JL Audio 8W7 User 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.
If you decide to build one of these enclosures yourself, you must have the construction of the box
inspected and approved by your authorized JL Audio dealer in order for the 1 year limited warranty to
be valid. Please read the warranty information carefully.
8W7
Subwoofer
owner’s manual
YELLOW (OPTIMUM):
This zone represents the best
compromise between long-term
reliability, high-output and low-distortion
performance and is centered on each
woofer's continuous power rating (as
published in its specifications). In this
zone, you will be taking full advantage of
the woofer's optimum, low-distortion
performance range without undue risk
of failure.
RED (MAXIMUM):
In this zone, low-distortion output and
long-term reliability will be compromised
(especially by an aggressive user). Slightly
more SPL will be gained by pushing the
power into this zone, but typically not
more than 2dB, compared to the yellow
zone. The closer you are to the black
zone, the higher the likelihood of driver
failure. 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.
GREEN (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.
250W 500W 1000W 2000W 4000W125W
When designing systems with W7 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
(clipping) 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.
RECOMMENDED CONTINUOUS (RMS) POWER RANGE FOR ONE SUBWOOFER DRIVER:
JL AUDIO LIMITED WARRANTY (USA)
Automotive Subwoofer Components
JL AUDIO 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, contingent upon
installation being performed or approved by an authorized JL AUDIO dealer, in writing, on the original sales receipt. If the preceding condition is not met, the
warranty term is limited to ninety (90) days from the original purchase date.
This warranty is not transferrable and applies only to the original purchaser of the product from an authorized JL AUDIO dealer. Should service be necessary under this
warranty for any reason due to manufacturing defect or malfunction, JL AUDIO will, at its discretion, repair or replace the defective product with new or remanufactured
product at no charge.
Damage 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. This warranty does not cover incidental or consequential damages and does not cover the cost of removing
or reinstalling the unit(s). Cosmetic damage due to accident or normal wear and tear is not covered under warranty.
Any 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. This 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:
All warranty returns should be sent to JL AUDIO freight prepaid through an authorized JL AUDIO dealer and must be accompanied by proof of purchase (a copy of the
original sales receipt.) Direct returns from consumers or non-authorized dealers will be refused unless specifically authorized by JL AUDIO with a valid return authorization
number. Warranty expiration on products returned without proof of purchase will be determined from the manufacturing date code. Coverage may be invalidated as this
date is previous to purchase date. Return only defective components. Non-defective items received will be returned freight-collect. Customer is responsible for shipping
charges and insurance in sending the product to JL AUDIO. Freight damage on returns is not covered under warranty. Always include proof of purchase (sales receipt).
For Service Information in the U.S.A. please call:
JL Audio customer service: [phone] during normal business hours (Eastern Time)
JL Audio, Inc
10369 North Commerce Parkway, Miramar, FL 33025
International Warranties:
Products purchased outside the United States of America are covered only by that country’s distributor and not by JL Audio, Inc.
Printed in USA JL8W7-04-2003

Overall
Depth
8.32 in.
(211 mm)
Mounting
Depth
6.83 in.
(173 mm)
Overall
Diameter
8.5 in.
(216 mm)
Bolt Hole
Circle
7.39 in.
(188 mm)
12 Holes
Magnet
Diameter
5.79 in.
(147 mm)
Mounting
Hole
Diameter
6.94 in.
(176 mm)
SAFETY NOTICE!
It is absolutely essential that the completed subwoofer enclosure is mounted firmly to the vehicle with heavy steel
bolts (1/2 inch diameter) and large steel washers on both sides of the bolts.This will reduce the likelihood of occupant
injury in the event of a collision or sudden deceleration.
3
Grille Clearance: 2.3125 in. (25 mm) from the bottom of the mounting flange to the
lowest inside surface of the grille.
Displacement: 0.06 cu. ft. (1.7 ltrs)
Net Weight: 17 lbs. (7.8 kg)
Mounting Hardware: Twelve #8 x 1.00" long clear, zinc-plated steel Phillips pan-head
sheet metal screws (included) or twelve #8-32 long steel Phillips pan-head machine screws
with #8-32 T-Nuts, each at least 1/2-inch (12.5 mm) longer than the thickness of the
mounting baffle (not included).
Unpacking/Mounting: Please refer to the “W7 Instalation: Mounting System ” sheet for
detailed, step-by-step instructions.
PORTED ENCLOSURE:
Recommended Net Volume: 1.0 cu. ft. (28.3 ltrs.)
Recommended Port Tuning: 32 Hz
Port Type: “Slot” ports are recommended. See information above. The port
recommendations listed above are derived through actual tests and measurements (not
computer simulations).
Front Baffle Thickness: 0.75 in. (19 mm)
Wall Thickness: 0.75 in. (19 mm)
Net volumes given below do not include the air volume displaced by the speaker (Driver
Displacement).This value must be added to the net volume along with the displacement of any
braces and/or ports (if applicable) to arrive at a gross internal volume. Air inside a port is not
part of the effective net volume. Calculate ports as solid, not hollow objects.
SEALED ENCLOSURE:
Recommended Net Volume: 0.875 cu. ft. (24.8 ltrs.)
Fc: 46.0 Hz F3: 41.3 Hz Qtc: 0.797
Front Baffle Thickness: 0.75 in. (19 mm)
Wall Thickness: 0.75 in. (19 mm)
External Width
23.25 in.
(591 mm)
External Height
10.0 in.
(254 mm)
Slot Height
8.5 in.
(216 mm)
External Depth
12.0 in.
(305 mm)
External Width
14.0 in.
(394 mm)
External Height
10.0 in.
(292 mm)
External Depth
16.75 in.
(464 mm)
Extension Length
13.0 in.
(330 mm)
Slot Width
1.5 in.
(38 mm)
Slot Length
26.0 in.
(572 mm)
Slot Width
1.5 in.
(38 mm)
Driver Specifications
Enclosure Specifications
2
Infrasonic Filter:
Turn "Off" for Sealed Enclosure.
Turn "On" for Ported Enclosure.
Input Sensitivity Controls:
Proper adjustment of these controls is critical!
For virtually all aftermarket head units,
set "Input Voltage" to "Low".
Dual Mono Speaker
Output Connections:
Connect 8ga. wire directly to "+"
and "–" "Subwoofer Output"
connections and to the W7.
LF Boost:
Generally not necessary in
W7 applications (we
recommend defeating it by
turning the dial to "0").
Amp Low-Pass Filter:
Set "Mode/Slope" switch to "24dB". Set
"Filter Freq. (Hz)" knob to "85". Lower
settings are likely to result in a poor transition
between the upper response of the W7 and
the lower response of the mid-bass speakers.
Amplifier Input:
Connect RCA-type cables from
the head unit (or processor) to
these two jacks. Use both jacks
(with a Y-adapter if necessary).
JL AUDIO 250/1:
Recommended for single 8W7-3
These settings are intended as a “baseline” for tuning your
system. Depending on your vehicle and your preferences,
some variation in the crossover and bass control settings
may be necessary for optimum performance.
Free Air Resonance (Fs): 35.2 Hz
Electrical “Q” (Qes): 0.654
Mechanical “Q” (Qms): 9.50
Total Speaker “Q” (Qts): 0.612
Equivalent Compliance (Vas): 0.61 cu. ft. (17.4 ltrs)
One-Way, Linear Excursion (Xmax)*: 0.75 in. (19 mm)
Thermal Power Handling (Pt): 300 Watts Continuous
Reference Efficiency (no): 0.112 %
Efficiency (SPL @ 1W/1m): 82.7 dB
DC Resistance (Re): 2.78Ω
Effective Piston Area (Sd): 38.0 sq. in. (0.0245 sq. m)
Nominal Impedance (Znom): 3Ω
250W 500W 1000W 2000W 4000125W
RECOMMENDED CONTINUOUS (RMS) POWER RANGE FOR ONE SUBWOOFER DRIVER:
= position of knob
= position of switch
= switch with twopossible positions
= setting will vary
8W7-3
Amplifier Recommendation: 250/1
* Xmax specifications are derived via one-way voice coil overhang method with no
correction factors applied.

Overall
Depth
8.32 in.
(211 mm)
Mounting
Depth
6.83 in.
(173 mm)
Overall
Diameter
8.5 in.
(216 mm)
Bolt Hole
Circle
7.39 in.
(188 mm)
12 Holes
Magnet
Diameter
5.79 in.
(147 mm)
Mounting
Hole
Diameter
6.94 in.
(176 mm)
SAFETY NOTICE!
It is absolutely essential that the completed subwoofer enclosure is mounted firmly to the vehicle with heavy steel
bolts (1/2 inch diameter) and large steel washers on both sides of the bolts.This will reduce the likelihood of occupant
injury in the event of a collision or sudden deceleration.
3
Grille Clearance: 2.3125 in. (25 mm) from the bottom of the mounting flange to the
lowest inside surface of the grille.
Displacement: 0.06 cu. ft. (1.7 ltrs)
Net Weight: 17 lbs. (7.8 kg)
Mounting Hardware: Twelve #8 x 1.00" long clear, zinc-plated steel Phillips pan-head
sheet metal screws (included) or twelve #8-32 long steel Phillips pan-head machine screws
with #8-32 T-Nuts, each at least 1/2-inch (12.5 mm) longer than the thickness of the
mounting baffle (not included).
Unpacking/Mounting: Please refer to the “W7 Instalation: Mounting System ” sheet for
detailed, step-by-step instructions.
PORTED ENCLOSURE:
Recommended Net Volume: 1.0 cu. ft. (28.3 ltrs.)
Recommended Port Tuning: 32 Hz
Port Type: “Slot” ports are recommended. See information above. The port
recommendations listed above are derived through actual tests and measurements (not
computer simulations).
Front Baffle Thickness: 0.75 in. (19 mm)
Wall Thickness: 0.75 in. (19 mm)
Net volumes given below do not include the air volume displaced by the speaker (Driver
Displacement).This value must be added to the net volume along with the displacement of any
braces and/or ports (if applicable) to arrive at a gross internal volume. Air inside a port is not
part of the effective net volume. Calculate ports as solid, not hollow objects.
SEALED ENCLOSURE:
Recommended Net Volume: 0.875 cu. ft. (24.8 ltrs.)
Fc: 46.0 Hz F3: 41.3 Hz Qtc: 0.797
Front Baffle Thickness: 0.75 in. (19 mm)
Wall Thickness: 0.75 in. (19 mm)
External Width
23.25 in.
(591 mm)
External Height
10.0 in.
(254 mm)
Slot Height
8.5 in.
(216 mm)
External Depth
12.0 in.
(305 mm)
External Width
14.0 in.
(394 mm)
External Height
10.0 in.
(292 mm)
External Depth
16.75 in.
(464 mm)
Extension Length
13.0 in.
(330 mm)
Slot Width
1.5 in.
(38 mm)
Slot Length
26.0 in.
(572 mm)
Slot Width
1.5 in.
(38 mm)
Driver Specifications
Enclosure Specifications
2
Infrasonic Filter:
Turn "Off" for Sealed Enclosure.
Turn "On" for Ported Enclosure.
Input Sensitivity Controls:
Proper adjustment of these controls is critical!
For virtually all aftermarket head units,
set "Input Voltage" to "Low".
Dual Mono Speaker
Output Connections:
Connect 8ga. wire directly to "+"
and "–" "Subwoofer Output"
connections and to the W7.
LF Boost:
Generally not necessary in
W7 applications (we
recommend defeating it by
turning the dial to "0").
Amp Low-Pass Filter:
Set "Mode/Slope" switch to "24dB". Set
"Filter Freq. (Hz)" knob to "85". Lower
settings are likely to result in a poor transition
between the upper response of the W7 and
the lower response of the mid-bass speakers.
Amplifier Input:
Connect RCA-type cables from
the head unit (or processor) to
these two jacks. Use both jacks
(with a Y-adapter if necessary).
JL AUDIO 250/1:
Recommended for single 8W7-3
These settings are intended as a “baseline” for tuning your
system. Depending on your vehicle and your preferences,
some variation in the crossover and bass control settings
may be necessary for optimum performance.
Free Air Resonance (Fs): 35.2 Hz
Electrical “Q” (Qes): 0.654
Mechanical “Q” (Qms): 9.50
Total Speaker “Q” (Qts): 0.612
Equivalent Compliance (Vas): 0.61 cu. ft. (17.4 ltrs)
One-Way, Linear Excursion (Xmax)*: 0.75 in. (19 mm)
Thermal Power Handling (Pt): 300 Watts Continuous
Reference Efficiency (no): 0.112 %
Efficiency (SPL @ 1W/1m): 82.7 dB
DC Resistance (Re): 2.78Ω
Effective Piston Area (Sd): 38.0 sq. in. (0.0245 sq. m)
Nominal Impedance (Znom): 3Ω
250W 500W 1000W 2000W 4000125W
RECOMMENDED CONTINUOUS (RMS) POWER RANGE FOR ONE SUBWOOFER DRIVER:
= position of knob
= position of switch
= switch with twopossible positions
= setting will vary
8W7-3
Amplifier Recommendation: 250/1
* Xmax specifications are derived via one-way voice coil overhang method with no
correction factors applied.

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.
If you decide to build one of these enclosures yourself, you must have the construction of the box
inspected and approved by your authorized JL Audio dealer in order for the 1 year limited warranty to
be valid. Please read the warranty information carefully.
8W7
Subwoofer
owner’s manual
YELLOW (OPTIMUM):
This zone represents the best
compromise between long-term
reliability, high-output and low-distortion
performance and is centered on each
woofer's continuous power rating (as
published in its specifications). In this
zone, you will be taking full advantage of
the woofer's optimum, low-distortion
performance range without undue risk
of failure.
RED (MAXIMUM):
In this zone, low-distortion output and
long-term reliability will be compromised
(especially by an aggressive user). Slightly
more SPL will be gained by pushing the
power into this zone, but typically not
more than 2dB, compared to the yellow
zone. The closer you are to the black
zone, the higher the likelihood of driver
failure. 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.
GREEN (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.
250W 500W 1000W 2000W 4000W125W
When designing systems with W7 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
(clipping) 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.
RECOMMENDED CONTINUOUS (RMS) POWER RANGE FOR ONE SUBWOOFER DRIVER:
JL AUDIO LIMITED WARRANTY (USA)
Automotive Subwoofer Components
JL AUDIO 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, contingent upon
installation being performed or approved by an authorized JL AUDIO dealer, in writing, on the original sales receipt. If the preceding condition is not met, the
warranty term is limited to ninety (90) days from the original purchase date.
This warranty is not transferrable and applies only to the original purchaser of the product from an authorized JL AUDIO dealer. Should service be necessary under this
warranty for any reason due to manufacturing defect or malfunction, JL AUDIO will, at its discretion, repair or replace the defective product with new or remanufactured
product at no charge.
Damage 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. This warranty does not cover incidental or consequential damages and does not cover the cost of removing
or reinstalling the unit(s). Cosmetic damage due to accident or normal wear and tear is not covered under warranty.
Any 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. This 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:
All warranty returns should be sent to JL AUDIO freight prepaid through an authorized JL AUDIO dealer and must be accompanied by proof of purchase (a copy of the
original sales receipt.) Direct returns from consumers or non-authorized dealers will be refused unless specifically authorized by JL AUDIO with a valid return authorization
number. Warranty expiration on products returned without proof of purchase will be determined from the manufacturing date code. Coverage may be invalidated as this
date is previous to purchase date. Return only defective components. Non-defective items received will be returned freight-collect. Customer is responsible for shipping
charges and insurance in sending the product to JL AUDIO. Freight damage on returns is not covered under warranty. Always include proof of purchase (sales receipt).
For Service Information in the U.S.A. please call:
JL Audio customer service: [phone] during normal business hours (Eastern Time)
JL Audio, Inc
10369 North Commerce Parkway, Miramar, FL 33025
International Warranties:
Products purchased outside the United States of America are covered only by that country’s distributor and not by JL Audio, Inc.
Printed in USA JL8W7-04-2003