Rockford Fosgate RFS-1408 Guide

RFS-1408/1808
RFS-1410/1810
RFS-1412/1812
RFS-1415/1815
INSTALLATION & OPERATION
® ®
car audio
fanatics
for

Dear Customer,
Congratulationsonyourpurchaseoftheworld'sfinestbrandofcaraudiospeakers. At
Rockford Fosgate we are fanatics about musical reproduction at its best, and we are
pleasedyouchoseourproduct.Throughyearsofengineeringexpertise,handcraftsman-
ship and critical testing procedures, we have created a wide range of products that
reproduce music with all the clarity and richness you deserve.
For maximum performance we recommend you have your new Rockford Fosgate
product installed by an Authorized Rockford Fosgate Dealer, as we provide specialized
training through Rockford Technical Training Institute (RTTI). Please read your
warranty and retain your receipt and original carton for possible future use.
Greatproductandcompetentinstallationsareonlya pieceofthepuzzlewhen it comes
to your system. Make sure that your installer is using 100% authentic installation
accessories from Connecting Punch in your installation. Connecting Punch has
everything from RCA cables and speaker wire to Power line and battery connectors.
Insist on it! After all, your new system deserves nothing but the best.
To add the finishing touch to your new Rockford Fosgate image order your Rockford
wearables,which include everything from T-shirts and jackets to hats and sunglasses.
TogetafreebrochureonRockfordFosgateproductsandRockfordwearables,intheU.S.
call 602-967-3565 or FAX [phone]. For all other countries, call +001-602-
967-3565 or FAX [phone].
The serial number can be found on the outside of the box. Please record it in
the space provided below as your permanent record. This will serve as
verificationofyourfactorywarrantyandmaybecomeusefulinrecoveringyour
speaker if it is ever stolen.
Serial Number: ________________________________
Model Number:________________________________
If, after reading your manual, you still have questions regarding this product,
we recommend that you see your Rockford Fosgate dealer. If you need further
assistance, you can call us direct at 1-800-795-2385. Be sure to have your serial
number, model number and date of purchase available when you call.
PRACTICE SAFE SOUND™
CONTINUOUS EXPOSURE TO SOUND PRESSURE LEVELS OVER
100dBMAY CAUSE PERMANENT HEARING LOSS. HIGH
POWERED AUTOSOUND SYSTEMS MAY PRODUCE SOUND
PRESSURE LEVELS WELL OVER 130dB. USE COMMON SENSE
AND PRACTICE SAFE SOUND.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction ............................................................................................. 1
RF Woofer Contents .................................................................................1
Technical Design Features ....................................................................... 1
Installation ...............................................................................................3
Recommended Enclosures.................................................................. 3
Building an Enclosure......................................................................... 5
Calculating Volume............................................................................5
Subwoofer Crossovers ........................................................................ 5
Wiring Configurations ........................................................................ 6
Specifications........................................................................................... 7
Warranty Information............................................................................... 8
International Information.......................................................................... 9
Welcome to Rockford Fosgate! This manual is designed to provide
information for the owner, salesperson and installer. For those of you
who want quick information on how to install this product, please turn
tothe InstallationSection ofthismanualorrefertotheiconlistedbelow.
Other information can be located by using the Table of Contents. We,
at Rockford Fosgate, have worked very hard to make sure all the
information in this manual is current. But, as we are constantly finding
newways toimprove ourproduct,this informationis subjectto change
without notice.
G ETTING S TARTED
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Sections marked
INSTALLATION
include “slam dunk”
assembly and wiring
directions

– 1 –
INTRODUCTION
RF WOOFER CONTENTS
RF Woofer
Installation & Operation Manual
TECHNICAL DESIGN FEATURES
TheRFWoofersareafulllineoflowfrequencydriversranginginsize
from 8" to 15" in diameter. The RF Woofers were designed for use
primarily in medium ported or sealed enclosures. Designed to offer
Rockford Fosgate quality in an affordable speaker, the RF Woofers
offerthebeginningcarstereoenthusiastanopportunitytoenjoysolid
low frequency bass. Our engineers have selected materials and
techniques used in building our speakers which offer performance
and reliability comparable to other speakers selling for much more.
◆Stamped Basket
The RF Punch Woofers use a stamped Cold Rolled Steel basket which is
rigidandlightweight.Thebasketisfinishedinacorrosiveresistantpowder
coat applied process used in many automotive applications
THE RESULT: A lightweight and rigid woofer
◆PVA Cone
The cone material is spruce pulp paper treated with a water resistant
PolyVinylAcetate(PVA)Emulsion.Thisprovidesthenecessarycombina-
tionof weightand strengththat allowshigh levelsof outputwithout cone
breakup.
THE RESULT: Increases cone rigidity and lowers distortion

– 2 –
◆Dual Laminated Foam Surrounds
TheRFPunchWoofersemployaduallaminatefoam surroundforthe
frontofthewoofer'ssuspension.Duallaminationimprovesreliability
by making the woofer mechanically stronger.
THE RESULT: Adds mechanical strength
◆Inverted Dust Cap
The use of the inverted dust cap serves to increase the cone rigidity
and improve the power handling by forcing more air through the
voice coil.
THE RESULT: Increases cone rigidity, smooths frequency response
andpreventsyourfriendsfromfeelingobligatedtoinvertthemforyou
◆Aluminum Voice Coil Former
Thevoicecoilformerisblack,anodizedaluminumforhighlyefficient
thermal transfer. This allows winding high temperature copper wire
in multiple layers for improved efficiency.
THERESULT:Improvespowerhandlingbyefficientlydissipatingheat
◆Vented Back Plate
The back plate has been vented for dependable speaker power
handling.Theventefficientlycirculatescoolairaroundthevoicecoil
and removes heat built up on the voice coil assembly. This ensures
that at high power levels, the speaker will efficiently dissipate any
unnecessary heat for reliable performance.
THE RESULT: Increased power handling

– 3 –
INSTALLATION
Recommended Enclosures
Fb = Tuning frequency Pd = Inside Port Diameter PI = Total Port Length
Fb=40Hz Pd=2" (5.08cm) PI=5-1/2" (13.97cm)
Recommended Sealed .44ft3(12.46L)
RF 8" – Minimum
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Recommended Ported .74ft3(20.95L)
RF 8" – Optimum
Fb=35Hz Pd=3" (7.62cm) PI=8" (20.32cm)
Recommended Sealed 1.0ft3(28.32L)
RF 10" – Minimum Recommended Ported 1.5ft3(42.47L)
RF 10" – Optimum
D = 10"
(25.4cm)
H = 11"
(27.94cm)
W = 12"
(30.48cm)
®
Range in Cubic Feet
1 2 3 4 5 60.3
1.50
.44
.74
D =12"
(30.48cm)
H = 11"
(27.94cm)
W = 14"
(35.56cm)
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Range in Cubic Feet
1 2 3 4 5 60.3
.44
.74
D = 16-1/2"
(41.91cm)
H = 14"
(35.56cm)
W = 16"
(40.64cm)
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Range in Cubic Feet
1 2 3 4 5 60.3
1.5
D = 18"
(45.72cm)
H = 12"
(30.48cm)
W = 12"
(30.48cm)
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Range in Cubic Feet
1 2 3 4 5 60.3
1.5

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Recommended Enclosures
Fb = Tuning frequency Pd = Inside Port Diameter PI = Total Port Length
Fb=30Hz Pd=4" (10.16cm) PI=12" (30.48cm)
Recommended Sealed 1.5ft3(42.47L)
RF 12" – Minimum Recommended Ported 2.5ft3(70.79L)
RF 12" – Optimum
Fb=35Hz Pd=2 x 4" (5.08cm x 10.16cm) PI=9-1/2" (24.13cm)
Recommended Sealed 3.0ft3(84.95L)
RF 15" – Minimum Recommended Ported 4.0ft3(113.27L)
RF 15" – Minimum
– 4 –
D = 12-1/2"
(31.75cm)
H = 15"
(38.10cm)
W = 20"
(50.80cm)
®
Range in Cubic Feet
1 2 3 4 5 60.3
1.5
2.25
D = 17"
(43.18cm)
H = 16"
(40.64cm)
W = 22"
(55.88cm)
®
Range in Cubic Feet
1 2 3 4 5 60.3
1.75
2.5
D = 14"
(35.56cm)
H = 20"
(50.80cm)
W = 25"
(63.50cm)
®
Range in Cubic Feet
1 2 3 4 5 60.3
D = 14-1/2"
(36.83cm)
H = 20"
(50.80cm)
W = 32"
(81.28cm)
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Range in Cubic Feet
1 2 3 4 5 60.3
5.5

– 5 –
Building an Enclosure
Toworkproperly,thewallsoftheenclosuremustberigidandnotflex
when subjected to the high pressures generated by the speaker's
operation. For optimum performance, we recommend using 3/4"
MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard) and internal bracing. The enclo-
sureshould begluedtogether andsecured withnailsor screws.MDF
is porous; therefore, it is suggested to also seal the outside walls with
polyurethane.
Calculating Volume
Calculating volume is merely a matter of measuring the dimensions
in inches and using the formula:
1728"
Height x Width x Depth
Box Volume =
(cubic feet)
Iftwofacingsidesareofunevenlength,addthemtogetheranddivide
by two to take the average. Using this number will give you the
volume without the necessity of calculating the box in sections and
adding the sections together. The thickness of the baffle material
reduces the internal volume so this must be subtracted from the
outside dimensions to determine the internal volume. The speaker
itself also reduces the internal volume. The amount of air displaced
by each model is listed on the specification sheet and should also be
subtracted from the gross volume calculation.
Subwoofer Crossovers
There are two operational types of crossovers, passive and active.
Passivecrossovers(coilsorinductors)areplacedonthespeakerleads
between the amplifier and speaker. An active crossover is an elec-
tronic filter which separates the audio signal fed to different amplifi-
ers. For optimum subwoofer performance, we recommend using an
active 80-100Hz low-pass crossover at 12dB/octave.
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– 6 –
Wiring Configurations
Three configurations for connecting speakers to an amplifier are
Series, Parallel, and Series-Parallel wiring. A Series configuration
consists of two or more speakers wired in an string (end to end). A
Parallel configuration consists of two or more speakers wired with
the common terminals connected across each other. A Series-
Parallelconfiguration isacombination ofboth methods.Determine
which method will be compatible with your amplifier.
RT= R1+ R2+ R3+ etc. 1 1 1 1 1
=++++etc.
RTR1R2R3R4
Series Wiring Parallel Wiring
+–
4Ωload 4Ωload
+–
4Ωload 4Ωload
+–
+ –
4Ωload
+– +–
•RTindicates the total speaker load
•R1, R2, etc. indicates each speaker in the system
•Red dot indicates “+” terminal of 8 ohm speaker
•Purple dot indicates “+” terminal of 4 ohm speaker
+–
4Ωload 4Ωload
+–
4Ωload 4Ωload
+–
+ –
4Ωload
+– +–
Series-Parallel Wiring
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– 7 –
SPECIFICATIONS
Specifications are subject to change without notice.
Model RFS-1408 RFS-1808 RFS-1410 RFS-1810 RFS-1412 RFS-1812 RFS-1415 RFS-1815 Nom. Impedance 4 8 4 8 4 8 4 8 FS (Hz) 44 46 36 38 28 29 26 27 RE (Ohm) 3.6 7.1 3.4 6.8 3.4 6.7 3.4 6.7 LE (mH) 1.49 2.40 1.47 2.25 1.43 2.22 1.71 2.87 QMS 4.26 3.81 3.75 3.81 3.41 4.11 4.89 3.90 QES 0.40 0.42 0.40 0.42 0.36 0.45 0.49 0.59 QTS 0.37 0.38 0.36 0.38 0.33 0.41 0.44 0.51 VAS (cu.ft) .67 .67 2.40 2.40 6.57 6.57 11.336 11.336 VAS (liter) 19 19 68 68 186 186 321 321 Power (Watts RMS) 100 100 100 100 100 100 150 150 Power (Watts Peak) 200 200 200 200 200 200 300 300 SPL (dB @ 1w/1m) 88 88 91 91 92 92 93 93 X-MAX (inches) 0.19 0.19 0.20 0.20 0.20 0.20 0.23 0.23 X-MAX (mm) 4.7 4.7 5.2 5.2 5.1 5.1 5.9 5.9 Speaker Dis. (cu. ft.) 0.03 0.03 0.04 0.04 0.05 0.05 0.107 0.107 Mntg. Dia. (in.) 7-1/8 7-1/8 9-1/4 9-1/4 11 11 14 14 Mntg. Depth (in.) 3-11/16 3-11/16 3-29/32 3-29/32 4-13/16 4-13/16 6-3/32 6-3/32