JL Audio Gives Recommendations for "Normal" and "DB Monster" enclosures...which one to pick?(PDFs included)

[MichaelD]

I purchased a 12W3-D2 sub. (12" W3, Dual 2-ohm voice coils) The data sheet is very detailed (I like), giving recommended enclosure sizes for various tunings that they describe as "Purist" "Normal" and "DB Monster." The "Normal" is 1.25 CF net and the "DB Monster" is 1.00 CF Net. I can see the tuning diff is extremely minimal (42 vs 43 Hz...inconsequential!)

Which one to choose? I have the space for the bigger enclosure...what's the deal here? BTW, there will be 300W RMS going into this sub, so power is not a problem. See diff enclosures below.


Normal

DB Monster

 

[glen]

Infinate baffel is the best for SQ.
I had a custom rear deck made and mounted the subs in it.
Trunk volume is more than 3 times the VAS, so it behaves as an IB.

 

[Monel Funkawitz]

The 1.0cu ft box is VERY narrow. I'd say go with the 1.2cu ft. I have a custom 3.7cu ft in the truck with three 12W3D4 and 1050 watts, and it slams like a 400lb belly dancer. I shattered by back window and blew out my winshield so far. 162 decibels on the dash. Its painful to listen to.

Infinate baffle's SUCK. That is a setup that is really hard on subs, wastes alot of power, and with JL's, its totally out of the question. JL's have to be in a sealed (Recommended) or ported box anyway, or you will rip the spider to hell and back.

 

[MichaelD]

<< Infinate baffel is the best for SQ. >>



You are correct in that the average trunk volume IS much greater than the average Vas...but, no offense, Glen, but infinite baffle mounting is the worst thing you can possibly do for SQ. If your rear-fill drivers mount in the rear deck, you need to enclose them (a lot of work). Infinite baffle mounted drivers require two to three times the amount of power a properly enclosed driver would need for the same acousitcal output. And last but not least, it looks really tacky. Again, no offense. Not trying to be a butt. I've seen (and heard) some infinite baffle applications and have never been impressed. Not once.

Now, I have seen (in magazines) some infinite baffle installs done w/Aperiodic Membranes and supposedly it sounded like the Cat's Meow. But I don't have 20K+ for one of these professional installs. I prefer a 1K+ "MichaelD Done Under the Tree" Install. Guaranteed by me to sound like I want it to sound!

 

[Mr.IncrediblyBored]

<< The 1.0cu ft box is VERY narrow. I'd say go with the 1.2cu ft. I have a custom 3.7cu ft in the truck with three 12W3D4 and 1050 watts, and it slams like a 400lb belly dancer. I shattered by back window and blew out my winshield so far. 162 decibels on the dash. Its painful to listen to.

Infinate baffle's SUCK. That is a setup that is really hard on subs, wastes alot of power, and with JL's, its totally out of the question. JL's have to be in a sealed (Recommended) or ported box anyway, or you will rip the spider to hell and back. >>


LOL! I remember you posting about your setup a couple weeks ago. You actually blew out your rear window? Did they shatter entirely, or was it just a stress crack?

 

[MichaelD]

Hi Monel,

I saw (and drooled over) the pics of your truck a few weeks back. I'd love to hear your system! I have two or three CDs I'd love to jam on in that badass truck of yours! Bass is a beautiful thing. I'm figuring this W3 w/300W of EQ'd (AudioControl EQX) juice should rock'n'roll. I can't wait! Thanks for the input.

I'd NEVER do an infinite baffle (see my reply to Glen, above).

 

[Bachelor]

Sounds like there is some confusion between free-air drivers and infinite baffle boxes. Glen is correct in saying that IB has the best SQ. IB boxes can be ported or sealed. Sealed boxes takes more power but sound better. Band-pass boxes take less power than IB (sealed or ported) and can be tuned easier than IB boxes. They rock for a bass punch but have a boomey sound.

 

[MichaelD]

Hmm, I've always thought that Infinite Baffle meant NO ENCLOSURE at all. I don't think I'm wrong. If I am, I'd like to see some proof, please. Really, I've always thought (and read) that Infinite Baffle=No Enclosure (i.e. rear-deck-mounted subs, that used the trunk as the "enclosure.")

 

[Bachelor]

Sorry I'm eating. Look for your own links.

Infinite baffle refers to the speaker enclosure. Free-air speakers are ones that can be mounted in "free air" without a box.


Since free air speakers are not mounted in an enclosure there is no name for the box.

 

[glen]

This car sounds like the Cat's meow
And, I am using very little Amplifier power.

 

[glen]

Free-Air is a nonsense marketing term usually used to describe speakers intended to be used in an infinate baffle application.
IB means the rear wave is isolated from the front wave by an infinatedly large box.
In reality, it means a box 10 times the VAS.
In practicality, it means a box with 4 times the VAS.

 

[Bachelor]

<< Free-Air is a nonsense marketing term usually used to describe speakers intended to be used in an infinate baffle application. >>



picky, picky :frown:

 

[Adul]

I would go with the seal encloser of the noral setup. I just prefer the better sound overall and you have plenty of power to get enough volume. So just worry about sound Q

monel, I sure hope to god you wear earplugs.

 

[Bachelor]

Feeling the urge to edit Adul's post. BTW, 16995 posts:Q Is that some kind of a record?

 

[Adul]

nope 2 people ahead of me.

 

[tigerbait]

nice license plate Glen

 

[d33pt]

Glen.. that setup looks great.. ideally i'd like to make a system like that but none of my cars have a rear deck that big.. geez your deck is like 4 times the size of mine! do you have any pics of the full underside of the deck?

 

[glen]

Maybe I can take some.
The entire deck was rebuilt out of the old deck, fiber glass, and then covered with vinyl.
IB's are great, but you need to have great seal between trunk and Passager compartment.
If you live in Columbia, SC and want to hear it, PM me.

 

[glen]

<< nice license plate Glen >>


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