Soundstream Enclosure

[randomguy 10+ year member]

I currently have 2 - Dual 2 ohm12inch Soundstream SPL 12's (old school) powered by a HiFonics BXi1210D, I had the subs wired down to 1ohm. amp does 1200x1@1ohm birthsheet said 1367.

Subs listed as Program Power: 300 watts

Manual:

http://www.soundstream.com/manuals/sbw/sp101215/sp101215.pdf

I know these subs are recommended in small sealed enclosures. Which I had them in. They hit hard but then I decided to put them in a box that was built for my Cerwin Vega's. Which was a vented box, the vent was in the middle, each chamber was roughly over 2.0 ft^3 so over 4 total ft^3 and it hit harder and deeper in this box then the sealed. Manual also suggests only between 1-1.5 ft^3 if doing a ported enclosure.

I even typed in Fs (30) and Qes (76.7) in the calculator below and calculated to 0 which is saying sealed all the way.

Sealed or Ported Enclosure Calculator

just kind of crazy. thought I would share. I had this setup running for over 2 years too. I wouldn't crank it for hours on end though. like 20-45min max a day.

I just got a new car and will be putting them in the new car, I was thinking about upgrading to 1 or 2 SSA GCON's or Sundown's I REALLLY want to try em, from what it sounds like 1 of those might blow my two Soundstreams out the water but my subs are from what the 1990's! and the still bang and in great condition. technology and quality has changed since then so I'm sure newer subs will be better. but i don't want to spend unnecessary funds. decisions, decisions.. lol

Click to read more...

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

yeah manufacturer's specs sometimes are just numbers they pull outta their @ss. Subs like bigger boxes a lot of the times when dealing with lower notes. Those subs wont dissapoint but you'll definitely need an enclosure on the bigger side to get more out of the power you have. That brutus birthsheet is useless man man, in reality they clamp for much less because it does not factor in box rise. You counteract this by having a bigger/more efficient enclosure.

 

[randomguy 10+ year member]

Yeah I mean I could use a multimeter and the correct math to determine what is actually going to the subs correct? I would have to google that.

Speaking of enclosures though I came across the RE box calculator. thanks to this site. I have a question or two on it. I want to build this new box for my new car, 2006 Mercedes E350. I have never built one before so I thought I would give it a shot and it's awesome this calculator gives you all the cuts for it after you enter in the required fields.

If you look at the manual on these subs the Fs(Hz) is 30. The Frequency Response is 30-500. So would I want to create a box that is set for 30Hz? If so, I entered 35 W x 15 H x 15 Box Top Depth x 15 Box Bottom Depth. with Wood Thickness .75, Port Width 2.5, Port Length 2 at 12. the Tuned Frequency comes out to 30.4. So would that be right if am I doing this correctly with the requirements of the sub. I may be all wrong. Just wanna check. Also, if that is all correct, I am confused on the Port Length, which is currently at 12, that wont mess up any air flow of the subs? Yeah the box is 35 in Length, 1 sub will be fine but if I have 2, wont that mess up the air flow or no? lol fill in the specs i entered into the site and imagine two 12's on the front of it. the back end of the L port will almost be behind one of the subs. Also with the port specs for the subs, the manual says 4 x 14, but if i enter that instead of 2.5 x 12, of course the Tuning Frequency Changes.

thanks

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

dont use the RE calculator its horribly inaccurate.

Here's some free designs made by moe

*OFFICIAL* Free Ported Box Plans (56k NO!!) - SRT Forums - SRT4, SRT6, SRT8, SRT10 & Dodge Forum

youtube up how to use winisd its a great program to see what kind of sound you would get from enclosure size and tuning.

Box Design Steps | DD Audio

Calculate Box Port Size

this calculator works fine for your measurements

Subwoofer Enclosure Calculators, Parallel, Series, Port Length and Volume

 

[randomguy 10+ year member]

Ok thanks for those tips. I like that WinISD app. I downloaded it and messed around.

So another question for my specific subs the manual gives these descriptions for a vented enclosure shown below. I guess it's just a preference to the individual? but will be 33Hz be better than 40 or 50Hz? I listen to Rap/Hip-Hop pretty much 100% of the time. Which it suggests 50Hz but I like that nice deep bass too.. lol Should I aim for the lowest Frequency that the subs can do, which I believe i 30Hz. any thoughts, comments?

Vented

1.5 ft3 @ 33Hz (4" x 14" port) - Deepbass, flat response. Good small enclosure.

1.0 ft3 @ 40Hz (4" x 14.25" port) - Small, versatile enclosure with good bass. Great for Rock music or home theater.

1.0 ft3 @ 50Hz (4" x 8" port) - Small enclosure with good punch. Good for Rap or Rock.

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

rap needs low bass, unless you are all for old school bone thugs n harmony where its the punch bass instead of the heavy bass drops of modern day hip hop. You'd want the flat response. box with 33 hz tuning. The rest will sound like complete @ss to be honest. its hard getting anything to sound good over 40hz tuning.

typical range to stay in is 28-40hz tuning. Whatever they say in that manual does not correlate to real world performance.

 

[randomguy 10+ year member]

ok thanks. I will aim for a box with the following

1.5 ft3 @ 33Hz (4" x 14" port) - Deepbass, flat response. Good small enclosure.

 

[KilluminatiDre 10+ year member]

RE is fine as long as you factor in displacement of the sub/s yourself.

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

RE is fine as long as you factor in displacement of the sub/s yourself.

not really man, you ever tried changing the port length? its suppose to have a much bigger impact on the tuning. You can add 20 inches to the port length and the tuning would still be within 1-2 hz away from the original tuning but really, the tuning should have been down to 15-20hz. there's all sorts of wrong in that calculator. The port is also restricted to a strict L-shaped slot port, sometimes you need it in the middle or you need a square, round or octoport. Its better to use actual math and proper enclosure designing methods then to trust your designs with such a flawed software.

 

[KilluminatiDre 10+ year member]

Hmmm maybe its just me, Ive had success with it and my tuning has been what it's was supposed to be when tested real world. I use it in conjunction with WINISD and I make everything match to ISD also factoring in the displacement of the sub.

 

[Louisiana_CRX 5,000+ posts]

Soundstream use to make some good stuff

 

[randomguy 10+ year member]

Soundstream use to make some good stuff

Yeah Soundstream and Rockford. I also used to have a Soundstream REF 1000sx hooked up to 2 15in Soundstream SPL170s. not too bad. However my previous system blew that out the water.

Memphis 1000d with 2 15inch Rockford Power DVCs

^^^ loudest system I owned. stock electrical/battery too. blew out my taillights and eventually cracked my back window, popped the screwed from my push up sunroof. lol. I dont know what my SPL was. I was never into db competitions. but a friend of mine dropped 6k into his system with three Memphis amps and 3 JL 12w3's and some other ****, alarm, cd player (not a fold out dvd player), component set.. and I only spent 600 (street price) 300 for the amp and 300 for the 2 15's lol...and hooked it up my self, he had a shop do his... I killed him. he was pissed. lol we both had small cars too.. Pontiac's.

 

[tc300 10+ year member]

soundstream had book that had a ton of enclosures for there subs back in the day... my first system was 2 SPL 12s on HCCA 225.. ported downfiring box.