Box Volume too small for 12" Sub
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 555
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From: Moline IL
Box Volume too small for 12" Sub
What would happen if you mount a 12" sub with a recommended sealed box volume of around 1.25 cubic feet in a center storage compartment box with a volume of around 0.75 feet?
What would this sound like? I'm curious about how critical the box volume is and how it effects the sound characteristics.
Thanks.
What would this sound like? I'm curious about how critical the box volume is and how it effects the sound characteristics.
Thanks.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,394
Likes: 0
From: Bay Area CA
I would say with that much variation of true enclosure size vs recommended enclosure size you will see a pretty large decrease in performance and output/accuracy.
You can make a $15 sub sound pretty damn solid in a great enclosure, and you can make a $1000 sub sound like s**t in a poor enclosure.
You can trick the sub into thinking it is in a max of about 30% larger box than it is with polyfill. But you can hurt performance as well if you put too much inside. Example:
1.0 cu^3 box with polyfill = 1.3 cu^3 to the sub.
.75 cu^3 with polyfill = .975 cu^3 to the sub.
You would be better off doing an above the rear compartment style box to get closer to the recommended enclosure size, or choose a different sub that will be closer to the specs needed for your space. Image Dynamics IDQ will work in that size ( I have one in that size) as will the ED mentioned and the Infinity Perfect VQ 12". I am sure there are more.
I do not however recommend you build that small of an enclosure for that particular 12" sub, you will never get the output or the range that you should out of it if it were in the right sized enclosure.
Fej
You can make a $15 sub sound pretty damn solid in a great enclosure, and you can make a $1000 sub sound like s**t in a poor enclosure.
You can trick the sub into thinking it is in a max of about 30% larger box than it is with polyfill. But you can hurt performance as well if you put too much inside. Example:
1.0 cu^3 box with polyfill = 1.3 cu^3 to the sub.
.75 cu^3 with polyfill = .975 cu^3 to the sub.
You would be better off doing an above the rear compartment style box to get closer to the recommended enclosure size, or choose a different sub that will be closer to the specs needed for your space. Image Dynamics IDQ will work in that size ( I have one in that size) as will the ED mentioned and the Infinity Perfect VQ 12". I am sure there are more.
I do not however recommend you build that small of an enclosure for that particular 12" sub, you will never get the output or the range that you should out of it if it were in the right sized enclosure.
Fej
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 4,510
Likes: 240
From: Coconut Creek FL
Originally Posted by pentavolvo
Elemental designs minimum sealed box specs is .75
This man knows what he is talking about!
With his help and knowledge I purchased an ED 12" sub and one of their amps to power it...sub was $75 and amp was $175 with free shipping! it should be here today along with my Subthump 12" stealth enclosure...can't wait
Former Vendor
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 411
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From: Murfreesboro, TN. "I'm like a kid in a candy store everytime I see a Corvette!!"
One of the biggest things to remember when getting a stealth enclosure, instead of a flush mounted enclosure, is to not have the sub hitting the bottom of the compartment cover when it is playing. You will burn up a sub that way. The sub needs to move freely in order to cool a sub properly. If you impede that progress, you will heat up and melt the voice coil. Also the added distortion that sometimes accompanies added volume can damage the sub when trying to compensate for the sub being located under the stock compartment cover.
The proper airspace is critical to making sure that a sub sounds good in the box. Mordeth just recently bought an enclosure from me, and putting the sub in the correct airspace, and giving it the room to move properly has given him an extremely loud response from his new sub box...
Hope this helps!!!
The proper airspace is critical to making sure that a sub sounds good in the box. Mordeth just recently bought an enclosure from me, and putting the sub in the correct airspace, and giving it the room to move properly has given him an extremely loud response from his new sub box...
Hope this helps!!!
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Former Vendor
Joined: Nov 2005
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From: Murfreesboro, TN. "I'm like a kid in a candy store everytime I see a Corvette!!"
Originally Posted by pentavolvo
This is very true if the sub hits the cover it is very very bad
