Next up is a Wavecor SW312WA03-01. This is a good looking and sounding driver. First test was in the 3 cu ft 38 hz ported tuning. This isn't a very ideal alignment for this driver, with a modeled 5db peak at 42hz but nevertheless there is good output below 50hz and good midbass articulation. I'm looking forward to testing this in the sealed and low tuned passive.
Here's the distortion measurements:
Frequency Spl of fundamental 2nd harmonic 3rd harmonic
16 60 -28 -22
20 72 -27 -24
25 84 -28 -30
31.5 86 -26 -32
40 103 -31 -27
50 110 -25 -40
63 111 -26 -56
attached is 60hz@80db and 100db
Here's the distortion measurements:
Frequency Spl of fundamental 2nd harmonic 3rd harmonic
16 60 -28 -22
20 72 -27 -24
25 84 -28 -30
31.5 86 -26 -32
40 103 -31 -27
50 110 -25 -40
63 111 -26 -56
attached is 60hz@80db and 100db
Attachments
Next up the wavecor in a sealed 3 cu ft. (85 liter) configuration.
This is a great all around driver, especially as a music only sub. It seems it's motor structure is more optimized to 40hz and up. Check out how low the 3rd harmonic distortion is from 40-63hz.
It delivers strong midbass kick but a little less crisp than the diysg magnum. Upright bass sounds a little weak with notes around the 100hz crossover point.
Here's the distortion measurements:
Frequency Spl of fundamental 2nd harmonic 3rd harmonic
16 71 -40 -25
20 73 -27 -22
25 70 -25 -30
31.5 62 -20 -34
40 92 -26 -41
50 109 -26 -44
63 111 -27 -49
attached is 60hz@80db and 100db
This is a great all around driver, especially as a music only sub. It seems it's motor structure is more optimized to 40hz and up. Check out how low the 3rd harmonic distortion is from 40-63hz.
It delivers strong midbass kick but a little less crisp than the diysg magnum. Upright bass sounds a little weak with notes around the 100hz crossover point.
Here's the distortion measurements:
Frequency Spl of fundamental 2nd harmonic 3rd harmonic
16 71 -40 -25
20 73 -27 -22
25 70 -25 -30
31.5 62 -20 -34
40 92 -26 -41
50 109 -26 -44
63 111 -27 -49
attached is 60hz@80db and 100db
Attachments
Guerilla, guess it depends on the music. The low E on a bass is 41.2hz. But when I played in the orchestra I had a C extension that made the low string longer and that was 32.7 hz. The low C was rarely used but fun. I had to pluck and bow at the same time to get it going. I would guess that If you found a spectrum analysis of that low C I imagine the first harmonic at 65.4 hz would equal or greater amplitude than at 32.7 hz.
Hiphop and dubstep can have ultra deep bass as well.
Hiphop and dubstep can have ultra deep bass as well.
Last test with the wavecor is 3 cu ft with a 17.4 hz passive radiator tuning.
The passive radiator helps squeeze out an additional 16db at 20hz over the sealed version. The increased group delay of this design is pushed to such a low frequency that I couldn't notice a difference in transient response between the sealed and the passive. To me this is the best enclosure design for this driver of the three I tested.
I'm getting some cancellation at 31.5 hz in all my passive alignments.
Here's the distortion measurements:
Frequency Spl of fundamental 2nd harmonic 3rd harmonic
16 73 -24 -37
20 89 -25 -23
25 80 -25 -32
31.5 60 -20 -26
40 96 -20 -34
50 110 -26 -34
63 111 -27 -49
attached is 60hz @80db and 100 db
The passive radiator helps squeeze out an additional 16db at 20hz over the sealed version. The increased group delay of this design is pushed to such a low frequency that I couldn't notice a difference in transient response between the sealed and the passive. To me this is the best enclosure design for this driver of the three I tested.
I'm getting some cancellation at 31.5 hz in all my passive alignments.
Here's the distortion measurements:
Frequency Spl of fundamental 2nd harmonic 3rd harmonic
16 73 -24 -37
20 89 -25 -23
25 80 -25 -32
31.5 60 -20 -26
40 96 -20 -34
50 110 -26 -34
63 111 -27 -49
attached is 60hz @80db and 100 db
I can get so much greatness from a 40 hz Fb and very powerful with an Fs of ~38 and Qts of .33-.35?
But also, what if I fold a transmissionline into segments that are intervals of that 40 hz too??? I’m greedy and try to squeeze 32 hz Fb. But decided to stop that and try this 40/80/etc maybe? or sealed... hard choices(but sealed isn’t as fun to screw up LOL! passive radiator is neat too... never tried it though
Have you guys considered using Qw pipes to focus in on these areas maybe? I’m just creeping into it all and how to incorporate it all is pretty tough on my brain...
But also, what if I fold a transmissionline into segments that are intervals of that 40 hz too??? I’m greedy and try to squeeze 32 hz Fb. But decided to stop that and try this 40/80/etc maybe? or sealed... hard choices(but sealed isn’t as fun to screw up LOL! passive radiator is neat too... never tried it though
Have you guys considered using Qw pipes to focus in on these areas maybe? I’m just creeping into it all and how to incorporate it all is pretty tough on my brain...
Last edited:
I like the way you push these areas with similar TS parameters. Double click on Le just for fun.. it’s a buzzkill for Rockford fosgate drivers I try to work around it..
Next up is the Eminence Lab 12c in the 3 cu ft. sealed.
You can tell this drivers has roots in pro audio, when breaking it in I was working from a computer on another floor in my house and it sound like there was a band downstairs.
About an even tie for first with the Wavecor for highest spl 40-63hz in the sealed alignment of the six drivers I tested.
Here's the distortion measurements:
Frequency Spl of fundamental 2nd harmonic 3rd harmonic
16 76 -34 -22
20 75 -30 -26
25 76 -24 -30
31.5 64 -22 -37
40 93 -24 -40
50 109 -26 -28
63 111 -25 -37
attached is 60hz@80db and 100db
You can tell this drivers has roots in pro audio, when breaking it in I was working from a computer on another floor in my house and it sound like there was a band downstairs.
About an even tie for first with the Wavecor for highest spl 40-63hz in the sealed alignment of the six drivers I tested.
Here's the distortion measurements:
Frequency Spl of fundamental 2nd harmonic 3rd harmonic
16 76 -34 -22
20 75 -30 -26
25 76 -24 -30
31.5 64 -22 -37
40 93 -24 -40
50 109 -26 -28
63 111 -25 -37
attached is 60hz@80db and 100db
Attachments
Next up is the lab 12c in the 3cu ft 17.4 hz passive.
At most frequencies this driver seems to reach suspension and electrical 5% distortion limits at about the same time. This resulted in a subjectively louder sound. I would recommend this as a home theater sub as it really had the windows shaking. To those that say the room vibrations are affecting my results I held the window pane from vibrating with no affect in the 2nd and 3rd harmonic levels.
However I would not recommend a high crossover point with this driver. Eminence recommends a frequency range of 20-100hz. I commend them for their honesty as other manufactures recommend a range up to 1500hz for their subwoofers and a quick frequency sweep will tell this not to be true.
Here's the distortion measurements:
Frequency Spl of fundamental 2nd harmonic 3rd harmonic
16 78 -22 -33
20 87 -27 -24
25 89 -22 -24
31.5 61 -21 -33
40 89 -24 -49
50 110 -25 -26
63 108 -26 -52
attached is 60hz@80db and 100db
At most frequencies this driver seems to reach suspension and electrical 5% distortion limits at about the same time. This resulted in a subjectively louder sound. I would recommend this as a home theater sub as it really had the windows shaking. To those that say the room vibrations are affecting my results I held the window pane from vibrating with no affect in the 2nd and 3rd harmonic levels.
However I would not recommend a high crossover point with this driver. Eminence recommends a frequency range of 20-100hz. I commend them for their honesty as other manufactures recommend a range up to 1500hz for their subwoofers and a quick frequency sweep will tell this not to be true.
Here's the distortion measurements:
Frequency Spl of fundamental 2nd harmonic 3rd harmonic
16 78 -22 -33
20 87 -27 -24
25 89 -22 -24
31.5 61 -21 -33
40 89 -24 -49
50 110 -25 -26
63 108 -26 -52
attached is 60hz@80db and 100db
Attachments
Last test with the Eminence lab is 3cu ft 38hz vented.
I prefer the passive radiator alignment of the three.
Here's the distortion measurements:
Frequency Spl of fundamental 2nd harmonic 3rd harmonic
16 64 -40 -24
20 75 -47 -26
25 85 -29 -25
31.5 84 -24 -34
40 95 -25 -40
50 110 -25 -37
63 111 -25 -38
attached is 60hz@80db and 100db
I prefer the passive radiator alignment of the three.
Here's the distortion measurements:
Frequency Spl of fundamental 2nd harmonic 3rd harmonic
16 64 -40 -24
20 75 -47 -26
25 85 -29 -25
31.5 84 -24 -34
40 95 -25 -40
50 110 -25 -37
63 111 -25 -38
attached is 60hz@80db and 100db
Attachments
The lower the tuning, the less phase warp you have at the frequencies where music has most of its bass, which is >50Hz.
I agree with you vacuphile, I used to think sealed was the only way to go for bass sound quality. But I am changing my mind after doing very low (20hz or so) passive radiator tunings. Transient response from 50hz up sounds the same as sealed and there is less cone excursion and thus less harmonic distortion in the lower frequencies.
Not sure if low tuned ported will give me the same result due to midrange leakage and port pipe resonances.
Not sure if low tuned ported will give me the same result due to midrange leakage and port pipe resonances.
Ol school!