Higher Tuned Boxes - Worth It?

[mlstrass 5,000+ posts]

One more question: what effect will a bigger box have on a higher tune? Meaning I'm at 2.5^3 @30Hz right now and am going to tune to 35-36Hz, but I can also up the box size to 3^3.

Will that make the box less peaky with the higher tune? Still trying to understand the relationship between box size/tune and how it effects sound/output.

Is there a good article that someone can link explaining the relationship between various box sizes and tuning frequencies??

 

[JimJ 5,000+ posts]

that if i wasnt satisfied with double bass / rock style music, considering im tuned at 30 hz, I shoudl tune possibly as high as 40-42.

Stop listening to whoever told you that.

If you're into that kind of music (which sounds like the same groups/genres I listen to) you don't want a peaky response, which is exactly what tuning that high will get you. Go sealed, with a Qtc on the high side (0.8'ish would be a good place to start).

 

[Justintoxicated 10+ year member]

I have a box tuned at 40 HTZ in my truck, it sounds alright but the lows are lacking a bit, Drum beats are hard but I'm chaning back to Sealed.

Don't forget you might tune to 42 Htz, put it in the vehicle and it's really tuned closer to 37, or maybe 45. I believe ported boxes will sound alot different depending on what vehicle they are put in and where in the vehicle they are located. My box uses the space between the port and rear door as a Loading Area, which I guess in turn lowers the tuned frequency (is this sort of like increasing the port length?).

 

[JimJ 5,000+ posts]

I have a box tuned at 40 HTZ in my truck, it sounds alright but the lows are lacking a bit, Drum beats are hard but I'm chaning back to Sealed.
Don't forget you might tune to 42 Htz, put it in the vehicle and it's really tuned closer to 37, or maybe 45. I believe ported boxes will sound alot different depending on what vehicle they are put in and where in the vehicle they are located. My box uses the space between the port and rear door as a Loading Area, which I guess in turn lowers the tuned frequency (is this sort of like increasing the port length?).

The enclosure is tuned to whatever it's tuned to - the environment won't change that. What does change is how it interacts with the vehicle to produce the final frequency response that you hear...//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

Which is also why using computer modeling to predict in-car results is silly and inaccurate.

 

[mlstrass 5,000+ posts]

Which is also why using computer modeling to predict in-car results is silly and inaccurate.

Which is why I'm trying to get some real world results from guys who've tried the same sub(s) at a low tuning, then a higher one.

Will a bigger box help a higher tuning to stay relatively flat and still have some lows to it?

 

[systembumping 10+ year member]

So what is the "sweet spot" for tuning, like good low-end and still loud? (No thread jack)

 

[helotaxi 5,000+ posts]

What tuning works depends entirely on the sub. No generic answer such as "tune to 28hz for SQ" has any sort of merit. What constitutes "high" or "low" tuning is relative to the sub.

For each driver there is an "optimal" tuning that will result in the flatest response outside the car. Figure in the car interaction (which can be measured if you really care) and you typically have an emphasized lower end compared to a sealed box. This isnt necessarily bad as the ear is less sensitive to lower freqs anyway. If you don't listen to music that makes use of the lower freqs then the extra bottom end isn't needed. Now take the same sub and same volume box and tune it higher (even 4 Hz) and you will get less low end extension and will get a hump in the response right round the tuning freq. Add in the car interaction and you get that range of frequencies very much exagerated. That hump is what defines what many people call an SQL enclosure. Make the box bigger from there and that hump becomes more exagerated. The extreme result is a really narrow really loud peak and an SPL enclosure. The sub is usually nowhere near under control at other than at that freq and does nothing but play that one note really loud.

To suit your needs, a sealed box with a Q between .8 and .9 will yield very good in-car results. The natural roll off of the box below resonance couples very well with the cabin gain from the car and makes for a smooth response. There will be a small, broad hump right around resonance which usually falls right in line with the freq of the fundamental of a kick drum and is not overbearing. The sound is better than that of a mistuned ported box and in the upper bass range, you will actually gain some output over a ported box.

 

[lebomb 10+ year member]

I have my sub in a box tuned to 38Hz......it drops suprising low and is loud as hell.

 

[acold7dusta 10+ year member]

What tuning works depends entirely on the sub. No generic answer such as "tune to 28hz for SQ" has any sort of merit. What constitutes "high" or "low" tuning is relative to the sub.

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/word.gif.64b12e39f936af3b4fff38a1c0bd0244.gif i had my diamond d6 in a 1.25 box tuned to 35, and it was a one note wonder...did some graphing, and found tuning to 23 hz was the flattest response, and gave me better low end and better upper mid bass too. strictly depends on the sub...

 

[helotaxi 5,000+ posts]

As another example, my Assassin 8s want a tuning in the high 30's / low 40's to play flat. Go lower than that an you strangle them for output.