Why people hate 4th orders?

[VWBobby 10+ year member]

The higher the ratio, the narrower the band, and also the higher the output. 20db+ gains are not unheard of. I suspect the reason the power handling is a concern is from overexertion of the sub . Some subs will exceed the recommended xmax/xmech below the tuning freq, which could damage the sub.

Even though this link is on the SMD site, it's a pretty good basic write-up:

http://www.stevemeadedesigns.com/board/topic/126478-basics-of-a-4th-order-bandpass-enclosure/

 

[Popwarhomie 5,000+ posts]

Not trying to be a jerk! but this seems obvious to me. I'd be impressed if 2 - 15's were way louder than 2- 18's equally powered.

Mine were on a single 2200 at the time as well as his. I'm saying I don't see the point in a huge 4th order with two 15s if I can get louder with 13 cubes and two 18s.

 

[Chipmunk2k3 10+ year member]

^^^

Understood but I think you being louder has more to do with cone area. That's all I was saying. But it could be poor design.

 

[Dmac1991]

My main gripe with 4th orders is how EVERYONE wants to do one and thinks they are the end all-be all of enclosures. Throwing subs that are nowhere near optimal into them and then going around spouting "___________ sub" works in 4th orders.

Although they do work if you can get them perfectly right. They take ALOT less power to get loud. Dude on here hit a 147 or so with less than 500 watts on two SA 12s

 

[LosIsATool 5,000+ posts]

If you want a blow dryer without using way to much cone area get a 4th. If you want a burp box, get a 4th. If you want it all equal, don't get a 4th

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

Mine were on a single 2200 at the time as well as his. I'm saying I don't see the point in a huge 4th order with two 15s if I can get louder with 13 cubes and two 18s.

Same loudness but with a **** ton more bandwith and SQ

 

[hispls 5,000+ posts]

Dude on here hit a 147 or so with less than 500 watts on two SA 12s

Of course he was using a Sundown 3500 and IIRC that was in a king cab pickup. The "500W" thing was not particularly honest on it's face and I'm quite confident he does not have any numbers posted with any SPL competition organization so verifying even that would be difficult.

OP. Unless you have some really compelling reason to try to use a 4th order or just have the money/time/materials to test it out for the sake of testing, don't bother.

 

[Popwarhomie 5,000+ posts]

^^^
Understood but I think you being louder has more to do with cone area. That's all I was saying. But it could be poor design.

Honestly I don't know that much about 4th orders. I just figured the whole point in the huge box and all the work was to be louder with less cone area.

 

[Boominburban 10+ year member]

4th's are great for competition ... you can build 10+ db of gain into one rather easily with the right subs ... But if you are building a daily driver system, just go with a T-line or ported ....

Unless of course you are just looking to go flashy with plexi and mirrors ect ... you can make a good flat 4th, but by the time you get the response flat, you usually could have gotten better curve and spl from a ported ....

 

[Chipmunk2k3 10+ year member]

4th's are great for competition ... you can build 10+ db of gain into one rather easily with the right subs ... But if you are building a daily driver system, just go with a T-line or ported ....
Unless of course you are just looking to go flashy with plexi and mirrors ect ... you can make a good flat 4th, but by the time you get the response flat, you usually could have gotten better curve and spl from a ported ....

I swear by 4th orders but I'm In the process of seeking that better curve you speak of. I'm Retiring my 4th. it's being replaced by 2 Dcon's ported.http://www.caraudio.com/forums/che-ryman-custom-enclosures/613708-ssa-enclosure.html

And I still got the flashy plexi and mirrors LOL thanks Cherryman

 

[Lschevelle 10+ year member]

Do you guys know any good designers thats good at 4th orders?

 

[murph 10+ year member]

Do you guys know any good designers thats good at 4th orders?

Mobile Enclosures

 

[The Camry]

So if i wanted to go all out SQL with an XCON... im taking it that 4th isnt the way to go and ported is?

 

[Dmac1991]

Do you guys know any good designers thats good at 4th orders?

unless you plan on taking your car to the designer and letting them model the 4th in the car, it'd be pretty hard to design a 4th w/o it

 

[Lschevelle 10+ year member]

^^^ why is that necessary?