UnMasked Station 5: CompRT Thin Subs and Enclosures for 2021

The CompRT subs and sub enclosures fit anywhere you want bass - but need space. Under (or behind) a seat, in your trunk, or in your cargo area. We go over that and more - live at KICKER UnMasked.
#KickerAudio #CarAudio #Subwoofers
CompRT Enclosues: kicker.fun/com...
CompRT Subs: kicker.fun/com...

[@rickytrevino8281]

For anyone thinking of going with these i'd recommend the CompRT 10s, they may not be as loud as the 12s but spec wise they have tighter and cleaner bass. If you want louder go with 2 10s

[@Shadowdancer777]

I bought the 10 inch wedge box for my old car and loved it. Like they said, big bass ,small box. I loved it so much I just bought another one for my new car. I like that it doesn't weigh too much as I am trying to save weight on my vehicle. Less weight, better performance. I highly recommend these.

[@bryanCLXT]

I bought a comp rt 12 enclosure I was super excited and ended after a month or 2 cooking my VC. spoke with Alex (awesome rep) send it out and got my replacement sub within 1 week. when I got it You guys send me back 12 comp rt 1 ohm stable Hell Yes I Said. a 1 of 1 Bless Kicker

[@drgreatnorthern]

Glad I bought my 12” comp rt in the down firing system. Thanks Kicker.

[@lancepike6010]

So I ended buying the 12” trtp down firing sub, and yes it is space friendly and yes it thumps plenty hard, great product, looks clean sounds clean. Unless your looking for something to rattle the bolts off your car then this is the product for you. Don’t be worried about it not being loud enough

[@jaketyler3719]

What amp did you pair with it?

[@southernwarrior9302]

Is it better than the kicker tube?

[@KICKER-AUDIO]

It certainly has more cone area, but not quite an apples to apples comparison. The tube is smaller than most enclosures, but is basically weatherproof and can be mounted horizontally or vertically. The 10" tube takes 100 watts less than the 12" TRTP.

[@ULSB1969]

Shallow subs don’t compare to full size subs, that is a mistake I will never do again.

[@jhavarcytonge9439]

@@ULSB1969could you expound?

[@CVM222VOLT]

Passive radiators have been around for decades so interesting when a manufacturer gives it a different name and suggests its a new innovation that they have developed.

[@KICKER-AUDIO]

Old concept. New design.

[@rustyjeep2469]

They didn't say it was new technology or that they invented it, just that they've been implementing it in their products for a while.

[@josephgunn8442]

Installing a 12” down firing TRTP soon........along with a 5 channel amp and speakers in my new F150........

[@casey360360]

Kicker, Sundown, even Rockville, all are stepping their shallow woofer game up to the next level. I’m loving it so far.

[@lethaldonkey]

Love kicker! Go Pokes!! I miss Stillwater!!

[@perjian1697]

Great explanation of a much overlooked technology in bass reproduction.

[@mkp3824]

I have a CVT 12 from 2008. It sounded great in my S 10, because it fired into the seat. In my Ranger, it sits more in the center, because of where the rear speakers are. So, I think it doesn't hit as hard. I think one of these may work better, but I'm not sure. I think the CVT series was meant to fire into the seat.

[@mayo8472]

I love all kicker products

[@brock9484]

It would be very interesting if kicker would install a threaded fitting into the cone of their subwoofers so that you could attach the radiator cone to the subwoofer cone making it an active cone.

[@dlandzna]

I'm setting my eyes on the 8in. 😍

[@just4u239]

I've figured out how to get rid of port noise without getting rid of the port not to mention getting no noise distortion with the air going through the port.

[@nickh3809]

When he started jumping on the box i said case closed 😂 my man

[@96MustangBoy1]

Have you thought about doing a square shallow mount and making a square passive radiator? Maybe it would do better with 20% more cone area.

[@RyanBassForLife]

Nice

[@LetsSmash007]

I love you guys Kicker lol but I’m pretty sure a thief knows

[@KICKER-AUDIO]

If that thief hears you bumpin down the block - can't argue that one!

[@Brian1.]

Very cool and they do hit pretty good

[@Warden95]

Looking hard at the TRTP 10 down firing for under rear seat of my F150. See it’s 400 RMS. What amplifier do you recommend for powering it?

[@jovenlara5868]

Nice video Kicker. How would you describe the sound of the down fire enclosure...more like a sealed box or a ported one? Or maybe a combination of both?..

[@KICKER-AUDIO]

We can do one better for you: kzbin.info/www/bejne/p6TamnZmiN6HodE

[@dlandzna]

What if their's a need to replace the woofers (damage). Tnx

[@ZaronLane]

Is there a video of how to install the TCWRT8 Model into a car?

[@patrickbarber8982]

I would like to ask a question I have a Kia soul I want to keep space My subwoofer went out but I was going to put and a vented box with a kicker in the back but that's going to take up a lot of space Will this box give me the same kind of sound with the vented box with the same speaker that this box come with

[@KICKER-AUDIO]

Good question. A radiator will help. Will be identical to a ported enclosure in frequency response? It would depend in the enclosure. We made a short video to explain: kzbin.info/www/bejne/apWbhKKnoLySqLM

[@5dancingisraelis535]

If i wedge a down-firing subwoofer against the back wall of my single cab ranger, would that work?

[@KICKER-AUDIO]

It would, yes. As long as the contours of the back wall don't come close to the cone. We don't want the sub hitting anything as it moves. One note: you may lose some sound quality if the back panels aren't right up against the metal (they shouldn't move when you put pressure on them - vertical panels aren't as flush to the back wall as carpet is to the floor ).

[@dirtydenom69]

So I'm getting 2 10inch rt ones and a kicker 800.1 mono amp will this hit hard I'm putting this in a 2021 Colorado

[@KICKER-AUDIO]

Yes it'll hit. Everyone's definition of "hit" is different, to be fair.

[@corbind.9395]

Now... is the downfiring box supposed to be face down? Dumb question I'm sure... Im looking at mounting this to the tailgate of my jeep. Vertically.. should I still face the sub faces to the back of the tailgate.

[@KICKER-AUDIO]

Yes it is made to face downwards, so you get bass and can still stack thing on top of it (including Ken, apparently 😜).

[@PlatinumEagleStudios]

Who the hell calls it a "bass reflex driver"?? It's a passive radiator. Calling it a "bass reflex driver" is kind of confusing.

[@artmathias9725]

Hey there. I have a rt 10" and a box with .5 sqft airspace. I have a 10" reflex. the question that I have is, am I best served by the 10" radiator or would 2 x 8" radiators be a better option?

[@jmess1830]

Can you swap the sub and passive to mirror a second enclosure? Can these be wired to 1 ohm?

[@Jsims111]

Tried it, didn't like it. It was much better sounding with just the passive. I had hella punchy midbass but, no low end extension. That box just doesn't have enough airspace for 2 active subs. If you still want to try, just know that you have to cut some of the bracing out on the passive radiator side to get the magnet to fit in.

[@bassdestroyer1670]

But in the pre loaded boxes are the woofers still DVC?

[@0240270]

What’s the best amp to buy to utilize the best performance for the 12” wedge?

[@Sagittarius-88]

According to what I've read, the downward firing 48TRTP102 is 2 ohms, but the speaker being used is actually dual voice coil, so the second voice coil isn't being used. If this is true, it would be possible to run 2 of these boxes at 2 ohms, but I would have to gain access to the speaker and make internal wiring modifications for a series/parallel configuration. Do I have my math correct on this one? Is the active speaker in the 48TRTP102 a DVC compRT speaker that's only using 1 voice coil?

[@KICKER-AUDIO]

Not quite. To get 2 ohms, you can wire a dual 4 ohm down to 2 or a dual 1 ohm sub up tp 2.

[@luisgarcia-zu9ug]

Pero si puedes cambiar la configuración en las bobinas para dar 1 ohm final si tienes doble de 2 conectas en paralelo y queda a 1 ohm

[@kevsnoop81]

Would the Kicker Key 500.1 amp work best with the 12" or would you suggest something with more watts? I ask because I have a factory radio and would use this amp for the DSP feature.

[@KICKER-AUDIO]

The KEY 500 delivers the most power at 1 ohm, so if your sub is a 12 with dual 2 ohm coils and a 500 watt RMS you would be in great shape.

[@kaikenjr]

Could I put this sub and reflex driver in a custom underneath box in an 2010 avalanche?

[@KICKER-AUDIO]

You'd have to measure the space to know. Its very likely.

[@EdgarMendezz]

Question the eight inch passive radiator is optimized for .40 cubic feet but it also says 49 hertz on the kicker website. Is the new box tuned to 49 hertz then? Also Does this mean I would have to add a subsonic filter for a sealed enclosure?

[@KICKER-AUDIO]

Yes, the CompRT 8" enclosure is tuned to 49Hz. To clarify, that specific radiator and enclosure size together are the factors that result in the tuning frequency. Radiators can be customized by our engineers (weight, surround type, surround stiffness and additional spider) to change that frequency to their specs.

[@reagang8038]

I wish the 6,75 came with a enclosure that fit inside the space-saving 18inch sparewheel. 6,75 inch sub coupled with the Stetsom IR400.3 - Iron Line Micro Amplifier can theoretically work well together? Any advice on this combo?

[@KICKER-AUDIO]

We recommend the amp deliver power within 20% of RMS. That enclosure has a 175 watt rating. so if you amp delivers between 140 and 210 watts at 2 ohms, you're in the recommended range.

[@HardCold-Alquan]

Do those plastic things come off? I need clearance for the panel to get back on in my ride.

[@KICKER-AUDIO]

What plastic things are you referring to, exactly?

[@HardCold-Alquan]

@@KICKER-AUDIO The ring where the screws go.

[@KICKER-AUDIO]

@@HardCold-Alquan the smooth plastic inserts are removable.

[@HardCold-Alquan]

@@KICKER-AUDIO Thanks. Does the height go down significantly? The only manufacturer to show their subs without any plastic ring is Pioneer. That's important for people with cars that take through many steps just to reach the sub.

[@KICKER-AUDIO]

@@HardCold-Alquan Considering the surround height, no it doesn't really change. Plus you still need an inch or so above the sub to allow it to move properly during operation.

[@cosasdepuromacho1247]

🔥👌💪💯

[@rickaz1093]

what size can i install in a 2015 silverado 1500 double cab, I would like to install it in the back of the rear seats

[@KICKER-AUDIO]

Unfortunately there really is no single reference to draw upon, so the best thing to do is to measure how much room you have. Calculate height, width and depth. The big question is height. Our thin L7T 10" subs for example need 3.75", but you need to account for the thickness of the wood below and a minimum of 1" of height above it, to allow for the sub to move properly. So, you really should look for about 6" of minimum height where the sub should end up being placed. Other areas of the box can be thinner, but at least one part of your box has to have those dimensions to fit the sub and let it move, so you get the best sound.

[@d2shiestyyyyy]

can the down facing sub also face towards a seat if you have a single can and put it behind the back rest?

[@KICKER-AUDIO]

Yes, as long as the subwoofer has about 2" of clearance. Ensure the sub is not striking any other material as it moves.

[@daveroski]

Does anyone know why they Discontinued the TRTP?

[@perjian1697]

Whoever scripted this for the hosts, should be not writing for people things. 🤣🤣

[@nicholasmolinary3921]

Does anyone know if the 8 will fit behind the back seat of a 2024 tacoma

[@KICKER-AUDIO]

Hi Nicholas, here are the dimensions for the 8" CompRT Enclosure: BOX TOP DEPTH: 3-9/16" BOX BOTTOM DEPTH: 6-7/16" BOX HEIGHT: 11-13/16" BOX WIDTH: 19-5/16"

[@unklemal]

Would the 6.75 be able to be for under seat... front seats.. for example... both.. how would you ventilate the speakers? 2 ... 2 inch radiators.. facing rear or front of box intall.... under front seats... or more of a rectangle side air release.. 1 big one pointed front or rear? ... need info... i was told what i have now.. will be about 1500 to 2000.. bucks... just install.. over 3 days.. i have way more ideas.

[@unklemal]

Trust me i have seen your under seat speakers... but they have amps built in... i am not gonna need the amp... i already have it... gonna use cxa360.4 for the 2 comps... and 4 tweeters... front and rear doors... all kicker products..

[@KICKER-AUDIO]

Its possible, but there is no way to know for sure until you compare the dimensions of the enclosure to the available space you have under the seat. That is by far the best way to know.

[@unklemal]

@@KICKER-AUDIO so a box can be possible? If it is built within the specs of the components?.. a custom box... does it have to be wood? With your cotton ball lining.. or can that include sound deadener? Or can ABS be used so its thinner and lighter.. still using cotton ball.. or sound deadener... full enclosure.. with some sort of port?

[@unklemal]

@@KICKER-AUDIO how would the port look? Rectangle? Or two smaller radiators facing to the rear of the seats..?

[@dirtydenom69]

Is this the higher end model for the shallow or what other speaker would u recommend I wanna be able to hit hard I know it's a crew cab truck

[@KICKER-AUDIO]

It's close, but the highest RMS thin sub enclosure we make is the L7T: www.kicker.com/l7t-loaded-enclosures.

[@stevesmith6528]

I have the 12 inch sub but it die the breathing holes on the back of the sub was to tight against the padding in side the box so couldn’t breath and heated up the sub more to quick

[@KICKER-AUDIO]

That makes sense. Any ported enclosure needs space to allow air in and out. The sub has to work harder to move, so the resistance rises. As that resistance goes up, the amp has to work harder to create the music. Working harder means more heat. Possibly a lot more, depending on the volume and music. Eventually, the sub and/or amp may fail as a result.

[@jamesrodolee03]

Can I get 2 down firing boxes and put them with a normal full size sub for an suv trunk??

[@KICKER-AUDIO]

Possible but not advisable. The difference in frequency responses between the downfiring subs and the "normal" sub will probably cause some issues and a drop in performance.

[@redlac95]

Which setup would be best in a 2016 Chevy Colorado crew cab to fit under the back seat without removing the plastic storage area

[@KICKER-AUDIO]

Depends on how much room you have available. Very often the L7T or CompRT loaded enclosures are the best option. Grab a tape measure and write down how much you have to work with, then check out the measurements of our enclosures on the website.

[@lancepike6010]

Does it hit hard tho? I have a stock sub, will it blow it out of the wtaer

[@Daniel-gf1zj]

With the right amp, it should.

[@rigriggerson4949]

It looks like it has a black eye

[@alexamiranda336]

So whats the best kicker amp to run the 12"s?

[@ozone360]

So I am looking for these subs in the 4ohm impedence he said it would be available in but I'm only finding 2ohm

[@KICKER-AUDIO]

The pre-loaded enclosures are 2 ohm only. If you are talking about raw subs, we have them in dual 2 ohm (which can be wired to 4 ohms) and in dual 4 ohms: www.kicker.com/2021-comprt-subwoofers

[@DRNU20]

What series of speakers would you guys best recommend to work with this subwoofer..QS, KS, CS?

[@KICKER-AUDIO]

Generally we prefer to see a 1:1 ration of power going to the mids/highs vs the subs. Example: 50 watts per door = 200 watts for a standard sedan. That means we are looking for @200 wats going to the sub. Can you do more? Of course. Much more, but as you raise the bass, the door speakers have to work harder to keep up. That's the tradeoff.

[@alexgarcia3900]

Does anyone have any info for the 6.5? Is anyone running these?

[@erikdravn]

I'm considering picking up a pair of Kicker CompRT 43CWRT672 subwoofers for my back doors and a pair of Kicker 46CSC674 mids for my front doors. Anyone think this would sound good? I know very little about car audio. I just got a 2021 Kia Forte GT-Line. I desperately need more bass in my system.

[@theinvisibleman6147]

can I stack three or two 12 inch down firing versions one on top the other? It's to fit in the trunk of a 2016 ford everest with the third row seats up. Also will a cxa 1800.1 power all three 12 inch subs if they're wired correctly?

[@KICKER-AUDIO]

Yes you can. We have seen that done without any technical issues at all, provided they are installed safely.

[@theinvisibleman6147]

@@KICKER-AUDIO oh thank u. was a bit worried about the durability of each one being affected. I went on crutchfield website and realised that I cannot wire three 2 ohm svc subs to a two ohm nor one ohm stable. So I'll settle for two of the the 12 inch down firing ones. I have another question though, the box is wired as svc but I noticed the comprt 12 speakers themsleves are dual voice coil which would allow for wiring three of them to a 1 ohm stable amp, cxa 1800.1 specifically. Will the enclosure allow for dvc wiring as is or do I have to have direct access to the dvc terminals on the subwoofers inside?

[@KICKER-AUDIO]

Its a dvc that we pre-wired to a single terminal. As a general rule we recommend being within 20% of RMS of the subs.

[@theinvisibleman6147]

@@KICKER-AUDIO I see, what would have to be done to wire three enclosures to a 1 ohm stable sub? Would more terminals equal to the amount on each sub need to be added to the enclosure itself?

[@Davidgonz559]

My 8in kicker blew out in like 1 minute of running it. Money I lost out of

[@KICKER-AUDIO]

Oh no! While defects happen, they are very rare. If you still are having issues, we want to go over your system settings to make sure its not a problem with setup (otherwise it may happen again with another sub). You can email us at [e-mail] or call us at 405-624-8510. We are open weekdays from 8-5 CST. We want to help if you'll let us.

[@jimprofit3040]

Anyone use the 12” trtp in a Fox Body Mustang convertible? Seems like a great option for the tiny trunk pushed under so you still have some trunk space.

[@KICKER-AUDIO]

This is exactly why we built CompRT, CompVT and L7T sub lines, to give you options when space is at a premium.

[@littlebearish]

Would any of these fit behind or under the rear seat of a 2021 extended cab F150?

[@KICKER-AUDIO]

It depends on where you want to put the sub. You can easily compare the measurements you take to the specs on our page. www.kicker.com/loaded-subwoofer-enclosures

[@benjaminlinus6842]

Can I swap out the passive radiator for another subwoofer?

[@KICKER-AUDIO]

Its possible, but it will drastically change the tuning frequency.

[@JamesWilbur]

Have any recommendations for use on a motorcycle?

[@KICKER-AUDIO]

We have tons of motorcycle options: www.kicker.com/motorcycle-audio

[@luccib7225]

I don't know which to go with the audison shallow or these

[@KICKER-AUDIO]

Nothing wrong with Audison, but there may be a significant difference in price. Listen to both, head to head if you can and decide from there. You may be surprised at how much bang for the buck we deliver.

[@terrancewilkerson3119]

Do you have anything for a 2012 Chevy Colorado box and subwoofer deep bass shallow mount subwoofers

[@KICKER-AUDIO]

Deep bass is a function of the sub, but also of how you tune the enclosure and set up your EQ/Crossover. While we don't make vehicle-specific enclosures, most of our dealers do. Here is a link for those dealers: www.kicker.com/dealer-locator. If you want to make your own enclosure, our Tech Support group can help with the specs. You can reach them at 405-624-8510. They are open weekdays from 8-5 cst.

[@msalazar89]

Will these fit in the back seats of a crew cab 2019 f150

[@KICKER-AUDIO]

Likely, but you'd need to take measurements to be sure.

[@rashouse]

@ KICKER...TRTP 12 VS VENTED BOX W/SAME SUBWOOFER...WHICH IS THE BETTER OPTION? ....THANKS

[@DenysStafiniak]

This looks good, but I still confused which one to get, please help me to chose between 48TRTP122 and 48VCWR122 Thank you!

[@KICKER-AUDIO]

Where do you intend on putting the enclosure? The CompR sub enclosure was meant for power handling and volume at a reasonable price. The TRTP is a thin enclosure meant to sound good under some truck seats or in the back an SUV.

[@DenysStafiniak]

@@KICKER-AUDIO I appreciate your reply. This is going to be installed in the trunk of BMW 530xi 2006. I can put there any of them, just wanted a better quality bass. I have found VCWR has lower DB, is it a big deal? Thank you in advance!!!

[@DenysStafiniak]

@@KICKER-AUDIO I guess then 48VCWR122 is my choice?

[@KICKER-AUDIO]

If space is not an issuer then yes, that is a logical choice between the two. One other question: what is the rest of your system? Adding bass is a big step (and an awesome one). What we want to know next is how to balance the mids and highs with the bass, so you don't get drowned out with lows even when you turn the volume up. Try to keep the ratio of bass power to mids/high as close to 1:1 as possible.

[@DenysStafiniak]

@@KICKER-AUDIO I haven’t decided yet about the mids/high. Actually this is going to be my Christmas gift for the nephew, I want to start with sub/amp and he will keep building it up, but he doesn’t know about it now. For the rest of the sound I’d like to add some component to front and coaxiald for the rear, pretty much a standard built. If you have some suggestions I would be more than happy. I really appreciate your help. Have a Merry Christmas

[@t33k91]

How about a bass tube with reflex driver

[@KICKER-AUDIO]

Here you go! kzbin.info/www/bejne/nZWzg52jrcSlhZY

[@Guero__]

How do these compare to JL Audio TW5??

[@KICKER-AUDIO]

Comparing the JL CS113TG-TW5V2 vs our 12" TRTP: JL price is $879.99, ours is $319.95. RMS is 600 on the JL and 500 on ours. Sensitivity is 86 on the JL and 98 on ours. Theirs is a wedge, ours is down-firing. FYI, got the sensitivity specs from Crutchfield. Got the pricing from the JL site.

[@Peezz-O]

Can I use the 6 3/4 sub as a door speaker?

[@firebirdude2]

While I wouldn't advise trying to make the 6.75" CompRT woofer play full mid-range music, they can absolutely be installed in a door and play hella midbass and some midrange.

[@MyRcGoSlow]

They selling this one used for 250$ with an amp used

[@arturobenavides3447]

Does anybody know the model of the box in the background with the 2 subs?

[@firebirdude2]

CWRT enclosure. Same as shown at 2:19, just larger driver size.

[@gameovergt]

Which box do you recommend for a 2020 Ford Ranger, 6.75 or 8"?

[@KICKER-AUDIO]

If you could take some measurements for the space you wanted to mount it in, that would help us point you in the right direction.

[@sirnate54]

Where can I get the 6.75" passive radiator?

[@KICKER-AUDIO]

www.kicker.com/kbrw-passive-reflex-radiators

[@sirnate54]

@@KICKER-AUDIO I have been there. There is only 8", 10" and 12".

[@KICKER-AUDIO]

Please email us at [e-mail]. We have something to discuss.

[@sirnate54]

@@KICKER-AUDIO I have to say that you guys go above and beyond on customer service. I couldn't find a 6.75" radiator on their website and so I was given an email to contact them. Well I can stop looking because when I got home today there was a box on my door step with a 6.75" radiator inside! And this is one of the reasons why I run Kicker! Their customer service is just like their products, Awesome!!

[@matarazzo209]

I wish I had a spare 400 dollars laying around

[@mike.hunt420]

"Anything below 40 hz is just a waste"

[@ET2carbon]

Why not do some science and get an active reflex system going? This is as they said 80s theory reimplementation.

[@KICKER-AUDIO]

Are you talking about a servo system?

[@ET2carbon]

@KICKER servo system? Like an offset driven piston driver or an out of phase transducer perhaps.

[@brandonswint5273]

Do not buy. They are not very good. I bought one for my ranger and it seized within 24hrs. Switched to the comp r and I am more than satisficed. Couldn't even hear rt standing outside of the truck.

[@brandonswint5273]

If you are just looking for better than factory, than these will be alright.

[@ULSB1969]

Fat bass out of a thin box, that is a big load of CRAP! How big the box is dictates how fat and deep your bass will be. Those slim subs do not compare in bass output to full size subs.

[@KICKER-AUDIO]

Resistance (also known as "air spring") dictates tuning frequency. This can be achieved with box volume, port volume, or with a passive radiator. The radiator creates resistance without needing a big port and/or a large box.

[@ULSB1969]

@@KICKER-AUDIO but still, those small boxes with slim subs can only produce so much deep bass. I have tried those subs, with tinny boxes and they cannot compare to full size subs with adequate size boxes. I have never had port noise with any of my box builds, don’t know why that is alway thrown around. Furthermore, why are you manufacturing L7’s that require enormous boxes for? Shouldn’t these shallow subs with radiators replace the L7’s?

[@ULSB1969]

@@KICKER-AUDIO tuning frequency is mainly box volume. The port or radiator will not compensate for deep bass on a small box with very low volume. The cabin is your main component. I tried these shallow subs, they don’t do the work a full size sub can. The best sub that can produce SQ with deep bass and have a relative, not small, but smaller box are JL Audio W7 subs.