Transmission Line (T-Line): Where to start measuring port length?

Hi, all...

I'm getting ready to build my first t-line enclosure (fingers crossed!). I think I'm okay on the calculations and overall design, but I'm not 100% sure where the port "begins" (on the end of the subwoofer). Below is a diagram of the box...

Would you start measuring the port's length at (a), (b), or (c)?

I would love to hear your thoughts. Thanks for the help!

Transmission Line Diagram (Forum).PNG
 
There is no port -at least not in the diagram you show. Just an untapered line, albeit with some variations in cross section around the bends (not necessarily a bad thing). Line length is taken from the throat (sealed end) to the terminus, with an addition for end correction, its acoustic length being a function of both the physical axial length and as relevant its taper.
 
There is no port -at least not in the diagram you show. Just an untapered line, albeit with some variations in cross section around the bends (not necessarily a bad thing). Line length is taken from the throat (sealed end) to the terminus, with an addition for end correction, its acoustic length being a function of both the physical axial length and as relevant its taper.
Thanks for the info, Scott. Yeah, I know it's not a "port," but I wondered whether people would as me what I meant by "line." haha If you don't mind my asking you for more, can I ask you what you mean by 'addition for end correction'? That's something I've heard of but never quite understood. Thanks again!
 
Thanks for the info, Scott. Yeah, I know it's not a "port," but I wondered whether people would as me what I meant by "line." haha If you don't mind my asking you for more, can I ask you what you mean by 'addition for end correction'? That's something I've heard of but never quite understood. Thanks again!
Acoustically speaking, a pipe of given length resonates at a slightly lower frequency than is given by a bald axial length & taper ratio due to the exit boundary condition. For untapered pipes of square or circular cross section, a decent approximation is to take tuning frequency as being the pipe length, plus ~0.613 * internal radius added to that length. The ratio tends to vary as the aspect ratio of the pipe increases due to friction.
 
Do note that no one has asked if you are modeling this design or just guessing?

dave
Hey, Dave... good question. I did the calculations based on Mark's presentation of t-lines on his YouTube channel, Car Audio Fabrication. He broke it down so clearly that I feel good about the math, but it's not entirely clear from his presentation where the line should 'terminate' at the subwoofer [although it looks like he would say (a) or (b); we had a discussion about it on this thread on another forum].
 
… sheer basics...
And then he goes on and says that this will not get you there. Indeed that is as far as he gets. Just enuff info to almost ensure a non-optimum line.

You should forget almost everything he says. Sd for instance had nothing to do with TL design.

It should be noted that in a car, the cabin gain is such that sealed roll-off becomes flat, so unless you ar eainng for too much bass the line will need to be stuffed to aperiodic and will have response similar to the sealed box (that is likely much smaller).

Time to dig into the forum and get a better handle on TL design. It is a WAY deeper subjectthan Mark portrays.

dave
 
Liklehood of anything near optimum is less than 10%.

This has historical info, classic design, and shows some designs that predate proper modeling and some that do not. https://www.t-linespeakers.org/

Do read the: Read me first bit. Do not that the site goes much deeper than what you see on the front page.

The Read me first will take you to Martin King’s site (eventually), the man behind the first really successful TL modeler (sw MIA now unfortunately): http://www.quarter-wave.com/. This site covers a whole lot of modern TL theory and practise.

dave