Correct. 7k2d will protect at 15v but not the older 7kd. Can I ask who's 7k2d did you test?
And I'm not sure about this person's test because it doesn't correspond with other peoples testing of the 8000d on 18v but the original posters 12v test seems right on par. Other test of the 8000d to get similar power of 12k on 18v the amp needed to be run at .25-.5ohms rising to 1-1.5ohms. But that was other peoples test of the 8000d and I don't know your circumstances. But the test of a 7k2d from 1ohms to 2.7ohms on 18v seems about right. Modified 7k2d's for 18v do about 12-13k at impedance of .5ohms to 1.5ohms-2ohms. What was the spl difference?