|
|
SET A GOAL
What do you have in mind for your subwoofer, what are your expectations? Acoustical performance is certainly something to consider, but size, shape, and of course cost are also factors that are best established before the project goes very far. Although it can be tempting to select the actual subwoofer driver first because of a super special sale price, or it just looked so shiny and menacing in the picture, resist! The size, shape, and type of enclosure can have a big effect on actual subwoofer performance, and driver selection must be based on matching the speaker to the requirements of the box and it's specific application. We will start by presenting some of the options available at the planning and design stage, followed by an overview of some of the more critical parameters to be aware of when choosing subwoofer components. We will then describe the most popular enclosure designs to help you to determine which will be the best fit for your design goals. The implementation and set-up of your new subwoofer will also be discussed to ensure that you are able to maximize the potential of the new addition to your audio family.
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HOME STEREO AND HOME THEATER SUBWOOFERS?
There's no good reason why a single high quality subwoofer cannot be used for both home stereo and home theater applications. Each person has his or her own individual preference as far as tonality, loudness, range, or definition is concerned, and the biggest difference between home theater and home stereo is not the hardware as much as how the hardware is used. A typical home theater system will tend to have the output of the subwoofer turned up a bit more than what would be appropriate for home stereo. It's hard to find a setting that works for both "Jurassic Park" and Miles Davis' "Kind of Blue". Most cinema soundtracks are mixed with the sub-bass dialed in to create both musical support and dramatic special effects. The differences in response or sonic character of the subwoofer will be covered in the "Choosing a Type of Subwoofer" section that reveals the mysteries of all of the different enclosure styles from which you must choose.
DESIGN YOUR OWN
| Suggested Products |
LOUDSPEAKER DESIGN COOKBOOK 6th ED.
|
| Everything you need to know to build that dream loudspeaker system for your home, your car, or your new home theatre, but thought you couldn't afford, all from the famous speaker designer, Vance Dickason. |
There are many resources available to the people of spirit, vision, wit, intelligence, and courage who choose to design and build their own subwoofer project. Some very popular books would include 500-021 "Designing, Building, and Testing Your Own Speaker Systems" by David Weems, 500-035 "The Loudspeaker Design Cookbook VI" by Vance Dickason, 500-037 "Bullock On Boxes" by Roger Bullock, and 500-040 "Audio Amateur Loudspeaker Projects" from Audio Amateur Magazine. These books present both theoretical and practical information that can be of great assistance to the subwoofer hobbyist.
Users who prefer a computer based design process will want to consider software programs like 500-923 BassBox 6 Pro for Microsoft Windows, or 500-945 Eminence Designer, which is also Windows-based and is produced by the Eminence Loudspeaker Manufacturing Company. Eminence is one of the largest manufacturers of high quality speakers in the world and it would be safe to assume that they know a couple of things about speaker design!
Some speaker enthusiasts catch the bug and build speaker after speaker, trying different variations and refinements. Doctors are working around the clock, trying to find a cure for this disease. There are other audio do-it-yourselfers who take a more casual approach, completing a single project or occasional upgrade. These infrequent builders may not want to invest in a book library or software system, and we at Parts Express invite them to use our free design services. Our Technical Support staff can help with the selection of speaker components, amplifiers, and cabinet accessories; more importantly we can provide customers with tuning and design information using the popular BassBox 6 Pro design software. There is a lot of information that is just a phone call or email away, don't be afraid to ask!
BUILD A KIT
Were you scared by math as a small child? Does your job as a lighthouse keeper prevent you from having the spare time to spend designing speakers? Did the apartment manager make you take your table saw out of the laundry room? You are looking for a high performance subwoofer, the store-bought ones seem puny and overpriced, and you still want to smell that crisp, fresh subwoofer when it comes out of the cardboard box for the first time. What to do?
| Suggested Products |
DAYTON TITANIC MKIII SUBWOOFER KITS
|
| The Titanic subwoofer kits were designed to give you the performance you demand at a price that makes just plain common sense. Titanic subwoofer kits, you know exactly what you are getting-- nothing but the best in cabinets, drivers, and amplifiers. |
Build a kit, of course. Parts Express offers a great selection of pre-engineered subwoofer kits in a wide range of performance and pricing. They use our famous Titanic series components, and all of them offer a lot of subwoofer satisfaction for the money. The new Dayton Loudspeaker Co. kits like the 300-760, 300-762, and 300-764 represent a choice of driver sizes and on-board power amps. These kits include all parts required for the completion of the project, with many components pre-assembled, and the exterior of the cabinet already finished in an attractive black enamel. The average assembly time is about an hour, and it can be done in your living room. No power tools are necessary, although a cordless screwdriver could speed things up a bit.
We are also proud of our new assembled and finished subwoofer boxes like the 302-800, 302-810, and 302-820. Both the knock-down and pre-finished boxes can be completed with basic power hand tools like a router (if you have one handy), a drill, and a jig saw. An electric sander would be useful for the unfinished enclosures. All of these enclosure options give you the opportunity to experience as much of the subwoofer design and construction process as your skills, workspace, and time permit.
FOLLOW A PLAN
If you would like to embark on a subwoofer project, but would prefer to follow a proven path rather than blaze a new trail, you might want to consider following one of the many available speaker plans. Some of the excellent books previously mentioned include well thought out and easy to build plans that can speed your progress and help you to predict the outcome. The Parts Express Project Showcase is also a great resource for speaker concepts and plans.
Many plans can be considered a place to start, and you can certainly make alterations or substitutions that suit your needs or your budget. If you do make changes, make sure that it is clear what effect your changes will have on the rest of the design.
|
|
