Box size v power handling question

[Tyler Morse]

I've came across a couple of people who have said you can increase the power handling of a sub(s) by putting them in a smaller than recommended box, I was just wondering if someone could explain this more to me? the benefits/ disadvantages? how do I calculate how much power handling i pick up by making the box smaller? etc.

[Triticum Agricolam]

Putting a sub in a smaller box increases mechanical power handling because smaller boxes restrict cone movement more. However the smaller box does nothing for thermal power handling. It depends on the particular sub and application, but with sealed boxes you will often run into the mechanical power handling limit before the thermal one. With ported boxes it's the opposite.

[Tyler Morse]

Interesting, so what I would want to do with my ported box would be to make it larger than recommended really?

[firebirdude]

Interesting, so what I would want to do with my ported box would be to make it larger than recommended really?

What are you trying to do? If you read Tri's post, you'd understand that making your ported box larger will NOT increase it's power handling capability...of any kind.

Making a vented enclosure larger makes the woofer more efficient around the tuned freq. More efficient means it can do more with the same amount of power.

[Tyler Morse]

Ya I understand his post, he was saying reducing size is only really useful for sealed enclosures, and sense I am going to be running a vented enclosure I should make it a little larger for cooling (amount other reasons). The main reason I ask is because I'm planning to put 2 18's in a small car, and mainly wanted to find out if this would be an option for me (it's not after talking to you guys) but I have gained some more knowledge