06 Civic Build - New Build List on page 60

[scooter99]

I'm running falken tires on mine. GREAT tires for the price. As far as the box goes, I think you're setting yourself up for success by going with a 4th order. I'm willing to bet it'll be louder than your infinite baffle setup even with one 12. Build it up!

EDIT:

On a side note, I'd approach your box a little differently. Since you're on the edge about the whole thing... Whether it'll work, whether it'll sound good, etc.... I'd ditch the plexi and go for the basics. I understand how critical you are of making everything perfect and striving to achieve all your goals on the first time around.

The way I look at it, you've set a great foundation with your equipment, the layout of the 4 channels, the beauty panels, etc. What I'm really trying to get at is build this box, keep it simple, and test it out. Forget the finish (Upholstery, covering, etc), the plexi, etc. Focus on the craftsmanship and design of the box. Once you've reached your goals, have a badass box that meets all your standards and then some, then make it perfect, add the plexi, paint, and final touches to finish it out.

It may not be the same for everyone else, but for me, wrapping everything and making everything look great takes more time than actually constructing the pieces (Or box in this case). So say you have 8 hours into your 4th order, which is unfinished but well constructed, and you don't like it. You've got $60 into materials, hardly any time, and throwing it out won't even phase you. The story might be a little different for something you've invested 30 or 40 hours into and have $500 in. There's very few times where my research has taught me more than my first hand trial and error.

You've spent so much time sketching things up, over thinking it, and researching it, and playing with designs in your head that you could have already built a few boxes and answered your questions. Don't take that as a bad thing, I'm just trying to point out that I think you should focus on one thing at a time.

Good luck man!

That was very well said. I should've explained myself a little more when I said I was going to go ahead and build it. I had all that in mind when I said that. There's no reason to go out spend a bunch of money on a piece of 3/4" plexi, hardware, finishing materials, etc, if I'm only going to "see how it sounds". That's why I was like I"ve already got a piece of 3/4" mdf here, why not use it to build a test box, since I'm building all my final stuff out of birch (thanks to your suggestion), and utilize the mdf for something that's going to help me and not just be part of the stock pile. So that is in fact my plan, and I'm glad there are still some people out there that want to take the time to say "hey this is what you should do to save yourself some time and money" etc. It helps people like me for sure. I do overthink things, and I spend a lot of time; probably more than ever close to necessary, designing and going over redundant things. But as I've said before, when I don't have time to physically get out there and build, I go a little nuts and this is the way I can handle that.

Bottom line is, thank you for your suggestions and we're on the same page!

Now then, like I've said, if I could only find some GOD DAMN TIME TO WORK ON IT!!!!! I'm off to spin class!

[scooter99]

Where is the teardrop emoticon when you need it that was both motivational with a little bit of get your shit together, I usually don't read posts that long but he made some points lol. To answer your question scooter I would honestly go two sealed in a really well designed still cool looking box or hell build the one you have and post your findings.

Ya he's a good guy and seems to know his shit. Helpful too. That's one of the reasons I've moved over to this site, cause mainly the people over here are cool and very helpful. Other sites have a tendency to get chippy and don't come off their high horse very often. Makes it unenjoyable and if you're a new guy, makes you not want to ask questions. I've never had a problem on this site like that, and thus, have made it my home!

The sealed box is my last fall back. If this temp 4th doesn't work, I'll go to a basic vented rear firing enclosure. IF that doesn't work, then I'll go to the sealed. I just got confirmation from a big sq guy that the sealed box with subs firing to the cabin is a good thing for sq as long as you have ventilation through the seat, which I have. But I think it would require me to move the component rack, and I'm not sure I want to go there yet.

I'll try and get some time in the next couple weeks to build this temp 4th and post up my results.

[zxsonnyxz]

What are your current planned dimentions for the 4th order?

[scooter99]

Right now I'm looking at .71 cu ft sealed, and 1.23 cu ft ported with dual external ports of 3" x 16" to give me a tuning frequency of 40.25hz.

The total width of the actual box is 22" and that gives me about 9" on either side for the amps, and then it's still 14.5" tall and the wedge is 14" on top and 19" on the bottom.

You know doing it this way also, that I discovered when I did the sketch up, is that the top of the sub won't be seen hardly at all. It's only a 3 1/2" high chamber so the top of that sub baffle to the top of the plexi window is only 1 1/4". The frame around the whole plexi window I made at 3" all the way around. That's 3" of wood on the sides, and 2 1/4" on the top and bottom of wood. I was worried about going any less than that. I don't want to effect the structural integrity of it. Or will I? So basically the whole thing is gonna be all motor showing. You'll barely see the top or cone of the sub. Matter of fact, even to do it I have to bottom mount the sub because I can't fit a sub of 6 3/8" deep in a 3 1/2" chamber. So it'll be bottom mounted anyway and you won't see the cone.

Ok I'm off to get some work done, at actual work. I'm going to try and design a couple of other test boxes though. I'm also going to try and figure out how to use Winisd, since I SUCK AT IT! That will help me I guess get closer to what I want, although truthfully, I have no idea how to read the results even if I get them. This is the part of building audio that is so troublesome for me. Always learning, not a problem, but some things are just super hard for me to understand.

Thanks guys!

[scooter99]

Ok update. I'm fighting this a little bit, but I'll get to it later on when I reveal it.

I've got 3 enclosures specd out. The one I already posted, a sealed enclosure, and a ported enclosure. While looking it over and trying to figure out how it would all work, I came up with a killer idea! I'm so damned excited about it, I'm shaking. I just don't have time to mock it up right now. SO, that being said, I'll just tease you with this, it involves more drawers and possible actuators for automatic opening! Awwwwwwwwwww shit! I'll report back tonight!

[IBleedMusick]

Ok update. I'm fighting this a little bit, but I'll get to it later on when I reveal it.

I've got 3 enclosures specd out. The one I already posted, a sealed enclosure, and a ported enclosure. While looking it over and trying to figure out how it would all work, I came up with a killer idea! I'm so damned excited about it, I'm shaking. I just don't have time to mock it up right now. SO, that being said, I'll just tease you with this, it involves more drawers and possible actuators for automatic opening! Awwwwwwwwwww shit! I'll report back tonight!

[scooter99]

And with every passing minute it keeps getting better! I have a sick obsession!

[TLEJ]

These builds are crazy!

Just a question, did you clear coat anything? Or how did you protect the stuff you spray painted?

[scooter99]

I did. I clear coat everything I paint. I use VHT clear coat, but any will do I think.

[scooter99]

Ok so I thought I was going to have time to sketch up the designs I have in my head, last night. But I wasn't able to. I worked too late and when I got home, "the wife" wanted to "work" some more! Can't say no to that right!

However, today I'm getting off early, like in an hour, I'm headed over to my mother in laws to finish up her living room electrical. I've been remodeling her room, acoustic scrap, re-texture, repaint, tile entry, new electrical, new trim, etc. after work. So I'll get that done this afternoon and then I'll get home and start drawing. I'm so excited about it. The more I think about it, the more I come up with and the more I like it.

Also this just in, I'm probably going to have the full week of Christmas off work. SO the building will for sure be on!!!

Lastly. I'm getting sick of stock sound. So I'm going to bust out the Hertz High Energy Comps, and put them in the front doors, and throw the alpines (in there now) in the rear and hook up the LRx 2.4 via high inputs and get busy! I wish someone close to me had a DD-1 they'd let me use or help me. Oh well it's just a temporary set up.

Stay tuned, I promise the ideas will be worth the wait! It's about to get live up in this bitch!