I can't remember the last time I had a chance to review a Kicker product, so I was delighted when the Kicker DS12L5 arrived. This baby is large and heavy, tipping the scales at 92 pounds, and comes with an equally heavy $800 price tag. That works out to about $8.69 a pound - if Kicker were going to price it that way.
The Kicker DS12L5 uses a slanted-back, rectangular enclosure and two impressive 12" Solobaric L5 subwoofers. One nice selling point to this system is that you can order it with either a 2-ohm or 4-ohm final impedance load, making it easy to match your amplifier for maximum power output. My sample came with a final impedance of 2 ohms, working perfectly with my Zapco C2K 9.0X amplifier to make the full 2,000 watts.
The two subs sit in a common enclosure that features a single, massive 7" round port that's 19" long. The port has nicely rounded endcaps on both sides to minimize chuffing noises as the air passes. The outer cap uses a teardrop shape and also includes the terminal cup - a nice touch. The double-thick subwoofer baffle allows the subs to be flush-mounted for a clean look.
Charcoal-colored carpet covers most of the enclosure with the exception of its face, which is wrapped in a black carpet with the Kicker Logo proudly embroidered at the top. The black contrasts nicely with the silver-colored cones of the two L5
Solobaric SubwoofersAs I wrote earlier, the enclosure takes up some room. This bad boy has a footprint of 32 31/48" width x 19 91/416" maximum depth and is 16" tall.
InstallationBecause of its weight and size, you'll want to firmly mount the DS12L5 in your vehicle. Kicker, being the kind of caring company that they are, supplies solid mounts for just this purpose. Thank you, Kicker!
The owner's manual has been done very well. It spells everything out in three languages, showing multiple installation applications and styles. One of the most important tips that the manual provides is the admonition to keep the port clear of obstruction and to mount the enclosure with at least 4" of space from the port. Blocking the port will affect the overall sound quality of the subwoofer system, so make sure you pick a spot that keeps the port clear.
The manual also contains thoughtful reminders for mounting the enclosure and the warranty story. If you purchase your Kicker products from an authorized Kicker dealer, you receive a full one-year warranty for parts and labor, but if you buy it from a non-authorized source, the warranty is limited to just three months.
Once you have positioned the enclosure and mounted it to the floor, the last part of the installation is the wiring hook-up. The DS12L5 is as simple as they come. Black and red buttons clearly mark the spring-loaded terminals. Strip the insulator back on your wire, press the proper button down, slip in the wire and you're done.