Kappa enclosure question

[mark620]

I am building my own enclosure. I will be using a o-audio 500w bash. Looking to be at 2.5cu max due to size problems in my living room.(wife does not want to see it) Should I use the 10 or the 12 ? any one have a good size box in that area sealed or ported..I would like to go a low as possible (hz), but I don't ned as much spl. Any help would be great...

 

[avaserfi]

In such a small enclosure it would be preferable to use an Eclipse SW8200 12" driver. Ideally, this would be put in a 3 cubic foot sealed cabinet, but it will still work far better than the Kappa would in 2.5 feet cubed (but you should try to convince her to go larger ).

The Eclipse will not result in any sound quality degradation, it has more linear displacement than many 15" drivers and is of extremely high quality.

 

[mark620]

I can go up to 3.0

If I go up to 3.o sealed, will that eclipse will be my best bet. I have was in car audio pretty heavy, but I have been out of the loop for about 10 years. I found eclipse to need alot of power to respond well. Are there any other subs out there that will. I found some JL low power sub to work well, but that was in a car not a 14x18 room..Thanks for any advise

 

[avaserfi]

If I go up to 3.o sealed, will that eclipse will be my best bet. I have was in car audio pretty heavy, but I have been out of the loop for about 10 years. I found eclipse to need alot of power to respond well. Are there any other subs out there that will. I found some JL low power sub to work well, but that was in a car not a 14x18 room..Thanks for any advise

With 3 cubes sealed the Eclipse is your best bet if you want to stay within the Kappa's price range. Other options that will contain similar linearity (and thus sound quality) would be JL W7 series subwoofers and the Audiopulse Axis series drivers, but both will be considerably more expensive.

 

[mark620]

Is 8200 the same?

I don't see the 8000 ava. anyware in a 12. I see the 8200 which I am guessing is the same?(the 09 model) The o-audio 500w amp will be enought for that pig of a woofer?

 

[avaserfi]

I recommended the 8200 . The o-audio is not ideal, but will work. If you are willing to spend more money on amplification/equalization I recommend the EP2500 amplifier and the DCX 2496 equalizer/crossover. These two items will allow for far more power and flexibility.

 

[mark620]

Thanks again

I did not realize you said the 8200 off the bat,I thought you said 8000..

 

[WmAx]

Yes, the SW8200 is remarkable, having more linear displacement in a moderate to smallish sealed box than many high quality 15" drivers, yet being aquirable for only 190 plus shipping, new, on eBay. It is true that it wants lots of clean power, but the O Audio 500W will work. For not that much more, you can actually get a Behringer Ep2500 that is ideal for the project. However, you will need to make sure you a parametric EQ band available. You will use a single parametric band of the O Audio amp to remove the peak you will get due to the highish sealed box Qtc using this driver in 3 cubic feet. Therefor, any amp you use MUST have a parametric band in order to take care of this issue UNLESS you have an external parametric band on a stand alone EQ or parametric EQ built into your AVR(please note: some AVRs may claim parametric EQ band(s), but in reality have not true parametric EQ. True parametric EQ has variable Frequency, Bandwidth(Q) and Gain/Level.

This will not produce as much LF SPL as the Kappa Perfect VQ in it's suggested large slot port cabinet, but it will produce substantial output, and with very low distortion. This is an ideal unit if sound quality is your top priority, you want maximum value, but cannot accept the large cabinet of the Kappa VQ build.

-Chris

 

[mark620]

should I go with a smaller box?

Should I got with a smaller box on the 8200. Or is 3.0 seal the best way to go..Another question will the 10" be better with the o-audio amp...?

 

[WmAx]

Should I got with a smaller box on the 8200. Or is 3.0 seal the best way to go..Another question will the 10" be better with the o-audio amp...?

No, the 12" is with sealed is good. Ideally, you would use much more power than the 500 watt O Audio amp produces. 1000 watts RMS would be ideal, but not required.

-Chris