Can an enclosure be too big?

[JonM]

I'm new to this. I've got a 99 camery with a custom box for 2 Orion hcca 12"s. If I eventually decide to try something different thats still 12" but needs less space will I be ok?

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[Hertz Mafia]

What's the size of the box U have?

 

[ciaonzo 5,000+ posts]

An enclosure can definitely be too big but it is largely driver dependent.

With too much power, a sealed enclosure that is too big may allow the driver to reach maximum mechanical excursion very easily. This can be bad for obvious reasons.

With too much power, a vented enclosure that is too big can cause similar issues above tuning, or cause a weird sort of floating cone phenomenon much like DC offset. They can also sound very peaky.

Below tuning is irrelevant because all vented alignments unload below Fb unless a SSF is properly applied.

Many of today's very stiff drivers should be okay in the scenario of high power in a larger than optimal enclosure. They just don't rely on the airspring inside the enclosure the way drivers with softer suspensions do. You would simply be left with the possibility of peaky response, but not necessarily. Sometimes big is just really efficient and awesome, and the response ends up being complimentary to the vehicle.

 

[ashren315]

Absolutely an enclosure can be too big. There is a point where it will become the same as an IB install.

 

[LosIsATool 5,000+ posts]

Absolutely an enclosure can be too big. There is a point where it will become the same as an IB install.

A trunk is technically to small to be called IB.

A box can be to big if the ratios are not right.

 

[Flipper245]

A trunk is technically to small to be called IB. A box can be to big if the ratios are not right.

I gues that depends on what definition of infinite baffle you use. It really just means the front and rear wave don't meet. A solid sealed enclosure could technically be called ib. If I opened up the front and rear windows of my car I no longer have infinite baffle.

 

[ashren315]

My understanding of IB is that the front and rear waves are permanently separated but that the enclosure is so large you no longer get the benefit of back pressure that a smaller sealed enclosure would offer.

Basically, the woofer sounds the same on either side of the woofer as it's air volume on both sides are so vast that it no longer gives any resistance to the woofer, yet it is still separated so you don't get cancellation.

For instance. If you mounted a woofer in your wall of your house between two rooms, both rooms would "hear" the sub but the sub would not get the added benefit to power handling and frequency response.

Is it more than this?

 

[ciaonzo 5,000+ posts]

My understanding of IB is that the front and rear waves are permanently separated but that the enclosure is so large you no longer get the benefit of back pressure that a smaller sealed enclosure would offer.
Basically, the woofer sounds the same on either side of the woofer as it's air volume on both sides are so vast that it no longer gives any resistance to the woofer, yet it is still separated so you don't get cancellation.

For instance. If you mounted a woofer in your wall of your house between two rooms, both rooms would "hear" the sub but the sub would not get the added benefit to power handling and frequency response.

Is it more than this?

This is correct.

 

[ashren315]

I'm not 100% sure, but I can't think of any reason in car audio where an IB would be desired over a standard ported or sealed enclosure.

Maybe I'm missing something.

 

[LosIsATool 5,000+ posts]

I'm not 100% sure, but I can't think of any reason in car audio where an IB would be desired over a standard ported or sealed enclosure.
Maybe I'm missing something.

Bandwidth. Tons of bandwidth. And low power output with all that bandwidth. But the woofer has to be good for it.

 

[Flipper245]

Bandwidth. Tons of bandwidth. And low power output with all that bandwidth. But the woofer has to be good for it.[/quoteNo doubt! My 3x 18 plays strong deep into the teens. It actually gets louder the lower it goes. I don't mean 40hz either. Like 20hz. Sealed at 8cuft was fine but 35cuft behind it its way tighter and lower. I wasn't expecting that. Databass testing said it should work well like that and it does. Not even tempted to try it ported now.

 

[Flipper245]

I'm not 100% sure, but I can't think of any reason in car audio where an IB would be desired over a standard ported or sealed enclosure.
Maybe I'm missing something.

In a wall in a small hatchback saved a ton of weight, over a smallish sealed box even. Especially given the fact I could permanently remove the rear seats from the car.

 

[JonM]

What is IB, FB and ssf? What does it mean when you tune your box to a certain Hz?

 

[ashren315]

IB is infinite Baffle (sometimes called Free Air). Fb is "frequency of box). SSF is "subsonic filter". Tuning a box to a specific htz just means that the sub will have a peak output at that frequency.