MAG-nanimous Posted May 11, 2009 Report Share Posted May 11, 2009 Hey all. I don't have the biggest or best system in the world right now, but I do want to make the most of it. Right now I have 3 12" Kicker comps in a ported enclosure. It's one single box but each 12 has it's own enclosure and port. I set my amps gains with a multimeter and the overall system sounds great. I have been thinking of getting rid of one 12" and making another box for 2 of them. My question is, are the 3 that I have now "louder" than if I were to run 2 of them in the same configuration? Also, what are the pros/cons over the following situations: 2 or 3 subs sharing same airspace and port 2 or 3 subs having their own airspace and ports but the ports combine into one 2 or 3 subs having their own airpsace and ports Thanks for any answers. And yes, I have seen some threads where people have said that kicker subs are crap. I'm not trying to win any competitions and I am more than satisfied with my subs now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bkolfo4 Posted May 11, 2009 Report Share Posted May 11, 2009 3 vs. 2 will depend on the power the amp produces. What voice coil configuration are the subs? How are they wired? What amp are you running? In theory, the 3 will be louder than the 2, but that assumes the same amout of total power to both setups and the same box parameters. I don't see how you will get the same amount of power out of the amp with 2 vs. 3 drivers, and changing box size/tuning will definitely throw in another variable. 2 or 3 subs sharing same airspace and port - Nothing wrong with it, you will see most multiple sub setups this way. Can have 2 problems that I see frequently: 1. If one sub stops working, you may cause mechanical damage to that sub or the ones still working 2. sometimes in high power applications, one sub may react different in the box if everything is not contructed symetrical (like port on one side of the box). 2 or 3 subs having their own airspace and ports but the ports combine into one - Nothing wrong with this, but the port tuing frequency may not calculate exact. Also need to make sure that single port is large enough. 2 or 3 subs having their own airpsace and ports -Works great, but may not be the loudest if you are worried about SPL on a meter. Brian Current system: 1997 Blazer - (4) Customer Fi NEO subs with (8) American Bass Elite 2800.1s Previous systems: 2000 Suburban - (4) BTL 15's and (4) IA 40.1's = 157.7 dB at 37 Hz. 1992 Astro Van - (6) BTL 15's and (6) IA 40.1's = 159.7 dB at 43 Hz. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAG-nanimous Posted May 11, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 11, 2009 Thanks for responding bkolfo. The subs are single 4's wired in parallel to give me about a 1.33 ohm load. The amplifier is pushing them at around 600 watts total (set by multimeter) so 200 per sub and this is all by what I have gathered from this forum such as the mulitmeter gain setting and the formulas to calculate wattage etc. The amp is a power acoustik bamf 2001D. Yes, I know people aren't a fan of these amplifiers but as I said earlier I'm not trying to win any competitions. The ported box is simply because I listen to alot of hip hop. With what you said, I'll just stick with the subs having their own enclosure and port but I do have a question about the seperate airspace and port combining into one. What formulas are used to calculate that and why would the calculations not be exact? Thanks again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bkolfo4 Posted May 11, 2009 Report Share Posted May 11, 2009 If you have enough airspace for 3 subs, that is what I would stick with. A single port vs. 3 ports with the exact same areawill not tune exactly the same (assuming the same length) due to the differences in the surface area of the port walls (friction) being different. The friction difference will cause variations in tuning. It will not be much, but can definitely be different. I have not seen any way to calculate what you are trying to do. I would calculate based on something close and then measure it after it was built. . . Brian Current system: 1997 Blazer - (4) Customer Fi NEO subs with (8) American Bass Elite 2800.1s Previous systems: 2000 Suburban - (4) BTL 15's and (4) IA 40.1's = 157.7 dB at 37 Hz. 1992 Astro Van - (6) BTL 15's and (6) IA 40.1's = 159.7 dB at 43 Hz. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
troy Posted May 11, 2009 Report Share Posted May 11, 2009 3 on the same amp same box configuration. 3 will be louder. retarded build on the way..... 2000 bagged s10 2 hdc3 15s aq2200 aq4x90 stinger/knu wire optima batteries 220 amp alt fosgate hu/mids and highs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bkolfo4 Posted May 12, 2009 Report Share Posted May 12, 2009 3 on the same amp same box configuration. 3 will be louder. In this case, it turns out yes, but you can not always make that generic statement without knowing voice coil configurations and what amp. Current system: 1997 Blazer - (4) Customer Fi NEO subs with (8) American Bass Elite 2800.1s Previous systems: 2000 Suburban - (4) BTL 15's and (4) IA 40.1's = 157.7 dB at 37 Hz. 1992 Astro Van - (6) BTL 15's and (6) IA 40.1's = 159.7 dB at 43 Hz. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAG-nanimous Posted May 12, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 12, 2009 Thanks alot guys I really appreciate it. I see now why you said that ports combined into one would tune differently. Like I said, I want to make the most of my equipment and if one sub fails and they are sharing one airspace I would rather salvage the other two than to risk destroying them as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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