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Under couch enclosure (not the sub), has it been done?

1044 Views 14 Replies 7 Participants Last post by BrutalBodyShots, Feb 25, 2014

BrutalBodyShots

Discussion Starter · Feb 22, 2014

Has anyone ever considered this for a living room DIY application where space constraints limit enclosure size?

I'm not talking about putting a sub under a couch, but rather an enclosure where a significant (but not all) portion of it is under a couch, out of site but making good use of the precious volume under it?

Most couches have 3-4" of unused space under them, give or take. This space could be increased another inch or two if the legs were lengthened any number of ways.

Taking a standard sized couch of 7-8' in length with ~2' of depth between the legs and the above mentioned height of about 4 usable inches (internal) one could achieve nearly 5 cubic feet of space by utilizing an under-the-couch enclosure.

The actual visible portion of the enclosure would therefore have to be at one side of the couch (almost like an end table) and would only need to be large enough to accommodate the driver, or any additional volume above and beyond the 5 cubic feet obtained under the couch.

I'll be the first to admit that I know nothing of the internal mechanics of a sub enclosure; perhaps a long 4" section of volume would completely ruin the sound or something, although I've read that volume is volume regardless especially if we're talking sealed applications.

Perhaps not the most practical thought ever, but I thought it was interesting considering that living rooms usually have space or WAF constraints.

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urapnes1

· #2 · Feb 22, 2014

there is more than 3-4 inches under most couches if you start going up into the spaces below the cushions. You need to get creative to get around all the bracing, but it is not too bad. You could probably get 4-5 cubic feet pretty easy, and without raising the couch.

Approach it by building the box to fit the tallest parts under the cushions...but be sure to leave space between the cusion and the top of the box for when you sit. Once the box is built designed, you start cutting out where the braces go and then start adding u-shaped troughs to seal up the areas that you cut out for the braces...

Here look:

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BrutalBodyShots

Discussion Starter · #3 · Feb 22, 2014

Using that method significantly more enclosure volume could be obtained; I'd guess 7-8 cubic feet. Interesting idea!

I'm curious if anyone has yet tried something like this, and if so how the results were.

A9X-308

· #4 · Feb 22, 2014

Quote:
Originally Posted by BrutalBodyShots /t/1519176/under-couch-enclosure-not-the-sub-has-it-been-done/0_50#post_24392404

I'm curious if anyone has yet tried something like this, and if so how the results were.

It would be exactly the same as having the same driver/enclosure immediately behind or beside the couch.

BrutalBodyShots

Discussion Starter · #5 · Feb 22, 2014

No it wouldn't. In fact it would be nothing like it at all as 75% of the enclosure would be UNDER the couch which takes up zero floor space that isn't already taken up. The portion of the enclosure that would be next to or behind the couch would be a fraction of the size that it would normally be if this method was used.

Not sure how you think it's the same?

meeks32

· #6 · Feb 22, 2014

I would assume he meant the sound results would be the same.

A9X-308

· #7 · Feb 22, 2014

Quote:
Originally Posted by BrutalBodyShots /t/1519176/under-couch-enclosure-not-the-sub-has-it-been-done/0_50#post_24393510

Not sure how you think it's the same?

As meeks said, it would perform the same. Under/beside/behind makes no difference.

BrutalBodyShots

Discussion Starter · #8 · Feb 23, 2014

Got it, I didn't read it as if we were talking performance.

Is there any rule when it comes to enclosure volume that suggests one should veer away from having a large portion of the enclosure volume consisting of a dimension of only several inches? Is it the same rule for sealed verses ported applications?

A9X-308

· #9 · Feb 23, 2014

Quote:
Originally Posted by BrutalBodyShots /t/1519176/under-couch-enclosure-not-the-sub-has-it-been-done/0_50#post_24395449

Got it, I didn't read it as if we were talking performance.

Is there any rule when it comes to enclosure volume that suggests one should veer away from having a large portion of the enclosure volume consisting of a dimension of only several inches? Is it the same rule for sealed verses ported applications?

Volume is volume. The only difference with ported is you need to place the port somewhere and account for the volume it takes.

rhapsodee

· #10 · Feb 24, 2014

Quote:
Originally Posted by A9X-308 /t/1519176/under-couch-enclosure-not-the-sub-has-it-been-done#post_24395513

Volume is volume. The only difference with ported is you need to place the port somewhere and account for the volume it takes.

May want to consider the dimensions of the enclosure. A long and thin box with a BR port will behave like a mass loaded transmission line,instead of Just a standard bass reflex. In fact many BR tower speakers are inadvertently MLTL,not Just BR..

BrutalBodyShots

Discussion Starter · #11 · Feb 24, 2014

Perhaps such an enclosure would be better suited for a sealed design then.

Due to the additional volume obtained one could likely design a sealed enclosure with enough volume to house dual opposed drivers in the portion of the enclosure that's visible at the end of the couch that would otherwise only be large enough to accommodate 1 driver.

popalock

· #12 · Feb 24, 2014

Cool idea.

This thought had crossed my mind a few weeks ago when I was attempting to figure out how I was going to fit two 24's behind my couch in my living room without it being absurdly obtrusive. By taking this approach I can actually build a six 6" riser under by couch to accommodate for the extra cubic volume needed.

The only downside to this would be if I wanted to re-arrange my den to a different configuration....hummm.

This might be better suited for my HT as I don't move things around all that much and I was looking to build a riser eventually anyway. By taking this approach and having all of my nearfield subs coupled with the riser / firing into my HT seating the tactical feel should improve exponentially!

You guys got my wheels turning for sure...

Might have me a spring project yet!

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BrutalBodyShots

Discussion Starter · #13 · Feb 24, 2014

That sounds like a great project idea!

My vision had only considered having the visible part of the enclosure to either side of the couch, but it could also work of course with that portion of the enclosure being behind the couch. The driver(s) would have to be rear-firing, into the wall but the depth of that portion of the enclosure would only have to be as deep as the mounting depth of the driver which is significantly less than any standard dimension on a "typical" enclosure.

Of course using this method, a few extra inches could be added so that the driver(s) could be front-firing into the rear of the couch if enough space was left between the driver(s) and the back of the couch for excursion, grills, etc.

jpmst3

· #14 · Feb 24, 2014

Yes, but if you are building the enclosure out of ~3/4" ply or MDF, two or three inches under the couch isn't much when the wood itself is 1.5" thick. I think my section is only about two inches off the floor.

Unless you are going to raise the couch somehow, it doesn't sound like it would be worth it.

BrutalBodyShots

Discussion Starter · #15 · Feb 25, 2014

That's true; depending on the amount of space under the couch certainly this option isn't for everyone. The thing is, with there being so much square footage under an average 7-8' couch, it doesn't take very much height to equate to substantial volume.

Every inch of height available outside of the 1.5" of MDF equates to roughly 1.33 ft3 of volume. 2" = 2.67 ft3, 3" = 4 ft3 etc. And that's volume not counting any additional space that can be picked up in the 3 cavities where the seats are as someone earlier in this thread suggested.

For those that only have say 2" available, one could add a 1-2" thick piece of wood to the bottom of the 4 legs of the couch to raise the couch however much height that would be desired to obtain the desired amount of enclosure volume.

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