18" sub with small space requirements

[audioholic 5,000+ posts]

there are MANY 18's that will work just fine in under 5 cubes ported. tc 5200 is one (recommended small box of 3.7 cuft, large box of 5 cuft)lms5400 (3.5 cuft ported), elemental designs has the 19ov2 (3.5 cuft recommended ported) rl-p (4.5 cuft ported "acceptable") fi btl (recommended from 5-10 cuft) and others. just because you are used to seeing unnecissarily huge boxes, doesnt mean that all (or even most) 18's need it.. would he have more range in 15's to choose from? probably, but he wants an 18. all of these will work PERFECT in 5 or sub-5 cuft. boxes.

Well, Id be really concerned about the bottom end suffering when placing an 18 with much displacement potential (like the ones you listed) in a smallish box. 5 cubes for an 18 is [generally] smallish. I guess Id just rather chose the sub size that fits the enclosure that fits the space, rather than decide I want the biggest sub possible (realistically.. an 18) then try to shoe-horn the thing in. If you guys say they work 'perfectly' in that space then well... okay... but Id be concerned.

If he went with the 15 he would have plenty of room for a largish enclosure and huge port area, to maximize what he is working with. Chances are if he tries to squeeze that 18 in there, he will be making sacrifices which would hurt over all performance.

Im not saying the 15 would definitely work better. But with 5 cubes that's certainly what Id be looking to run. *shrug*

 

[seg_representin 10+ year member]

I've always wanted to try an 18. I would pick up go with tc but like stated before i don't have the power for that. I'm kinda liking the Rlp and the aq at the moment. Can i get the aq in a dual 1? And to confirm i have about 6 cubes to work with before any displacement. Before sub and port displacement. I listed my max dimensions and those are about what i would have to work with. If i choose a couple subs and then make a replica box out of card board or something i will see if it fits and if i would have anymore room. I might go with the Rlp because i can run the sundown at 1 ohm because the rlps only come in dual 2's and dual 4's so i could get 1 dual 2 for now and i might be gettin a jeep cherokee in the future so if i do i would pick up another rlp and then drop that sundown to .5 to give each sub 1000 watts. What do you guys think about that idea? Or should i just stick with one cuz its no guarentees i'm getting a new car, but i might. I would prolly get some help on making the box and getting it my trunk. So any more suggestions?

And thanks snoop for the offer but i just don't have the power for it. If i did i would prolly pick it up.

 

[02parkave 5,000+ posts]

Well, Id be really concerned about the bottom end suffering when placing an 18 with much displacement potential (like the ones you listed) in a smallish box. 5 cubes for an 18 is [generally] smallish. I guess Id just rather chose the sub size that fits the enclosure that fits the space, rather than decide I want the biggest sub possible (realistically.. an 18) then try to shoe-horn the thing in. If you guys say they work 'perfectly' in that space then well... okay... but Id be concerned.
If he went with the 15 he would have plenty of room for a largish enclosure and huge port area, to maximize what he is working with. Chances are if he tries to squeeze that 18 in there, he will be making sacrifices which would hurt over all performance.

Im not saying the 15 would definitely work better. But with 5 cubes that's certainly what Id be looking to run. *shrug*

while i cant speak for the rest- but my 5200 18's have absolutly NO problem with low end... the specs are going to decide if its small box suitable (and the port needed), not the cone size... its got nothing to do with the cone size... i would *generally* agree with you on alot of your points, though..

 

[audioholic 5,000+ posts]

Let us know how it goes seg. We will expect pics.....

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

 

[02parkave 5,000+ posts]

Let us know how it goes seg. We will expect pics.....
//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

agreed //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif lots of pics.

 

[audioholic 5,000+ posts]

while i cant speak for the rest- but my 5200 18's have absolutly NO problem with low end... the specs are going to decide if its small box suitable (and the port needed), not the cone size... its got nothing to do with the cone size... i would *generally* agree with you on alot of your points, though..

Yes, you are right cone size is not the factor. That was not my intended point, displacement was. The louder you wanna be, the more air you are gonna need to displace. Cone diameter is merely one variable of that equation, cone excursion and enclosure efficiency are the others (basically).

Say you buy this super duper sub that has the potential to move tons of air (either by massive excursion, or by raw power handling while playing at or near tuning where enclosure efficiency kicks in), but your space is so limited you must put a small port (cross section) in it... are you gonna get great performance over all?

If your sub works well in a small box, and has good low end, it must be inefficient... Hoffman's Iron Law and all that. Personally, Id rather have an efficient setup I dont have to throw gobs of power at to perform well down low, if I was getting an 18. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

 

[seg_representin 10+ year member]

O when i decide everything there will be pics. I still have never gotten pics of the sundown up. I'll throw those in too. I was gonna just build a new box for my L5's and see how that goes but i just want an 18 kinda. What would you guys do in my position. 18 ported but limited to my choices cuz of space, 15 ported, or 2 12" L5's ported. What do you guys think? If i wanna get a new sub my cash is low right now cuz it was just my moms bday and its my girls bday on monday so i would prolly end up selling the L5's so if anyones intersted in 2 12" 05' L5's let me know if thats the route i go. Also does anyone wanna help me on a box design for the 18 so i can build a replica. For either the aq or the rlp.

 

[iamamp3pimp 5,000+ posts]

i didnt read it all, but he has 5.1 cubes gross.

thats a problem.

 

[02parkave 5,000+ posts]

Yes, you are right cone size is not the factor. That was not my intended point, displacement was. The louder you wanna be, the more air you are gonna need to displace. Cone diameter is merely one variable of that equation, cone excursion and enclosure efficiency are the others (basically).
Say you buy this super duper sub that has the potential to move tons of air (either by massive excursion, or by raw power handling while playing at or near tuning where enclosure efficiency kicks in), but your space is so limited you must put a small port (cross section) in it... are you gonna get great performance over all?

If your sub works well in a small box, and has good low end, it must be inefficient... Hoffman's Iron Law and all that. Personally, Id rather have an efficient setup I dont have to throw gobs of power at to perform well down low, if I was getting an 18. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

you are right, but, he says he has 2000 watts... efficiency shouldnt be much of an issue...

 

[seg_representin 10+ year member]

Would i be better off gettin a 15 and properly porting it? or just stickin with the 2 12's ported?

 

[seg_representin 10+ year member]

Alright guys i just went out and rechecked dimensions. I can fit a little bit more. See if i can work with this. 34x26x15 maybe 16 just depends on how far the sub comes out and that comes out to be 7.67 cubes without any displacement. Do you think thats enough to work with?

 

[Showrides]

Alright guys i just went out and rechecked dimensions. I can fit a little bit more. See if i can work with this. 34x26x15 maybe 16 just depends on how far the sub comes out and that comes out to be 7.67 cubes without any displacement. Do you think thats enough to work with?

It will be a tight fit after port displacement, but that is big enough to fit an 18" driver.

 

[seg_representin 10+ year member]

I could do aero ports also to save some room and make them partially external. Would that be better to do then a slot port?

 

[seg_representin 10+ year member]

bump need some opinions

 

[audioholic 5,000+ posts]

Round ports and slot ports both have their advantages. Generally speaking though yes, round ports tend to flow air better than square shaped ports (slot ports generally make up for this flaw with gobs of port area). Aero ports are very popular in DIY enclosures these days.

Yes, externalizing your ports (or partially) would help with your internal enclosure volume 'issue'. Sounds like you are getting into a good reasonable space for an 18" driver.