JL Audio
12W7AE-3
1000W RMS 12" Subwoofer
Overview
The 12W7AE brings serious performance to the table by combining the breakthrough of the long-excursion W7 design with a large 12-inch bore. It has been called “addictive,” “seductive” and "the new subwoofer reference", by some of the world's toughest reviewers, and has earned these accolades by delivering nearly limitless dynamics, exceptional balance and world-class sound quality.
This potent driver is best used with amplifier power in the 400W - 1000W range and is optimized to operate in a 1.375 cu. ft. (38.9 l) sealed enclosure, or a 1.75 cu. ft. (49.6 l) ported enclosure. Detailed enclosure recommendations can be found in the “Specifications” tab.
W7AE (Anniversary Edition) Subwoofers celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the launch of the W7 subwoofers. Functionally, they are identical to the original W7's, but they are distinguished by the following cosmetic differences:
- Satin-Black Powdercoated Baskets
- Bright Anodized Surround Clamp Ring
- Anniversary Edition Cone Badge
- Anniversary Edition Terminal Label
Dynamic Motor Analysis - DMA Optimized Motor
JL Audio's proprietary Dynamic Motor Analysis system is a powerful suite of FEA-based modeling systems, first developed by JL Audio in 1997 and refined over the years to scientifically address the issue of speaker motor linearity. This leads to vastly reduced distortion and faithfully reproduced transients... or put simply: tight, clean, articulate bass.
Elevated Frame Cooling
JL Audio's Elevated Frame Cooling design delivers cool air through slots directly above the top-plate to the voice coil of the speaker. This not only enhances power handling, but also sound quality by minimizing dynamic parameter shifts and power compression.
W-Cone
The W-Cone is a unit-body cone assembly that delivers astonishing cone stiffness with minimal mass. The shape also provides superb torsional rigidity, which is critical to maintaining voice coil alignment at the suspension limits.
Floating Cone Attach Method - FCAM™
JL Audio's patented FCAM™ technology is an innovative method of bonding the surround/cone assembly to the voice coil former/spider assembly. This feature helps ensure concentricity of the surround, spider and voice coil without torquing the suspension to achieve it. This allows for the inevitable, slight variations in production part dimensions without having them negatively impact the integrity of the suspension and coil-centering at high excursions.
OverRoll™ Surround
By utilizing space wasted in conventional speakers, this ground-breaking innovation controls the W7's massive excursion without sacrificing precious cone area.
OverRoll™ technology allows us to make full use of the entire footprint of the speaker, placing the surround further to the outside than in a conventional woofer.
Radially Cross-Drilled Pole-Piece
This innovative venting system greatly enhances thermal dissipation and power handling by directing air flow onto the voice coil former, working in conjunction with the Elevated Frame cooling technology to effectively remove heat from the voice coil. This improves power handling and reduces power compression effects, leading to more linear performance.
Engineered Lead-Wire System
JL Audio's engineered flying lead-wires work in conjunction with carefully engineered entry and exit support structures molded into the terminals and the voice coil collar. Some models also feature jacketed lead-wires to further reduce the likelihood of shorting and fatigue. The result is flawless high-excursion lead-wire behavior, with outstanding reliability and none of the compromises inherent to a woven-in lead wire system. Building woofers this way requires much more labor and parts complexity than the simpler woven-in approach, but the payoff is in reduced distortion, reduced mechanical noise and improved reliability.
Built-In USA with Global Components
At a time when most audio products are built overseas, JL Audio’s commitment to in-house loudspeaker production continues to grow. To pull this off in a competitive world market, our production engineering team has created one of the world’s most advanced loudspeaker assembly facilities and established a global network of quality component suppliers who build to our specifications. This, combined with our commitment to state-of-the-art assembly technology, allows our skilled workforce to efficiently build JL Audio products to extremely high quality standards, right here in the U.S.A.
Specifications
Power
Dimensions
Parameters
Sealed Enclosure Specifications
Enclosure Notes
Net volumes given above do not include the air volume displaced by the speaker (Driver Displacement). This value must be added to the net volume along with the displacement of any braces and/or ports (if applicable) to arrive at a gross internal volume. Air inside a port is not part of the effective net volume. Calculate ports as solid, not hollow objects.
*The W7’s employ a pole vent to remove heat and pressure from the inside of the speaker. This vent is located at the rear of the speaker. A minimum distance of 0.75 in (19 mm) is required between the back of the speaker and any wall of the enclosure to allow proper operation of the pole vent.
The dimensions given for the enclosure examples above take all applicable displacements into consideration.
Safety Notice
It is absolutely essential that the completed subwoofer enclosure is mounted firmly to the vehicle with heavy steel bolts (0.5 in diameter) and large steel washers on both sides of the bolts. This will reduce the likelihood of occupant injury in the event of a collision or sudden deceleration.
Ported Enclosure Specifications
Enclosure Notes
Net volumes given above do not include the air volume displaced by the speaker (Driver Displacement). This value must be added to the net volume along with the displacement of any braces and/or ports (if applicable) to arrive at a gross internal volume. Air inside a port is not part of the effective net volume. Calculate ports as solid, not hollow objects.
*The W7’s employ a pole vent to remove heat and pressure from the inside of the speaker. This vent is located at the rear of the speaker. A minimum distance of 0.75 in (19 mm) is required between the back of the speaker and any wall of the enclosure to allow proper operation of the pole vent.
The dimensions given for the enclosure examples above take all applicable displacements into consideration.
Safety Notice
It is absolutely essential that the completed subwoofer enclosure is mounted firmly to the vehicle with heavy steel bolts (0.5 in diameter) and large steel washers on both sides of the bolts. This will reduce the likelihood of occupant injury in the event of a collision or sudden deceleration.
| Brand | JL Audio |
|---|---|
| RMS Power | 1000W RMS |
| Shallow Mount | No |
| Subwoofer Size | 12" |