Building a DIY Sub Trap Box

[mike171979]

I'm building my own Subtrap box for my sub, and I've got all the plywood ready, and I'm just about going to assemble the thing.

But I was wondering, what should I put inside of it?????

I have plenty of your typical pink insulation, and I could just fill the entire box with that, then seal it up, and wrap it in carpet and just be done.

Or I also have a 10" Tube, I could put in it, like the actual Subtrap I'm copying.

I would guess I would leave the tube hollow and put insulation all around it right?

Thanks,
Mike

 

[lsiberian]

I'm building my own Subtrap box for my sub, and I've got all the plywood ready, and I'm just about going to assemble the thing.

But I was wondering, what should I put inside of it?????

I have plenty of your typical pink insulation, and I could just fill the entire box with that, then seal it up, and wrap it in carpet and just be done.

Or I also have a 10" Tube, I could put in it, like the actual Subtrap I'm copying.

I would guess I would leave the tube hollow and put insulation all around it right?

Thanks,
Mike

http://www.bobgolds.com/AbsorptionCoefficients.htm

If buying materials you want to use 4" rock wool Cover it with burlap cloth. And build a frame for it.

If you use fiberglass then make it 6" in thickness. The idea is you want as much of the wool exposed to the air in the room as possible. So you frame it.
1" x 4" works really well for this IMO.

If you want to do tube style You'll want to use a router with a circle cutting jig and some ply to cut into.

 

[mike171979]

Here is what I'm building:

http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volume_12_2/images/asc-subtrap-wide-view.jpg

http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volume_12_2/images/asc-subtrap-diagram-2.jpg

http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volume_12_2/images/asc-subtrap-front-main.jpg

Basically its a 3/4" Plywood Box, wrapped in Carpet, thats what I'm building.

So its sounding like I need some 4" thick rock wool, glued to the interior walls, then run a tube w/ holes drilled out, down the center, but should I keep the tube hollow? And more importantly, if the interior walls are coated with rock wool, I guess the tube itself is not going to be glued or attached to the side in anyway.

Its just going to be laying in there, basically in between rock wool, which I guess is fine, its not like its going to vibrate sandwiched between rock wool anyway right?



-

 

[lsiberian]

Here is what I'm building:

http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volume_12_2/images/asc-subtrap-wide-view.jpg

http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volume_12_2/images/asc-subtrap-diagram-2.jpg

http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volume_12_2/images/asc-subtrap-front-main.jpg

Basically its a 3/4" Plywood Box, wrapped in Carpet, thats what I'm building.

So its sounding like I need some 4" thick rock wool, glued to the interior walls, then run a tube w/ holes drilled out, down the center, but should I keep the tube hollow? And more importantly, if the interior walls are coated with rock wool, I guess the tube itself is not going to be glued or attached to the side in anyway.

Its just going to be laying in there, basically in between rock wool, which I guess is fine, its not like its going to vibrate sandwiched between rock wool anyway right?



-

If your pink stuff is thick enough it will be fine.

 

[mike171979]

OK, here are some pics of my new SubTrap.

Its pretty much a copy of the one they have for around $500. I don't know how well its going to work, but what the heck, I needed a stand for my sub anyway.

 

[sawzalot]

Very interesting build..

 

[just-some-guy]

UMMM. why do you "need" a sub stand

 

[lsiberian]

UMMM. why do you "need" a sub stand

decoupling it form the structure helps reduce those nasty wall shaking, floor shaking sounds that distort the bass.

It's also a fun project.

 

[mike171979]

Well, I got this thing home (i built it at work).

I decided to play a few songs first, with the sub on the ground as it was.

Then I lifted it up and slid my new subtrap under it, and played the same songs.


Now, I don't know if just raising it up did the trick, or if the two tube cores are actually doing something, but HOLY CRAP.

There is a definite audible difference.

It seems less boomy, but more so than that, Its actually less muddy.

I'm actually very happy with my build, I have to admit half way through building it I thought this was all kind of a waste, but I do hear a marked improvement. Hell one other thing, I used to notice, just barely some localization, but now even that seems to have gone away.

 

[just-some-guy]

ok. i DO understand the decoupling thing. been there, doing that.

but, just raising up the sub/s, for SQ ? hmm, maybe. i mean, pulling em out of corners makes em sound better. perhaps raising em up lessens the last remaining boundry ?
idk, never tried it.

 

[mike171979]

To go along with the Sub Trap I built, I also built two Speaker Stands, which are basically bass traps.

I'm going to use these for the surround speakers, they will be in the back corners of the room.

Hopefully these will be even more effective as a bass trap as my Sub trap.

BTW, no they aren't quite ready yet, I'm going to wrap a breathable fabric around them.

 

[mike171979]

Here they are complete, with the black felt glued onto the sides.