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What does the box do?

Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Car Audio
Forum Discription: Car Stereos, Amplifiers, Crossovers, Processors, Speakers, Subwoofers, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=80974
Printed Date: May 09, 2024 at 6:30 PM


Topic: What does the box do?

Posted By: cutlass013
Subject: What does the box do?
Date Posted: July 30, 2006 at 6:02 PM

On a Sub i know you have to have one but what does the box acutally do. does it really make the sub sound louder? or does it just seem that way.. i got new subs and hooked them up in just free air  because i dont have my fiberglass box complete yet.. but in the free air it wasnt the greatest sounding sub ill just say any help on the matter would be great




Replies:

Posted By: killer sonata
Date Posted: July 30, 2006 at 6:58 PM
i hope you didnt damage your subs by running them free air. Its very easy to do.  

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"People with mullets live 40% longer"   - Ricky Bobby




Posted By: stevdart
Date Posted: July 30, 2006 at 7:42 PM
Yeah, don't be experimenting with expensive gear without knowledge of the facts.  If the sub's manual says to use a box, use one.

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Build the box so that it performs well in the worst case scenario and, in return, it will reward you at all times.




Posted By: haemphyst
Date Posted: July 31, 2006 at 12:18 AM
Without an enclosure, there is pretty much complete cancellation at nearly all frequencies that a subwoofer is designed to produce. The enclosure is there to keep the back wave (a wave that is 180° out of phase, BTW) from coming in contact with the front wave, and causing near complete cancellation.

It is also an important part of the subwoofer system, as the enclosed volume of air provides a "springy mass" to work against, and provide additional mechanical damping and control.

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It all reminds me of something that Molière once said to Guy de Maupassant at a café in Vienna: "That's nice. You should write it down."




Posted By: aznboi3644
Date Posted: July 31, 2006 at 2:33 AM
Also...would you want to roll around with your subs literally rolling around in your trunk trying to thump away??? lol




Posted By: haemphyst
Date Posted: July 31, 2006 at 5:01 PM
nouseforaname wrote:

even "free air subs" usually sound like poopy.

Perhaps a little bit late, but I might also add here that there is no such thnig as a "free-air" subwoofer. The correct nomenclature is "Infinite Baffle". The infinite baffle does the same thing as a box, it just does it without the "springy mass" mentioned in my previous post.

The mechanical components of the infinite baffle woofer are usually VERY stiff, so they will perform correctly in such an alignment. The mechanical stiffness takes the place of the enclosed volume, but you cannot have anything replace the actual baffle's function - separating the front wave and rear wave from one another. Depending on the woofer, I have always been a fan of infinite baffle loading, it seems to me to provide the best extension and response of most any alignment I have personally heard. The transmission line follows very closely behind, in the list of "preferred alignments". (IMO)

I am thinking seriously of putting my SW9122 in a TL in this next system iteration... I'll be plugging the numbers in soon, and determining if it is going to do what I really want it to do, and posting the results, hopefully soon. If I do this, I might have an Eclipse DA7232 for sale... Hands up, if interested! Box and all manuals still present. Gently used, never abused!

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It all reminds me of something that Molière once said to Guy de Maupassant at a café in Vienna: "That's nice. You should write it down."





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