What happens if an enclosure is too big?

[sephiroth619 10+ year member]

Here's my dilemma.

Hooked up my system today. I recently built my first box, let's just say I'm not the greatest with my hands. As my subwoofer was playing I felt for air leaks, and pretty much the entire enclosure has air leaks, top to bottom. I made the mistake of putting carpet on the wood before screwing them together. Plus, I didn't use any glue.

Now, I'm faced with the fact that my sub sounds like complete utter shit. My installer has no idea how to fix it. He's convinced that my enclosure is too big however I think that it has more to do with the airleaks.

My subwoofer is the e12a. I've heard the sub before in a small sealed box. I fell in love with it immediately. At this point, I'm just trying to get that sound back. Oh and the box that I recently built for it is 2.2 cu ft sealed. The sub itself has been in numerous enclosures. First box 1.1 cu ft sealed. Second box 1.8 cu ft ported box tuned to 36 hz, which I later sealed up the port. I loved the way it sounded in this box. I was convinced that this sub craves large enclosures. Which is what led me to build this new 2.2 cu ft enclosure.

You guys have any suggestions? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

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[avs20 10+ year member]

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[i3abyjay25 10+ year member]

you said its a sealed box correct.. just take out the sub., reseal /glue/caulk the inside as good as you can,.. ive always just used liquid nails in a caulk gun but they also have them in a squeeze tube you could use..

 

[Nikuk 5,000+ posts]

you said its a sealed box correct.. just take out the sub., reseal /glue/caulk the inside as good as you can,.. ive always just used liquid nails in a caulk gun but they also have them in a squeeze tube you could use..

+1.

2.2 net sealed isnt necessarily too big. It depends on the sound that you like.

Caulk the hell out of the seams, let the caulk cure before you test it out. Very important.

-Nick

 

[3.5Max6spd 10+ year member]

enclosure too big + too much power = blown sub

the bigger you go, you minimize the drivers mechanical power handling-be careful

 

[Nikuk 5,000+ posts]

yea, but it's an eD. it's bound to let go regardless. LoL

 

[g30ffr3y 10+ year member]

thats a pretty big box youve got there...

my 15A box is 2.2 ported @ 30hz or so...

and thats for a 15"... ported...

a 12" sealed should be smaller than

that... my 12o.44 boxes are 1.6^3 sealed...

_______________________________________________

not funny there nick on the eD comment... grrr... they are

good subs man... really good...

 

[sephiroth619 10+ year member]

Yeah, seriously though. Soundwise, it's just not there with this enclosure. Something just seems to be too much.

 

[Nikuk 5,000+ posts]

Yeah, seriously though. Soundwise, it's just not there with this enclosure. Something just seems to be too much.

The fact that the backwave is blowing out of the box and cancelling the front wave?? Possibly??

 

[req 5,000+ posts]

Yeah, seriously though. Soundwise, it's just not there with this enclosure. Something just seems to be too much.

i think the fact there there is NO GLUE, its practically a REALLY HIGH tuned ported box because there are so many leaks.

go to the hardware store, pick up some fiberglass resin, and soak the **** out of the inside of the box (carpet and all)

GET ALL THE SEAMS.

if you stop the air leaks, i can almost guarantee your mind will change. it is the leaks thats making it sound terrible. seal the frekkin box. its not called a 'sealed box' for shits and giggles. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/yumyum.gif.0556df42231b304b9c995aefd13928a8.gif

 

[Ray21 10+ year member]

I don't see anything wrong with a big sealed box. More efficient, will play deeper and have better transient response.

 

[req 5,000+ posts]

I don't see anything wrong with a big sealed box. More efficient, will play deeper and have better transient response.

his problem is that its not really sealed - not that its too big.

has anyone read the part where he said;

I made the mistake of putting carpet on the wood before screwing them together. Plus, I didn't use any glue.

or was it just me?

 

[Ray21 10+ year member]

his problem is that its not really sealed - not that its too big.
has anyone read the part where he said;

or was it just me?

I was referring to this post:

enclosure too big + too much power = blown sub
the bigger you go, you minimize the drivers mechanical power handling-be careful

I know its not sealed up right and didn't comment on it since you guys all gave good recommendations. And on the carpet thing I was just thinking WTF? //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/confused.gif.e820e0216602db4765798ac39d28caa9.gif

 

[req 5,000+ posts]

oh sorry mang //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

but sometimes a bigger box is not sutible for lots of drivers. anywho - sorry about that, didnt mean to sound off there. didnt realize you were replying to somone elses post, and not the thread topic.

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[Ray21 10+ year member]

oh sorry mang //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif
but sometimes a bigger box is not sutible for lots of drivers. anywho - sorry about that, didnt mean to sound off there. didnt realize you were replying to somone elses post, and not the thread topic.

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

No problemo. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif