Looking at a DIY subwoofer

[Crusty]

I'm contemplating building a DIY subwoofer so I can finally give my brother back his Klipsch 12".

I'm not sure on the price point... but no more then $400 or so.

I've been looking at some of the Ascendant subs, and I really like what I see.

http://www.ascendantaudio.com/archive/Atlas%2015.htm

This one really catches my eye, the speaker is only $160, so that would leave plenty of room for the amp/enclosure.

I would most likely go with a ported enclosure tuned to 19Hz, I just can't justify the size of the enclosure for 16Hz. 8ft^3 vs 11ft^3.

Does anyone own one? Or own a different one that they really like?

 

[Anubis]

pageing ViperGTS

 

[Howard]

What's the application? Music or home theater?

Where will you put it? In the corner, along a wall, away from the wall?

What's the maximum sound pressure that you need?

Any size limitations (besides 11 cubic feet)?

Does your budget include the amplifier?

 

[iamwiz82]

I built a sonosub for $100, thanks to a great deal from a member on this board for the sonotube and wood.

 

[Crusty]

I will mostly be using it for Music, although I will use it for movies and the such, but since I only have front speakers and no surrounds etc it's not a priority.

It will go in the corner.

The SPL doesn't need to be very high, the room is smallish. I am looking more for range and equal SPL across the range.

No other size restrictions, although the smaller the better.

Yes, the budget includes everything

 

[pbaker]

dude, if i had MY brother's 12" klipsch, i'd just run away. keep that if possible.

 

[TStep]

Loudspeaker design cookbook. Used it along time ago and was very helpful. Has all the info to match speaker characteristics to various box sizes and configurations.

 

[Sphexi]

Way back Radioshack used to sell books on speaker enclosures, with the calculations needed to get the right amount of volume and the right size for your ports and all that. I built a pair of home speakers with 12" subs, a 3-way crossover, all that fun stuff, and they sound fantastic, whole thing cost me about $100 per speaker (with cost of enclosure), and when hooked up to the right amp they produce simply amazing sound.

If you don't mind going through the process and spending the time to do it right, you'll have a great subwoofer.

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: Crusty
I will mostly be using it for Music, although I will use it for movies and the such, but since I only have front speakers and no surrounds etc it's not a priority.

It will go in the corner.

The SPL doesn't need to be very high, the room is smallish. I am looking more for range and equal SPL across the range.

No other size restrictions, although the smaller the better.

Yes, the budget includes everything

Two dipole W-frames might work for you. The most popular opinion among people who've heard dipole bass is that it's the most natural (owing to less room effects, which is especially important since you're putting them in the corner).

4 of these: http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Partnumber=292-218
1 of these: http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/pshowdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Partnumber=300-804

Each W-frame takes 2, with the plate amp powering both W-frames.

http://www.linkwitzlab.com/woofer.htm

The dimensions are for a 12", but I trust you'll be able to resize the dimensions to handle a 15" driver? The longer mounting depth also necessitates more space behind each driver cone. The 12" is slightly cheaper, but the extra surface area and lower resonant frequency will allow for a flatter bass response.

Linkwitz' spreadsheet tells me that these 4 drivers have the potential for at least 104dB @ 40Hz @ 1m, at maximum excursion. I don't know how much excursion you can get out of 250W split across 4 drivers, but it ought to be enough unless you love listening to the 1812 cannon.

EDIT: You might save a lot of money by getting a used sub amp.

EDIT2: Dipole subs with Pyle drivers