Boston Acoustics ProSeries 8.5LF Car Driver Car Speaker

ProSeries 12.5LF 10.5LF 8.5LF Competitor Series 1500 1200 1000 800 Generator Series GS1500 GS1200 GS1000

Boston Acoustics Subwoofer Installation Manual

Table of Contents Enclosure Recommendations

3

Building an Enclosure

5

Locating Subwoofer Enclosure In Vehicle

6

Hatchbacks/Sport Utility Vehicles

6

Sedans

7

Wiring

8

2 ohm subwoofers

8

4 ohm subwoofers

9

Specifications

10

Theile/Small Parameters

10

Congratulations! You have purchased the finest automotive subwoofer the industry has to offer. Installed correctly, the ProSeries subwoofers will offer unprecedented performance for many years to come. Warning This manual explains only the basic installation of the subwoofers—not the techniques required to perform the installation. If you do not have the experience that these procedures require, we strongly suggest you consult your Boston Acoustics dealer about professional installation.

2

Enclosure Recommendations The ProSeries and Competitor Series subwoofers are designed to deliver optimum performance in small sealed enclosures. The Generator Series subwoofers are designed for either sealed or ported enclosures. The following are the recommended enclosure volumes: ProSeries

Competitor Series

Sealed Enclosures

12.5LF 10.5LF 8.5LF

Gross Internal Volume

1.0ft3

Generator Series

1500

1200

1000

800

GS1500 GS1200 GS1000

0.5ft3

0.3ft3

1.5ft3

1.0ft3

0.5ft3

0.3ft3

2.5ft3

1.5ft3

.75ft3

-3dB Down Point—In Car

20Hz

20Hz

20Hz

20Hz

20Hz

20Hz

20Hz

20Hz

20Hz

20Hz

System "Q"

(2Ω)

0.9

0.8

0.6

1.36

1.03

0.92

0.69

1.63

1.38

1.18

(4Ω)

1.1

0.95

0.7

1.56

1.12

0.98

0.73

1.5

1.29

1.09

Recommended Enclosure Dimensions (Internal) Height

10.5"

7.5"

6.5"

10"

10.5"

7.5"

6.5"

20"

16"

12"

Width

13.0"

11.0"

9.0"

16"

13.0"

11.0"

9.0"

16"

14"

11"

Depth

13.0"

11.0"

9.0"

16"

13.0"

11.0"

9.0"

13.5"

12"

9.75"

Ported Enclosures (Generator Series only)

GS1500

GS1200

GS1000

Gross Internal Volume

2.5ft3

1.5ft3

1.25ft3

Tuning Frequency

35Hz

35Hz

33Hz

Port Diameter

4"D

3"D

3"D

Port Length

11"L

7.3"L

11"L

Height

20"

16"

14"

Width

16"

14"

11.5"

Depth

13.5"

12"

14"

Recommended Enclosure Dimensions (Internal)

3

Calculating your enclosure volume: Internal dimensions Height (inches) x Width (inches) x Depth (inches) = Gross Internal Volume (cubic inches)

Gross Internal Volume (cubic inches) 1728

= Gross Internal Volume (cubic feet)

or: Height (cm) x Width (cm) x Depth (cm) 1000

= Gross Internal Volume (liters)

Conversion Formulas 1" = 2.54cm 1ft3 = 28.32 liters 1ft3 = 1,728in3

W

Remember to account for material thickness when determining external dimensions.

4

H

D

Building an Enclosure Use at least 3⁄4-inch MDF to build the enclosure (1-inch is preferable). The joints should be liberally glued with carpenter’s wood glue and screwed together with wood screws and sealed internally with a bead of silicone rubber or hot melt glue. Drill pilot holes to prevent the wood from splitting and tighten the screws as much as possible. Excess glue can be wiped off with a damp sponge or paper towel. Warning It is extremely important to completely seal the enclosure. Even small leaks can have a dramatic effect on subwoofer performance. Look, listen, and test for leaks at all joints, around the subwoofer perimeter, and at the wire entrance location.

Glue Screws

Sealant

5

Locating Subwoofer Enclosure in Vehicle The placement of the enclosure is one of the most important factors concerning installation. As each vehicle’s interior acoustics are different, experimentation is the key to optimizing performance. Hatchbacks/Sport Utility Vehicles Locate the enclosure in a rear corner for maximum output. Experiment with the subwoofer’s placement. Hatchback Installation

Warning Make sure the enclosure is securely mounted in such a way as to not shift or fly forward in the event of an accident or sudden stop.

6

Sedans Provide as clear a path as possible into the cabin by venting through a folded-down arm rest, venting through the rear d