In the past, upon buying a new subwoofer I have always just built boxes recommended in the owner's manual. This time around I decided to try my hand and crunching the numbers myself. The driver in question is a JL Audio 10W3V3-4 which will be going into the trunk of my Q45.
I downloaded the free version of winisd and set out to design a box. Based on the parameters of the speaker, winisd showed that a ported box would work best. Unfortunately, it is a rather large box. Just over 2 cubic feet tuned to 26hz.
Next, I tried to see how it would perform in a sealed box. Winisd suggested a box just under 1 cubic feet. Problem is, the F3 is 46hz, which seems rather high.
This leaves me with 2 questions. First, concerning the ported box: Can I fudge the volume? For instance, can I design a 1 cubic foot box tuned to what ever frequency I want? Will the speaker then in turn perform in said box?
Second, with a F3 of 46 hz, I am scared the sealed box won't perform to my liking. A friend, though, said that in a car, cabin gain will bump my low end response, shifting the F3 to around 25hz. He himself says he shoots for an F3 of 45 hz for a car situation. Is this true?
I have spent the last couple weeks surfing this website and have found a WEALTH of great information.Thanks for any help you can lend me!
-Seth
I downloaded the free version of winisd and set out to design a box. Based on the parameters of the speaker, winisd showed that a ported box would work best. Unfortunately, it is a rather large box. Just over 2 cubic feet tuned to 26hz.
Next, I tried to see how it would perform in a sealed box. Winisd suggested a box just under 1 cubic feet. Problem is, the F3 is 46hz, which seems rather high.
This leaves me with 2 questions. First, concerning the ported box: Can I fudge the volume? For instance, can I design a 1 cubic foot box tuned to what ever frequency I want? Will the speaker then in turn perform in said box?
Second, with a F3 of 46 hz, I am scared the sealed box won't perform to my liking. A friend, though, said that in a car, cabin gain will bump my low end response, shifting the F3 to around 25hz. He himself says he shoots for an F3 of 45 hz for a car situation. Is this true?
I have spent the last couple weeks surfing this website and have found a WEALTH of great information.Thanks for any help you can lend me!
-Seth
Hi Seth, the cabin with contribute quite a significant low bass gain. For fast, musical bass I suggest you go for a 1 cubic feet closed enclosure. That size models perfectly too in Bass Box Pro. (enclosure simulation)
I am leaning towards the sealed enclosure, if only because of its smaller size (Q45, for a big car, does not have a big trunk).
Another question. I have a couple options for amps to power the sub. Both amps have a bass boost centered at 45hz. Will this hurt or help the low end response... or just create a bump in the frequency curve that is not good for the overall sound?
Another question. I have a couple options for amps to power the sub. Both amps have a bass boost centered at 45hz. Will this hurt or help the low end response... or just create a bump in the frequency curve that is not good for the overall sound?
Nah, leave bass boost switched off. If you can up the size of the cabinet a little (stuffing would help), you can get a shallower roll-off, which will complement the cabin gain better.
When you have it built, then play around with eq and things.
When you have it built, then play around with eq and things.
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