building your own sub?

MSALLA

Has anyone on here built a powerd sub that the are happy with? I'm looking for plans to buid my own sub for HT & music. I would be greatful for any info.

goingganzo

it is easy there is the sono sub with is the eayest or the box type also ib. now you must come up with a budget so we can help with a driver/amp choice. also size od friver choice. and box size choice.

MSALLA

I only thought about the box sub. Don't even know about the sono sub. I was thinking 12" round in a vented box. The thing is I know more about working with wood then I do about what effects the dynamics of the sub. I can build a strong box, but are there some glues that will harm the sound? If I veneer MDF will the glue damage the sound? These are questions I have.
Also, you guys helping to choose the parts will be a big help. I have to do some research to come up with the proper budget.

JKnPA

Maybe these two links will help............ :rolleyes:
http://www.scrounge.org/speak/speak.htm

This one was provided by 'Buckeyefan1' (another site), when I first posted there......
http://users.pandora.be/airborne/speakers.html

JK

tryrrthg

I have built two subs. one 12" vented sonosub and one 15" sealed box. The sonosub was quite a bit easier, just because you didn't have to worry about getting anything square.

I also helped design this monster: LINK

MDF or Baltic Birch plywood (expensive) are the way to go. Use a lot of bracing. Veneer is fine, wood glue will have no effect on the sound.

There aren't a lot of good drivers available right now. I think most people are using Sound Splinter 15's in a sealed box. Parts Express has some nice drivers too. The high fidelity 12 in a vented box would be a nice sub.

If you have any more questions post them and I'll try to help.

MSALLA

Thanks for the help. I will take you up on asking questions.

goingganzo

do you have a bugget in mind? usaly 300-400 will get you a great sub
subs
entry level good quality
http://www.ascendantaudio.com/assassin12specs.html
http://www.acoustic-visions.com/~acoustic/products/subwoofer_drivers/shiva_classic/

mid level
http://www.ascendantaudio.com/arsenal12specs.html
http://www.acoustic-visions.com/~acoustic/products/subwoofer_drivers/adire_koda/
high end
http://www.acoustic-visions.com/~acoustic/products/subwoofer_drivers/adire_tumult_15/

MSALLA

Ya, I started adding up the numbers last night. My question is is this going to be better then an svs that I can get for 500?

I saw the links above and like the mid-level sub. Parts Express has a Bash 300w amp for around 180. With the MDF and wood veneer I'm like 350-400.

Ceruleance

Unless you have all the tools and are used to making things out of wood, or you would enjoy the time spent on the project, I would point you towards SVS or another solution. For me the project wasn't about enjoying the building process it was about the end result, and so the project was kind of a hassle. Of course when you are building an IB sub you don't really have any other options.

MSALLA

I like working with wood and have the tools and would really enjoy the project. However if I spend 400 and say a few hours of my time (in the shop away from the wife & kids) will I have a product with a sound quality as good as if I bought one for 500?

goingganzo

this is what i have lerened of my 2 sub projects. i am a bass head just to let you know. my first sub was a dual av 15 sub with amp and ss filter for about 1200. it was awsome it would blow away the svs pb 12+ the dual 12 sub by svs. it was great but i wanted more so i saw these 18 by aa and i said wow. so i decided to buy 2 but i thought what if i want more and they change their design makeing adding more inpossible with out replaceing the first two like on the svs so i went with four and that is want i run and it is awsome i mean insane. the dual av 15 by stryke sudio now something else was exelent too

scottvamp

MSALLA wrote:

I like working with wood and have the tools and would really enjoy the project. However if I spend 400 and say a few hours of my time (in the shop away from the wife & kids) will I have a product with a sound quality as good as if I bought one for 500?

I am sure you are a great wood worker ...... but i contaplated the same thing and the bang for the buck after comparing time and price ........ SVS all the way. Top quality, sound, service and warrenty ........ just can't be beat. IMHO

MSALLA

Thats what I was thinking, but I think I'm really going to enjoy building this. I don't get to go out that much anymore due to the family growing and I think a project at home is just what the doctor orderd. I may start this weekend.

Early B.

Spend $400 - $500 on a nice DIY sub and it will blow away anything SVS has to offer under a grand. I use an Ascendant Audio Atlas 15" in a 6 c.f. box and it is incredible. I think someone was selling a couple of these drivers in the Flea Market recently. Grab one or both of them.

Here's the listing: http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=45119

Go for it. Lots of info on the 'net...

Meeks32

I've also been thinking about building a sub & have been reading other peoples projects & recomendations on other forums. Unless you are wanting the flush mount of a plate amp, pro audio amps like Behringer & QSC would be a better choice & can be had pretty cheap also. Also look at www.tcsounds.com & www.soundsplinter.com , the RL-P sub from soundsplinter seems to be the DIY sub to build with right now.

Deadof_knight

try velodyne plates Im getting ready for an 18" inch next using a Velodyne plate. You have to spend time getting the box perfect physically as well as asthetically so it looks like its supposed to be there.
like fine furniture. ( helps keep the wife off your back as well)The sub box must be very strong wether you brace it or simply use multiple layers of wood so there is no deflection during music play. Then theres always the dampening material. 1 pound per cubic foot is a rule of thumb. There are many calculations on different websights but the paperwork that come with you drive is the most important of all.



When its all done and you did it its all the more rewarding..........

scottvamp

MSALLA - good luck and have fun. I really enjoy wood work myself.
But as i was saying i own the PB12+2. The drivers are $600 and a comparable plate amp is at least $500. Just part of the raw materials are a $100 away from thier asking price. They have spent tons of research to get them to sound right. I am also thinking about building some single subs from my left over 12.2's but with the look and finish i want, just too much time and money for subs i don't really need right now.

tryrrthg

MSALLA wrote:

Thats what I was thinking, but I think I'm really going to enjoy building this. I don't get to go out that much anymore due to the family growing and I think a project at home is just what the doctor orderd. I may start this weekend.

Go for it, but just as long as you know that it's not as simple as building a box and throwing a driver in it. You have to model the box and driver you select so that the internal volume of the enclosure (and port length if you go vented) is optimal for the driver. You've got to keep an eye on air speed in the vent, cone exursion, group delay, etc....

MSALLA

Do they give you guide lines with the driver when you buy it or is there a math formula to follow?

tryrrthg

MSALLA wrote:

Do they give you guide lines with the driver when you buy it or is there a math formula to follow?

There are a bunch of math forumlas.

The best thing to do would be to find a driver you are interested in. then download WinISD pro. Plug in the TS parameters of the driver and mess around with different size designs. when you get the hang of how certain elements of the design effect the response then you can really start figuring out how to proceed. It really helps to do some homework, unless you just want to follow somone elses design which probably could be done also.

Try to find a driver you're interested in, then go from there.

MSALLA

This is going to be fun.

Deadof_knight

I have 2 12s in different configurations in the same room. 1 is in a ported enclosure and the other is in a sealed enclosure. they have different sounds and 1 sounds better than the othere depending on the music you play. Alot of how a system sounds is up to you because your the one listening to it. The nice thing is you can tinker with it until YOU are happy............

Deadof_knight

1 was a soundstream ss10 r and then 2 12 inch punch ported and unported.

Deadof_knight

Ive often thought about building an sda cabinet and buying the drivers individually
kinda like little ata time under the radar of the wife muhahahaha

Deadof_knight

course it hard to hide cabinets that large I mean sda-srs 1.2 size cabinets are well not small

Deadof_knight

but you could build them out of solid wood cores of anything you want real walnut or oak or eaven teak if you can afford it

tryrrthg

MSALLA wrote:

This is going to be fun.

check this page out, it has some helpful info

http://www.diysubwoofers.org/

Deadof_knight

Typically the manufacture has a recomendation on the size of the box and can somtimes be very specific about where the woofer is placed in the box. This is because of how standing waves affect the output of the enclosure.......

Deadof_knight

perfect square boxes have standing waves, and will cancel out the output of your driver. Thats why most drivers are or have a tendensy to be installed in one end of the enclosure.

Deadof_knight

its not hard you can build it then paint it or take it down and have formica put on it that always looks good

Deadof_knight

Ive sanded and painted all mine built grills speakers spikes and such