n0catchyname

If there is one thing I've never been able to wrap my head around is the actual benefits to square subs (such as Kicker). Obviously it works, otherwise they wouldn't produce them, but what is the point behind them? Is it the extra cone area? It seems to me that the square shape would be less uniform than a typical circle shape.

Can anyone explain to me the benefits/drawbacks to the square sub design over the typical circle design? Just something I've never understood and am curious to see what others think.

testtones

main benefit is cone area

AyZe

more cone - more air movement.....
i would imagine u get less strength with a square but i dunno.

n0catchyname

That's what I was thinking. It'd be like if a chicken started laying square eggs, there may be more area to house slightly more, but be more prone to being broken. It seems the drawback would outweigh the benefit, and yet they are obviously used quite a bit. That's why I asked if anyone could explain it furthur. Perhaps they are just as strong, or the weakness is miniscule enough not to be worried about. Or maybe there is more to it than that. That's why I asked

Denonite

iTrader: (1)

that's what Kicker has marketed...more cone area. They're pretty rugged, so they beefed them up enough to handle what they need to. Most of their newer manuals don't have an SD spec (cone area), but some older ones did. the 2004 12l7 had an sd of 645 cm^2 and an xmax of 13.2 mm, so you can figure the new 12l7 has the same cone area, but it has a 14.1 xmax, so total air volume that can be displaced is 909 cm^3. For comparisons sake, a new Alpine type r 12" has 480 cm^2 sd, and an xmax of 20mm, so it's total air volume is 960 cm^3..no real advantage in terms of air moved. Kicker's are loud though, but that's because they tend to produce more upper bass than their competitors (bass between 45-100 hz)...the loud sounding bass. Even their SQ tuned box is tuned to 40hz in a 3.25 cube box, and their compact box is 1.75 cubes tuned to 44 hz. Some people like their sound, some hate it. I've had good results with them.

Father Yuli

iTrader: (17)

like all said. more cone area.

it's funny they market it this way although what provides a greater benefit is having more coils.

JohnnyRock1588

iTrader: (22)

cuz de squarez is cools? ha

give one a listen and see if you can really as a consumer evaluate a difference with your ears in a 12" like most already say it will probably be a little louder in the upper range above 50hz id say in my opinion no real benefit... but of course as a "consumer" in todays market really what matter to the average buyer will be price and the "cool" factor to most people in kickers example most people have heard of them.
in fact- short story but my friend from work came from the Dominican and said he knew " a lot" about car stereo so i asked him a few questions and somehow he ended up saying kicker in just about every other sentence lol and yes he believed that square subs will bigger louder and cooler. so i fired up my 12" -sealed...in my cavalier and he was like wowww that sounds crazy clean. he was like i like that better than kicker! what is it?

haha

CivicDuty

Hi I am gonna be winning some Kicker S10L7 subs on ebay. I want them to last, and listen to metal and rock for the most part. I am thinking sealed is a good idea. Anyone have a used box for 2 10" Kicker L7 subs thats dealed? My only requirement is that the height be 12 3/8" or under ( has to fit under shelf). Thanks

n0catchyname

Yea, I've never actually heard a kicker in action, but they seem really popular and I couldn't figure out why. But, with no real benefits or downsides I guess it's just like everything else, a personal preference. Johnny, you make a very good point, it's basically a marketing gimmick, which would explain why they market more cone area over more coils.

Mahna Mahna

iTrader: (4)

While the increase in cone space will make the square kicker louder, is it an audible difference?