• Learn about the Kicker C12 comp before buying.speaker element image by bright from Fotolia.com
  
  Kicker car audio offers a full line of car-stereo equipment, from subwoofers to car stereos to speakers. Before purchasing any piece of car audio equipment, especially a subwoofer, it is smart to research the specifications of that item. An item such as the Comp C12 subwoofer has certain specifications that might make it either the perfect fit or impractical for your car. Size, watt-handling capabilities and weight are all determining factors.
  
  

Ohms and Size

• The C12 is available in either 4-ohm or 8-ohm configurations. This refers to the ways you can wire your speakers to your amp. The higher the ohms, the cleaner the sound that will go through your speaker. The C12 is a 12" speaker.
  
  

Enclosure Types

• The C12 can perform in either vented or sealed enclosures. All subwoofers need to be installed in some type of box, or enclosure, to create the right type of bass sound. Vented enclosures have air ports that allow air to pass freely into and out of the box, while sealed enclosures are airtight. The C12 can also perform in free-air customized applications, i.e. custom jobs done by professional car stereo shops that install the speaker into your car without the use of an external enclosure.
  
  

Wattage Capabilities

• The C12 can handle 150 watts of RMS power and 300 watts of peak power. RMS refers to the amount of power the subwoofer can handle continuously for a long period of time. The peak power is the amount of power the woofer can handle in a quick, short burst.
  
  

Box Enclosure Sizes

• Box enclosure size refers to the size of the box you should build or buy for maximum sound performance. The sizes apply to a single subwoofer. For a sealed box, the minimum size is 1.25 cubic feet, and the maximum size is 3.5 cubic feet. For a vented box, the minimum size is 1.75 feet and the maximum is 2.25 cubic feet.
  
  

C12 Design Innovations

• The Kicker C12 features an injection-molded cone with flex-killing, 36-degree back bracing. The cone is the part of the speaker that produces the noise; it helps to create crisp, clean sound if the cone is stiff and without flex. Injection-molding and back bracing help create a stiff cone. The C12 also features Spiralead™ tinsel-lead technology for ultimate durability, according to the Kicker website. Speakers can wear down from use and eventually break, making durability an important factor for speaker quality.
  
  

MSRP

• The suggested retail of the C12 is $129.95.