Product Spotlight: ARC Audio SW Subwoofers

Producing great bass in a pickup truck requires a subwoofer with shallow mounting requirements and impressive excursion capabilities. The new SW-Series of subwoofers from ARC Audio includes 10- and 12-inch solutions that deliver class-leading performance from their front-magnet, shallow-basket design.

ARC Audio SW12 Subwoofer

Launched at KnowledgeFest in August 2019, the first SW-Series solution to ship was the 12-inch SW 12. The SW 12 is available in dual 2-ohm and dual 4-ohm voice coil configurations to ensure that your installer can maximize the power production capabilities of almost any amplifier on the market. The woofers are based on a proprietary cast-aluminum eight-spoke basket. The rear of the basket is a mere 2 5/8 inches below the mounting flange. Knowing that enclosure depth requirements can be affected by cooling vents built into the bottom of the motor assembly, ARC Audio’s front-magnet design allows the subwoofer to be installed flush against the back or bottom of an enclosure without any change in performance.

Front-Motor Subwoofer Design Improves Power Handling

The SW 12 subwoofers are powered by a high-strength N42UH rare earth magnet slug. This premium neodymium, iron and boron alloy is designed to handle temperatures of more than 350 degrees without degrading the magnetic field strength – a significant problem for neodymium subwoofers in the past.

Having the magnet on the front of the subwoofer dramatically improves its thermal power handling as it is directly exposed to cool air inside the vehicle, whereas conventional rear-magnet designs are trapped inside the enclosure. As such and logically, ARC recommends that your installer mount these subwoofers with the magnet showing in order to maintain the rated power handling specifications.

The CCAW voice coil has a diameter of 3 inches to further assist in cooling. The deep curved cone and woven poly-cotton/Nomex spider attach to an aluminum former at the base of the cone. This aluminum-reinforced triple-joint ensures this often-fragile connection point will remain reliable at high-excursion and power levels.

Having the motor on the front, extending 2 1/4 inches from the mounting surface, also acts as protection for the driver. You can press the motor right against a seatback without fear of the cone running into the seat and becoming damaged. In fact, this type of application, along with down-fire under seat enclosures, is the recommended and preferred installation method for the SW-Series subwoofer line.

Treated Fiber Woofer Cone

The cone of the SW subwoofers is pressed from cellulose fiber composite and is then treated with a process that enhances its hydrophobic characteristics. In states like Florida, Georgia and Texas and areas like Southeast Asia that experience high humidity levels, this coating helps to ensure that the mass of the cone doesn’t change due to water absorption. The result is predictable and repeatable results day after day and year after year.

The cone features a steep parabolic shape for excellent rigidity at high excursion levels. The mounting flange for the rubber surround is on a stepped ledge to optimize the suspension geometry without adding to the overall height of the design. The tinsel leads from the large spring-loaded terminals on the basket are protected with a thick rubber coating to ensure that they remain quiet while the cone is traveling through its range of motion and to protect them from shorting against the aluminum reinforcement ring.

ARC Audio SW 12 Specifications

ARC Audio rates the SW 12 subwoofers as being capable of handling 400 watts continuous and 800 watts maximum. The driver has a one-way Xmax specification of 15.5 mm. This specification means the woofer cone can move more than 1 inch to produce amazing low-frequency output and SPL.

These drivers have been designed to deliver great bass from compact sealed enclosures with internal volumes between 0.65 and 1.0 cubic feet. ARC Audio is currently evaluating their suitability for vented enclosure designs.

The SW 10 subwoofers, which are scheduled to ship later this year, feature the same basic design with a 2.5-inch voice coil and 700-watt maximum power rating.

Amazing Bass from a Compact Design

The new SW-Series subwoofers are designed for music lovers who want amazing output and low-frequency extension from an incredibly shallow enclosure design. If you are shopping for a shallow-mount subwoofer for an under-seat or behind-the-seat enclosure, drop into your local authorized ARC Audio dealer and ask about the new SW-Series subwoofers for your vehicle.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.