Pls forgive any noob questions, I've never built a speaker, but I am curiously interested in building a small sub for an office/small room setup.
I would appreciate feedback on a low-cost build I've been toying with theoretically. I know there are numerous factors to consider, but I'm playing around with these rather fixed constraints:
First of all, does it make sense to use 2x of these drivers (in parallel) to compensate the limited Xmax (~3.5mm)?
I've been playing around a bit with both winisd and vituixCAD, the numbers are a approximate at this point. I have landed on a ported enclosure ~25l, tuned to ~38Hz with F3 ~45Hz. Winisd tells me I am within max excursion at 30w with SPL at 102db
Going to a lower F3 seems to push max excursion beyond limits I think - but I'm not sure how these power levels translate to usable volume...
Enclosure would be down-firing, vented to the front to make it as compact and flexible as possible?
I'm not looking for perfection, but just a decent sub for mainstream music. Is this a project worth pursuing?
Stats copied from VituixCAD:
STATISTICS
f3 44.3 Hz
f6 36.7 Hz
f10 31.3 Hz
Zmin 3.7 Ohm @ 5 Hz
Zmax 28.2 Ohm @ 19.2 Hz
GDmax 13.1 ms @ 34.1 Hz
XmaxC 5.2 mm @ 5 Hz
VmaxR 13.1 m/s @ 31.7 Hz
Pmax 2.1 VA @ 5 Hz
-------------------------------------------------------------
DRIVER: Dayton Audio DC160-8, 2 pcs in parallel
n0 0.52 % Reference efficiency
SPL 89.3 dB/W Sensitivity
USPL 93.1 dB/2.83 Sensitivity
EBP 94.4 Efficiency bandwidth product
Dd 13.1 cm Effective diameter of driver
Vd 85.1 cm^3 Maximum linear volume of displacement
Cas 3.47E-7 m^5/N Acoustic equivalent of Cms
Mas 6.26E1 kg/m^4 Acoustic equivalent of Mms+Mme
Ras 3.82E3 Ns/m^5 Acoustic equivalent of Rms
Rae 3.72E4 Ns/m^5 Acoustic equivalent of Re+Rg
-------------------------------------------------------------
BOX REAR 1: Vb=25.0 l, Ql=15.0
Fb 38.0 Hz System resonance frequency
Cab 1.77E-7 m^5/N Acoustic compliance of air in enclosure
Rab 2.37E2 Ns/m^5 Acoustic resistance due to absorption
Ral 3.55E5 Ns/m^5 Acoustic resistance due to leakage
-------------------------------------------------------------
VENT REAR 1: Dv=4.0 cm, Lv=7.3 cm
Sp 12.7 cm^2 Effective area of port
Map 9.91E1 kg/m^4 Acoustic mass of air in port
Rap 2.37E2 Ns/m^5 Acoustic resistance of port losses
I would appreciate feedback on a low-cost build I've been toying with theoretically. I know there are numerous factors to consider, but I'm playing around with these rather fixed constraints:
- Donor plate amp I've acquired: 100w/4ohm with variable highpass 150-40. Unknown brand (model number says SW8030?).
- 2x Dayton DC160-8 (because I can get them for near 1/2 price)
- Compact
- Shoestring budget
- General music listening, preferring clean bass over pounding bass and to complement dynamic range for 90db 120Hz bookshelves (Jamo E500)
First of all, does it make sense to use 2x of these drivers (in parallel) to compensate the limited Xmax (~3.5mm)?
I've been playing around a bit with both winisd and vituixCAD, the numbers are a approximate at this point. I have landed on a ported enclosure ~25l, tuned to ~38Hz with F3 ~45Hz. Winisd tells me I am within max excursion at 30w with SPL at 102db
Going to a lower F3 seems to push max excursion beyond limits I think - but I'm not sure how these power levels translate to usable volume...
Enclosure would be down-firing, vented to the front to make it as compact and flexible as possible?
I'm not looking for perfection, but just a decent sub for mainstream music. Is this a project worth pursuing?
Stats copied from VituixCAD:
STATISTICS
f3 44.3 Hz
f6 36.7 Hz
f10 31.3 Hz
Zmin 3.7 Ohm @ 5 Hz
Zmax 28.2 Ohm @ 19.2 Hz
GDmax 13.1 ms @ 34.1 Hz
XmaxC 5.2 mm @ 5 Hz
VmaxR 13.1 m/s @ 31.7 Hz
Pmax 2.1 VA @ 5 Hz
-------------------------------------------------------------
DRIVER: Dayton Audio DC160-8, 2 pcs in parallel
n0 0.52 % Reference efficiency
SPL 89.3 dB/W Sensitivity
USPL 93.1 dB/2.83 Sensitivity
EBP 94.4 Efficiency bandwidth product
Dd 13.1 cm Effective diameter of driver
Vd 85.1 cm^3 Maximum linear volume of displacement
Cas 3.47E-7 m^5/N Acoustic equivalent of Cms
Mas 6.26E1 kg/m^4 Acoustic equivalent of Mms+Mme
Ras 3.82E3 Ns/m^5 Acoustic equivalent of Rms
Rae 3.72E4 Ns/m^5 Acoustic equivalent of Re+Rg
-------------------------------------------------------------
BOX REAR 1: Vb=25.0 l, Ql=15.0
Fb 38.0 Hz System resonance frequency
Cab 1.77E-7 m^5/N Acoustic compliance of air in enclosure
Rab 2.37E2 Ns/m^5 Acoustic resistance due to absorption
Ral 3.55E5 Ns/m^5 Acoustic resistance due to leakage
-------------------------------------------------------------
VENT REAR 1: Dv=4.0 cm, Lv=7.3 cm
Sp 12.7 cm^2 Effective area of port
Map 9.91E1 kg/m^4 Acoustic mass of air in port
Rap 2.37E2 Ns/m^5 Acoustic resistance of port losses
Hi Ed
I think Dayton DC160-8 is more a woofer than a subwoofer, and as you point out it has very limited Xmax ... most 6.5 inch will do 5,5-6mm.
My suggestion would be the Reckhorn D-165 if you live in europe. It's a very capable little sub, super for a small office setup.
It has an Xmax of 8mm and takes 100W no problem.
For HiFi or HT you'll of course need more than one, or something bigger 🙂
I think Dayton DC160-8 is more a woofer than a subwoofer, and as you point out it has very limited Xmax ... most 6.5 inch will do 5,5-6mm.
My suggestion would be the Reckhorn D-165 if you live in europe. It's a very capable little sub, super for a small office setup.
It has an Xmax of 8mm and takes 100W no problem.
For HiFi or HT you'll of course need more than one, or something bigger 🙂
That Reckhorn D-165 looks like a pretty good little subwoofer driver.
I was going to recommend the Dayton Audio DCS-165, but that only has about 6mm Xmax.
It's a pity that the Reckhorn D-165 isn't available in the US. Or is it?
I was going to recommend the Dayton Audio DCS-165, but that only has about 6mm Xmax.
It's a pity that the Reckhorn D-165 isn't available in the US. Or is it?
Thanks for the feedback!
The Bittie Boom looks intriguing, but requires a radiator and that's out of the minimal budget. The DCS-165 is also more than I plan to spend (in australia and prices are steep).
I've deliberated and decided against the idea of the dual 160-8. Although I don't intend to use this sub at high volumes and xmax probably not a main concern, it would be a shame to waste the potential power of the plate amp on those.
I've decided to go for a 8" build instead. I have a found cheap, half decent woofer (Response CW2196) that appears to suit a 25L cabinet. This size seems to be reasonable compact size which I could accommodate a bit more expensive Dayton SD215A-88 if the CW2196 sucks. This is will be my first attempt at something like this - upgraditis will probably kick in at some point :-D
The Bittie Boom looks intriguing, but requires a radiator and that's out of the minimal budget. The DCS-165 is also more than I plan to spend (in australia and prices are steep).
I've deliberated and decided against the idea of the dual 160-8. Although I don't intend to use this sub at high volumes and xmax probably not a main concern, it would be a shame to waste the potential power of the plate amp on those.
I've decided to go for a 8" build instead. I have a found cheap, half decent woofer (Response CW2196) that appears to suit a 25L cabinet. This size seems to be reasonable compact size which I could accommodate a bit more expensive Dayton SD215A-88 if the CW2196 sucks. This is will be my first attempt at something like this - upgraditis will probably kick in at some point :-D
Yeah, came to post my $0.02 worth and one was the ~10W/driver peak limitation at just a little bit over Xmax that per HR requires a ~5.38 cm vent dia. [dual ~3.81 cm dia.], so either the sim uses even less peak power or will have a very high mach speed.
GM
edit: Note that as power goes up for a given box size the vent gets bigger/longer and can have more volume [Vb] than the box, especially if tuning lower.
Search 'cw2196' here for more threads/info including some measured specs: https://www.diyaudio.com/forums/loudspeakers/
GM
edit: Note that as power goes up for a given box size the vent gets bigger/longer and can have more volume [Vb] than the box, especially if tuning lower.
Search 'cw2196' here for more threads/info including some measured specs: https://www.diyaudio.com/forums/loudspeakers/
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