Making a sealed sub box into ported?
03-01-2005, 01:17 AM
#1
Turning a sealed sub box into ported?
This one is for the folks experienced in audio and sub box fabrication...
Currently I have a sub that replaces the trunk pass-through (built by an audio shop). It houses a 8" driver and has a relatively small enclosure (pic1 and pic2).
It sounds pretty good and gives decent, tight bass - however, I sorta feel I'd like it to sound more "warm". Not sure how to put this... but basically I'm thinking that by going with a ported instead of a sealed enclosure, I would eventually get bass that might not be as tight but would sound warmer and probably a bit better in the car.
So the questions are:
- am I crazy or is this more or less a correct assumption?
- how easy / complicated is to change such an enclosure to ported and how should this be done? Any good advice you guys could give?
I realize that the 8" woofer will not give me huge bass and I don't need that either - but my PC's simple speaker system (also with an 8" driver and a ported box) gives me that warmer and just a little bit boomier sound.
Thanks.
Currently I have a sub that replaces the trunk pass-through (built by an audio shop). It houses a 8" driver and has a relatively small enclosure (pic1 and pic2).
It sounds pretty good and gives decent, tight bass - however, I sorta feel I'd like it to sound more "warm". Not sure how to put this... but basically I'm thinking that by going with a ported instead of a sealed enclosure, I would eventually get bass that might not be as tight but would sound warmer and probably a bit better in the car.
So the questions are:
- am I crazy or is this more or less a correct assumption?
- how easy / complicated is to change such an enclosure to ported and how should this be done? Any good advice you guys could give?
I realize that the 8" woofer will not give me huge bass and I don't need that either - but my PC's simple speaker system (also with an 8" driver and a ported box) gives me that warmer and just a little bit boomier sound.
Thanks.
Last edited by Tamas; 03-01-2005 at 02:41 AM.
03-01-2005, 08:03 AM
#2
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Posts: n/a
This is a bit complicated. A ported box wont give you a "warmer" sound exactly. Ported boxes give you a bit more frequency response and efficiency, but its transient response is worse. Most musical drum passages are transient signals, so ported box wont sound as tight or accurate. Another important thing is that the port is tuned to a specific cutoff frequency. Anything below this willl make the port useless. Poorly designed ported boxes also suffer from turbulant air flow out of the port which sounds like a popping at certain frequencies. Ported boxes are usually bigger and with our tiny trunks, this could be an issue. Because they are more efficient, they do require less ampifier power, but like I said before, the sound isnt as tight. I guess its a matter of personal preference. I personally hate ported boxes in car installations. Well designed ported subwoofers for home audio (from a company like B&W) are a whole different story.
Last edited by djseto; 03-01-2005 at 08:05 AM.
03-01-2005, 09:19 AM
#3
The Professor
You can't turn a enclosed box into a ported box without modifying it a lot. It is easier to just construct a whole new box.
Besides that, stereo system companies actually put a lot of time into the design of their speakers, employing engineers and the like to get their products just right. No offence, but the people working at stereo places are probably high school dropouts.
A lot of output sound quality goes hand in hand with: The shape of the box, whether its filled or not, and the size in comparision to optimal dimension.
If I wanted a quick-fix solution to your problem, I would remove the driver and fill the box with poly fill stuffing from a fabric store. Try to keep it not so tightly packed in there as to impede voice coil movement. The stuffing will reduce wave formation inside the box and allow the driver to move a bit more freely, making it appear to sound a bit deeper.
Besides that, stereo system companies actually put a lot of time into the design of their speakers, employing engineers and the like to get their products just right. No offence, but the people working at stereo places are probably high school dropouts.
A lot of output sound quality goes hand in hand with: The shape of the box, whether its filled or not, and the size in comparision to optimal dimension.
If I wanted a quick-fix solution to your problem, I would remove the driver and fill the box with poly fill stuffing from a fabric store. Try to keep it not so tightly packed in there as to impede voice coil movement. The stuffing will reduce wave formation inside the box and allow the driver to move a bit more freely, making it appear to sound a bit deeper.
03-01-2005, 09:26 AM
#5
The Professor
One more thing:
Though both subs may be only 8", they will most likely have different displacements (the coil can move further, pushing more air), and will not sound the same.
Though both subs may be only 8", they will most likely have different displacements (the coil can move further, pushing more air), and will not sound the same.
03-01-2005, 11:28 AM
#7
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"No offence, but the people working at stereo places are probably high school dropouts"
Wow, had a bad experience somewhere? (not that most aren't
) Anyways, Devoid hit it, 8w7 will be nice and warm, maybe even tingly. If you do want to keep the sub you have, definitely rebuild, ported needs a little more box volume.
Wow, had a bad experience somewhere? (not that most aren't
) Anyways, Devoid hit it, 8w7 will be nice and warm, maybe even tingly. If you do want to keep the sub you have, definitely rebuild, ported needs a little more box volume.
03-01-2005, 12:21 PM
#8
Dang, two votes for the JL 8W7... mine is a Diamond Audio sub.
Wish I'd have gone with the JL... the audio store recommended the Diamond. They are a Diamond distributor so they probably get more kickback from them. The JL would have been an option but I took their recommendation. This is what not having good knowledge about the components does to you.
Hm... more money. This is getting irritating
Thanks folks.
Wish I'd have gone with the JL... the audio store recommended the Diamond. They are a Diamond distributor so they probably get more kickback from them. The JL would have been an option but I took their recommendation. This is what not having good knowledge about the components does to you.
Hm... more money. This is getting irritating
Thanks folks.
03-01-2005, 03:03 PM
#9
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Tamas -- Regardless of how it sounds that is one great application for the pass through. Very tidy and keeps your trunk pretty clear. Make it sound great and you'll set the pace for efficient use of space in the boot.
03-01-2005, 03:41 PM
#10
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Poly fill actually doesnt make much difference in car subs. I thought this until I took an Audio Engineering course my last semester of college (fall of last year). My professor, who is VERY respected in the Audio community told us why. I dont have the textbook here at work, but i can tell you exactly why when I get home if anyone actually cares. I remember that it has to do with the frequency and corresponding wavelength in the box.
03-01-2005, 04:19 PM
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Originally Posted by meticulousmobile
There's nothing wrong with Diamond, you just hear more about their component sets than their subs
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