Jump to content
Second Skin Audio

Basics of a 4th order bandpass enclosure


donellk

Recommended Posts

This is my quick write up on 4th order bandpass boxes. I want to keep it simple and sweet! Hope this helps a lot of new people!!! I'm not a expert but from my research this is what I believe is best. I wouldn't mine if someone has more to add!

A 4th order is simpler then it seems... You have a sealed section witch develops the lower frequencies and a ported section that develops the high end frequencies. The advantage to this type of box is you get the tight clean bass everyone loves from a sealed box but with a wider range of frequencies and higher output!

There are a couple of awesome programs out there that help with the design of a 4th order. My personal favorite is bass box pro 6. You can get it for around $150 at parts-express.com. If you do a lot of car audio or home audio this is well worth the investment!!!

Main thing to remember is the ratio of the box. Most 4th orders are a 2:1 ratio this means for every 2 cubic ft of ported section there is 1 cubic ft of sealed. So if your sub needs 1.5 cubic ft sealed then your ported section is going to be 3 cubic ft.. Some people do 3:1 but most commonly you'll find 2:1 works out best. At least I have so far.

I start the design with the sealed section of the box. I normally design the sealed section around the recommended specs from the subwoofer manufacture! A 12" will normally need between .8 and 1.5 cubic ft in the sealed section! remember the sealed portion makes the low end bass so the lower the f3 the better lol but normally I set it near the fs of the subwoofer!

The second section of the box is the ported witch plays the higher end bass. As stated above with a ratio of 2:1 for ported section should be double the air space of the sealed section! Unlike normal ported boxes your not going to tune this low! In fact kind of high... The best (IMO) is between 45hrz-50hrz.

Now here is where it gets fun... Your subwoofer needs to come from the sealed section facing into the ported section. Since the woofer will be completely inside the box the more port area the better! That's where your sound will come from! I try to aim around 15sqin PER CUBIC FOOT! I say it nice and big because I myself forget sometimes and have to go back and redesign lol! From what I have read The shorter the port the better but that's not a big issue since tuning high normally means a short port.

Since your subwoofer needs to be inside the enclosure the best thing is to include a removable front panel in your design. I did mine with the face of the box. Another thing you may want to do is face the woofer into the sealed section so the motor and basket are in the ported section so you can smell if the coils burning! I trust my self not to fry anything so I leave it facing the ported section plus IMO its easier to calculate the displacement in the sealed and it keeps the ported section a little smaller!

Hope I covered everything and it helps the new comers!

one i built

38264732738204060910210.jpg

37537332739576727439610.jpg

Google

3664740100large.jpg

Team Xtreme Amperage

Xtreme Audio Innovations

XtremeAudioInnovations.com

Facebook.com/xtremeaudio321

4 linked c notched bagged

Fiberglass door panels (5 speakers per door)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 101
  • Created
  • Last Reply

very nice writeup.

i have never read anything about 4th orders other than build logs and i have to say, this is a very easy to understand writeup.

thank you sir

09 Civic EX

KDC-X395

(2) SKAR Audio VVX-12

Skar Audio SK-1500.1

4 cu ft @32 (new box and more port soon)

Firing Forward not sealed off

Stock 80 Amp Alt

Big 3 In 1/0 Knu

2 Runs To The Back 1 Pos 1 Neg In 1/0 Knu

DD-1'd 13.8v drop

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Wow this is great. Definitely seems like a good baseline to start a design. I'm waiting for some of the more experienced guys to chime in on this.

Team NWSPL

baaudio Build Log

2001 GMC Sierra walkthrough

4 Mechman Elite 370s, 10 AGM batteries, 3 Crossfire XS v2 18s, Crossfire 8k

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Been reading up on this myself in recent times and what you say seems to be inline with the rest of the interwebz.

Question

When you tune the ported section do you tune it using normal methods for a standard ported box?

They say compound loading reduce the size in half (any experience with this?)

Somehow I fail to see how lets say a 12 will fit into a .5sealed and a 1cbf ported in this configuration...suppose its more relevant with huge enclosures.

Maybe also good to add the low F's QTS whatever guideline for woofer selection, although im going to try it with something that on paper should not work.

Another thing is that some have mentioned that a flat top graph design does not react favorable in a car environment.

It is also recommended not to do more then 3DB gain to prevent woofer damage.

Now after being a smart-ass and never actually build a BP Ill have to go and try it.

Thanks for the post.

Loudness is no substitute for musicianship, and partial deafness is no badge of honor. I was once able to hear this advice.

Build Log>>>

http://www.stevemeadedesigns.com/board/ind...pid=672024&

New Build

Believe in the order

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm trying to design a band pass right now for a epic 8 and it's been confusin me quite a bit. Thank you for the write up!

-Ross

Project Layla

Truck: 99' F-150

Gathering things for my next build.

SoloX18 build:

http://www.stevemead..._1#entry1576460

RE T-line build:

http://www.stevemead...-between-build/

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Been reading up on this myself in recent times and what you say seems to be inline with the rest of the interwebz.

Question

When you tune the ported section do you tune it using normal methods for a standard ported box?

They say compound loading reduce the size in half (any experience with this?)

Somehow I fail to see how lets say a 12 will fit into a .5sealed and a 1cbf ported in this configuration...suppose its more relevant with huge enclosures.

Maybe also good to add the low F's QTS whatever guideline for woofer selection, although im going to try it with something that on paper should not work.

Another thing is that some have mentioned that a flat top graph design does not react favorable in a car environment.

It is also recommended not to do more then 3DB gain to prevent woofer damage.

Now after being a smart-ass and never actually build a BP Ill have to go and try it.

Thanks for the post.

good write up donell! and this is some more pretty good info too!

to answer your questions,

yes the ported is tuned with the exact same methods as a sealed box.

from what ive read isobaric or compound loading will allow you to cut the size of the enclosure in half but i also heard it was only good for low xmax subs.

1999 Audi A4 1.8T:::

4 - DC Level 3 10's in a 4th order

Rockford P6002 on Subs for now (3-3.5k coming eventually)

MB Quart ONX4.60 for Mids and Highs

Boston S50 Components in Front

Boston S65 Coaxials in Rear

40 Sq Ft of Second Skin Damplifier

Build Thread

UBL

1948 Plymouth

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Been reading up on this myself in recent times and what you say seems to be inline with the rest of the interwebz.

Question

When you tune the ported section do you tune it using normal methods for a standard ported box?

They say compound loading reduce the size in half (any experience with this?)

Somehow I fail to see how lets say a 12 will fit into a .5sealed and a 1cbf ported in this configuration...suppose its more relevant with huge enclosures.

Maybe also good to add the low F's QTS whatever guideline for woofer selection, although im going to try it with something that on paper should not work.

Another thing is that some have mentioned that a flat top graph design does not react favorable in a car environment.

It is also recommended not to do more then 3DB gain to prevent woofer damage.

Now after being a smart-ass and never actually build a BP Ill have to go and try it.

Thanks for the post.

good write up donell! and this is some more pretty good info too!

to answer your questions,

yes the ported is tuned with the exact same methods as a sealed box.

from what ive read isobaric or compound loading will allow you to cut the size of the enclosure in half but i also heard it was only good for low xmax subs.

I have not heard of the xmax issue with compound loading. Although, you would need to space the woofers out accordingly in a face to face compound. However, compound loading is normally used in a very limited space installation (due to the 1/2 size box), there is more potential to "get loud" if you don't compound load because you are sacrificing cone area. Hope that makes sense.

CURRENT SYSTEM:

  • Alternator:
    1. Stock alt on mids/highs
    2. Isolated DC Power 270 SP - Charging @ 16.8v
  • Batteries: (2) XS D1400s
  • Power Cable: Double Runs of 1/0 KNU Kolossus Fleks
  • Headunit: 80-PRS
  • Sub Amp: DC 5.0k
  • Subwoofers: 2 RE MT 15s /PSI dual .7ohm recones
  • Subwoofer Enclosure: 9.1cubes @ 32hz - brutal.
  • Mids & Highs Amp: CT125.4
  • Active Components:
    • Mids RE XXX 6.5c
    • Highs - 3 RE XXX tweeters per side(A pillar)
  • Noise Control: Damplifier Pro all over the cab.

Build Log

If you do business with me please leave feedback here: FEEDBACK THREAD

 
Highest Legal Score: 151.0 db
Highest Musical 30 Second Average: 151.6 db
Link to comment
Share on other sites

i really REALLY wish people would stop hugging up to the whole ratio thing.

dumbasses squeezing down the sealed side in search of a higher ratio/more peak.

Seriously. build the sealed side to spec/desired F3. then build ported side to accomodate taste. peaky or flat is up to you.

Throw the whole notion of ratios out the damn door.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Who's Online   1 Member, 0 Anonymous, 301 Guests (See full list)




×
×
  • Create New...