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Speaker box enclosure volume

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Old May 19, 2013 | 07:35 PM
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From: Soedertaelje
Default Speaker box enclosure volume

I have a 1991 coupé. Now I'm finally replacing my partially broken Bose system.
What I would like to find out is the volume of the rear speaker boxes/cabinets/compartments.

If these compartments proves to be of any use, I plan to set up a system with bass speakers in these boxes, mids in the front and tweeters on the dash. I would like to avoid anything visible but I can accept small tweeters on the dash.

If nobody can tell me the volume, I will eventually fill them with water to find out but I was hoping not to have to.

Head unit will be a Pioneer P88RS-II wich opens up allmost any possibility.

Last edited by Dagge; May 20, 2013 at 10:09 AM. Reason: Clearyfying
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Old May 20, 2013 | 11:41 AM
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If you are talking about the factory rear speaker compartments (versus the storage bins), they are quite small. I am certain they are smaller than one cubic foot and really think they're in the 1/2 cf range. (I measured almost 10 yrs ago! LOL) The factory did place a piece of foam in the enclosure to help it ACT larger than 1/2 cf. (This is common practice for sealed/ported enclosures...as it slows wall-to-wall reflections -- as if it were a bigger box.)

People convert to 6x9 or 8" woofers back there. I did the later....looking for the drivers with the smallest enclosure requirement. Keep in mind that you can use speakers designed for larger enclosures (like 1 cf) but you lose low-end response. In the small confines of a car, you lose it anyway. Kinda means it's nothing to get bent-out-of-shape over.

You should be able to find 8" subs good for a 1/2' - 1' enclosure. Of course, any good [high power] 6x9" would work too.
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Old May 20, 2013 | 06:31 PM
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From: Soedertaelje
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GREGGPEN,
Thank you for your reply! Exactly what was looking for.
Yes, it's the speaker compartments I'm talking about.
My guess would have been less than 1/2 a cf more likely a third. I found no foam in my enclosures but I know what you are talking about.
Today's speakers are so much improved over older ones (Q values) so you don't necessarily need to have large open enclosures to obtain a good sound. In my Audi A3 I had a single JBL GTO804 in 0.3 cf sealed enclosure (factory recommendation). Incredable sound! Actually, the shop rated my installation as competition class while listening to the result. If you don't install properly, it doesn't matter how exclusive stuff you buy. Using that woofer I need to worrie about all other walls than the baffle instead ;-)
If your'e not familiar with the GTO804 already, I can highly recommend it.
My experiences regarding low end response are not the same as yours. I'd rather like to create a hole in the frequency range between app 80 to 200 Hz since that range comes by itself.
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Old May 20, 2013 | 09:32 PM
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I filled my spaces up with some foam peanuts as a test and estimated it to be just a little under 1cf of air space after measuring the amount of peanuts I was able to put in there. I didn't leave the peanuts in there. I put some 8" woofers in mine and they sound great as a sealed enclosure.
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Old May 21, 2013 | 03:02 AM
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From: Soedertaelje
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r15
Foam peanuts are a lot less wet than water and could very well serve as a god substitute. Thank you for the idea!
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Old May 21, 2013 | 11:06 AM
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I installed two Kicker 8" Subs in the rear speaker area and I also, added .5 cu ft of Polyester foam batting to each enclosure.

With 350 watts powering both subs, the sound is Awesome!...

Remember to include your Sub after adding the packing peanuts too, get an accurate volume measurement.

Last edited by GKK; May 21, 2013 at 11:08 AM.
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Old May 21, 2013 | 12:25 PM
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Originally Posted by GKK
Remember to include your Sub after adding the packing peanuts too, get an accurate volume measurement.
I can't remember if that's necessary. I used to think this...but thought I read where the [protruding] cone doesn't hamper creation of sound waves inside the box. So, you might be able to take only box-size into consideration.
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Old May 21, 2013 | 04:44 PM
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Originally Posted by GREGGPENN
the [protruding] cone doesn't hamper creation of sound waves inside the box. So, you might be able to take only box-size into consideration.
The Cone, Basket and Magnet assembly, still have Mass that reduces the enclosures total volume.
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Old May 22, 2013 | 06:13 PM
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From: Soedertaelje
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JBL has taken the volume of the speaker itself in consideration when they specify speaker box volume. They also do that for the tube in a vented box.

Nice to see that my question attracts some good attention :-)
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Old May 30, 2013 | 04:35 PM
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From: Soedertaelje
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I went the foam peanuts way instead of water. Less messy....
I would say the volume is close to 11 litres or 0.4 cfm.

Thanks for the tip!
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Old May 30, 2013 | 05:14 PM
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A couple of days ago I recieved the Metra kit which allows me to install a single din CD player in the gigantic hole after the Delco/Bose thing was removed. Kind of cheap looking but it will hopefully do its job. Another surprise was the "nuts" in the CD player. A player that in those days was considered to be high end should have better holes than this.

Last edited by Dagge; May 30, 2013 at 05:16 PM. Reason: Picture didnt upload correctly
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