4" (146mm)
5" (127mm)
1
5
7
1
1
1
7 ⁄8 (181mm)
6 ⁄8" (169mm)
5 ⁄8" (150mm)
7 ⁄4" (185mm)
6 ⁄4" (159mm)
5 ⁄2" (140mm)
50–1000 watts 50–850 watts
2Ω/4Ω 2Ω/4Ω
50–500 watts
50–500 watts
50–500 watts
50–400 watts
2Ω/4Ω
2Ω/4Ω
2Ω/4Ω
2Ω/4Ω
Competitor Series (continued)
Generator Series
1200
(2Ω)
1200
(4Ω)
1000
(2Ω)
1000
800
800
GS1500
(2Ω)
GS1500 GS1200
GS1200 GS1000 GS1000
(4Ω)
(2Ω)
(4Ω)
(4Ω)
(2Ω)
(4Ω)
(2Ω)
(4Ω)
30Hz
84 liters
2.97ft3
0.45
31Hz
84 liters
2.97ft3
0.57
33Hz
35 liters
1.24ft3
0.44
34Hz
35 liters
1.24ft3
0.53
35Hz
21 liters
0.74ft3
0.33
36Hz
21 liters
0.74ft3
0.40
29Hz
29Hz
31Hz
31Hz
97 liters
3.43ft3
0.71
33Hz
37 liters
1.31ft3
0.71
33Hz
37 liters
1.31ft3
0.66
215 liters 215 liters 97 liters
7.58ft3
0.81
0.9
7.58ft3
0.75
0.84
7.5
3.43ft3
0.76
0.85
7.2
0.47
0.61
0.47
0.57
0.35
0.42
0.79
0.79
0.74
9.8
9.6
8.0
7.8
9.0
9.0
7.6
7.1
6.6
6.7
230µm/N 230µm/N 255µm/N 255µm/N 330µm/N 330µm/N
200µm/N 200µm/N 200µm/N 200µm/N 200µm/N 200µm/N
121g
117g
90g
86g
63g
60g
150g
147g
134g
130g
118g
114g
510cm2
51mm
1.6Ω
510cm2
51mm
3.1Ω
315cm2
51mm
1.6Ω
315cm2
51mm
3.1Ω
215cm2
51mm
1.6Ω
215cm2
51mm
3.1Ω
874.7cm2 874.7cm2 588.4cm2 588.4cm2 365cm2
365cm2
51mm
3.6Ω
51mm
1.7Ω
51mm
3.6Ω
51mm
1.7Ω
51mm
3.6Ω
51mm
1.7Ω
0.40mH
8.5mm
40mm
0.46
0.55mH
8.5mm
40mm
0.39
0.40mH
8.5mm
35mm
0.26
0.55mH
8.5mm
35mm
0.25
0.40mH
8.5mm
35mm
0.25
0.55mH
8.5mm
35mm
0.22
0.98mH
4.4mm
37mm
0.56
1.9mH
5.3mm
37mm
0.63
0.98mH
4.4mm
37mm
0.32
1.9mH
5.3mm
37mm
0.36
0.98mH
4.4mm
33mm
0.16
1.9mH
5.3mm
33mm
0.18
11
Boston and Boston Acoustics are
registered trademarks of Boston
Acoustics, Inc. ©1999
300 Jubilee Drive
Peabody, MA 01960 U.S.A.
978.538.5000
Covered by patents issued and/or
pending.
42-001034-0
|