Whats Wrong With Kicker?

[Derrick824]

You cant compare how good a sub is to what the TL reads... There are too many variables between enclosures, vehicles and application.

I can if my goal is TL #s. Why pay more for something thats going to do the same #s? It was just an example of how a set of cheap Kicker subs can do well against other more expensive and supposed better brands. Also that isn't an spl setup. The box is built exactly to Kicker specs and tuned to 35hz so it plays music fine. All I'm basically saying is that Kickers can get loud for very little money. I'm just using my TL #s for proof of how loud they get.

[lil_italy773]

I can if my goal is TL #s. Why pay more for something thats going to do the same #s? It was just an example of how a set of cheap Kicker subs can do well against other more expensive and supposed better brands. Also that isn't an spl setup. The box is built exactly to Kicker specs and tuned to 35hz so it plays music fine. All I'm basically saying is that Kickers can get loud for very little money. I'm just using my TL #s for proof of how loud they get.

i would agree if ur getting the same from cheaper then do it. i know i would

[Dale]

i dont think people hate, they just know there are better brands:

l7 are notorious for burning up vcs

l5 have surround tearing issues

almost all kicker subs have to high of a fs, to low bl, to much $ on marketing not enough on quality assurance

but almost all of their amps rock

and the solox is meh.... i would rather have two really nice 15's for the price of 1 fart note solox18

dont get me wrong, they arent bad... theres just better for the same $

hmmm... Kicker has a high BL as far as I have seen, unless of course the company is exaggerating like most do.

I think it all boils down to personal opinion. I have had Kicker gear in the past and the L7 15s get really loud (partly because of higher surface area than a regular 15). It's just that they are not very clean at high volumes. But you are right for the most part....I have run cheaper subs that got almost as loud, but had a world of difference in SQ.

***Note to everyone: Your amplifier is partly responsible for subwoofer "muddiness" if it has a low damping factor. So again, it's difficult to opbjectively compare subwoofer quality.

I think we should all study the T/S parameters of the L7 subs and give opinions

This is coming straight off of Kicker's Website. Notice that the new 08 L715s have a BL of 27.9

http://www.kicker.com/06/tech-support/tspa...ers/pdfs/L7.pdf

[Decaf]

yes but theres more strength because theres more sd

*i was trying to say they overcompensate in one area and underperform in others

ie: their spiders that for some reason always tear/tinsels that break, or glue that gets to hot and melts vc

its almost like they made a stronger motor but neglected to make soft parts that could handle it for years

i know its all about personal application, and in my experience, i cant never rely on the subs

sx digital amps are pretty darn sweet tho

would like to get a 1250.1 sometime and try it out

[Polecat]

if installed like they should, they will last forever. they are intended for what we reccomend. not 1000 watts over rated. We know,we can read the coils. And pushing a sub, past both thermal and mechanical limits, is NOT the manufactures problem. Problem is, we see subs that coime in, which is well below the 1% line, and I mean way below, but it's a woofer rated at 1500 watts. On forums, I see people say "well I have 1600 watts foing to it ported..." which is about 900 watts too much, then they hate on us when it blows. <confused>

And no, the L5's don't have a surround tearing problem.

I know what the returns are, and know for what reasons....and most you hear and read about, is just forum regurgitation.

Kicker still does vbery, very well in USACi...

[Dale]

if installed like they should, they will last forever. they are intended for what we reccomend. not 1000 watts over rated. We know,we can read the coils. And pushing a sub, past both thermal and mechanical limits, is NOT the manufactures problem. Problem is, we see subs that coime in, which is well below the 1% line, and I mean way below, but it's a woofer rated at 1500 watts. On forums, I see people say "well I have 1600 watts foing to it ported..." which is about 900 watts too much, then they hate on us when it blows. <confused>

And no, the L5's don't have a surround tearing problem.

I know what the returns are, and know for what reasons....and most you hear and read about, is just forum regurgitation.

Kicker still does vbery, very well in USACi...

That's a very good point. Many people fail to realize that a ported enclosure is more efficient than its sealed counterpart and the power handling of the sub drops. In other words you need less power to drive it.

Another key problem is that many people who use ported enclosures don't even realize that their subs are unloading. So over excursion becomes an issue.

**Note: unloading usually occurs when subs are fed with frequencies far below port tuning.

[Decaf]

if installed like they should, they will last forever. they are intended for what we reccomend. not 1000 watts over rated. We know,we can read the coils. And pushing a sub, past both thermal and mechanical limits, is NOT the manufactures problem. Problem is, we see subs that coime in, which is well below the 1% line, and I mean way below, but it's a woofer rated at 1500 watts. On forums, I see people say "well I have 1600 watts foing to it ported..." which is about 900 watts too much, then they hate on us when it blows. <confused>

And no, the L5's don't have a surround tearing problem.

I know what the returns are, and know for what reasons....and most you hear and read about, is just forum regurgitation.

Kicker still does vbery, very well in USACi...

this is why i said personal experience, kicker even paid for shipping during both occassions to compensate for their product having manufacturer defects

in 06 for 2 12" L7 - in box rec by kicker, on zx1000, 1st sub powered had burnt vc, gain set w/dmm, 10g subwire, 4g power

in 06 1 15" L5 - not enough glue on spider determined by kicker in email sent

so, yes they usually arent bad but in my experience, ive found better

they have awesome customer service tho

[Tub Asko]

[Kicker Guy]

There is nothing wrong with Kicker products. Its all in the hands of the user... and lets face it most people have NO idea what they are doing, and when sh!t goes wrong it can't be their fault... its always the manufacturer's fault. Or people have no experience at all with the product and just assume its not as good as their stuff.

[Tub Asko]

Same thing dealing with computers . . . 99% of the things that go wrong with em are caused by user error. So they get pissed at the brand for not making a good computer. What do you want? An idiot proof computer? or in this case an idiot proof sub/amp?