Building a sub box.....need help

[billytheman1188]

What kind of wood should i use????, im just gonna get some wood and nail it together, and cut out 2 12" holes, i dont need anything fancy.......

Problem is my box that i have now cracked, so it rattles now, and doesnt sound as good.

[FartCannonAlero]

umm...i wouldnt build your own..unless you've done it before and know what your doing..if you dont have the box built to size then you could fk up the subs..and make sure you have no little cracks or holes so air leaks out

MDF is good wood, i guess..lol

[rodney]

use 3/4" MDF, and screw the thing together... no nails. also, seal it with some silicon caulk. if your gonna do it, do it right.

[2fst4u]

go to wal-mart and buy the "do-it-yourself" sub-boxes. they're really easy to put together, include everything needed, match the factory carpet, and will give you a good idea on how to make them yourself next time.

[ptrudel]

^only prob with those is they ain't very tough....i had just a 10" pioneer premier 800W and it blew the box apart....and it doesnt always have the right airspace either

[billytheman1188]

So i prob will buy one off ebay, i will post up some links when i get around to lookin them up and i will see what everyone thinks about a box i might get.

[billytheman1188]

Ok, so i found some boxes here, now just let me know what u think......

SHOULD I GET A VENTED SUB BOX OR JUST A REGULAR ONE???

http://www.hifisoundconnection.com/Shop/Control/Product/fp/vpid/1330840/vpcsid/0/SFV/30046

OR

http://www.hifisoundconnection.com/Shop/Control/Product/fp/vpid/2177687/vpcsid/0/SFV/30046

[Trickyslick]

I understand vented is better but I am sure if I am wrong somebody will chime in...

[sound_xtreme]

it depends on the sub infinity usually like sealed. so ya id proly do sealed with those subs

[billytheman1188]

Thanks a lot guys.....

so the vented are only good for some subs??? thats weird, but i trust what your sayin cause you know what your talkin about and i dont.

but its better that im not gettin the vented cause it costs a lot more!

[AGT]

I understand vented is better but I am sure if I am wrong somebody will chime in...

Thanks a lot guys.....

so the vented are only good for some subs??? thats weird, but i trust what your sayin cause you know what your talkin about and i dont.

but its better that im not gettin the vented cause it costs a lot more!


He is right...read your Infinity manual. I went sealed on my subs and it sounds great and I have my orion amps turned up 1/2 way.

[billytheman1188]

why are vented not good though???

[acold7dusta]

hey billy, i see your near by me. i can make you a box, and then you can pick it up, i got all the measurements to fit it real snug, and taking up minimal room. ill prolly charge ya ~50 or so for a vented nude box, or if you want sealed ill cut ya a break


PS vented, (ported) tuned right, sound better, get louder, are more efficient off less output, and yield a flatter response curve (tuned lower 30s) than sealed. Only down fall i can think of, take up more space and have more research into them

[billytheman1188]

buffalo is a little far for a box man, id be payin for gas and for the box.

[acold7dusta]

then go to home depot, buy a sheet of 3/4" MDF (4x8) and either have them cut it, or you cut it at home. buy a can of liquid nails, and silicone (optional) and assemble it. its not hard. Just take your time to make sure it all lines up and its sealed off completely. i would probably make a 1.2 cu ft box sealed for 12's.

kev

[eag182]

You can put any sub into a vented box, but you might have build that box to certain specifications to get a flat response (no differing in sound intensity in a given Hz range). Putting a sub into a vented(ported) box that wasn't made for that sub is stupid, because that the builders didn't consider your sub when engineering the port diameter/ length/ # of ports, box size, etc. Just read your sub manual for it's recommendations and go find the box with the closest specs.

Or if you just want boomboomboom BS the thing and be like most people and find the cheapest box.

[billytheman1188]

Sealed Box- If you prefer a cleaner sound (more suitable to jazz, classical, pop, etc.), subwoofers in sealed boxes tend to produce tighter bass, allowing you to hear more of the sharp, punchy edges that define each note.

Ported or Bandpass Box- If you like rap, reggae, alternative or heavy metal, you'll probably want a boomier sound. You'll get this sound from a sub in a ported or bandpass box.

So im thinkin i wanna go with the ported box......cause i do want a nice sound, not a choppy sound.

[sound_xtreme]

dont listen to me, i dont know anything

[billytheman1188]

nah tell me what u think.....i mean u said infinitys are better in sealed boxes right? but am i gonna get a choppy sound, or will i get nice low deep bass.

If you think its better that i get a sealed box i will get one....if my woofers will work better in them.

[ptrudel]

joel knows his shit when it comes to audio..i'd listen to him

[SweetNLow]

listen dude. it sounds like you dont know what your talkin about so you should listen to what others have to say.

ported boxes are best for spl........ or sound pressure level.....basically thats loudness. if you want mega bass you should run a ported box. but you also need to know what size box(how many cubes) your subs require for a ported box and so on. the dimension of the box effects the bass the box produces.

sealed boxes are best for sq....... which is sound quality. you wont get bass as "loud" as you would in a ported box because your moving less air in a sealed box. but you get better response which makes the bass sound "cleaner"

now here is the other thing. certain subs are designed specifically for certain types of boxes. in your case infinity's are designed to sound BEST in a sealed box. some subs work best in ported......... some can sound good in either type of box. but you have subs best suited for a sealed box.

and since you dont seem to have any exprience with subs....... you prolly wouldnt be able to tell the difference between the different types of boxes.

ALSO....... find out how many cubes your subs require in a sealed box and get a box that is the proper about of internal cubic volume.

[sound_xtreme]

i was too lazy to type wut sweetnlow said. some subs ARE made for sealed applications. yours happens to be one of them.

[an02oldsalero]

listen dude. it sounds like you dont know what your talkin about so you should listen to what others have to say.

ported boxes are best for spl........ or sound pressure level.....basically thats loudness. if you want mega bass you should run a ported box. but you also need to know what size box(how many cubes) your subs require for a ported box and so on. the dimension of the box effects the bass the box produces.

sealed boxes are best for sq....... which is sound quality. you wont get bass as "loud" as you would in a ported box because your moving less air in a sealed box. but you get better response which makes the bass sound "cleaner"

now here is the other thing. certain subs are designed specifically for certain types of boxes. in your case infinity's are designed to sound BEST in a sealed box. some subs work best in ported......... some can sound good in either type of box. but you have subs best suited for a sealed box.

and since you dont seem to have any exprience with subs....... you prolly wouldnt be able to tell the difference between the different types of boxes.

ALSO....... find out how many cubes your subs require in a sealed box and get a box that is the proper about of internal cubic volume.

I have to disaggree with you. I know I'm a newb on this site, but I know a little about subs, and have personal experience with this. I would consider a ported box to be the best overall comprimise between SQ and SPL. The ultimate for SQ is a bandpass box as it allows the lowest possible frequencies while limiting the upper frequencies a sub shouldn't play. From my experience, a bandpass box has the cleanest sound out of the three types, making it perfect for SQ.

A sealed box will generally greatly limit the lower frequencies of the sub. It is however the best design for an SPL system as it allows the most control over the cone of the speaker, which in turn allows you to put the most usable power to it. A ported box still has control of the cone, but the more power you use the more out of control the cone can get, which leads to damage.

To sum it up, I guess if you have a very high powered system (in excess of 1000 watts), then a sealed or bandpass box will work the best. But for lower powered systems, a ported box will make the most of a speaker. In the end, it comes down to personal preference, and the only way to find out which one you like best is to experiment.

[SweetNLow]

I have to disaggree with you. I know I'm a newb on this site, but I know a little about subs, and have personal experience with this. I would consider a ported box to be the best overall comprimise between SQ and SPL. The ultimate for SQ is a bandpass box as it allows the lowest possible frequencies while limiting the upper frequencies a sub shouldn't play. From my experience, a bandpass box has the cleanest sound out of the three types, making it perfect for SQ.

A sealed box will generally greatly limit the lower frequencies of the sub. It is however the best design for an SPL system as it allows the most control over the cone of the speaker, which in turn allows you to put the most usable power to it. A ported box still has control of the cone, but the more power you use the more out of control the cone can get, which leads to damage.

To sum it up, I guess if you have a very high powered system (in excess of 1000 watts), then a sealed or bandpass box will work the best. But for lower powered systems, a ported box will make the most of a speaker. In the end, it comes down to personal preference, and the only way to find out which one you like best is to experiment.

go to any SPL competition and see how many people are running sealed enclosures

IT ALL DEPENDS ON THE TYPE OF SUB YOUR RUNNING AND THE DESIRED SOUND YOUR LOOKING FOR.

[billytheman1188]

Sweetnlow your right i dont know what im talkin about, but from reading some articles i thought that ported would be best..... but if a sealed works best with MY SUB, then i will get one. I just hope it still sounds good like my box that i have right now......this box i have now puts out some good deep bass, i like it, i hope sealed boxes put out some good deep bass toolol

[SweetNLow]

if it has good sound now.......... why are you changing boxes?

[billytheman1188]

because the screws that hold the plexi glass on are coming out, and i cant find like 3 of them and the box is cracking in 2 places.

[an02oldsalero]

I'm just trying to put my opinion out there. I see things from a different aspect from most people though. I don't believe in having stupid amounts of power. Why try to push something real hard, when you can make the same sound from less power. I did just that with my 12" cheapo pioneer. I have a total of $200 between my sub, amp and box. I have managed to put down people that have tripple that amount into their subs. A past friend when I was in high school actually admitted that his 2 12" sony's with a 1000 watt Kenwood monoblock wasn't as loud, and didn't sound nearly as good in a sealed box compared to my ported box. Don't try to say I'm comparing apples to oranges here either. The sony's and my pioneer are in the same class. I can push my sub to near full excursion without any side effects, and I've hit 125dB so far. I know i've gone higher but thats the highest my dB meter goes.

[billytheman1188]

I have a $500 system and it sounds sweet, im not one of those guys who spends $5,000 on a system......thats a waste of money. but I think that the ported box sounds sweet, and i know infinitys work better with sealed boxes, but the ported box i have now sounds nice. My sister has a sealed box with 2 10s and it doesnt sound that great, it sounds good but not great. She even said mine sounded much better, cause the bass was smooth and not choppy, I HATE CHOPPY BASS.

[SweetNLow]

choppy bass isnt becuase of the box size........ she prolly has to much power running to her 10's and they are clipping

[eag182]

People need to be reading some wikipedia or start reading threads at DIYaudio because there are a lot of generalities going on here. Just buy a generic box, that will be fine for you until you learn more about audio in general.

[sound_xtreme]

lol bandpass for SQ. lawl

[Cliff8928]

:stupid: Most bandpass boxes I've heard sound muddy compared to the other types (more noise, less accuracy). Not to mention they usually take up a HUGE amount of room.

[acold7dusta]

especially a prefab bandpass;)

[jamcllw]

lol bandpass for SQ. lawl
bwahhaa I thought the same thing when I read it.

[FartCannonAlero]

yeah...
i used to have one of those ebay specials.. 2 sony xplods with amp and sub box for like 350..good starter system but definatly SHIT..a got a new box and they sounded better, but yet they were xplods..and they were shit in general

[billytheman1188]

Well it might have sounded like shit because Sony sucks......my system sounds great, im not gonna waste money on a system like 50% of the people on here, i cant put that money towards better things. 2 infinitys is fine with me, sounds great

[billytheman1188]

http://www.hifisoundconnection.com/Shop/Control/Product/fp/vpid/2395130/vpcsid/0/SFV/30046/sret/21221316152221921628121022121628321422322028721822 9222291230295236229236235244241238247244249248

Heres the box i bought yesterday......

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-XQrjg6Bthxj/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=520&I=1081242W

and that is the 2 subs that i have..... do u think that those 2 will go good together????

[steve-o]

i like tator tots!, but serious fokes, its all about how the sub box is designed.

[billytheman1188]

So do u think i made a good decision on the sub box???? im just worried it will be too big now.....

[steve-o]

well the subs like pretty sweet, but the page for the box never showed up. if you got two of them subs, i hope you have a good amp to run them both

[steve-o]

it will sound fine for what your looking for, but your gonna need a lot of power to power them two sub in a sealed box. what kinda of amp do you got from them???

PS: page worked second time around

[billytheman1188]

Ive got an 1100 watt kenwood amp, the subs can take 1200 watts each, but they are really getting 550 each

[billytheman1188]

I have a question, i will be getting my sub box today and im gonna put the subs back in the box, but i forgot to mark where each wire connects inside the box....... and i forgot which wires connect outside the box to the amp.......how can i find out???? if u need pics i will post em up later when i get back from school. I just dont wanna go connect the wrong wires and something happens to my subslol

[xsavyor1]

Make sure your joints are strong on the box! I use 2-3 layers of 3/4 mdf.