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The CompR is Kicker’s mid-range car subwoofer line, sitting above the entry-level CompC and below Kicker’s higher-end lines such as Solo-Baric L7. The 12-inch 48CWR124 is the dual 4-ohm version: 500 watts RMS, a relatively shallow 5.75-inch mounting depth and a wide range of workable box sizes. Here’s how to get the best from it.
Kicker CompR 12 (48CWR124)
A flexible, well-built 12-inch sub that sounds good in a sealed box and hits harder ported, with a mounting depth that fits more trucks and hatchbacks than many 12s.
- 12-inch, dual 4-ohm voice coils
- 500 W RMS / 1,000 W peak
- 86.9 dB sensitivity
- 5.75-inch mounting depth
- Sealed 1.0–2.0 cu ft; vented 1.75–2.25 cu ft
If you want a 12-inch sub that works in a wide range of boxes and doesn’t need a huge amp, the CompR is a solid choice. If you want maximum output, the Rockford P3 handles more power.
- Works in sealed or ported boxes across a wide volume range
- 5.75-inch depth suits tighter installs
- Dual 4-ohm coils wire to 2 or 8 ohms
- Forced-air cooling for long sessions
- 500 W RMS is modest for an SPL build
- Sensitivity of 86.9 dB means it needs a decent amp
- Needs a box and amp, unlike a powered underseat sub
Key specifications
| Spec | Kicker CompR 12 (48CWR124) |
|---|---|
| Size and impedance | 12-inch, dual 4-ohm voice coils |
| Power | 500 W RMS, 1,000 W peak (ANSI/CTA-2031-A) |
| Sensitivity | 86.9 dB (1 W/1 m) |
| Mounting depth / diameter | 5.75 in / 11 in |
| Sealed box | 1.0–2.0 cu ft |
| Vented box | 1.75–2.25 cu ft (port volume excluded) |
| Construction | Polypropylene cone, Santoprene surround, SoloKon, forced-air cooling |
How it performs
Sealed
In a sealed box of about 1.0 to 1.25 cubic feet, a 12-inch like this gives tight, accurate bass that keeps up with fast music and needs less space. Expect less output at the very bottom than a ported box, but cleaner transients and an easier install.
Ported
In a vented box of 1.75 to 2.25 cubic feet, the CompR gains a lot of output around the port tuning, which is what most people want for hip-hop and EDM. Around 32 to 35 Hz is a common tuning for daily listening. Our sub box designer calculates port size for any tuning.
Setup tips
- Wire the coils for your amp. Parallel gives a 2-ohm load, series gives 8 ohms. Most mono amps make the most power at 2 ohms.
- Match the amp to 500 W RMS. A mono amp rated around 400–600 W at your final impedance is ideal. Check the power wire with our amp wire calculator.
- Set gains with care. Clipping, not power, is what kills subs; see what subwoofer clipping is.
- Factory stereo? Use a line output converter; see adding a sub to a factory stereo.
How it compares
| Kicker CompR 12 | Rockford Fosgate P3D4-12 | |
|---|---|---|
| RMS power | 500 W | 600 W |
| Impedance | Dual 4 ohm | Dual 4 ohm |
| Sensitivity | 86.9 dB | 85 dB |
| Mounting depth | 5.75 in | 6.66 in |
| Sealed box | 1.0–2.0 cu ft | 1.02 cu ft |
| Vented box | 1.75–2.25 cu ft | 1.79 cu ft |
The Rockford Fosgate P3D4-12 handles a bit more power and suits harder-hitting builds, but it’s deeper. If your space is very tight, look at our shallow-mount 12-inch picks; if you want no box building at all, a powered sub like the JBL BassPro SL2 is far simpler.
Who should buy it
- Daily drivers who want strong, musical bass.
- Trucks and hatchbacks where mounting depth matters.
- Builders who want flexibility between sealed and ported.
- Systems with a 400–600 W mono amp.
Who should look elsewhere
- If you want competition-level SPL, see our competition subwoofer picks.
- If you have very little space, choose a shallow-mount sub.
- If you want plug-and-play, choose a powered underseat sub.
FAQs
What box is best for the Kicker CompR 12?
Sealed 1.0–2.0 cu ft for tight bass, or vented 1.75–2.25 cu ft for more output. Our box designer sizes either.
Should I wire it to 2 ohms or 8 ohms?
Usually 2 ohms (coils in parallel), because most mono amps make more power at lower impedance. Check your amp’s rating.
What’s the difference between CompR and CompRT?
The CompRT is Kicker’s shallow, thin-profile line for tight spaces; the CompR is a standard-depth sub for regular enclosures.
How much amp power do I need?
Around 500 W RMS at your final impedance. Under-powering is fine; clipping a small amp is what damages subs.