Sub Vibration Noise Problem

[hernanstafe]

I've recently built a vented sub 10" cabinet, and when i put the vent tubes in i hear a horrible noise like the wood vibrating. The box is really strong i put a lot of screws in it so it didn't vibrate but something still does vibrate, the vent tubes are not the problem. I was wondering if it's needed to cover the inside of the cabinet with some noise suspension material or it's not needed, i really don't know what to doi tried holding the cabinet firmly with a friend but it still vibrates. Any ideas?

 

[Volenti]

How is the driver attached to the enclosure? did you use a gasket of some sort? There is a lot of pressure in the enclosure especially at the tuning frequency and this can make the sub move on it's mounts even if it seems solid by feel, same goes for the port.

 

[hernanstafe]

the speaker is mounted using 8 screws with nuts, it looks and feels strong. The box has lots, and i mean LOTS of screws everywere. About the vents, when i put a tube in the vent, holding it with my hand not touching the enclosure, you can still hear the vibration noise, even when i put no tubes at all you can hear a slight vibration noise i assume coming from the inside. There are no loose parts inside at all.

Oh, the speaker comes with a rubber gasket!! so i don't think that's it

 

[Bbisig]

Try putting a gasket behind the sub it self. In between the wood and sub can vibrate when it is playing.

 

[hernanstafe]

it has a gasket, the speaker border is covered with a rubber gasket that goes between the wook mount and the speaker itself.

 

[Bbisig]

Is the speaker itself possibly damaged?

 

[MJL21193]

Hi. What kind of wood is it made from? Cheap plywood can have voids inside with loose material that buzz and drive you crazy. MDF is the best bet for subs.
Also are your vents large enough? High speed air can produce a sound as it goes though the port.

 

[hernanstafe]

the speaker is not damaged, when it's off the box it sounds just fine. The vent size...well that might be a problem. When i take the connectors on the back of the cabinet off there a 2.5" whole, the sound changed dramatically but the vibration seems to dissappear. Like i said, the sounds changed and it's not so good. I can show you the cabinet plans, and pictures if you guys want

 

[MJL21193]

Is the connector plate rattling against the box? Is there a gasket behind it? It doesn't take much.

 

[richie00boy]

How much is the driver moving? Sounds like either the driver may not like moving so much, or you have a too-small vent diameter.

 

[hernanstafe]

well the driver moves quite a lot, but even at low volume it vibrates. I'm almost sure it's not the driver, cause it sounds like wood vibrating. The sound can be compared with the sound an enclosure makes when the back panel is made of thin wood and it vibrates in the center. It sounds like that, except this wood is REALLY thick.
Should i cover the inside with some sound-prove material?

 

[MJL21193]

Once again, what wood is it made with? One layer? Two layers? It's not a hugh driver, so there is some construction problem.
I have 2 18" in a 60litre sealed box driven by 600++ watts peak and there is not a peep of sound ( except walls, floor, ceiling , furniture, the Earth shaking, rattling).

 

[hernanstafe]

Well idk the name of the wood (in english, i speak spanish here), it's artificial, it's made of wood dust mixed with glue and pressed, it's used to make speakers here, i have 2 15" boxes made with it and they work just fine, so i seriously doubt it's the wood

 

[MJL21193]

Yeah, that would be MDF. You mentioned a lot of screws. Screws can split MDF along the edge. Did you use lots of glue? Have to build these things like submarines or they'll talk to you.

 

[hernanstafe]

Well that's one thing i didn't do. I didn't use glue...can that be it? the screws are really tight tho

 

[MJL21193]

I generally avoid screws in MDF. I use a nail gun with long thin nails and TONS of glue. What you could do if you have clamps big enough is to clamp it and then try it. If it stops rattling then you have found the problem.

 

[hernanstafe]

why not screws if i may ask?

 

[MJL21193]

Like I said before, screws will split MDF even if you drill the correct size pilot hole. When I do use them I am careful to keep them far from the end and try to keep them spaced apart. Yellow carpenters glue makes an extremely strong joint, especially if the parts fit together well.

 

[hernanstafe]

got it! i'm gonna see what i can do. thanks a lot for that! the sad part is that i'll have to dissasemble it

 

[richie00boy]

I'd say the problem is that you haven't glued it. Glue will help seal the box.