SPL tip of the day: make your baffle STRONG

[tommyk90 5,000+ posts]

Well kiddies, lately I was being pwnt by the SPL gods.

I was doing testing with my single 15" box that I posted on this forum a loooong time ago. Now back then (around MECA finals time last year), and up until about a month ago, it would do a around a 154 in the kick.

Well, I was testing some stuff recently to get this thing dialed in for MECA finals this year. I didn't change ANYTHING from all the previous testing, but yet somehow I lost over 2 dB! It would barely break a 152!

Needless to say I was pretty pissed, and tried a LOT of things to figure out what was wrong. This included

1) Swapping amps

2) Swapping headunits

3) Swapping subs

4) Different ports

All of these things did absolutely squat, and I couldn't figure out why. During one of the burps I decided to stick my head in and gave a listen. To my amazement, the sub was backing the screws out of the box! So I drilled new, tight, holes and mounted the sub again. This time, instead of the screws backing out, it just broke the heads off!

Well, at least I knew ONE of the problems. So to solve that issue I decided to use bolts instead of screws. This idea solved that issue and kept the sub sealed against the baffle. So that should be it right?

WRONG. Still down 2.5 dB!

So, after some talking with a few people, I decided that maybe my baffle isn't strong enough, even though I NEVER, EVER had problems before.

So, much to my dismay, I decided to brace the baffle using some threaded rod since I couldn't add another layer (box would be too deep). Now I've never been a fan of internal bracing because of added turbulence and whatnot, but right after I did the next burp I KNEW that I had made a change for the better.

After adding the threaded rod, I gained back 2.5 dB!

So the moral of the story is, MAKE SURE YOUR BAFFLE IS STRONG!! No matter what it takes. If it was me, I would start with a double/triple baffle if at all possible. If that's not possible, then 5/8" or larger threaded rod is a must. IMO, do NOT use wood for internal bracing. It's just not solid enough especially when it's thin.

*cliffsnotes* Lost 2 dB out of the blue, baffle was apparently weakened. Braced baffle, gained back 2+ dB. Make sure your shit is strong

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[Max_Power 10+ year member]

good to hear all is well.

 

[tommyk90 5,000+ posts]

good to hear all is well.

Took a few days of messing around with it getting supremely pissed off before I realized that it was something simple.

I mean, if I KNEW that the box needed it and was just lazy, thats a different story. But for a good year it was very consistent. It was only for about the past 2 weeks or so that I saw this huge loss.

I always tell people to make their baffle stronger than they think it needs to be. I guess I need to listen to my own tips. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

 

[reed dollaz 10+ year member]

your boxes are teh ***. i had the pleasure of hearing my first 150+ db truck, in the passenger seat. 6 15" btls in a sealed wall in a pickup. the 6 15's would sound louder than your single 15, correct? because of cone area? although it was sealed, and only did a 152.1, yours being ported and getting 156(?). would it be about the same?

 

[tommyk90 5,000+ posts]

your boxes are teh ***. i had the pleasure of hearing my first 150+ db truck, in the passenger seat. 6 15" btls in a sealed wall in a pickup. the 6 15's would sound louder than your single 15, correct? because of cone area? although it was sealed, and only did a 152.1, yours being ported and getting 156(?). would it be about the same?

Would definitely sound louder IMO.

May not meter as well, but would probably make a better daily driver. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

I have beaten MUCH larger setups with my single 10" and 15" setups, and most of the time while their setup may sound louder, it won't meter as well.

That could be due to a combination of things though. But anyone who doubts that mine doesn't "sound loud" needs to stick their head in during a burp. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[reed dollaz 10+ year member]

oh im sure it is loud. not doubting nothin. just trying to figure the major difference between single sub setups, and multiple sub setups, that meter about the same. never heard a loud single sub vehicle. loudest i heard that was "minimal" was two L7 12's in a tiburon doing low 140's

 

[tommyk90 5,000+ posts]

oh im sure it is loud. not doubting nothin. just trying to figure the major difference between single sub setups, and multiple sub setups, that meter about the same. never heard a loud single sub vehicle. loudest i heard that was "minimal" was two L7 12's in a tiburon doing low 140's

Didn't say you were doubting. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

I'm sure that 6 15" setup was sick though. In the future I would like to do a big sealed setup just for the ease of building and have a wide frequency range so I can play all types of music. Plus sealed is usually easier on subs as well.

I've been drawing up designs in my head for my silverado if that project ever gets off the ground. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/frown.gif.a3531fa0534503350665a1e957861287.gif

 

[05gliguy 10+ year member]

loudest i heard that was "minimal" was two L7 12's in a tiburon doing low 140's

You need to get out more

 

[iagrdshaka 5,000+ posts]

threaded rods FTW //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[Eugenics 5,000+ posts]

I stick my rod into any hole and db's happen.

any hole, doesn't matter whats, or whos.

 

[denim 5,000+ posts]

Good luck this year!

 

[PSturmer 10+ year member]

i had a similar problem last summer. my problem was the box wasnt working, it sounded like free air. i did so much trouble shooting with new box's, new subs, new amps. it turns out i had to swap the pos and neg one of the amps speaker outputs.

 

[lilmaniac2 5,000+ posts]

HMMM who told u to do that tommyk

[21:17] tommyk: i lose

[21:17] tommyk: hicks wins

[21:18] CKHicks: ?

[21:18] tommyk: gained my 2 dB back

[21:18] CKHicks: oh?

[21:18] tommyk: orly

[21:19] CKHicks: how for?

[21:19] tommyk: bracing

[21:19] CKHicks: told u

[21:19] CKHicks: idiot

[21:20] tommyk: i know //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/frown.gif.a3531fa0534503350665a1e957861287.gif

 

[NDMstang65 10+ year member]

pwnd.

 

[DBfan187 5,000+ posts]

common sense > j00