JL Audio 12W3v3-2 User manual

12W3v3-2 / 12W3v3-4 / 12W3v3-8
Subwoofers
owner’s manual
Congratulations on your purchase of a JL Audio subwoofer component. Your JL Audio subwoofer is a
precision loudspeaker which has been engineered to produce the highest quality sub-bass performance
in your vehicle. Authorized JL Audio dealers have extensive technical information for many different
applications of your new speaker. They also have the knowledge, skills and tools to build a high-quality
enclosure that will maximize the performance of your speaker. We highly recommend that you have your
enclosure built by an authorized JL Audio dealer.
Inside you will find specifications and two recommended enclosures for your speaker; one is a sealed
enclosure, the other is a ported design. Both types of enclosures will give you excellent sound quality and
low-frequency extension. The sealed enclosure is a better choice if space is extremely tight, but the ported
enclosure will produce 3dB more output at the same power if you have the extra space to work with.

2 JL AUDIO 12W3v3-2/12W3v3-4/12W3v3-8
SUBWOOFER 12W3v3-2 12W3v3-4 12W3v3-8
Free Air Resonance (Fs): 27.97 Hz 26.72 Hz 28.28 Hz
Electrical “Q” (Qes): 0.534 0.472 0.553
Mechanical “Q” (Qms): 7.678 7.572 6.936
Total Speaker “Q” (Qts): 0.500 0.444 0.512
Equivalent Compliance (Vas): 2.806 ft³
79.47 litres
2.844 ft³
80.54 litres
2.729 ft³
77.29 litres
One-way, Linear Excursion (Xmax)*: 0.510 in.
13.0 mm
0.510 in.
13.0 mm
0.510 in.
13.0 mm
Efficiency (1W/1m)**: 87.15 dB SPL 87.15 dB SPL 87.02 dB SPL
Effective Piston Area (Sd): 80.600 ft²
0.0520 m²
80.600 ft²
0.0520 m²
80.600 ft²
0.0520 m²
DC Resistance (Re): 1.658 ohm 3.563 ohm 7.310 ohm
Nominal Impedance: 2 ohm 4 ohm 8 ohm
Power Handling (continuous): 500W 500W 500W
* Xmax specifications are derived via one-way voice coil overhang method with
no correction factors applied.
** Efficiency (1W/1m) is not an accurate indicator of a subwoofer’s output capability and should
not be used as a comparison to other subwoofers to determine which one is “louder” !
!
#
$
"
%
12W3v3 SUBWOOFER PHYSICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
Nominal Diameter: 12.0 in.
305 mm
Overall Diameter (A): 12.5 in.
318 mm
Mounting Hole Diameter (B): 11.0625 in.
281 mm
Bolt Hole Circle (C): 11.7 in.
297 mm
Magnet Diameter (D): 5.5 in.
140 mm
Mounting Depth (E): 6.65 in.
169 mm
Net Weight: 14.50 lbs.
6.58 kg
Driver Displacement: 0.071 ft³
2.01 litres
JL AUDIO 12W3v3-2 / 12W3v3-4 / 12W3v3-8
U.S. PATENTS: #5,734,734 #6,501,844 #6,219,431 #D480,709 Other U.S. & Foreign patents pending.

“EL” (Port Extension Length)
12W3v3-2: 13.5 in. (343 mm)
12W3v3-4: 13.5 in. (343 mm)
12W3v3-8: 13.5 in. (343 mm)
JL AUDIO 12W3v3-2/12W3v3-4/12W3v3-8 3
SUBWOOFER RECOMMENDED SEALED ENCLOSURES
Volume
(net int.)
External Dimensions
(Width x Height x Depth)
F3
(Hz)
Fc
(Hz) Qtc
12W3v3-2 1.250 ft³
35.4 litres
23 in. x 14 in. x 10 in.
584 mm x 356 mm x 254 mm 41.8 50.4 0.96
12W3v3-4 1.125 ft³
31.8 litres
23 in. x 14 in. x 9.25 in.
584 mm x 356 mm x 235 mm 43.7 50.2 0.83
12W3v3-8 1.250 ft³
35.4 litres
23 in. x 14 in. x 10 in.
584 mm x 356 mm x 254 mm 41.5 50.5 0.91
All specifications are subject to change without notice.
!! CAUTION !!
Prolonged exposure to sound pressure levels in excess of 100dB can cause permanent hearing loss. This high-performance
speaker can exceed this level. Please exercise restraint in its operation in order to preserve your ability to enjoy its fidelity.
When installing a subwoofer in your vehicle, it is extremely important to secure the enclosure firmly. We recommend
bolting the enclosure through the metal of the floorpan or the frame of the vehicle with large diameter washers for
reinforcement. If an enclosure is not firmly attached, it can become a projectile in a collision. This is particularly important
in a hatchback, station wagon, sports utility vehicle, or van.
s4HE ENCLOSURE RECOMMENDATIONS LISTED ARE external
DIMENSIONS WHICH ASSUME THE USE OF 3/4" (19mm)
THICK MATERIAL )F YOU ARE USING 5/8" (16mm) THICK
MATERIALSUBTRACT1/4" (6.5mm) FROMEACHDIMENSION
$ONOTUSEANYMATERIALWITHATHICKNESSOFLESSTHAN
5/8" (16mm) AS THIS MAY COMPROMISE THE RIGIDITY OF
THEENCLOSURE
sAll enclosure volumes listed are net internal volumes!
"OX VOLUME DISPLACEMENT PORT DISPLACEMENT AND
BRACEDISPLACEMENTMUSTBEADDEDTOOBTAINTHEFINAL
GROSSINTERNALVOLUME!LLENCLOSUREDIMENSIONSLISTED
HAVEALREADYTAKENTHISINTOACCOUNT
s7HEN USING two SUBWOOFERS IN A COMMON
ENCLOSURESIMPLYdouble THE REQUIRED VOLUME AND
INTHECASEOFAPORTEDENCLOSUREUSEtwo times the
RECOMMENDEDPORTS
s7E RECOMMEND THE USE OF THIS SPEAKER IN A bi-
amplified systemUSINGHIGHQUALITYSATELLITESPEAKERS
ANDAMPLIFIERS7EDONOTRECOMMENDTHEUSEOF
THISSUBWOOFERWITHApassive crossover (coil),as this
TYPEOFDEVICEWILLADVERSELYAFFECTPERFORMANCE
SUBWOOFER RECOMMENDED PORTED ENCLOSURES
Volume
(net int.)
Enclosure External Dimensions
(Width x Height x Depth)
Slot Port Specs
Slot Area x Slot Length
Rec. Slot Port Internal Dimensions
Slot Width x Slot Height x Slot Length
Tune to:
(Hz)
F3
(Hz)
12W3v3-2 1.75 ft³
49.6 litres
29 in. x 14 in. x 12.625 in.
737 mm x 356 mm x 321 mm
17.1875 sq. in. x 26.125 in.
SQCMXMM
1.375 in. x 12.5 in. x 26.125 in.
35 mm x 318 mm x 664 mm 30.0 36.0
12W3v3-4 1.75 ft³
49.6 litres
29 in. x 14 in. x 12.625 in.
737 mm x 356 mm x 321 mm
17.1875 sq. in. x 26.125 in.
SQCMXMM
1.375 in. x 12.5 in. x 26.125 in.
35 mm x 318 mm x 664 mm 30.0 35.0
12W3v3-8 1.75 ft³
49.6 litres
29 in. x 14 in. x 12.625 in.
737 mm x 356 mm x 321 mm
17.1875 sq. in. x 26.125 in.
SQCMXMM
1.375 in. x 12.5 in. x 26.125 in.
35 mm x 318 mm x 664 mm 30.0 35.0

MINIMUM OPTIMUM MAXIMUM
LEGEND:
WARRANTY VOID
25W 75W 150W 300W 600W 1000W
12W3v3
Printed in USA JLA12W3v3_MAN_01_08_011202
**, !5$)/ WARRANTS THIS SPEAKER TO BE FREE OF DEFECTS IN MATERIALS AND
workmanship for a period of one (1) yearFROMTHEORIGINALDATEOFPURCHASE
$AMAGECAUSEDBYTHEFOLLOWINGISNOTCOVEREDUNDERWARRANTYACCIDENTMISUSE
ABUSE PRODUCT MODIFICATION OR NEGLECT FAILURE TO FOLLOW INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
UNAUTHORIZEDREPAIRATTEMPTSMISREPRESENTATIONSBYTHESELLER4HISWARRANTYDOESNOT
COVERINCIDENTALORCONSEQUENTIALDAMAGESANDDOESNOTCOVERTHECOSTOFREMOVING
ORREINSTALLINGTHEUNITS#OSMETICDAMAGEDUETOACCIDENTORNORMALWEARANDTEAR
ISNOTCOVEREDUNDERWARRANTY
This warranty is not transferable and applies only to the original
purchaser of the product from an authorized JL AUDIO dealer.
Warranty is voided if the factory-applied product serial number is
removed or defaced.
3HOULD SERVICE BE NECESSARY UNDER THIS WARRANTY FOR ANY REASON DUE TO
MANUFACTURINGDEFECTORMALFUNCTION*,!5$)/WILLATITSDISCRETIONREPAIRORREPLACE
THEDEFECTIVEPRODUCTWITHNEWORREMANUFACTUREDPRODUCTATNOCHARGE
!NY APPLICABLE IMPLIED WARRANTIES ARE LIMITED IN DURATION TO THE PERIOD OF THE
EXPRESSWARRANTYASPROVIDEDHEREINBEGINNINGWITHTHEDATEOFTHEORIGINALPURCHASE
ATRETAILANDNOWARRANTIES WHETHER EXPRESSORIMPLIED SHALLAPPLYTO THIS PRODUCT
thereafter. Some states do not allow limitations on implied warranties, therefore these
EXCLUSIONSMAYNOTAPPLYTOYOU4HISWARRANTYGIVESYOUSPECIFICLEGALRIGHTSANDYOU
MAYALSOHAVEOTHERRIGHTSWHICHVARYFROMSTATETOSTATE
If you need service on your JL AUDIO product:
!LL WARRANTY RETURNS SHOULD BE SENT TO *, !5$)/ FREIGHT PREPAID THROUGH AN
AUTHORIZED *, !5$)/ DEALER AND MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY PROOF OF PURCHASE A
COPYOFTHEORIGINALSALESRECEIPT$IRECTRETURNSFROMCONSUMERSORNONAUTHORIZED
DEALERS WILL BE REFUSED UNLESS SPECIFICALLY AUTHORIZED BY *, !5$)/ WITH A VALID
RETURN AUTHORIZATION NUMBER 7ARRANTY EXPIRATION ON PRODUCTS RETURNED WITHOUT
PROOFOFPURCHASEWILLBEDETERMINEDFROMTHEMANUFACTURINGDATECODE#OVERAGE
MAYBEINVALIDATEDASTHISDATEISPREVIOUSTOPURCHASEDATE2ETURNONLYDEFECTIVE
COMPONENTS.ONDEFECTIVEITEMSRECEIVEDWILLBERETURNEDFREIGHTCOLLECT#USTOMER
ISRESPONSIBLEFORSHIPPINGCHARGESANDINSURANCEINSENDINGTHEPRODUCTTO*,!5$)/
&REIGHTDAMAGEONRETURNSISNOTCOVEREDUNDERWARRANTY!LWAYSINCLUDEPROOFOF
PURCHASESALESRECEIPT
RECOMMENDED CONTINUOUS (RMS) POWER RANGE FOR ONE SUBWOOFER DRIVER:
JL Audio offers an extensive line of high-performance subwoofer drivers to fit a wide variety of enclosure and power applications.When designing systems with our drivers, it is very important to
achieve a good power match between the subwoofer amplifier and the subwoofer driver's capabilities. The power levels listed in the above chart represent continuous (RMS) amplifier power per
woofer and assume that the user will regularly make full use of that power without drastically overdriving the amplifier(s). Make sure you factor system impedance and the total number
of subwoofers into your calculations.Adhering to these power recommendations will result in systems that are both reliable and enjoyable.
For Service Information in the U.S.A. please call:
JL Audio customer service: [phone] during normal business hours (Eastern Time)
JL Audio, Inc
.ORTH#OMMERCE0ARKWAY-IRAMAR&,
International Warranties:
0RODUCTSPURCHASEDOUTSIDETHE5NITED3TATESOF!MERICAARECOVEREDONLYBYTHATCOUNTRYSDISTRIBUTORANDNOTBY*,!UDIO)NC
JL AUDIO LIMITED WARRANTY (USA)
Automotive Subwoofer Components
MEDIUM GRAY (MINIMUM):
From a reliability standpoint, this zone represents
a very comfortable operating power range for
each driver. This level of power will not stress the
woofer but will not extract all of its performance
potential, either.
Use of less than the minimum power level will
not damage the woofer, but may result in
unsatisfactory performance.
LIGHT GRAY (OPTIMUM):
This zone represents the best compromise
between long-term reliability, high-output and
low-distortion performance. This power level is
lower than the woofer’s continuous power rating
(as published in its specifications), but you will still
be taking advantage of the woofer’s, low-distortion
performance range without undue risk of failure.
DARK GRAY (MAXIMUM):
Slightly more SPL will be gained by pushing the
power into this zone, but typically not more than
2dB, compared to the light gray zone.The subwoofer
driver is designed to operate safely up to this power
range, but not beyond. Operate with caution.
BLACK (WARRANTY VOID):
We do not recommend operating woofers at
this level of power. In this zone, there is a very high
probability that the driver will fail due to excessive
heat and/or mechanical stress.
Subwoofer drivers operated at these levels of
power are NOT covered under warranty.