Key on back page

Normal

Amp Full Range Amp

20Hz 100Hz 400Hz

Bi-Amp

TWEETER

Channel 1

Normal Bi-Amp

0 -4db -2db

SQ1 SQ2

Woofer Amp

Channel 2 Tweeter Amp

TWEETER OUT

Tweeter

WOOFER OUT

Woofer

NORMAL

TW 0 -4 -2

SQ1 OUT SQ2

Specifications Nominal Size Recommended Amplifier Power Nominal Impedance Frequency Response Sensitivity
Z5 51/4" (130mm) 200400 watts 3 ohms 4022,000Hz 90dB

0.1ft (3 liters)

20Hz 50Hz 100Hz 200Hz

Not Shown

0.15ft (4 liters)
Description Z5 Woofer Z5 Tweeter Z5 Crossover Z5 Woofer Grille Tweeter Grille Axis Tweeter Mount Surface Tweeter Mount Flush Tweeter Mount Angle Tweeter Mount Adapter Woofer Gaskets Woofer Hardware Pack Universal Boston Hex Tool Hex Bit 3/32" Small Gold Terminal Large Gold Terminal 11/8" Socket Button Head Screw Tweeter Hardware Pack Metal Clip Spring Clip Metal Terminal w/ Insulation Spacer 3 /8" Pan Head Screw 1" Pan Head Screw 1 /2" Pan Head Screw

Quantity 2

Infinite Baffle (Car door, Rear Deck)

6 /16" (163mm)

5 /4" (130mm)

1 /8" (48mm)

31/2" (88.6mm)

2 /16" (59mm)

4 /4" (120mm) cut out 9" (229mm)
300 Jubliee Drive Peabody, MA 01960 USA 978.538.5000 www.bostonacoustics.com

ProSeries 12.5LF 10.5LF 8.5LF Competitor Series Generator Series GS1500 GS1200 GS1000
Boston Acoustics Subwoofer Installation Manual

Table of Contents

Enclosure Recommendations Building an Enclosure Locating Subwoofer Enclosure In Vehicle Hatchbacks/Sport Utility Vehicles Sedans Wiring 2 ohm subwoofers 4 ohm subwoofers Specifications Theile/Small Parameters 10 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 subwoofersnot 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.
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
Sealed Enclosures Gross Internal Volume -3dB Down PointIn Car System "Q" (2) (4) 12.5LF 10.5LF 8.5LF 1.0ft3 20Hz 0.9 1.1 0.5ft3 20Hz 0.8 0.95 0.3ft3 20Hz 0.6 0.7

Competitor Series

1500 1.5ft3 20Hz 1.36 1.1.0ft3 20Hz 1.03 1.0.5ft3 20Hz 0.92 0.0.3ft3 20Hz 0.69 0.73

Generator Series

GS1500 GS1200 GS1000 2.5ft3 20Hz 1.63 1.5 1.5ft3 20Hz 1.38 1.29.75ft3 20Hz 1.18 1.09
Recommended Enclosure Dimensions (Internal) Height Width Depth 10.5" 13.0" 13.0" 7.5" 11.0" 11.0" 6.5" 9.0" 9.0" 10" 16" 16" 10.5" 13.0" 13.0" 7.5" 11.0" 11.0" 6.5" 9.0" 9.0" 20" 16" 13.5" 16" 14" 12" 12" 11" 9.75"
Ported Enclosures (Generator Series only) Gross Internal Volume Tuning Frequency Port Diameter Port Length Recommended Enclosure Dimensions (Internal) Height Width Depth
GS1500 2.5ft3 35Hz 4"D 11"L
GS1200 1.5ft3 35Hz 3"D 7.3"L
GS1000 1.25ft3 33Hz 3"D 11"L
20" 16" 13.5"
16" 14" 12"
14" 11.5" 14"
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 or: Height (cm) x Width (cm) x Depth (cm) 1000
= Gross Internal Volume (cubic feet)
= Gross Internal Volume (liters)
Conversion Formulas 1" = 2.54cm 1ft3 = 28.32 liters 1ft3 = 1,728in3
Remember to account for material thickness when determining external dimensions.

Building an Enclosure

Use at least 34-inch MDF to build the enclosure (1-inch is preferable). The joints should be liberally glued with carpenters 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
Locating Subwoofer Enclosure in Vehicle
The placement of the enclosure is one of the most important factors concerning installation. As each vehicles 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 subwoofers 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.

Sedans Provide as clear a path as possible into the cabin by venting through a folded-down arm rest, venting through the rear deck, or venting through an unused speaker opening in the rear deck. Keep any restrictive materials such as wood, hard plastic or metal from directly blocking the subwoofer. Sedan Installation

Wiring

2 ohm subwoofers

One 2 sub

Two 2 subs, series

Two 2 subs, parallel

Three 2 subs, series
Four 2 subs, series/parallel

4 ohm subwoofers

One 4 sub

Two 4 subs, parallel

Three 4 subs, parallel
Four 4 subs, series/parallel

Four 4 subs, parallel

ProSeries
Specifications Nominal Size Mounting Cutout Diameter Mounting DepthFront Mounted Mounting DepthRear Mounted Recommended Amplifier Power Nominal Impedance 12.5LF 12" (30cm) 11" (280mm) 558" (143mm) 6 8" (162mm)
10.5LF 10" (25cm) 9 8" (232mm)
8.5LF 8" (20cm) 7 16" (183mm)
1500 15" (38cm) 1378" (353mm) 734" (197mm) 814" (210mm) 501000 watts 2/4
434" (121mm) 5" (127mm) 501100 watts 2/4
4116" (104mm) 4 16" (119mm)

501200 watts 2/4

50750 watts 2/4

Theile/Small Parameters

12.5LF (2) 12.5LF (4) 31Hz 84 liters 2.97ft3 0.57 0.61 9.6 10.5LF (2) 33Hz 35 liters 1.24ft3 0.44 0.47 8.0 10.5LF (4) 34Hz 35 liters 1.24ft3 0.53 0.57 7.8 8.5LF (2) 35Hz 21 liters 0.74ft3 0.33 0.35 9.0 330m/N 63g 215cm2 51mm 1.6 0.40mH 8.5mm 35mm 0.25 8.5LF (4) 36Hz 21 liters 0.74ft3 0.40 0.42 9.0 330m/N 60g 215cm2 51mm 3.1 0.55mH 8.5mm 35mm 0.22
1500 (2) 34Hz 155 liters 5.47ft3 0.72 0.81 8.3 142m/N 148g 876cm2 51mm 1.6 0.45mH 5.5mm 40mm 0.(4) 35Hz 155 liters 5.47ft3 0.85 0.97 8.3 142m/N 145g 876cm2 51mm 3.2 0.62mH 5.5mm 40mm 0.64
Resonant Frequency (Fs ) Equivalent Volume (Vas )

30Hz 84 liters 2.97ft 3

Total Q (Q ts ) Electrical Q (Qes ) Mechanical Q (Qms ) Compliance (Cms ) Moving Mass (Mms ) Cone Area (Sd) Voice Coil Diameter Voice Coil DCR (Re ) Voice Coil Inductance @ 1kHz (Le ) Linear ExcursionOne Way (Xmax ) Peak-to-Peak Maximum Excursion Reference Efficiency ( o )
0.45 0.47 9.8 230m/N 121g 510cm2 51mm 1.6 0.40mH 8.5mm 40mm 0.46
230m/N 255m/N 255m/N 117g 510cm2 51mm 3.1 0.55mH 8.5mm 40mm 0.39 90g 315cm2 51mm 1.6 0.40mH 8.5mm 35mm 0.26 86g 315cm2 51mm 3.1 0.55mH 8.5mm 35mm 0.25

We provide Theile/Small Parameters for those interested in studying subwoofers further. We do not recommend you use computer software to determine enclosure sizes or type. While highend enclosure design software may be useful for engineering purposes, it cannot completely predict performance in a given vehicle and should not replace a real enclosure that has been tested and listened to in a car. Please use our recommended enclosures for optimum performance. 10
1200 12" (30cm) 11" (280mm) 658" (169mm) (181mm)

(continued)

800 8" (20cm) 7 8" (181mm)
1000 10" (25cm) 9 16" (234mm)
GS1500 10" (25cm) 13 8" (353mm)
GS1200 10" (25cm) 11" (280mm) 534" (146mm) 6 4" (159mm)
GS1000 10" (25cm) 9316" (234mm) 5" (127mm) 512" (140mm) 50400 watts 2/4
6" (153mm) 6 8" (169mm)
538" (137mm) 5 8" (150mm)
634" (172mm) 7 4" (185mm)

501000 watts 2/4

50850 watts 2/4

50500 watts 2/4

1200 (2) 30Hz 84 liters 2.97ft3 0.45 0.47 9.(4) 31Hz 84 liters 2.97ft3 0.57 0.61 9.6
800 (2) 35Hz 21 liters 0.74ft3 0.33 0.35 9.(4) 36Hz 21 liters 0.74ft3 0.40 0.42 9.0 330m/N 60g 215cm2 51mm 3.1 0.55mH 8.5mm 35mm 0.22 GS1500 (2) 29Hz 215 liters 7.58ft3 0.81 0.9 7.6 200m/N 150g 874.7cm2 51mm 1.7 0.98mH 4.4mm 37mm 0.56 GS1500 (4) 29Hz 215 liters 7.58ft3 0.75 0.84 7.5 GS1200 (2) 31Hz 97 liters 3.43ft3 0.76 0.85 7.2 GS1200 (4) 31Hz 97 liters 3.43ft3 0.71 0.79 7.1 GS1000 (2) 33Hz 37 liters 1.31ft3 0.71 0.79 6.6 GS1000 (4) 33Hz 37 liters 1.31ft3 0.66 0.74 6.7
1000 (2) 33Hz 35 liters 1.24ft3 0.44 0.47 8.0 255m/N 90g 315cm2 51mm 1.6 0.40mH 8.5mm 35mm 0.26
1000 (4) 34Hz 35 liters 1.24ft3 0.53 0.57 7.8
230m/N 230m/N 121g 510cm2 51mm 1.6 0.40mH 8.5mm 40mm 0.46 117g 510cm2 51mm 3.1 0.55mH 8.5mm 40mm 0.39
255m/N 330m/N 86g 315cm2 51mm 3.1 0.55mH 8.5mm 35mm 0.25 63g 215cm2 51mm 1.6 0.40mH 8.5mm 35mm 0.25

200m/N 200m/N 200m/N 200m/N 200m/N 147g 874.7cm2 51mm 3.6 1.9mH 5.3mm 37mm 0.63 134g 588.4cm2 51mm 1.7 0.98mH 4.4mm 37mm 0.32 130g 118g 114g 365cm2 51mm 3.6 1.9mH 5.3mm 33mm 0.18
588.4cm2 365cm2 51mm 3.6 1.9mH 5.3mm 37mm 0.36 51mm 1.7 0.98mH 4.4mm 33mm 0.16
300 Jubilee Drive Peabody, MA 01960 U.S.A. 978.538.5000
Boston and Boston Acoustics are registered trademarks of Boston Acoustics, Inc. 1999 Covered by patents issued and/or pending. 42-001034-0