Is it true?

[Full Tilt 10+ year member]

Hey guys. Just around, I've heard the rumor that 'Doubling your cone area will give you a general increase of about 3 dBs.'

I heard it once again lately, and it started making it's way into my mind. Now, depending on how sensitive your ear is, you may or may not be able to hear a difference in 3 decibels. I realize the change is totally dependent on the box, install, and a number of other factors, but with only a difference of three decibels, I was just wondering - do you guys think I could make 1 12 work instead of 1 15? I thought that dropping 3" on my cone's diameter would really kill output - but only losing that much cone area (vs cutting it in half,) would I hear a difference at all?

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[RangerDangerV2 5,000+ posts]

3 db is quite a bit, even to the ear... and your box will dictate your score more than your cone area... it is just easier to get louder with more cone area.

 

[sacsking916 5,000+ posts]

There's mire factors than what you're saying. I'll leave it at that adding another woofer wont just give u that increase.

 

[RangerDangerV2 5,000+ posts]

There's mire factors than what you're saying. I'll leave it at that adding another woofer wont just give u that increase.

the king has spoken!!!! //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/bowdown.gif.b85b23b82970bd22fb6b549c3392f016.gif

 

[itsblown 10+ year member]

its not just doubling your cone area.

In a perfect world if you have 1 subwoofer in 1 enclosure on 1 amp and you do lets say 140dbs. If you were to get another same exact subwoofer in the same exact enclosure on the same amp at the same voltage you would do 143 dbs. but this isnt a perfect world and you wont see a 3db gain

 

[Full Tilt 10+ year member]

I think you guys are misreading what I'm saying..

I was considering getting 1 15" sub. They say you might lose around 3 decibels off of a 50% cone area loss. However, I'd lose much less than that. Therefore, according to the rumor, I'd barely lose any audible output at all, correct? Or is the rumor just a bunch of BS?

 

[itsblown 10+ year member]

..... cone area is calculated by Pi r ^2

a 12 has 112 square inches of cone area while a 15 has 176

 

[pro-rabbit 5,000+ posts]

There is no "rule of thumb" for that. Many places suggest that, but to be honest there are far to many variables to consider. Just adding cone area does not always give a gain.

 

[TaylorFade 10+ year member]

15" = ~ 175sq in of cone.

12" = ~ 112sq in of cone.

That's not quite half, but all things being equal, you will lose output. As has been alluded to, doubling of cone area or power is a theoretical +3db gain, but a "percieved" twice as loud is more like +6db. 1-2db would be barely noticeable, IMO.

I don't know what your situations is, but most 12's wil be ~ 2 cubes of box. You can get a pair of 10's in or around there and lose barely any cone if that's a viable option for you.

 

[Kamagrafun]

I think that's right!

 

[Bettr n' Revrse 5,000+ posts]

I think that's right!

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/blush.gif.99bc659ee2012b7d826165e26fb5eebe.gif

Its going to depend a lot on what you box setup is like... 12's are usually better suited for trunks setups cuz they leave you the ability to fire in different directions where as a 15 may leave you stuck with one box design which may not be the most efficient for your car...

 

[JimJ 5,000+ posts]

15" = ~ 175sq in of cone.12" = ~ 112sq in of cone.

That's not quite half, but all things being equal, you will lose output. As has been alluded to, doubling of cone area or power is a theoretical +3db gain, but a "percieved" twice as loud is more like +6db. 1-2db would be barely noticeable, IMO.

Those numbers are a bit optimistic //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

1-2dB, unless you're a human SPL meter, will be under the threshold of what we can perceive as a change. You'd have to get to at least 3dB for that - and 10dB to perceive a "doubling". The ear is horrible at detecting changes.

Adding cone area is a much better way to increase SPL than simply adding power - it avoids the issues of power compression, "why did I smoke my woofers" thread syndrome, etc. But like other posters alluded to, you might not be able to fit the larger enclosures required. If you're competing in sanctioned events, adding cone area generally places you in much more competitive classes //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif