How do you know when your box is too big?

[fecupe2001]

Thanks for the shout out man , i don´t consider myself a good builder just yet but yes, i´ve built a couple of good boxes already, luck maybe? i dunno lol, but i honestly prefer big ass boxes where i don´t need lots of power since that´s way more expensive, at one time i needed a Soundigital 8K for been able to bass race a 149.9 with 4 12´s , now i can do it with a 3K amplifier on same subs, how?? well, on my SPL gains testing i was able to get lots of knowledge about my subs and car, i´m still learning this : "Box it´s built not only for the subs but also for the car" , every application is different, but once you know your car, everything you built for it is gonna be stupid loud.

Now to the subject, you have to play with not only power, but also with subs specs, there are lots of people taking into account the BL, QES , SD and lots of things when they are building a box, i´ve learned that there are only 2 things i care about on a sub when i´m deciding what size of box i´m gonna use, once again, i´m still learning, but i care about QTS and VAS, the higher they are the bigger i can go on the box without caring that much about power. Said that, i´m gonna give you an example:

I got a very nice help from strongmandesigns about efficient boxes with low power, i built a box with 2 DD´s 2512(750 watts each sub) 5.8 cubic feet and 3 6" PVC ports with a 39 hz tuning, yes thats right´, 2.9 c/f per 12" , anyways, i managed to keep the f3 very low with a high tuning, with that 39 hz tuning i can play very strong from 30 hz to 50 hz with a 42 hz peak, what power am i using???? only 1200 watts hitting almost 147 dbs and box is no way near to be finished, funniest thing is that, i tried a 3K amplifier on that box and raise my score almost 2 dbs without subs bottoming out!!!! How come??? well, because my subs LOVE big boxes, and i´ve learned a lot about the acoustic of my car.

I´m sorry for writing such a long post, but i prefered to show you why i use big boxes depending on the parameters of the subs, once again, yes the bigger the box the less power the sub can take, but this is defined by the parameters of the sub, not only because of the cone area, lots of people say a 10" should work with a 1.25 - 1.5 c/f box, i used my DD 1510´s on lots of boxes and best i found with a regular amount of power was 2 c/f

[tonedeaf]

Thanks for the shout out man , i don´t consider myself a good builder just yet but yes, i´ve built a couple of good boxes already, luck maybe? i dunno lol, but i honestly prefer big ass boxes where i don´t need lots of power since that´s way more expensive, at one time i needed a Soundigital 8K for been able to bass race a 149.9 with 4 12´s , now i can do it with a 3K amplifier on same subs, how?? well, on my SPL gains testing i was able to get lots of knowledge about my subs and car, i´m still learning this : "Box it´s built not only for the subs but also for the car" , every application is different, but once you know your car, everything you built for it is gonna be stupid loud.

Now to the subject, you have to play with not only power, but also with subs specs, there are lots of people taking into account the BL, QES , SD and lots of things when they are building a box, i´ve learned that there are only 2 things i care about on a sub when i´m deciding what size of box i´m gonna use, once again, i´m still learning, but i care about QTS and VAS, the higher they are the bigger i can go on the box without caring that much about power. Said that, i´m gonna give you an example:

I got a very nice help from strongmandesigns about efficient boxes with low power, i built a box with 2 DD´s 2512(750 watts each sub) 5.8 cubic feet and 3 6" Aeroports with a 39 hz tuning, yes thats right´, 2.9 c/f per 12" , anyways, i managed to keep the f3 very low with a high tuning, with that 39 hz tuning i can play very strong from 30 hz to 50 hz with a 42 hz peak, what power am i using???? only 1200 watts hitting almost 147 dbs and box is no way near to be finished, funniest thing is that, i tried a 3K amplifier on that box and raise my score almost 2 dbs without subs bottoming out!!!! How come??? well, because my subs LOVE big boxes, and i´ve learned a lot about the acoustic of my car.

I´m sorry for writing such a long post, but i prefered to show you why i use big boxes depending on the parameters of the subs, once again, yes the bigger the box the less power the sub can take, but this is defined by the parameters of the sub, not only because of the cone area, lots of people say a 10" should work with a 1.25 - 1.5 c/f box, i used my DD 1510´s on lots of boxes and best i found with a regular amount of power was 2 c/f

Long posts with good information > short posts with little to no information. Im also still learning about the specs on subs and seeing how they effect the box/install, so im glad you brought that up. And I give credit where credit is due.

[RAM_Designs]

Bigger boxes are more efficient, so I tend to lean towards larger boxes since I'd rather rely on box effieincy than throwing more power at something to get the system efficiency I want.

[tonedeaf]

Bigger boxes are more efficient, so I tend to lean towards larger boxes since I'd rather rely on box effieincy than throwing more power at something to get the system efficiency I want.

What if you're building in the trunk where space is an issue and you really dont have the space for OMFGshittonofbatteries so electrical isnt on your side either?

[fecupe2001]

Bigger boxes are more efficient, so I tend to lean towards larger boxes since I'd rather rely on box effieincy than throwing more power at something to get the system efficiency I want.

Exactly my point good sir,also, it´s cheaper building a efficient box instead of buying a big ass amplifier!!!! I got sick of this and that´s why i bought my Termlab, it has helped me a lot in the process of learning about efficient boxes using small power. Another thing that i take into account when i´m designing a box it´s the XMAX, but i use it most of the times when i´m choosing a port area, to be honest, i haven´t work with a sub that has a big ass vas and qts parameters and a small xmax, what about you RAM? because let´s be honest, i don´t think you can build a big efficient box for a sub with a stupid small xmax, or you can? i would like to know your opinion about this

[fecupe2001]

Bigger boxes are more efficient, so I tend to lean towards larger boxes since I'd rather rely on box effieincy than throwing more power at something to get the system efficiency I want.

What if you're building in the trunk where space is an issue and you really dont have the space for OMFGshittonofbatteries so electrical isnt on your side either?

Remember something, you can get louder with smaller subs on a proper box rather than big subs on a shitty box, said that, ifyou don´t have the space for a efficient box on 2 12´s, i would prefer using 2 10´s , but that´s just me, your other option is definitly using the 2 12´s on a small box with big power

[Ric Thornton]

I can't remember the last time I built a "spec" box for any customer. lol

I did spec boxes for DD and Sundown and tested in Katie's s10 (after so many freakin comments about the box I made being too big) and the scores were a joke. couldn't even break a 140 with the DD (139.9) and the sundown was not great either.. with my box (MUCH MUCH MUCH larger) does 143 and 144 with those subs.

box in my truck is over 2.6 cubes for a DD 10" ... DD had a heart attack about it (they recommend 1.5 as the largest)... but I'm pulling 147 out of it with under 1500 watts in a dodge ram quad cab at 33-37hz

[soundsystemaniac]

very informative thread guys! thanks!

[Gotloud555]

It really depend on how big the box is? The bigger box doesn't really meant it bad because when you put the sub, bracing, and double baffle it shrink the box. Having box too big or small bad. The size do matter with the port, volume, sub displacement, bracing, and etc because it will affect the tuning frquency. I usually like to stay in the manufacturer specs becuase it sound much better than i expect. Buidling your own box much better than prefab box, only if you knowlegdegs on calculating and cutting..

[Ray]

Fecupe is right on.

And to just clear this up, the 12's only do a 53

And maybe "slightly" over 500 boxes.

Carry on