Home made Subs *Please Read*

[cka69335]

Hi Guys,

I was at my local Car Stereo shop, looking for some door speakers for my car this weekend. The owner and I started talking about car subs, and then I asked him (sarcastically) if he could make me a sub for a HT application.

He responded "sure", then asked questions concerning the type of amp I would be using, as this would dictate the type of subwoofer the he would recommend using.

Question: Has anyone made their own sub, and is this a good thing, or should I stay away and go with the SVS, HSU, ect.
Also if this is recommended what is a good amp to use (as this is TOTAL new to me) Budget for the amp no more than $500.00

Note: This car stereo shop is a very reputable place and does exceptional work. Just wanted to through that out there

 

[NYyankeeboi]

This is about as close as making a sub that I have ever come. A little over a year ago, I sold my car for a downpayment on my house. I removed the sub box and had it the downstairs closet with 2 12" JBL subs that was just collecting dust. I also had an older Onkyo stereo receiver that was of no use. One night my friend and I were up all night long and he suggested we connect the Onkyo amp to the sub (adjust the ohms, etc..etc). We did just that and connected it to an output on my Yamaha receiver. All I could say was DAMM !

For some stupid reason I wanted a sub designed for the house and wound up getting a Earthquake Sound Kompressor Subwoofer. I will be honest, I still have the Onkyo amp connected to the sub which is back in the downstairs closet and I honestly cannot tell the difference, between the two subs, and even at times, I wonder if I get better bass at low volumes from the custom job I have going on. I swear at times i wanna take the Earthquake sub back, get my friend to strip this car sub box I have, stain and refinish it in a cherrywood and save 500+ dollars.

Ha, I may take the new Audiobahn sub box out of my current car and put it in my house, ha then I would never leave..j/k...

 

[WmAx]

Hi Guys,

I was at my local Car Stereo shop, looking for some door speakers for my car this weekend. The owner and I started talking about car subs, and then I asked him (sarcastically) if he could make me a sub for a HT application.

He responded "sure", then asked questions concerning the type of amp I would be using, as this would dictate the type of subwoofer the he would recommend using.

Question: Has anyone made their own sub, and is this a good thing, or should I stay away and go with the SVS, HSU, ect.
Also if this is recommended what is a good amp to use (as this is TOTAL new to me) Budget for the amp no more than $500.00

Note: This car stereo shop is a very reputable place and does exceptional work. Just wanted to through that out there

A DIY sub will usually be more capable than a retail sub anywhere near the same cost. But the selection of driver for home use is critical if picking from car subwoofers. Most are not suited to home use, and are designed to use a car's cabin gain to reinforce LF. Be certain to model any driver you intend to use in a program such as WinISD(freeware) to be certain it can provide the frequency response you desire in a cabinet size that is acceptable. Also, note the port size requirements(if using a ported subwoofer). Always aim for using as large a port as possible, and with a flare(to reduce edge turbulence). Low cost flare tubes are available from www.partsexpress.com and can be found by entering 'precision port' into the search engine on that site.

For an amplifier, the Behringer EP2500 is the suggestion I will make. It is well under $400, and it will output over *2000 watts continuous RMS into a 4 ohm load when bridged mono. Or, you can use it in stereo mode, and drive 1 or 2 subs at a 2 ohm load with 1000 watts RMS continuous per channel.

-Chris

*Because of the extreme power demands, a dedicated 20 amp 120VAC circuit would need to be used for this amplifier to achieve power output near it's maximum rating.

 

[dem beats]

A DIY sub will usually be more capable than a retail sub anywhere near the same cost. But the selection of driver for home use is critical if picking from car subwoofers. Most are not suited to home use, and are designed to use a car's cabin gain to reinforce LF. Be certain to model any driver you intend to use in a program such as WinISD(freeware) to be certain it can provide the frequency response you desire in a cabinet size that is acceptable. Also, note the port size requirements(if using a ported subwoofer). Always aim for using as large a port as possible, and with a flare(to reduce edge turbulence). Low cost flare tubes are available from www.partsexpress.com and can be found by entering 'precision port' into the search engine on that site.

For an amplifier, the Behringer EP2500 is the suggestion I will make. It is well under $400, and it will output over *2000 watts continuous RMS into a 4 ohm load when bridged mono. Or, you can use it in stereo mode, and drive 1 or 2 subs at a 2 ohm load with 1000 watts RMS continuous per channel.

-Chris

*Because of the extreme power demands, a dedicated 20 amp 120VAC circuit would need to be used for this amplifier to achieve power output near it's maximum rating.

The bottom * note there......
Do you think it will ever acheive this level of power. I have never turned the gain on my 300 watt sub up past much over 50%. It's over powering then.

Just a question though. I know verry little about the home volts needed and amps required sir. thanks.

 

[WmAx]

The bottom * note there......
Do you think it will ever acheive this level of power. I have never turned the gain on my 300 watt sub up past much over 50%. It's over powering then.

Just a question though. I know very little about the home volts needed and amps required sir. thanks.

In reality, you would never approach the power output that amplifier can produce in normal home use, unless extraordinary circumstances are present or you are using a very low efficiency subwoofer. However, such an amplifier almost guarantees that you will never run out of power.

-Chris

 

[darien87]

Check out Rythmik Audio.

Nuff said.

 

[westcott]

I think people underestimate the amount of research and development that goes into the PROPER design of a quality subwoofer. It is a little more complicated that throwing an amp and a driver in a box.

If you expectations are not that high, yeah, you can build your own but do not expect it to come close to the performance of a well respected vendors model.

 

[WmAx]

I think people underestimate the amount of research and development that goes into the PROPER design of a quality subwoofer. It is a little more complicated that throwing an amp and a driver in a box.

If you expectations are not that high, yeah, you can build your own but do not expect it to come close to the performance of a well respected vendors model.

Not a problem for me. Basic physics and perceptual rules are used to work within a model to design a proper bass alignment/system. As for the drivers. There are many premium quality raw drivers available for low prices today.

BTW, a DIY sub is the easiest thing to design/build. An actual full range speaker system is far more difficult to pull off with extraordinary result.

-Chris

 

[westcott]

Not a problem for me. Basic physics and perceptual rules are used to work within a model to design a proper bass alignment/system. As for the drivers. There are many premium quality raw drivers available for low prices today.

BTW, a DIY sub is the easiest thing to design/build. An actual full range speaker system is far more difficult to pull off with extraordinary result.

-Chris

Like I said. Most people underestimate what it takes to produce a quality subwoofer!!!!!

 

[WmAx]

Like I said. Most people underestimate what it takes to produce a quality subwoofer!!!!!

This may be true, but I have no way of knowing with any degree of certainty. Such a statement would certainly appear to be true so far as actual full range loudspeakers are concerned, even with the overwhelming majority of supposed veteran expert DIYers, and dare I say, a good number of professional designers, if I am to judge such based on the measurable parameters of the products that they yield and the web page articles that they often write.

-Chris

 

[billnchristy]

1) I think we are assuming a little too much here. Who said the guy is going to use car subs? Maybe he is just going to design and fabricate the box?

2) With the software out there designing a box is not that difficult, it is just a matter of knowing what you are looking at.

3) I think a 300 or 500w BASH plate amp from PE will do for all but the biggest monsters. Come on, who needs 2500w of bass amp? What is your mains powered with, a nuclear reactor?

 

[darien87]

Like I said. Most people underestimate what it takes to produce a quality subwoofer!!!!!

I'll put my home-made Rythmik 12" up against ANY $1,000 commercial sub out there. The sub and direct-servo system that Rythmik is nothing short of spectacular.

 

[westcott]

I'll put my home-made Rythmik 12" up against ANY $1,000 commercial sub out there. The sub and direct-servo system that Rythmik is nothing short of spectacular.

This unit is far from a do it yourself unit. They did all the research, testing, and development, specify the cabinet size, provide the driver and the amplifier specifically designed by Vance Dickason for this application, as well as the passive servo circuits and even the stuffing. They even provide assembly instructions.

If you want to say you built it yourself, I guess you can but it is not what I construe as a DIY design and implementation.

 

[darien87]

This unit is far from a do it yourself unit. They did all the research, testing, and development, specify the cabinet size, provide the driver and the amplifier specifically designed by Vance Dickason for this application, as well as the passive servo circuits and even the stuffing. They even provide assembly instructions.

If you want to say you built it yourself, I guess you can but it is not what I construe as a DIY design and implementation.

Sorry if I was misunderstood. I never meant to imply that I did anything other than buy the sub and put it together. I was merely trying to point the guy in the direction of what I think is a great option for making your own sub. Why spend the time doing all that research and taking the chance on not getting it right, when all you have to do is call Brian at Rythmik and buy one of his kits?

The OP mentioned having a $500 budget for the amp. That's about what I paid for the 12" Rythmik kit AND all the wood and materials. By the way, they didn't provide the stuffing. I bought that myself from a local fabric store, so there.

 

[Warpdrv]

That is a great suggestion darien.....

I have yet to do any research of a DIY sub, but someday when I have more time in my life, I would love to venture into fiddling about building a money is no object sub myself... maybe something along the lines of what jmcomp124 built here.... http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=860957

I am the kind of guy that really would be wanting a work of art as well having that Extreme Tactile response...

That is one of the reasons I have bought SVS subs... I think they look pretty darn nice, and I just don't have the time in my life right now to build anything.

 

[darien87]

That is a great suggestion darien.....

I have yet to do any research of a DIY sub, but someday when I have more time in my life, I would love to venture into fiddling about building a money is no object sub myself... maybe something along the lines of what jmcomp124 built here.... http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=860957

WOW

That is one hell of a sub that guy put together. I can't imagine what that must sound like. By the way, I'm pretty sure TC Sounds makes Rythmik's subs.

 

[j_garcia]

I've built my own subs before. It isn't incredibly difficult, but you do need to know some basic info about the driver and you can find various software online that are available inexpensive or even free to design the box. With this method, you can usually come up with something quite decent without spending an arm and a leg. Now designing something that is REALLY good probably isn't going to fall into this category. Appearance is entirely up to you and how far you want to take it...

 

[dem beats]

Like I said. Most people underestimate what it takes to produce a quality subwoofer!!!!!

I would agree most people don't. But I would also just about garuntee anyone can make something that will sound better than comercial for less. Look as good? Probably not.

many of the drivers used in HT subs are just not up to par with what they could be using because they have labor costs. And that is the largest part in a subwoofer. The materials needed are relitavely "inexpensive".

That said you could go out and get a 2,000 dollar driver that is linear put it in a massive box, use 1 or 2 qsc or other high end high power amps for another grand and I can just about garuntee that it's 4,000 dollars in cost will outdo anything made comercialy save the verry verry pinnacle in performance. Maybe the 5 x 10" genelec or something similar but then again ... their cost is much higher also, and i'm not convinced you couldn't out perform that either.

 

[westcott]

many of the drivers used in HT subs are just not up to par with what they could be using because they have labor costs. And that is the largest part in a subwoofer. The materials needed are relitavely "inexpensive".

No. Research and Development of a good subwoofer design is the most expensive part. Instruments, acoustic chambers, extensive testing and retesting different combinations of materials, dimensions, drivers, filters\crossovers, passive radiators vs. porting, sealed designs, etc. Some manufacturers have years, if not decades of research and development in their components.

Like I said, most people don't appreciate what it takes to build a quality subwoofer.

 

[WmAx]

I would agree most people don't. But I would also just about garuntee anyone can make something that will sound better than comercial for less. Look as good? Probably not.

many of the drivers used in HT subs are just not up to par with what they could be using because they have labor costs. And that is the largest part in a subwoofer. The materials needed are relitavely "inexpensive".

That said you could go out and get a 2,000 dollar driver that is linear put it in a massive box, use 1 or 2 qsc or other high end high power amps for another grand and I can just about garuntee that it's 5000 dollars in cost will outdo anything made comercialy save the verry verry pinnacle in performance. Maybe the 5 x 10" genelec or something similar but then again ... their cost is much higher also, and i'm not convinced you couldn't out perform that either.

You don't have to spend anywhere near that dollar amount on drivers. You can find superb drivers for much cheaper.

-Chris