how do i make 12s sound like 15s?

[power-fanatic07 5,000+ posts]

Lulz @ larger subs create larger waves

 

[emilimo701 10+ year member]

ya but will it sound low and deep like my current 15s?

it depends on the physical properties of the speakers.

more cone area doesn't mean lower bass, it means louder bass. THEORETICALLY, in an ideal experiment, a 15 inch subwoofer of the same type will not play lower than its corresponding 12 inch, it will just be a little bit louder because it is moving more air. HOWEVER, the real world is not ideal, AND other factors come into play. Looking back at the example I just stated... sure, a 15inch diameter sub will move more air, but IT IS MOVING MORE AIR! Yes that sounds reduntant; well, it takes energy to move air, so the 15inch will be a little less efficient PER CONE AREA. So it will be moving more air, but the cone won't move as far. In the end, it will still be a little bit louder, just not as much one would assume by doing the math.

Back to my point...

I'm sure you've heard the phrase "correlation does not imply causation". What I was just trying to explain was that adding surface area/diameter to subwoofers does not cause them to play lower (just [usually] louder). However, greater cone area does correlate to lower frequency extension. I'm actually taking a physics-of-music class right now; one of the first things taught was a set of laws, one of which being the resonant frequency of a resonator is inversely proportional to its mass. So the added mass of the larger cone will lower the resonant frequency of the subwoofer. Other things change, not just the cone. I'm not going to pretend to be an expert on loudspeakers. The moral of the story is, just do some research, use your head, and think for yourself. Don't just ask people how, ask them WHY, and the "how" will come naturally.

If you like the way your 15's sounded in a box tuned to 35Hz, you shouldn't have to worry. Most subs are capable of playing lower than the bass you were hearing in your old setup. As far as car audio goes, 35Hz is a typical bass reflex enclosure tuning frequency, but as far as audio in general goes, it's pretty high. If you want to be on the safe side, maybe tune a little lower (I for myself have the requirement of -3db point no higher than 28Hz in free air [not in car]).

Perhaps the best answer to your question would be: check out the specifications of the four 12" subwoofers you are going to use. The three golden specs are resonant frequency (Fs), equivalent compliance volume (VAS), and "total Q" (Qtc). I'm sure somebody has brought this up, but if you want total control and a GENERAL picture on how your subwoofers will perform download a software program called WinISD. Learn how to use that and you can get a visualization of what your ears are hearing, and you can "compare" your old setup to your new one. AJdesigner-dot-com also has a similar calculator but with less options and the graph is not well labeled.

The shortest answer: yes your 12" subs can sound just as nice, it's all in the enclosure! Good luck!

 

[emilimo701 10+ year member]

You can hit 35 hz with like a tuning of 45 lol...My "lows" at ~20 hz so I tune to 29

, so a 35 tuning would be fine for you.

blanket statement is keeping warm the sleeping truth.

and yes that was original statement. i'm so clever //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[misfit138 5,000+ posts]

i'm so clever //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

I'll poop on your face.

 

[emilimo701 10+ year member]

I'll poop on your face.

that reminds me... I had a weird dream last night...