Question:
Due to circumstances (nothing to do with my wife of course), I can't fit a surround sound system into my living room. So I have decided to compromise with a sub only.
Since they seem to be either cheap and rubbish or good and expensive I have decided to build my own. I had surprisingly good results with a pair of small transmission lines so I have highish hopes...
I was wondering if anyone has done this themselves and had good designs or recommendations of designs for a sub???
I have built a subwoofer using an ACI SV 12" sub driver, BSB 500W power supply in a 4cu ft sealed enclosure. The driver is the same one used in the titan range of subwoofers.
If your looking for a driver try the adire audio drivers either the shiva or tempest. I am planning on using a tempest in my next project if I can find someone who would like to buy my existing driver & amp plate. The adire website has some very good papers on design for their drivers.
Also BkElec are doing a good deal on a Sub Amp panel & 10" Driver with Passive Radiator if you wanted to build a small system box.
Links:
http://www.adireaudio.com/
http://www.bkelec.com/
http://www.iplacoustics.co.uk/
http://www.diysubwoofers.org/
http://www.wilmslow-audio.co.uk/
Thanks for the info that will get me started:)
Where did you get the plans for your sub or was it a kit?
After reading AVSForums ive been thinking about giving this a go for a long time, just to see what results i'd get. so id be interested in knowing where to get kits from. but saying that i havent clicked the above links yet...
Surely it will need more than just a driver and a power supply though?
Just been having a good look round the web and i think its not worth the hassle for the results, it looks like my REL quake is a lot cheaper and sounds far better than a lot of kits available. here's some great links though.
http://www.hifiheaven.com/diy-speakers.htm
Yes, All you need for a DIY subwoofer is a Subwoofer Amp plate, driver, a box & short lead to connect them together.
If you want you can design the crossover and amp from scratch and build you own but it is a lot easier just to buy the ready made panels. Vented closures are a little harder to build but do go low and give lots of SPL.
The box does need to be very strong, made out of 18+mm MDF with lots of glueing and screwing & internal bracing for big boxes. All the equipment you need however is a jig saw and some clamps. You can then paint or veneer the box to make it look good.
If you want a Kit then try
http://www.iplacoustics.co.uk/ipl_acoustics_kits_for_hi.htm
IPL always come highly recommended and recieve excellent reviews. You can estimate that the SW2 kit is equivalent to a REL Q200 & the SW3 equivalent to REL Storm.
If you follow the diysubwoofer link I already posted they have a couple of spreadsheet for modelling different box sizes if you want to do it all yourself. Some driver manufactures like Adire also provide free program for doing it. Try some experiments and see how low these subs go.
I however disagree with wonderpants, you can build a subwoofer yourself for far less than a REL Quake and it will sound better than subwoofers well over twice the price that you have paid for it. Thats why there are so many people building there own systems.
If you are going to design and build one yourself then you need to ask yourself some questions. If you need a small box (1-2 cu ft) to keep the wife happy then you have to use a sealed box with a driver like the ACI SV12", Adire Audio's famous 12" Shiva or Eminance Lab 12.
If you can use a bigger box then go for one of the above 12" drivers in a vented enclosure or maybe Adire 15" tempest.
jpwhaley, thanks for the info. After the Very simple and Very cheap TL's a friend and I built I would agree that you can build much cheaper than buy.
The kits from IPL look very good, but in the first instance I think I would like to build something a little smaller and from scratch. If that is successful...:D
Since they seem to be either cheap and rubbish or good and expensive I have decided to build my own. I had surprisingly good results with a pair of small transmission lines so I have highish hopes...
I was wondering if anyone has done this themselves and had good designs or recommendations of designs for a sub???
Answers:
I have built a subwoofer using an ACI SV 12" sub driver, BSB 500W power supply in a 4cu ft sealed enclosure. The driver is the same one used in the titan range of subwoofers.
If your looking for a driver try the adire audio drivers either the shiva or tempest. I am planning on using a tempest in my next project if I can find someone who would like to buy my existing driver & amp plate. The adire website has some very good papers on design for their drivers.
Also BkElec are doing a good deal on a Sub Amp panel & 10" Driver with Passive Radiator if you wanted to build a small system box.
Links:
http://www.adireaudio.com/
http://www.bkelec.com/
http://www.iplacoustics.co.uk/
http://www.diysubwoofers.org/
http://www.wilmslow-audio.co.uk/
Answers:
Thanks for the info that will get me started:)
Where did you get the plans for your sub or was it a kit?
Answers:
After reading AVSForums ive been thinking about giving this a go for a long time, just to see what results i'd get. so id be interested in knowing where to get kits from. but saying that i havent clicked the above links yet...
Surely it will need more than just a driver and a power supply though?
Answers:
Just been having a good look round the web and i think its not worth the hassle for the results, it looks like my REL quake is a lot cheaper and sounds far better than a lot of kits available. here's some great links though.
http://www.hifiheaven.com/diy-speakers.htm
Answers:
Yes, All you need for a DIY subwoofer is a Subwoofer Amp plate, driver, a box & short lead to connect them together.
If you want you can design the crossover and amp from scratch and build you own but it is a lot easier just to buy the ready made panels. Vented closures are a little harder to build but do go low and give lots of SPL.
The box does need to be very strong, made out of 18+mm MDF with lots of glueing and screwing & internal bracing for big boxes. All the equipment you need however is a jig saw and some clamps. You can then paint or veneer the box to make it look good.
If you want a Kit then try
http://www.iplacoustics.co.uk/ipl_acoustics_kits_for_hi.htm
IPL always come highly recommended and recieve excellent reviews. You can estimate that the SW2 kit is equivalent to a REL Q200 & the SW3 equivalent to REL Storm.
If you follow the diysubwoofer link I already posted they have a couple of spreadsheet for modelling different box sizes if you want to do it all yourself. Some driver manufactures like Adire also provide free program for doing it. Try some experiments and see how low these subs go.
I however disagree with wonderpants, you can build a subwoofer yourself for far less than a REL Quake and it will sound better than subwoofers well over twice the price that you have paid for it. Thats why there are so many people building there own systems.
If you are going to design and build one yourself then you need to ask yourself some questions. If you need a small box (1-2 cu ft) to keep the wife happy then you have to use a sealed box with a driver like the ACI SV12", Adire Audio's famous 12" Shiva or Eminance Lab 12.
If you can use a bigger box then go for one of the above 12" drivers in a vented enclosure or maybe Adire 15" tempest.
Answers:
jpwhaley, thanks for the info. After the Very simple and Very cheap TL's a friend and I built I would agree that you can build much cheaper than buy.
The kits from IPL look very good, but in the first instance I think I would like to build something a little smaller and from scratch. If that is successful...:D
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