Promoting my old HSU car sub to home duty. Advice wanted.

[GuyPanico]

For the past 3 years i've had my old HSU 1201 sitting in a closet collecting dust. Now i'm wanting to put it to good use. It's a shame to let such a great driver just waste away. The sound i'm looking for is mainly just to compliment my NHT's. I live in an apartment, so i'm not really wanting the super deep, wall shaking HT setup. Or I should say my nieghbors downstairs dont want it. But dont get me wrong, at the same time I dont want a sissy sub either . This is where I need help. I'm not sure what kind of volume I need, for the desired output. My room is about 11x15 with vaulted cielings, and is connected to the dining room, so theres a fair amount of space to fill. Maybe I could get some suggestions if I share the T/S data I have...

FS 25.5hz
Qms 4.57
Qes .28
Qts .26
Vas 4.7cuft.
Re 4.16ohms

Second thing I need advice on is actual box design. I'm looking to do this dirt cheap. I've thought about doing a tube like HSU does, but then I would have to mount the driver on top, and the amp on the bottom. I've never seen anybody mount the driver on top. A top firing sub might be easier on the nieghbors downstairs, but how will this effect the sound? I could always make a seperate small box just for the amp, and hide it somewhere close to the sub.

Lastly I need advice on amplification. I was thinking about the 250watt, #300-796 amplifier from Parts Express for $128. Any recommendations for around or under that price?

Any advice or assistance is appreciated. Thanks guys.

[RobWells]

Hello Guy,

It gives a nice response (matches my tempests curve in their 200L cab ) If you put it in a 60L cab tuned to 16Hz. The problem is output. It's modelling at 5dB under the tempests response, and thats assuming it has the same sensitivity. You haven't gicen the x-max figure or the sensitivity, so the real world results could be a little lacking in output.

I'm sure somebody will chime in with real world experience of this driver. All I've done is put the figs you gave into winISD and played about.

It's a 4ohm driver so make sure any amp you buy is good into 4 ohms.

re:box design. I'ts a small box so I'm sure 1 sheet of 1" mdf would be one of the lowest cost ways.

Cheers

Rob

[GuyPanico]

Thanks Rob,

Unfortunantly I dont have a standard sensitivity spec. All I have is '100dB/W in car'. I'm not sure what the average dB gain is in a car vs a home enviroment, but that might give a ballpark figure of it's sensitivity if anyone does know. Xmax is +/- 13mm.

[RobWells]

Well thats a pretty healthy x-max, I'd be inclined to give it a go.

According to this chart, assuming a similar sd to the shiva you'd get approx 100dB at 25Hz anechoic, sealed, at x-max. Porting will give about 3-4dB more at the lower end.

With a little added gain from the room I think you'll be fine. I still wouldn't expect huge output though.

As I said before, Hopefully someone has experience of this sub and can help more than me.

Cheers,

Rob

Oh,the chart is here btw:

Volume Displacement For SPL Chart

[GuyPanico]

With that 60L cabinet and 16hz tuning, what kind of port diameter/length would I be looking at?

I downloaded WinISD but I must be doing something wrong, as it recommends a 4in x 58" port. Which cant be right.

[RobWells]

Hmm, I didn't look at port lengths, just response. I'd guess you could do that with passive radiators but they're not cheap.

How about 90L tuned to 20Hz - 37" port easily done with a fold. (5")

TBH I'm not the best with ported stuff. I've always gone sealed.

Thats why I was hoping somebody with experience would chime in. I believe there is a HSU forum that may offer some advice.

Cheers

Rob

[GuyPanico]

I'd definantly prefer to go sealed myself. It doesn't look like i'll get the lowend output I'd want unless I go ported though.

How exactly do you 'fold' a port?

Thanks for your help. I've registered on the HSU forum, but it has been days and I still havn't recieved access to post. I may need to email them directly. Hopefully somebody else here will share some first hand advice with the driver as well.

[RobWells]

Hi Guy,

To fold a port you simply put a bend in it - if using pvc pipe get a 90 degree elbow joint in there. If building a square port out of mdf, build the bend into it. (length is measured straight down the middle of the bend)

Try 60L @24Hz for a 24.5" long 4" port.


Cheers,

Rob