Hi everybody, I am new to this forum so all and any information would be great. I belong to a fiberglassing forum and want to custom glass my interior. I was at a car show recently and was looking at the stereo installs in particular to get ideas for my install. Well I stumbed across this one neat interesting install. The subwoofers were not mounted in the usual fashion, with the cone facing forward, rather the magnet was out side of the enclosure and the cone was facing the inside of the enclosure. I have heard that this is called called an Isobaric mounting? Now this is the only field that i am not totally familiar with but do know some about it. What are the advantages/disadvantages of this install? I have seen pictures of using two 'woofers could I use just one subwoofer in this mounting technique. Before I start glassing I would like some tips, advise etc. Thank you in advance for everything.
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-Neekos-
This is what an isobaric setup looks like and dose https://www.maximacar.com/isobaric.htm but what I believe you are talking about is called inverting a sub. Which is where instead of mounting the sub with the magnet in the enclosure, you mount it reverse with the magnet coming out of the enclosure. Now there are absolutely no benefits to mounting a sub this way other than looks. Now if you use this configuration you have to do two things. 1st if you mount the sub that way it will be out of phase so in order to correct that you will need to reverse the polarity on your speaker connections +to- and - to +. 2nd you will need to subtract the displacement of the sub from your enclosures volume. Other than that the sub will sound the same and like I said before the only advantage is looks.
there's a advantage to make it look ugly like that? id say it's the only dissadvantage :)
you will lose SPL by reverse mounting your subs as well...not really reccommended unless you are doing it for show and you have woofers with a really sexy magnet...
Ahhh...o k thank you all so far. Let me see if I got this right. What bberman1 has stated toward the end of the post, is, basically I need to find out how much displacement my woofers basket and magnet take up and subtract that from the woofers recommended box size. (ex. 1.25cu.ft. box size - lets say .25cu.ft. displacement = 1.00cu.ft. total with the sub invertedly mounted) Did I get that right? I also understand reversing the polarity. Now although yes I will loose SPL, but can't I compensate that with a efficiant woofer rating? Thanks Again.
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-Neekos-
Sounds like you are on the right track. Some times the manufacture will give you the displacement in the owner’s manual. But if not you can get it by contacting their tech department. Personally I like the way some subs look inverted, if you have a nice magnet etc why not show it off.