Should I add a sub? Well the real truth is that I've finished my job here in the Philippines but our travel people can't get me a flight home until Monday at least not without spending a couple more $$ than the cost of keeping me here so I'm screwed. So, bored, sitting here in the hotel I'm thinking, what ridiculous thing could I do for my HT next? Add a sub?
I have virtually unlimited attic space surrounding the theater. If I had utilized the available attic space to add additional rooms to the upper floor of the house I could have easily added more than 1000 sq ft. I chose instead to keep the theatre surround by attic to make after the fact cable routing easier and to eliminate the possibility of disturbing the neighbors. So, IB, enormous sealed or ported baffles are all possibilities.
My opinion is that SQ at low frequency is obtained best in the following order. OB, IB, Large sealed box, Large ported box. Small boxes and BP drop below the acceptable SQ threshold.
The target frequency band would be 18 Hz or perhaps 16 Hz and below with sufficient output to maintain 120 dB at least an octave lower with low distortion. If I had $30K laying around I would go with a couple of those fan things but I don't so I need a cheaper alternative. Given that this drops us below the frequency band of any music, SQ requirements are somewhat diminished so maybe I can consider the large ported option since it should be the most efficient means of doing this.
Anyway, while I'm sitting here doing nothing maybe I'll model some drivers to see what's possible. Maybe I could even utilize the attic space to make some kind of huge horn? I guess there are a number of ways of going about it. I'm not sure I will ever do any of them, it just depends on what intriguing ideas come up and of course on finding sufficient time at home to do it. I expect to have the surrounds finished and in place this coming week which will finally make the theatre fully operational. I still have all the cosmetic stuff to do however so if a sub project gets added to the list it may be awhile before it materializes.
mk
I have virtually unlimited attic space surrounding the theater. If I had utilized the available attic space to add additional rooms to the upper floor of the house I could have easily added more than 1000 sq ft. I chose instead to keep the theatre surround by attic to make after the fact cable routing easier and to eliminate the possibility of disturbing the neighbors. So, IB, enormous sealed or ported baffles are all possibilities.
My opinion is that SQ at low frequency is obtained best in the following order. OB, IB, Large sealed box, Large ported box. Small boxes and BP drop below the acceptable SQ threshold.
The target frequency band would be 18 Hz or perhaps 16 Hz and below with sufficient output to maintain 120 dB at least an octave lower with low distortion. If I had $30K laying around I would go with a couple of those fan things but I don't so I need a cheaper alternative. Given that this drops us below the frequency band of any music, SQ requirements are somewhat diminished so maybe I can consider the large ported option since it should be the most efficient means of doing this.
Anyway, while I'm sitting here doing nothing maybe I'll model some drivers to see what's possible. Maybe I could even utilize the attic space to make some kind of huge horn? I guess there are a number of ways of going about it. I'm not sure I will ever do any of them, it just depends on what intriguing ideas come up and of course on finding sufficient time at home to do it. I expect to have the surrounds finished and in place this coming week which will finally make the theatre fully operational. I still have all the cosmetic stuff to do however so if a sub project gets added to the list it may be awhile before it materializes.
mk
....no way to control it. My HT room has ported and sealed subs.....its different but still great.
