WmAx's Eclipse SW8200 12" Subwoofer?

[t3steve]

Well I am moving ahead on my build, the outside panels are all cut and I cut out one internal window pane brace and laminated and cut out the front panel for flush mounting. The back wall is also cut out for the amp.
I will be assembling using biscuits and Titebond III.
After 5 sides and the one brace I have made are assembled I will make decisions on additional bracing.

Steve

 

[WmAx]

Well I am moving ahead on my build, the outside panels are all cut and I cut out one internal window pane brace and laminated and cut out the front panel for flush mounting. The back wall is also cut out for the amp.
I will be assembling using biscuits and Titebond III.
After 5 sides and the one brace I have made are assembled I will make decisions on additional bracing.

Steve

FYI: Titebond Original is the strongest type(there are other brands of this type of glue also) of glue according to extensive 3rd party laboratory testing. The No. III is a specialty glue, but is by no means the strongest for general wood to wood bonding.

-Chris

 

[WmAx]

Chris says to use two layers (4inches) of rockwool on the back wall.

Does that mean over the plate amp?

That should be fine. Remember to cover this rockwool with fabric so that fibers can't get loose and enter the driver's vent.

-Chris

 

[t3steve]

Chris
Thanks for all the help.
A friend loaned the tools and glue. It's my first time trying cabnet grade and my workmanship sucks, but it will have to be good enough.

 

[t3steve]

The cabinet is finished, now I just have to stain it and install the driver and amp.

 

[t3steve]

I am installing the driver and amp tonight.
What settings should I use on the amp
specifically:
Is the parametric EQ the same as in the first thread:
36-38Hz
Q = 1
gain -2db

What should the
Subsonic Filter and EQ be set too?

 

[t3steve]

Oops it looks like the Q knob doesn't actually have numbers on it.
how high is the Q =1 setting?

 

[t3steve]

The thread I got the setting from is
http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=50897&highlight=sw8200&page=4

 

[WmAx]

Oops it looks like the Q knob doesn't actually have numbers on it.
how high is the Q =1 setting?

Set the knob so that is near 'LOW'. Adjust until it sounds 'best', is all you can do unless you have measurement software/hardware. If you have measuremetn software, place the microphone near field(about an 1' from the woofer) and fine tune the EQ controls until the flattest response with no hump in it is achieved. It is unfortunate that they did not provide markings.

Set the subsonic filter between 16-18Hz.

-Chris

 

[t3steve]

Thank you Chris

This subwoofer sounds great.

I don't have a sound pressure meter so I can't really give any measurments or calibrate it accurately. I have a Yamaha receiver and used its auto calibration feature to set the level, but had to turn up the subwoofer gain a little afterwords to get it to sound right. Yesterday after work before my wife and 2 year old daughter got home was watching U571 much louder than normal and the subwoofer can defiantly keep up!

I am going to look into getting a spl meter to adjust the eq I am pretty sure the responce isn't flat.

 

[annunaki]

Thank you Chris

This subwoofer sounds great.

I don't have a sound pressure meter so I can't really give any measurments or calibrate it accurately. I have a Yamaha receiver and used its auto calibration feature to set the level, but had to turn up the subwoofer gain a little afterwords to get it to sound right. Yesterday after work before my wife and 2 year old daughter got home was watching U571 much louder than normal and the subwoofer can defiantly keep up!

I am going to look into getting a spl meter to adjust the eq I am pretty sure the responce isn't flat.

Any pictures of the work??

It sounds like things worked well for you.

 

[WmAx]

Thank you Chris

This subwoofer sounds great.

I don't have a sound pressure meter so I can't really give any measurments or calibrate it accurately. I have a Yamaha receiver and used its auto calibration feature to set the level, but had to turn up the subwoofer gain a little afterwords to get it to sound right. Yesterday after work before my wife and 2 year old daughter got home was watching U571 much louder than normal and the subwoofer can defiantly keep up!

I am going to look into getting a spl meter to adjust the eq I am pretty sure the responce isn't flat.

What subs have you had to compare it too?

It should sound extremely clean, at low or moderate high SPL levels, where as most subs will sound different at moderate to high SPL (beginning to sound bloated with various other issues -- this is non-linearity).

Warning: this sub's motor is incredibly linear at extreme excursions. But if you continuously drive it to maximum excursion, you might bend the cone, as the suspension begins to pull hard at the cone edge near it's limits. There is record of people doing this with this model driver, as the incredible motor does not make distortion apparent before hitting the suspension limits.

-Chris

 

[t3steve]

Any pictures of the work??

I didn't take any construction pictures but I will take a completed pic and post it.

What subs have you had to compare it too?
-Chris

I had a Cambridge soundworks sub (crap) and my brother has a Velodyne DLSR 4000(12inch vented not 100% sure on the model#) in a much smaller room.
The Eclipse sounds better than the Velo.

Warning: this sub's motor is incredibly linear at extreme excursions. But if you continuously drive it to maximum excursion, you might bend the cone, as the suspension begins to pull hard at the cone edge near it's limits. There is record of people doing this with this model driver, as the incredible motor does not make distortion apparent before hitting the suspension limits.

-Chris

How do I tell when its in this in the danger zone?

 

[lsiberian]

I didn't take any construction pictures but I will take a completed pic and post it.



I had a Cambridge soundworks sub (crap) and my brother has a Velodyne DLSR 4000(12inch vented not 100% sure on the model#) in a much smaller room.
The Eclipse sounds better than the Velo.




How do I tell when its in this in the danger zone?

I think in most cases you won't be in the danger zone. But if you crank it up way too much you could have issues. I suggest never going with more than half the power of a subs power rating. usually this will keep your excursion down a lot and you really gain nothing by pushing that extra power through.

I suggest starting at the lowest volume and adjusting it to your level of comfort. If your turning the gain level up near the top you could issues.

Also make sure you use a proper subsonic filter. This can't be repeated enough. The easiest way to blow a sub is to just not have a subsonic filter.
Excursion goes off the chart without a subsonic filter.

 

[lsiberian]

What subs have you had to compare it too?

It should sound extremely clean, at low or moderate high SPL levels, where as most subs will sound different at moderate to high SPL (beginning to sound bloated with various other issues -- this is non-linearity).

Warning: this sub's motor is incredibly linear at extreme excursions. But if you continuously drive it to maximum excursion, you might bend the cone, as the suspension begins to pull hard at the cone edge near it's limits. There is record of people doing this with this model driver, as the incredible motor does not make distortion apparent before hitting the suspension limits.

-Chris

That sounds like a very good driver that in a way kills itself from being too good.

 

[WmAx]

That sounds like a very good driver that in a way kills itself from being too good.

Exactly. LOL. Remember, this driver was designed by TC Sounds/AudioPulse. But it was not built by them so far as I know; it was built by 3rd party for Eclipse, and I bet Eclipse changed some things to cut costs, but keep most of the performance in tact.

-Chris

 

[WmAx]

I had a Cambridge soundworks sub (crap) and my brother has a Velodyne DLSR 4000(12inch vented not 100% sure on the model#) in a much smaller room.
The Eclipse sounds better than the Velo.

That is like a $600 retail sub. Of course the DIY of similar price will outperform it considerably. But I would expect your DIY sub to sound better than even most $1500 retail subs, assuming you have the plate amp controls set properly.

How do I tell when its in this in the danger zone?

Take a chunk of soft cushion foam and secure it in some way so that it is positioned exactly where if the cone moves out 30mm, it will touch the foam. (Get out your metric ruler. )Now play the movies at the SPLs you desire and see if the cone is touching the foam when in use. If it is not rubbing/touching the foam, you'll be fine. I expect that you will not be touching the foam.

-Chris

 

[t3steve]

Again thank you Chris
This sub sounds awesome it is to bad the SW8200 is discontinued it is clear, articulate, and solid. It sounds great all the way from low volume up to much louder than I can listen to it.

 

[lsiberian]

That is like a $600 retail sub. Of course the DIY of similar price will outperform it considerably. But I would expect your DIY sub to sound better than even most $1500 retail subs, assuming you have the plate amp controls set properly.




Take a chunk of soft cushion foam and secure it in some way so that it is positioned exactly where if the cone moves out 30mm, it will touch the foam. (Get out your metric ruler. )Now play the movies at the SPLs you desire and see if the cone is touching the foam when in use. If it is not rubbing/touching the foam, you'll be fine. I expect that you will not be touching the foam.

-Chris

That's an excellent idea.

 

[Mika75]

On checking the specs of this driver, I noticed its only 84db sensitivity ....is this the reason to use a minimum of 350watts ?