12w7 Experts/Owner advice needed!

[Bass911 10+ year member]

I have a 12w7 and trying to build a custom box that has a length of 33-36 inches long. This means the box will be about 3.3-3.5cuft @ 34-36hz. Why so big you ask? I'm making it bigger for a more custom look. I know this is bigger than what JL recommends. Will this be too big and will it lose too much SQ? Is anyone getting away with 3/4 MDF? What will a bigger box do to the power handling? Can I use screws or are 2 inch bolts a must? If the grill is custom made, how many inches tall so the sub can reach full excursion w/o touching? I don't like the 3-piece aluminum bar thing because the surround is guaranteed to get damaged in the trunk it's going in. I will just go with a smaller box depending on what you guys say?

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[dman4486 5,000+ posts]

if you want the box large to look a certain way, you can fill some of the space inside with more wood to keep the displacement down.//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/fyi.gif.9f1f679348da7204ce960cfc74bca8e0.gif

and from my experience, a larger box is better for teh lows.

 

[Bass911 10+ year member]

I can't do that if I use plexiglass. How many cuft is the H.O. Box, just curious?

 

[dman4486 5,000+ posts]

I can't do that if I use plexiglass. How many cuft is the H.O. Box, just curious?

yes you can...just make a false wall and nobody will ever know the difference.

you can do the math yourself on the H.O.

http://mobile.jlaudio.com/products_enclosures.php?menu=1&prod_id=294

 

[Bass911 10+ year member]

I know how to do a false wall, but there will be another plexi behind the one the sub is mounted on displaying more ish. Anyway I did the math and it looks like my box is not too big after all. I still need those other questions answered my original post?

 

[dman4486 5,000+ posts]

I know how to do a false wall, but there will be another plexi behind the one the sub is mounted on displaying more ish. Anyway I did the math and it looks like my box is not too big after all. I still need those other questions answered my original post?

will look them over...give me a few.

 

[Bass911 10+ year member]

Dman, you left me hanging! 51 views and only Dman has responded? Where are all the JL fanboys? I already know what JL is going to say if I call them.

 

[dman4486 5,000+ posts]

#1. Will this be too big and will it lose too much SQ?

#2. Is anyone getting away with 3/4 MDF?

#3. What will a bigger box do to the power handling?

#4. Can I use screws or are 2 inch bolts a must?

#5. If the grill is custom made, how many inches tall so the sub can reach full excursion w/o touching?

ok.

sq will not go down with enclosure size going up. you will be able to pick up the lows with more authority.

many people use 3/4, but you may want a double 3/4 for the baffle the driver will be mounted to.

power handling theoretically goes down with enclosure displacement increase

good screws will work

I have never run a 12w7 to mech limits

 

[Papermaker85 5,000+ posts]

w7 s like poop ported, tonally i have heard dd9500 sound better..overhang anyone??

myadvice is if you want it to sound good do 2 cubes tuned to 28 with 30in^2 of port area...

 

[#45 10+ year member]

if you find you prefer to keep JL's spec, you can just place a block of wood inside for displacement. i mean it doesnt have to be a wall. just a solid peice to take up volume. you'd just have to do the math to figure the correct size. maybe glue it down so it wont move or better yet just make braces out of it for stronger box.

i think its full excursion is 3 inches, so the grill should allow that.

 

[Bass911 10+ year member]

That cleared it all up for me. I really appreciate it! Thanks Dman!