How big a sub box are people willing to have in their car?
This thread/ poll is about finding the optimum cabinet size for a car (trunk) sub, regardless of the 12" driver that is going to be used in it. I hope many people will respond in the poll or leave comments to what alternative dimensions work for them, so I can get a clear idea of what people find the optimum or maximum car sub dimensions. For some people this will mean that it can fill the whole trunk, while others choose to fill up the trunk with groceries, the dog, etc. so they might be limited in their dimensions. This is about finding a consensus, so the more people react the merrier.
If you had to choose from the following options, for your own car (or someone else), what are the maximum/ optimum car sub dimensions (for a 12"). Alternatively what maximum practical dimensions can a car sub have in your case or what would you find optimum to fit in your own or someone else his/her car?
(numbers 1 - 4 Metric = numbers 5 - 8 Imperial)
This thread/ poll is about finding the optimum cabinet size for a car (trunk) sub, regardless of the 12" driver that is going to be used in it. I hope many people will respond in the poll or leave comments to what alternative dimensions work for them, so I can get a clear idea of what people find the optimum or maximum car sub dimensions. For some people this will mean that it can fill the whole trunk, while others choose to fill up the trunk with groceries, the dog, etc. so they might be limited in their dimensions. This is about finding a consensus, so the more people react the merrier.
If you had to choose from the following options, for your own car (or someone else), what are the maximum/ optimum car sub dimensions (for a 12"). Alternatively what maximum practical dimensions can a car sub have in your case or what would you find optimum to fit in your own or someone else his/her car?
(numbers 1 - 4 Metric = numbers 5 - 8 Imperial)
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Thanks for the replies, I've edited the opening post in hope that it clears things up a bit.
@MAACO: I did design and build an under car seat sub but I do not have a car to test it in. I did already come to the conclusion that two are better then one 😉
@MAACO: I did design and build an under car seat sub but I do not have a car to test it in. I did already come to the conclusion that two are better then one 😉
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The optimum size for a subwoofer box is inextricably linked to the the Thiele/Small parMters of the subwoofer in question.
You cannot therefore have an optimum box “regardless” of the sub as it is the characteristics of the particular sub, in a particular box, in a particular space that determines the response.
If you specified a type of box and a Q or tuning frequency for a given 12” sub, it would be easier to vote in a poll like this.
You cannot therefore have an optimum box “regardless” of the sub as it is the characteristics of the particular sub, in a particular box, in a particular space that determines the response.
If you specified a type of box and a Q or tuning frequency for a given 12” sub, it would be easier to vote in a poll like this.
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I'm well aware of that, however I'm not talking about that. Trust me when I say that the technical aspect of the design is fully covered.
I'm talking about the optimum dimensions of what will physically fit in a car nothing else.
Think of it this way, 99% of all people could fit a 0.1 cu ft subwoofer in their car, only 1% could fit a 10 cu ft subwoofer in their car. Now I'm looking for the physical dimensions where, roughly 70 - 90% of people say, this will fit in my trunk.
So...you want to first build the box, then find a specific driver that will work in that box?
Mike
So your question is, how big a sub box are people willing to have in their car?
Correct, actually I will be just building the prototypes and specify it for a whole bunch of drivers within a specific range that will work in this box.
I won't be building the final design, other people will (mostly in their free time), they will have the cars as well 😉
Yes, that is correct. It will need to easily fit a 12" driver though and if one or several of the sizes in the poll will fit, that would be great.
Prefab subwoofer boxes for cars... :/
I must confess that they have a bad name in the industry, mainly for being a jack of all trades and a master of none.
Given that caveat, if you are trying to design a universal subwoofer box I would start by trying to find the average width between the wheel arch humps in most cars.
I find that a wide, tall and shallow box placed tight up against the back seats and firing backwards has given the best bass in most of the cars I've heard.
I imagine that given most cars are roughly the same width, this number will give you the starting dimension.
I have found that this figure is somewhere between 70-90 cm.
The next most important dimension is the height of the box as if it is too tall it will be difficult actually get into the boot of saloon cars. Around 40 cm is the limit for BMW, for example.
This then gives the depth with which to get the right volume.
Establishing that volume to work with the variety of subwoofers you envisage is above my pay grade.
I must confess that they have a bad name in the industry, mainly for being a jack of all trades and a master of none.
Given that caveat, if you are trying to design a universal subwoofer box I would start by trying to find the average width between the wheel arch humps in most cars.
I find that a wide, tall and shallow box placed tight up against the back seats and firing backwards has given the best bass in most of the cars I've heard.
I imagine that given most cars are roughly the same width, this number will give you the starting dimension.
I have found that this figure is somewhere between 70-90 cm.
The next most important dimension is the height of the box as if it is too tall it will be difficult actually get into the boot of saloon cars. Around 40 cm is the limit for BMW, for example.
This then gives the depth with which to get the right volume.
Establishing that volume to work with the variety of subwoofers you envisage is above my pay grade.