12" Solo X Box Build

[9BlackN*Black6 10+ year member]

First off, I"m no carpenter, but I do have access to all the need tools (table saw, router, ect). I want to build a 3.25 cf @ 38 hz. I've wrestling with different enclosure calculators and each are comming up with different port lengths. Its making me //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/crazy.gif.c13912c32de98515d3142759a824dae7.gif My dimensions are (H)14.5"x(W)37"x(D)16.5. I have room to play with the depth if needbe. http://www.reaudio.com/speaker_box/LPort_Box_Calc.html is the only one that seems to be matching what I'm after. Still having trouble with the port, I have to make it 4.25" wide to make 37.99 HZ, I'm not sure if this too wide or not, I was thinking it should be like 3.5" wide. Anyone give me some advice.

It doesnt have to be exactly 3.25cf, but I do want it more that 3(what kicker recommends). Their design is for 1400wrms, Im gonna be pushing around 1700wrms with my rockford fosgate type rf x7. I had a 12" L7 few years back w/ a bd1000.1 on it and it was ridiculously loud in a 2000 grand am (yeah I know it was overkill) I ended up tweakin' the bass gain a lil to much one night with some friend in the car and smoke the voice coil, (that'll teach me to try and show off) but my brother currently has the box I had, I'll post up some pics this weekend. Thanks for any help guys.

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[9BlackN*Black6 10+ year member]

Had to play with the calculator a little bit....but i figured it out. Got the sub last weekend and started building box. In the end it will be 3.253 cf with sub @ 38.26HZ.

Just gotta figure out how I wanna carpet it. Was thinking of black with a dark blue on the face to match my amp and cap. Im gonna go to the machine shop this weekend and see if they will cut the Solo "X" design out of diamond plate for me to put on the face next to sub. All I have left for box construction is to add another layer to face to give it 1 1/2" face. Only bad part is the screws for the sub will only go up to an inch so im thinking i may have to have a little more fun with the router, unless i can find some longer machine screws at fastenal or something. Anyone ever seen a solo x with a grille? Really think its would look good with a grille.Ive searched but came up empty handed. Heres a few pics, they were with my phone and it was nightime in some so sorry for poor res./ lighting. Ill post up the finals this weekend. So far Im happy with my first box build, No problems yet, everything looking good, just hoping i dont fubar the carpet job up too much, any tips? I cut 1/8" groove on side panels BTW.

http://s707.photobucket.com/albums/ww77/9BlackNBlack6/Solo%20X/

 

[9BlackN*Black6 10+ year member]

Wow, what a hot thread i got goin here! Kinda left me in the dark on my first box build, but oh well. To anyone who cares heres the final pic. Havent done the custom work yet.

 

[inkfx 10+ year member]

So hows it sound?

 

[groundpound4200 5,000+ posts]

looks good except for the wire running out of the port..... never understood that.

 

[9BlackN*Black6 10+ year member]

wow finally some replies, I didnt carpet the sides because I plan on getting a speaker term. but wanna find one that takes 8ga. Then I gotta break out the sold. gun and do it right! Im doing some custom work with the carpet next weekend. Still have to get some alum. stock to make a grille for it because they dont make one for the x. Just finished it last night. I drive a truck, and havent been to my car for a few weeks but its getting installed in this weekend. Anyone know about how much itll run to get it checked(metered) at a local shop?

Was wanting to get my amp output checked to, anyone know around how much?

 

[groundpound4200 5,000+ posts]

I slipped the guy a $20 at a shop in MN and he let me on the TL long enough to find my peak and burp a few times. Kinda spendy but worth it.

 

[9BlackN*Black6 10+ year member]

Got the x installed this weekend with my new cap, tried to hide all the wires xcept tha big uns. All I have to say about a 12" solo x is OMFG this thing hits hard in 3.25 cubes! I didn't even get two blocks from my house, and there goes the rear view swingin' by the compass wire. Got the wire terminals for the side this weekend and got my "x" design ready for the face of the carpet. Bought 3 lbs of polyfil from wally world for like $8, gonna try it out. Should be completed next weekend if the "X" does take too long to cut out. Looking like Im gonna have to upgrade to a bigger alt. The cap helped alot, runs steady at 13-13.5, but the volts are dippin down to like 11.75-12 when she wangs a long deep tone. Heh I think my single x is louder than my bro's 2 L7 12's. Plus I only have the gain @ about 80% and bass knob like a quarter up. Really surprised with the outcome of the box, also feels great knowing I made it! Guess the next step is to start dynomating the **** out of the trunk to get rid of all the new rattles this bad boy made in one weekend. Im gonna look at get some spl #'s in the next month or so. Well nuff said here's a few pics i got this morning b4 work.

 

[HlorridiXplorer 10+ year member]

why do you have everything mounted on the left side by the port? just cause you got the speaker wire running in the port?

 

[mazdakid 5,000+ posts]

Gain at only 80% might not be a good thing

 

[bhsdriller 10+ year member]

^word

 

[9BlackN*Black6 10+ year member]

why do you have everything mounted on the left side by the port? just cause you got the speaker wire running in the port?

Yea my only other option is to pull the spare out and put amp under there but I dont like that idea. The other side has my 12 disc cd changer, but Im going to end up relocating it, the bass is too much for it....hehehe Once I get the wire term. mounted on side and everything soldered, you wont even see the speaker wire the way Im going to run it. I wanted to mount amp on top of box but not enough room, theres like less than 1/8" between top of my box and 6x9.

Gonna be fun making the grille, not sure if Im gonna use diamond plate or just regular brushed alumn. stock.

Gain at only 80% might not be a good thing

I could put it at max. but dont think it will make much difference, its already ridiculously loud. I tweak the bass knob to get a little extra on some lower bass songs, but untill I get like a 200-300 amp alt. Im not gonna push it.

 

[sacsking916 5,000+ posts]

i think you should turn down that gain a lil bit. what are the specs on that box? it looks pretty **** good. props on doin it all.

 

[crucial24 10+ year member]

Sup bro did you get it metered yet? What were the exact specs on the box I am trying to build 1 as well but having a hard time finding info about building a box for this sub?

 

[on1wheel01 10+ year member]

So you have the gain almost all the way turned up. Yea I see that going well. If you have to do that you need a bigger amp. In all my set ups I have the gain at 1/2 or less. More power is better so u dont clip. Also ditch the cap get a battery. If the cap helps then you more less have problems with electrical. I suggest doing the big 3. Would help out more than that cap.

The box look ok I would get some terminals or do nut and bolt terminals as wire through port looks like trash