DV12K6D1 | DV12K6D2: How To Set Up, Wire & Install

Introduction

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the setup process for the Rockville  DV12K6 Series Dual 12" Car Audio Subwoofers. These subs come with an LED-lit plexiglass enclosure and are designed to deliver powerful bass while adding a visual flair to your car audio system.

What’s in the Box?

•  DV12K6 Series Subwoofers (pre-installed in enclosure)
• Plexiglass enclosure with built-in LED lights
• Positive and negative wire for LED light connection

Step 1: Choosing the Right Amplifier

To ensure the best performance, you need to match your amplifier’s power and impedance to the subs.

Power Matching

• The  DV12K6 Series is rated at 1200W RMS.
• You should pair it with an amplifier that produces around 1200W RMS at the correct impedance.
• Example: The Krypton M4 amplifier produces 1500W RMS at 1 ohm, which is a great match.

Note:

• If your amp produces more power, it’s fine as long as it’s properly tuned and not overdriven.
• If your amp produces less power, avoid turning the gain knob too high, as this can cause clipping and damage the subs.

Estimating RMS Power of an Amplifier

• For Class-D amplifiers → Multiply the fuse rating by 10.
• For Class A/B amplifiers → Multiply the fuse rating by 9 (since they are less efficient).

Example:

• If an amp has a 150A fuse, its estimated RMS power is 1500W (150 × 10).

SPL Build Considerations

• For SPL (Sound Pressure Level) setups, where you want bursts of extreme power, you need an amp with 3-4 times the RMS power of the subs.
• The peak power of a sub is about 4x its RMS rating, meaning a 4800W amp would be ideal for SPL burps.

Step 2: Matching Subwoofer Impedance to the Amplifier

• The  DV12K6D1 model is wired to 1 ohm and should be paired with a 1-ohm stable amplifier (e.g., Krypton M4).
• The  DV12K6D2 model runs at 2 ohms and should be matched with a 2-ohm stable amp (e.g., Rockville dB15).
• If using a 1-ohm stable amp at 2 ohms, the amp will run cooler and more efficiently, improving sound quality and battery life.

Step 3: Wiring the Subwoofers to Your Amplifier

1. Take a speaker wire and connect the positive (+) and negative (-) terminals on the enclosure.
2. Run the other ends of the wire to the amplifier’s speaker terminals.
3. Tighten the connections securely.

Parallel Wiring for 2 Ohm Stable Amps

• If you are using a 2-ohm stable amplifier, you will need to wire the subs in parallel by daisy-chaining them together.
• Connect both positive terminals to the amp’s positive output and both negative terminals to the amp’s negative output.

Step 4: Connecting the LED Lights

The LED lighting in the plexiglass enclosure runs on a separate power connection.

Wiring Options for LED Power

1. Direct to Car Battery
   • Connect the positive wire to the battery’s positive terminal.
   • Connect the negative wire to the battery’s negative terminal.
2. Wiring to the Accessories Circuit
   • Connect the positive LED wire to an accessory wire in your car (so the lights only turn on when the car is running).
3. Connecting LED Power to the Amplifier (Recommended)
   • Cut one end of the LED wire to expose the bare wire.
   • Connect the positive wire to the remote terminal of your amp.
   • Connect the negative wire to the ground terminal of your amp.

Why connect LED power to the amp?

• The LED lights will only turn on when the amp is powered, preventing battery drain when the car is off.

Step 5: Choosing LED Light Colors

The enclosure features a three-way switch to control the LED lights:

• Blue Mode
• White Mode
• Off (Middle Position)

Step 6: Testing Your System

1. Turn on your car – the LED lights should illuminate.
2. Play music – adjust your amp settings for optimal sound.
3. Ensure the subwoofers are delivering clean, distortion-free bass.

Conclusion

Setting up the Rockville  DV12K6 Series Subwoofers is quick and easy. By properly matching the amplifier, wiring the subs, and connecting the LED power, you’ll have a high-performance bass system that looks as great as it sounds.