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DIY Driver and Amp ???'s

508 Views 8 Replies 5 Participants Last post by Chunk Lite, Dec 29, 2005

Chunk Lite

Discussion Starter · Dec 28, 2005

I'm looking to piss off the wife one more time and build a new Sub. If I'm going to take as much heat as I think I will, I'd like to get the most from my build. Therefore, after scrounging the depths of the audio forums for hours on end I am left with a few questions...

Before I start I want to state my case.

-My room size is approx. 2500^3.

-I don't care how large this thing becomes, though my ceiling is only seven feet high so Steve's monster would be more of a support column than a free standing sub.

-I would like to stay between $500-$600 for driver, amp and build materials.

-I will be using it mostly for HT, therefore the lower it goes the better. Looking at a Sonotube design since Bob Villa would be ill if he saw me use a router or saw, the less woodworking the better.

And finally my questions...

1. What driver for this application? Trying to stay around $200-$250, therefore I've been looking at the Adire Tempest, TC Sounds TC2+, or waiting it out for the new Ascendant drivers? Any other options? Can all of these be used in a down firing arangement?

2. Driver size.. will 15" do it or should I look for an 18"?

3. It seems most Sono builds here have been passive designs with a seperate amp... say a Crown or something of the like. Are these better or would a Plate amp be just as good... say a Bash 500W or so?

That's it for now... this driver selection is driving me nuts... any help you all can provide would be much appreciated. Thanks.

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Volenti

· #2 · Dec 28, 2005

I would suggest a TL (Transmission Line or quarter wave tuned pipe) enclosure, it's essentially a sono sub but with the "ported" end left open, it's tuned by the length and (partially) diameter of pipe you use.

http://www.diysubwoofers.org/tls/

For a 15'' sub a pipe of ~17'' in dia and ~12' long will be quite impressive, not to mention quick and easy to build (compared to conventional enclosure)

note, the line doesn't need to be vertical, lying along a wall works fine.

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wje

· #3 · Dec 28, 2005

You might also get a better response from the "DIY" section of this forum. Ideally, the subwoofers forum that you posted under is designed for the discussion of pre-built subs.

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Chunk Lite

Discussion Starter · #4 · Dec 28, 2005

Thanks for your responses...

Volenti, I had never seen a tl sub or speaker, though I've spent a few hours on the given web site, thanks for the heads up.

And I'll give the other forum a try.

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SteveCallas

· #5 · Dec 28, 2005

Quote:

-I don't care how large this thing becomes, though my ceiling is only seven feet high so Steve's monster would be more of a support column than a free standing sub.

You can go wider and shorter. There is a member, patrickio, who built a 40" diameter sonosub using an Avalanche 18 and it is something like 3' tall. Also, being this close already, I would definitely wait a bit longer and see what AA has coming out.

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DrJon

· #6 · Dec 28, 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveCallas
You can go wider and shorter. There is a member, patrickio, who built a 40" diameter sonosub using an Avalanche 18 and it is something like 3' tall. Also, being this close already, I would definitely wait a bit longer and see what AA has coming out.

Be careful if you go wider. I had a heck of a time finding 28" tube, however 30" seems to be pretty plentiful. But as Steve pointed out to me, once you get wider than about 28", you start to encounter troubles getting things through a door.

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Chunk Lite

Discussion Starter · #7 · Dec 29, 2005

I had thought about a very lage diameter sono, but actually had never considered fitting it through doorways or down my thin stairwell to the basement, thanks for the heads up.

I think I've finally decided on the new AA subs since their website says a few will be available next week or so.

According to this post by Chris in October these are the two subs I will be looking at.

Assault Series

- 2.5 inch VC

- Dual 6.25 inch magnet stack

Driver sizes: 10, 12, 15, 18

Price point: ~$150

Arsenal Series

- 2 inch voice coil.

- Triple 6.25 inch magnet stack.

- Bottomless design.

- Extremely flat frequency response.

Driver sizes: 10, 12, 15

Price point: ~$200

Would one be better over the other given these specs for home thater use?

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