What can I expect if I use a 40hz tune?

[NightScreams 10+ year member]

I'm going to make use of an 8 inch sub. I have been modeling various box designs in BassBox Pro for this sub and it appears the most efficient using a tune port of 40hz. It measures about 114 db's @42hz. If I do 32hz, it's down to 110db's @42hz and 109db's @32hz and raises quite drastically as the frequencies go higher...not something I want....trying to go for a flatter response with a little more output.

Since it's only an 8 inch which won't get loud at all with those lower frequencies anyway and I listen mostly to rock/metal music which I'm pretty sure doesn't go very deep at all....would a 40hz tune still sound ok?

I'm not aiming for top SQ here but I don't want it to sound like crap but I also don't want the output to disappear when I listen to rock music and waste lower frequencies that probably don't even exist.

I know some prefabs tune at 40hz but I'm not sure what to expect. I know it gets boomier as frequencies rise but again it's a small sub so I need to make up for it's size somehow...what do you guys think?

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[TaylorFade 10+ year member]

Have you messed with enclosure volume? Or just tuning?

 

[hispls 5,000+ posts]

Expect to use subsonic filter or you will break it if you attempt to play below tuning. Otherwise, the low E on a bass guitar is 40hz and pretty much no actual instrument plays much lower than that so you're not missing much of anything if you listen to normal music.

 

[TaylorFade 10+ year member]

Expect to use subsonic filter or you will break it if you attempt to play below tuning. Otherwise, the low E on a bass guitar is 40hz and pretty much no actual instrument plays much lower than that so you're not missing much of anything if you listen to normal music.

Come again?

 

[hispls 5,000+ posts]

Come again?

OK, so you're missing the contrabassoon, a few low strings on a harp, and the pedals of the pipe organ.

 

[adulbrich 5,000+ posts]

I like pipe organs and wale songs //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/fyi.gif.9f1f679348da7204ce960cfc74bca8e0.gif

I try to tune as low as possible with my available space

 

[NightScreams 10+ year member]

I don't think Slayer or Tool uses a harp or pipe organs. But I do occasionally listen to smooth jazz which may go lower...but it's all MP3's anyway.

The last time I used this sub was a sealed enclosure and it had no volume at the lower frequencies...basically just turned into a mid bass driver.

Have you messed with enclosure volume? Or just tuning?

Those measurements were at the maximum size I would want...1 ft3. I wouldn't mind going smaller but the effects start to get more drastic. It has this peak of 100hz and the smaller I go or if I go sealed, it falls very quickly as the frequencies go lower.

Here's a pic. This is a sundown sd-2 8 btw. So a 40hz tune is about as flat as I can manage to get this sub plus it has some output to it. I'm afraid if I go 32 hz, a lot of the bass in most of my music will disappear

The white line is 1 ft3 with a 32 hz tune

the red line is with a 40 hz tune

and the purple line is the factory recommended sealed enclosure of .25ft3 for reference

 

[NightScreams 10+ year member]

Also to note. If I used 2 drivers in that 1 ft3 box, my results went down quite a bit considering the recommended ported size is .50 ft3 for each driver

green line is using 2 subs

pink is using just the 1.

Is this because I'm only using the same output power? I'm only simulating 400 watts total which is what I'll be using. Or do these subs just prefer larger volumes than what Sundown recommends?

 

[hispls 5,000+ posts]

I don't think Slayer or Tool uses a harp or pipe organs. But I do occasionally listen to smooth jazz which may go lower...but it's all MP3's anyway.The last time I used this sub was a sealed enclosure and it had no volume at the lower frequencies...basically just turned into a mid bass driver.

Those measurements were at the maximum size I would want...1 ft3. I wouldn't mind going smaller but the effects start to get more drastic. It has this peak of 100hz and the smaller I go or if I go sealed, it falls very quickly as the frequencies go lower.

Here's a pic. This is a sundown sd-2 8 btw. So a 40hz tune is about as flat as I can manage to get this sub plus it has some output to it. I'm afraid if I go 32 hz, a lot of the bass in most of my music will disappear

The white line is 1 ft3 with a 32 hz tune

the red line is with a 40 hz tune

and the purple line is the factory recommended sealed enclosure of .25ft3 for reference

Consider if you tune to 40hz it should still play down to 35-36 and still control the woofer, IMO what you're missing isn't worth the tradeoff of all that ouptut and an in-car response that'll look like a two humped camel.

 

[CSCStang]

I'm going to make use of an 8 inch sub. I have been modeling various box designs in BassBox Pro for this sub and it appears the most efficient using a tune port of 40hz. It measures about 114 db's @42hz. If I do 32hz, it's down to 110db's @42hz and 109db's @32hz and raises quite drastically as the frequencies go higher...not something I want....trying to go for a flatter response with a little more output.
Since it's only an 8 inch which won't get loud at all with those lower frequencies anyway and I listen mostly to rock/metal music which I'm pretty sure doesn't go very deep at all....would a 40hz tune still sound ok?

I'm not aiming for top SQ here but I don't want it to sound like crap but I also don't want the output to disappear when I listen to rock music and waste lower frequencies that probably don't even exist.

I know some prefabs tune at 40hz but I'm not sure what to expect. I know it gets boomier as frequencies rise but again it's a small sub so I need to make up for it's size somehow...what do you guys think?

What 8" sub? If you have the room and proper t/s for it, go with a tline.

 

[MrFoca]

^ that.

 

[NightScreams 10+ year member]

No I'm trying to cut on space. Otherwise I'd use my W6 12 inch. The port will be long enough as it is, which will probably end up being my next challenge. I'm trying to do a box that's only 5 inches thick but long and narrow...I might only be able to fit .60 ft3 enclosure at max if I go that thin. Roughly that would be 33" long x 10" x 5"....not really for sure how I want to approach the design and shape just yet but I'd like to keep some trunk space.

Consider if you tune to 40hz it should still play down to 35-36 and still control the woofer, IMO what you're missing isn't worth the tradeoff of all that ouptut and an in-car response that'll look like a two humped camel.

Well the hump shouldn't be noticeable at all, it's only like a decibel drop. I might go with 36 hz middle ground. But now I'm wondering if I should use 2 subs or just the 1. With 2 I get a nice 3db increase @ 66-80 hz which will be my cutoff. But closer to the tuning I lose 1 db...insignificant but not sure how cabin gain will effect it. I'm still quite indecisive about the whole thing.

 

[noble brown]

Bass box allows you to factor in cabin gain using the car tab. You can customize the effect or use a generic adjustment.

 

[NightScreams 10+ year member]

I just came across some prefabs that are tuned as high as 53 hz noting it's for those wanting punchier bass....i'm surprised it doesn't hurt the subs during bass drops, at least no one is complaining about such and they keep making boxes like that.

Bass box allows you to factor in cabin gain using the car tab. You can customize the effect or use a generic adjustment.

I know, but I wouldn't know what to set any of those settings to plus it's a hatchback. I wouldn't trust a generic setting since the output can vary wildly between vehicles.