Subwoofer...Why DIY?

[Sylar]

I am exploring the option of building a sub over buying one. Before I explore any further and get hung up over this, I would like to understand under what circumstances would one choose to go DIY route. What's there to gain by going DIY, and whats to loose?

I am asking this bcos I just read in a couple of posts, that usually one would go DIY when a commercial sub is a lot more expensive. Like when searching for reference levels, in large rooms, house shaking bass types. For typical Home use a commercial sub would not loose out much.

 

[jinjuku]

For starters you can simply outperform commercial offerings.

I did a dual opposed Infinity Reference 126xW for $150. For $600 you could do two of the dual opposed with Pro-Audio amp with DSP. There isn't a single commercial offering any where near that performance point at the price.

 

[afterlife2]

What is your budget and room size? There is a sale on these:
Amazon.com: Jamo SUB650 650W Closed Subwoofer (Black Ash): Electronics
Review:
Jamo Sub 650 Omnimic Frequency Response Graphs

 

[Sylar]

What is your budget and room size? There is a sale on these:
Amazon.com: Jamo SUB650 650W Closed Subwoofer (Black Ash): Electronics
Review:
Jamo Sub 650 Omnimic Frequency Response Graphs

not sure if i wana get a jamo....barely been recommended em. It usually been one of rythmik, hsu, outlaw, svs.

If i am buying an out of the box sub it will one of rythmik or hsu.

 

[Adam]

If I was someone who liked to spend time working with wood (I swear, if anyone... ) and was talented at it, than DIY would win because it involves that aspect. As someone who often tends towards convenience, commercial products are a good route for me.

I'm also a perfectionist, and I'd have to spend a good deal of time to get a cabinet looking the way that I want. I could earn the money for a commercial sub in that amount of time. The cost/benefit isn't there for me on DIY, whereas for others, it is.

 

[Sylar]

For starters you can simply outperform commercial offerings.

So it is cost effective for one. Anything else that I could gain? What about obtaining the performance of a commercial sub in terms of clean and low output, is it easy to achieve this for a first timer. My main concern is, I dont want a boomy sub. Target is - tight for music, movies is secondary.

For $600 you could do two of the dual opposed with Pro-Audio amp with DSP. There isn't a single commercial offering any where near that performance point at the price.

I currently have set a budget around the same.
Sorry, but a few noob questions. What did you refer to by..Two of the dual?
What's there to gain with Pro-Audio amp with DSP? Some links would be great. I could read em. (I have a moderate background in electronics...though rusty.)
Would be great if you could give a compassion with some common commercial subs, what I could get with 600 bucks going DIY.

 

[lsiberian]

Why would you play a video game when you can just load a finished version of the game?

Why would you cook your own food when you can get food from McDonalds?

DIY Audio is not cheaper than buying commercial products unless you are a woodworker with good tools for plywood or MDF.

Certainly DIY audio allows for customization for your own space, but it's not easy. It is fun for me, but not for everyone.

If you want to do woodworking try some shelves first. They are more forgiving and you'll learn a lot.

 

[Sylar]

DIY Audio is not cheaper than buying commercial products unless you are a woodworker with good tools for plywood or MDF.

Certainly DIY audio allows for customization for your own space, but it's not easy. It is fun for me, but not for everyone.

this is not an issue since i can get this done for low cost back home. 100$ tops. I wudnt explore this option if not for this.

i would like to understand if benefits outweigh that of a commercial sub

 

[jinjuku]

Sorry, but a few noob questions. What did you refer to by..Two of the dual?
What's there to gain with Pro-Audio amp with DSP? Some links would be great. I could read em. (I have a moderate background in electronics...though rusty.)
Would be great if you could give a compassion with some common commercial subs, what I could get with 600 bucks going DIY.

A dual opposed sub is one box, two drivers, wired in phase with each other on opposing sides. The cancel any cabinet vibrations by firing out at the same time.

For ~$300 in drivers and wood you could do two boxes. Either stack them or corner load in opposed corners of your room.

$299 for the Behringer iNuke 1000 (or $399 for the 3000 which I recommend for this particular build).

 

[lsiberian]

this is not an issue since i can get this done for low cost back home. 100$ tops. I wudnt explore this option if not for this.

i would like to understand if benefits outweigh that of a commercial sub

If you can get it done for 100 dollars you will easily out perform commercial offerings. I love TC Sounds. I use the predecessor of the Epic with an EP4000 and it can shake the entire room with ease even sealed. My room is fairly small. So you might want 2 for a big room.

 

[jinjuku]

\
DIY Audio is not cheaper than buying commercial products unless you are a woodworker with good tools for plywood or MDF.

Now you take that back

With my Statements alone I am far, far ahead of the cost/benefit curve vs commercially produced speakers.

 

[slipperybidness]

Now you take that back

With my Statements alone I am far, far ahead of the cost/benefit curve vs commercially produced speakers.

I think he meant if you add the cost of all the tools into the price of the finished product.

I would guess that most of us have at least some of the tools on hand already, so in general DIY would be cheaper. Of course, I never have a problem investing in tools.

 

[jinjuku]

I think he meant if you add the cost of all the tools into the price of the finished product.

I would guess that most of us have at least some of the tools on hand already, so in general DIY would be cheaper. Of course, I never have a problem investing in tools.

That is why it's a tricky statement. I have all told about $1800 in tools. No where near the $$ if I would have purchased a commercial equivalent of just my main speakers. YMMV.

 

[slipperybidness]

That is why it's a tricky statement. I have all told about $1800 in tools. No where near the $$ if I would have purchased a commercial equivalent of just my main speakers. YMMV.

I don't even try to think about the money I have invested in tools. I just look at it as all the money I saved by not paying somebody else to do it.

When I was young, one of the best pieces of advice my dad ever gave me was, "Never pay somebody to do something you can do yourself".

But, what's your time worth? Now that I'm older and wiser, I weigh the amount of sweat and cursing against the $ and satisfaction, then decide whether I want to DIY or just pay somebody else to do it. Car repair, house repair, building speakers, building electronics, etc etc, it's all the same. I'm getting more into electronics now, and one of the main reasons is I can do that in the A/C

 

[Sylar]

I did some reading on dual opposed drivers connected in phase. Correct me if I am wrong here. Benefits are,

• Cabinet vibrations are reduced
• cleaner output
• Lower power consumption since power loss is minimized - power not transferred to cabinet, no cabinet vibrations
• heavier sub design is not required to minimize cabinet vibration
• Higher efficiency, and produces more sound, effect of larger surface area - 2 drivers

some links...for others who might bump into this
http://www.avforums.com/forums/15778797-post9.html
http://www.ehow.com/info_12200469_advantages-dualopposed-subwoofer.html

 

[jinjuku]

That is a good synopsis. You still want sturdy cabinet construction.

 

[Sylar]

For ~$300 in drivers and wood you could do two boxes. Either stack them or corner load in opposed corners of your room.

which drivers would you recommend?
Also, what factors goes into choosing a 12" over 15" driver?
i noticed that price difference is small between the 2.

A dual opposed sub is one box, two drivers, wired in phase with each other on opposing sides. The cancel any cabinet vibrations by firing out at the same time.

Is 2 subs a better choice over one with dual drivers. Currently my room is 12x14. I understand that rooms of such size tend to have issues.

considering my previous post...benefits of dual driver design.
Wouldn't room tend to add more distortion to the signal than the mechanics of the subwoofer.

edit: having understood the advantages, i think i will go for dual opposed design over a single driver sub . create one first, and maybe add another later

 

[jinjuku]

Given your budget I would go with the Infinity Reference 126Xw dual opposed X 2 if you could place them.

They are a much easier build than the ported Kappa (I've built two of those).

If just one sub I would look at the ported Kappa. It's a big box though but man the performance on that rocks for the $$. There are fans of the Dayton RS series of subs also. One of those would keep you under budget but be prepared for a large box.

I personally like sealed alignments and its a reason I didn't build another set of ported Kappas for myself vs doing the dual opposed. I will probably do another two dual opposed (one with the Kappa and one with the Reference series). Curious about the Kappa and Reference sonics in this particular scenario.

 

[markw]

Well,considering I have 10thumbs and absolutely no woodworking skills...

If I was handy, had woodworking skills and know to turn out a nice looking box (or cylinder), the necessary tools, and could do the required math to design the box (or follow plans), I could see the benefit of buying a kick-butt driver or two and building the requisite properly designed box. Dollars to donuts the product would be more cost effective than buying one.

Of course, I'd buy any needed electronics off the shelf (or a kit). I may be crazy, but I'm not stupid.

But, being a klutz, I'll ave to stick to buying them.

 

[Sylar]

Given your budget I would go with the Infinity Reference 126Xw dual opposed X 2 if you could place them.

If just one sub I would look at the ported Kappa. It's a big box though but man the performance on that rocks for the $$. There are fans of the Dayton RS series of subs also. One of those would keep you under budget but be prepared for a large box.

I personally like sealed alignments and its a reason I didn't build another set of ported Kappas for myself vs doing the dual opposed.

I am not too keen on creating a ported one. I understand its easier going sealed for a first timer. I am basically looking for one that would give me a powerful kick in the chest kinda feeling, tight, clean and would prefer if it could go deep.

I noticed that you recommended ones which are like $75. My budget for 1 or 2 drivers is upto $300 (go higher only if really necessary). A few choice of drivers would be helpful. I saw the TC sounds drivers, it increases my budget to $400 for 2.

Also sub size is not really an issue, i can go upto 25 x 25 x 25