13" Car Subwoofers

Understanding the 13 inch subwoofer format in 2026

Most brands stop at 12 inch and jump to 15, which leaves a useful gap. JL Audio fills it with a 13.5 inch platform that gives roughly 25 percent more cone area than a 12 while needing far less enclosure volume than a 15. In a car, that combination is close to ideal, because cone area produces low frequency output and boot space is always the limiting factor.

W3v3 and TW5v2 compared

• 13W3v3. The all rounder at 600 watts RMS, available in 2 ohm and 4 ohm, and happy in sealed or ported cabinets.
• 13TW5v2. A shallow mount 600 watt driver with a thin profile for under seat and behind panel installs.
• CS113TG PowerWedge. A finished sealed enclosure with a TW5v2 driver already fitted and correctly sealed.
• CLS113RG ProWedge. A 1500 watt W7AE driver in a matched sealed cabinet for the highest output on this page.

Sealed enclosures and why JL Audio prefers them

Every finished enclosure on this page is sealed, and that is deliberate. A sealed cabinet gives the flattest response, the best transient control and the most predictable behaviour across different music. JL Audio drivers are engineered around specific sealed volumes, so a factory matched enclosure removes the largest source of error in a bass install. Ported alternatives exist, but sealed is where these drivers sound their best.

Amplifier matching

• Respect the RMS rating. A 600 watt driver wants an amplifier delivering close to 600 watts at the correct impedance, not double it.
• Check the final load. Dual 2 ohm and dual 4 ohm voice coils wire to different totals, and the amplifier must be stable at that figure.
• Use a monoblock class D. Efficient, compact and designed for the sustained low frequency current these drivers draw.
• Upgrade the electrical system. High output installs benefit from a big three upgrade and a suitably rated fuse at the battery.

Mounting depth and cut out

A 13.5 inch driver needs a larger cut out than a 12, so a box designed for a 12 inch sub will not accept one without modification. The W3v3 requires conventional mounting depth, while the TW5v2 is specifically designed for shallow applications where under seat or behind panel mounting is the only option. Always confirm the cut out diameter and depth against the enclosure before ordering.

Brand quality at a glance

• JL Audio W3v3. The benchmark for musical accuracy at sensible power, with conservative and honest ratings.
• JL Audio TW5v2. Thin line engineering that delivers full size output from a shallow chassis.
• JL Audio W7AE. The flagship driver, offering the highest excursion and output in the range.
• JL Audio enclosures. PowerWedge and ProWedge cabinets built to the exact internal volume each driver was designed for.

Compatibility and fitting

• Fascia adapter. Needed when a new head unit is installed alongside the subwoofer so the stereo fits the factory aperture.
• ISO harness. Connects a replacement stereo to the original loom without cutting any factory wiring.
• Steering wheel control adapter. Retains wheel and stalk mounted volume, track and source controls after a head unit change.
• Aerial adapter. Keeps DAB and FM reception correct with the factory antenna and powered aerial supply.
• Line output converter. Provides a clean RCA signal for the amplifier when the factory stereo stays in place.

Setting up for accuracy rather than volume

These drivers reward careful setup. Start with the low pass filter at 80Hz and a shallow slope, set gain with the bass boost at zero, and use the head unit or a processor to time align the sub with the front stage if your system supports it. A sealed 13.5 inch driver set up properly will sound deeper than a badly tuned ported 15, because control matters more than raw output.

Why buy from Bass Junkies

Bass Junkies has been a specialist car audio retailer and installer since 1995, and JL Audio is a range we know in detail rather than simply list. Drivers and enclosures are stocked at our Wolverhampton workshop, where our fitters build and set up systems around them every week. If you want help choosing between the W3v3, the TW5v2 and a finished enclosure for your car, call 01902 863 005.