Performance Optimized · Datasheet

Performance Optimized Sealed 12" Enclosure | Arc Audio 12" Arc Series Single 12" Sealed enclosure

Net volume
1.1 Cubic Feet
Max mounting depth
8.5 Inches
External dimensions
24 Inches W × 15 Inches H × 9 Inches D
Buy at Audio Intensity
  • Best For: Single Arc ARC 12 Builds | Balanced SQ + Output
  • Net Volume: 1.1 cu ft Sealed
  • Driver Match: Arc Audio ARC Series 12 (D2 or D4)
  • Construction: Threaded Inserts | Pre-Wired Terminal Cup

Technical specifications

Enclosure TypeSealed
Driver-Specific FitmentArc Audio ARC Series 12 (Dual 2Ω or Dual 4Ω)
Internal Volume (Net)1.1 Cubic Feet
MaterialLangboard Elite 3/4" MDF
ConstructionCNC-Cut / V-Groove and Dado Joinery
External Width24 Inches
External Height15 Inches
External Depth9 Inches
Max Mounting Depth8.5 Inches
Mounting Hardware8/32 Threaded Inserts | Stainless Steel Screws Included
Terminal CupProline X ABS/Carbon Fiber Composite | 12g OFC Pre-Wired
DampingPolyfill Pre-Installed
Recommended Power300-400 Watts RMS (350W RMS Driver Rating)
Carpet FinishDark Gray Trunkliner (Standard) or Plush Black
Acrylic InsertBlack, Blue, Red, White, or None
Bundle OptionsBox Only | Add a Dual 2Ω Driver | Add a Dual 4Ω Driver
Warranty1-Year Limited
ManufacturedTullahoma, Tennessee, USA

Performance in this enclosure

Net airspace
1.10
cu ft per chamber
System Qtc
0.77–0.87
sealed
Half power
36.5–39.0
Hz · F3
Xmax at
363
W RMS · no filter
With 25 Hz subsonic
451
W RMS · +24%
Amplifier
5–700
W RMS recommended
This enclosure holds 1.10 cu ft net per chamber. In it the Arc Audio ARC Series 12 runs a system Qtc of 0.77–0.87 with half power at 36.5–39.0 Hz, and the cone reaches its 15.0 mm travel limit at 363 W, above the driver’s 350 W thermal rating, so heat stops you before travel does. Run a subsonic filter at 25 Hz and that becomes 451 W — +89 W, or 24 percent more power for the same 15.0 mm of travel.

01Is it a sealed driver?

Efficiency bandwidth product places the motor before anything else is decided.

EBP = Fs ÷ Qes = 43.5–48.6
SEALED 0–50 TRANSITION 50–100 PORTED 100–150 0 50 100 150 D2 48.6 D4 43.5
D2 · EBP 48.6D4 · EBP 43.5
EBP under 50 means a motor that wants a sealed load. The ARC Series 12 sits at 43.5–48.6, inside that band, which is why this is a sealed build rather than a ported one.

02What the box does to it

1.10 cu ft against a 74.4 L Vas.

α = Vas ÷ Vb = 2.39  ·  Fc = Fs√(α+1) = 42–43 Hz  ·  Qtc = 0.77–0.87
20 30 50 70 100 150 200 +6 +0 -6 -12 -18 -24 FREQUENCY · Hz LEVEL · dB −3 dB
D2 · Qtc 0.77, Fc 42 Hz, F3 39.0 HzD4 · Qtc 0.87, Fc 43 Hz, F3 36.5 Hz
The box lifts resonance from 22.8 Hz free-air to 42–43 Hz and half power lands at 36.5–39.0 Hz, anechoic, before any cabin gain. This enclosure ships without a driver, so both coil variants the maker offers are plotted. They do not load the same box the same way.

03The watts that reach Xmax (in this enclosure)

Travel scales with the square root of power, so there is one wattage that puts the cone exactly on 15.0 mm — and a bigger one once a subsonic filter stops it wasting travel below the passband.

PXmax = 363–381 W unfiltered  →  451–489 W with a 25 Hz subsonic
20 30 50 70 100 150 200 0 4 8 12 16 FREQUENCY · Hz CONE TRAVEL · mm PAST LINEAR TRAVEL · Xmax 15.0 mm 363 W reaches Xmax here
D2 · 363 W, no filterD4 · 381 W, no filterD2 · 489 W with subsonic at 25 Hz, 24 dB/octD4 · 451 W with subsonic at 25 Hz, 24 dB/octXmax 15.0 mm one-way
Every trace touches the limit and no further, because each is drawn at the exact power that puts that coil on 15.0 mm. Unfiltered that is 363 W, reached first at 20 Hz. It sits above the 350 W the driver can take thermally, so the voice coil gives up before the suspension does. The dashed traces are the same driver behind a subsonic filter at 25 Hz, 24 dB/oct: stopping the cone wasting travel below the passband lets it take 451 W before hitting the same 15.0 mm. That is 24 percent more amplifier for the price of one filter setting.
ParamValueUnitNote
Fs22.80Hzfree-air resonance
Qts0.416 / 0.468D2 / D4
Vas74.43 / 76.28Lequivalent compliance
Sd470.0cm²effective piston area
Xmax15mmone-way linear travel
Pe350Wcontinuous RMS
SPL84.6dB1 W / 1 m, derived from T/S

Driver parameters as published by arcaudio.com ARC Series owner's manual. Curves computed against this enclosure’s actual net airspace.

Installer's take

The Arc ARC 12 is one of those drivers that lives in the "just right" zone for a huge number of builds. It's not the flagship SQ pick. That's the X2v2. It's not the shallow-mount specialist. That's the A12. But it's Arc's most versatile 12, and for a single-driver sealed system in a mid-size sedan or SUV trunk, it's exactly the sub you want. Enough motor to hit hard, enough refinement to stay musical, and enough thermal capacity to run all day at daily-driver volumes without breaking a sweat. The 1.1 cubic foot volume in this cabinet is dead center in Arc's specified sealed range of 0.9 to 1.25 cubic feet. That matters because 1.1 lands the ARC 12's Qtc right where it should be for balanced transient response and controlled low-end extension. Push volume down toward 0.9 and you get a tighter, dryer presentation that some builders prefer but sacrifices some low-end weight. Push up toward 1.25 and you gain a little extension at the cost of transient control. 1.1 is the balanced middle, the volume Arc's own engineering team would build if they were building a sealed box for their own driver. The 24-inch width is worth calling out. A single 12 in a 24-inch cabinet fits a lot of trunks that dual 12 setups don't, sedans with folding rear seats, compact SUV cargo bays, hatchback trunk wells. At 9 inches deep, the cabinet sits close to the trunk wall and preserves useable cargo space in a way that deeper cabinets don't. If you've got the space for a bigger box, our Dual 12 delivers more output. If you've got a trunk that needs to stay useable and a single 12 is the right call, this is the box. Wiring is straightforward. Dual 2-ohm gets you 1 ohm parallel or 4 ohms series. Dual 4-ohm gets you 2 ohms parallel or 8 ohms series. The 350-watt RMS rating means a clean 350 to 500 watt monoblock at your chosen impedance is the target. Arc's own XD Series or Mini Series in that range are the ideal match. Any quality monoblock stable at your load will get you there. For a single 12 sealed build where the driver needs to be versatile and the cabinet needs to fit, this is what the ARC 12 was built for. -Scott

Questions

What size enclosure does the Arc Audio ARC Series 12 need?

The Arc Audio ARC Series 12 performs best in a sealed enclosure between 0.9 and 1.25 cubic feet. The Audio Intensity Performance Optimized Sealed 12 for Arc Audio ARC 12 delivers 1.1 cubic feet net internal volume, the middle of Arc Audio's specified sealed range, where Qtc lands at the balanced target for controlled transient response and clean low-end extension.

What are the dimensions of the Performance Optimized Sealed 12 enclosure for the Arc Audio ARC 12?

The Performance Optimized Sealed 12 enclosure for the Arc Audio ARC 12 measures 24" wide x 15" tall x 9" deep externally. Net internal volume is 1.1 cubic feet, with a maximum mounting depth of 8.5 inches behind the baffle.

How much power can the Arc Audio ARC Series 12 handle?

The Arc Audio ARC Series 12 handles 350 watts RMS and 700 watts peak. For best results in the Performance Optimized Sealed 12 enclosure, pair the ARC 12 with a clean monoblock amplifier delivering 300 to 400 watts RMS at your chosen impedance. Arc Audio XD Series and Mini Series monoblocks in the 350 to 500 watt range are engineered specifically to pair with Arc Audio subwoofers.

What impedance options are available for the Arc Audio ARC Series 12?

The Arc Audio ARC Series 12 is available in two dual voice coil impedance configurations: Dual 2-ohm (D2) and Dual 4-ohm (D4). A Dual 2-ohm ARC 12 wired in parallel presents a 1-ohm load or wired in series presents 4 ohms. A Dual 4-ohm ARC 12 wired in parallel presents 2 ohms or wired in series presents 8 ohms.

Will the Arc Audio ARC 12 fit in this enclosure with adequate magnet clearance?

Yes. The Performance Optimized Sealed 12 for Arc Audio ARC 12 has an 8.5-inch maximum mounting depth behind the baffle, which accommodates the ARC 12's standard-depth motor structure with adequate internal clearance for magnet ventilation. Arc Audio's four-spoke stamped steel basket with compound-curve construction drops in cleanly.

What mounting hardware does the Performance Optimized Sealed 12 for Arc Audio ARC 12 include?

The Performance Optimized Sealed 12 for Arc Audio ARC 12 includes 8/32 threaded inserts pressed into the baffle backside and stainless steel mounting screws sized for the Arc Audio ARC 12. The enclosure also includes a Proline X ABS/carbon fiber composite terminal cup pre-wired with 12-gauge OFC and stainless steel input hardware.

What carpet and acrylic insert options are available on the Performance Optimized Sealed 12 for Arc Audio ARC 12?

Carpet and insert selections are cosmetic only and do not affect acoustic performance.

Where is the Performance Optimized Sealed 12 for Arc Audio ARC 12 manufactured?

The Performance Optimized Sealed 12 for Arc Audio ARC 12 is manufactured in Tullahoma, Tennessee, USA. Each enclosure is CNC-cut from Langboard Elite 3/4" MDF on ShopSabre routers and hand-assembled at Audio Intensity's Tennessee facility. Build time is 2 to 5 business days from order placement.

Other Performance Optimized models