When it
comes to car audio, it’s not the same without a subwoofer. It’s the triangle of
sound with bass being the foundation. But depending on your vehicle, you may
not have much space available for a subwoofer. And even if you already have a
stock subwoofer that came with your vehicle, you can always improve it. My 2023
Chevy Bolt came with the upgraded Bose sound system which included a powered
subwoofer in the trunk. While the Bose system sounded good, including the sub,
there was room for improvement. Kicker is known for having great subs. They
have something for everyone, including for those with limited space. Up for
review today it their Kicker PTRTP Powered 12 Inch Enclosure. MSRP is $499.
Features and
specs:
TYPE: powered
down-fire
WOOFER SIZE
(in, cm): 12, 30
RMS POWER
(watts at 14.4v): 500
PHASE SWITCH:
0-180°
FREQUENCY
RESPONSE (Hz): 25-120
S-TO-N RATIO
(A-weighted, re: rated power): >90dB
INPUT
SENSITIVITY: Low Level – 125mV-5V; High Level – 1V-40V
CROSSOVER: active
12dB/octave, variable 50-120Hz low pass; 12dB/octave, high pass at 25Hz
KickEQ™ BASS
BOOST: variable to +6dB, centered at 40Hz
BOX HEIGHT
(in, cm): 6-1/2, 16.6
BOX DEPTH
(in, cm): 14-5/8, 37
BOX WIDTH
(in, cm): 27-1/2, 70
The Kicker PTRTP
12 Inch Powered Subwoofer came in a color printed box with photos, and specs of
the subwoofer. Opening the box revealed a well-made sub in a solid enclosure.
Materials used in the construction is MDF and carpet for the enclosure, metal
polypropylene and rubber for the sub, and metal for the amplifier. Quality of
materials used, as well as fit and finish, are excellent. Also included was the
bass remote, wire for the bass remote, and manual.
I love the
design of the Kicker PTRTP 12 Inch Subwoofer. It uses a shallow mount subwoofer
to yield an enclosure that will fit in most tight spaces. Yet it also boosts
performance by incorporating a passive radiator. Enthusiasts may prefer a
ported design for its higher output. Unfortunately, ported enclosures require
more space due to the higher airspace needed for the ported design. So if you
are limited in space, you may have to concede to going sealed.
At least you
may have thought that was the case. But if you have limited space, going sealed
is not the only option. Kicker is known for giving you big bass, and that
continues with their Kicker PTRTP 12 Inch Subwoofer. Instead of going just
sealed, they added a passive radiator. A passive radiator is just that,
passive. That means that it does not require any power. Like a car turbo takes
exhaust energy and turns it into extra horsepower for the vehicle, a passive radiator
takes internal energy created by the active subwoofer and uses it to create
extra output.
I also love the turn key design of the Kicker PTRTP 12 Inch Subwoofer, which also proves an easy install. Not only does it provide a great driver in the CompRT, it also includes a built-in amplifier. With a 500 watt RMS rating of the driver, they maximized its performance with an amp that puts out 500 watts. All of the connections and controls for the amp are mounted on the side. This ensures not only a simple install, but also it’s easy to tune. All of the controls for gain, crossover, and boost are all within easy reach. Power ground and signal is all that’s needed for install. And installation was a cinch. Now let’s see how it sounds.
Lady Gaga-
Starstruck: bass beats were really clean.
They sounded really full and deep, playing with a lot of authority. And they
hit like a hammer to the chest.
Branden Beal- Drop That Booty Down Low: bass beats were extremely deep, played with so much output and authority my rearview mirror was dancing and getting its groove on. And while it hit so hard like a hammer to the chest, it did it so cleanly! And when he dropped the booty down low, it took things to a whole new level. It was so deep it was like an earthquake in my little Chevy Bolt! And again it did so, so cleanly!
I love
seeing a quality product that performs extremely well. I also love it when a company develops a name
for themselves for great products, after years of doing so. But I love it even more when a company with a
great reputation doesn’t rest on their laurels, and continues to develop and provide
great products. Kicker is one of those great companies. And their Kicker PTRTP 12 inch subwoofer,
thanks to the sealed enclosure with the passive radiator, provided a nice and tight
bass yet also very deep with extra output. Based on their design, features, quality, and
performance, the Kicker PTRTP Powered 12 Inch Enclosure has earned out Editor’s
Choice Award. Kudos to Kicker on such a great product! For more info and complete specs, check out
their website at www.kicker.com.
