DIY decent and cheap subwoofer

[audiostrat]

The title says it all.

Just interested in whether it is easy to construct a decent subwoofer for use with a pair of speakers that don't go quite low. To use it to watch movies, hear decently a DVD gig on TV etc. To play music at your room, no need for hi-fi audio actually, just a decent controlled bass.

Not in search of an enormous build - something like a 8"-10" driver at most, I think. Going down to 30-40Hz, I don't know if this is adequate.

I was thinking about some plywood cabinet or something like that.

General suggestions? For cab? For driver? About budget, up to 200 euros.

 

[Brian Steele]

The title says it all.

Just interested in whether it is easy to construct a decent subwoofer for use with a pair of speakers that don't go quite low. To use it to watch movies, hear decently a DVD gig on TV etc. To play music at your room, no need for hi-fi audio actually, just a decent controlled bass.

Not in search of an enormous build - something like a 8"-10" driver at most, I think. Going down to 30-40Hz, I don't know if this is adequate.

I was thinking about some plywood cabinet or something like that.

General suggestions? For cab? For driver? About budget, up to 200 euros.

The JBL or Infinity 8" car audio subwoofers are fairly cheap and should work well in a small vented box. I think starting a build with one of those would be a good start.

 

[quinnling]

this looks simple and inexpensive to build
Subwoofer

 

[Inductor]

I notice you are in EU.
Do/Would you like a big box? 130LBR?! 25 cm --- 10'' driver,
Scanspeak 26W/8534G00
VB = 126.8 L, FB = 18.3 Hz, Port ~4" diam./Length 50 cm.
Scanspeak 26W/8534G00 Woofer - Discovery Range
26W/8534G00 - Scan-Speak 10 inch woofer 8 ohm - Europe Audio
Scanspeak Discovery 26W/8534G The Madisound Speaker Store Shows more examples of alignments.

For a 60L BR enclosure?! 21 cm --- 8'' driver,
PEERLESS HDS NOMEX 830869
VB = 52.0 L, FB = 25.2 Hz, Port ~3" diam./Length 36 cm.
830869 - Peerless HDS-205NOMEX Nomex diaphragm, 33 mm coil, AL - Europe Audio
http://www.tymphany.com/files/HDS-P830869 Rev1_0.pdf
Peerless 830869 8" Nomex Cone HDS Woofer - The Loudspeaker Kit
This is conservative alignments with good (low) Q. First driver will need a min. 50W/8Ohm RMS sub/amp and second driver a little less.

 

[Inductor]

If you are going to use the above mentioned,
Peerless SLS 8" 830667
A good BR sub alignment for it with F3-25Hz f.f.
VB = 65.0 L (net), FB = 26.0 Hz, Port ~4" diam./Length 48 cm.

 

[BeauB]

I would suggest going to the Parts Express Tech Talk forum and looking up a subwoofer called the "Digger 8".

 

[Inductor]

Regarding some references for the "Digger 8"
Driver used JBL GTO804 (others) and
Dayton Audio SD315-PR 12" Passive Radiator
Digger 8 Sub Build
Digger 8 Sub Build - Page 2
Digger8 Sub - diggity dig it all the way to 20Hz
GTO804 | 8" reduced-depth subwoofer | JBL US
Amazon.com: JBL GTO804 Reduced Depth 8-Inch Subwoofer: Car Electronics
Dayton Audio SD315-PR 12" Passive Radiator
Dayton Audio SD315-PR 12" Passive Radiator 295-496

 

[audiostrat]

Thanks everyone!

I will start searching for parts. For cabinet, what material is quite good? Birch plywood, say, of 15-18mm? This is used for guitar cabs, but I don't know if it is well-suited for this case.

 

[BeauB]

If I were building it; yes - I would use birch plywood - but heavily braced intenally. You may also want to consider using a double baffle.

 

[m R g S r]

If you are going to use the above mentioned,
Peerless SLS 8" 830667
A good BR sub alignment for it with F3-25Hz f.f.
VB = 65.0 L (net), FB = 26.0 Hz, Port ~4" diam./Length 48 cm.

I just picked up this driver for a small project. Good quality driver for the price!

 

[m R g S r]

The project 3 way active solar/lithium ion/minidsp radio that the peerless is going in!