Here is a short study on using WinISD to find the best design where size and cost dictate a less than optimum enclosure size

Someone saw my original 'Beer Fridge' subwoofer at a mate's place and was interested in getting one made. He was happy with the output, but wanted a smaller unit.

Luckily, using the Jaycar CS-2274 driver gives some significant advantages over the driver used in the original

• The driver has a lower Vas than the one used in the beer fridge
  
  
• It also has a larger available excursion
  
  
• The client doesn't require the full output this driver

Although this driver can handle 125w, sticking with the 80w amp with it's 4db boost @ 35hz will allow us to do without an add-on hi-pass filter, saving about $200 and 2 days labour

Four different cases were investigated to see what comprimises could be made

The following graphs show the changes as box volume is lowered and tuning adjusted

SPL

60 litre 26hz tuning

50 litre 28hz tuning

40 litre 30hz tuning

30 litre 32hz tuning

(note the spread at 30hz)

Vent air velocity

All OK at under 10 m/sec

Cone excursion

All OK at below Xmax + 10%

Final design

Selecting a working volume of 50l and ports tuned to 28hz gives an almost identical curve to the original 90l speaker, with a peak output of 105db as shown in this WinISD simulation

SPL

Case study 80w no filter

Original Beer Fridge

Optimum with 125w & Filter (Sidewinder)

Two 86mm ports keep the air velocity below 10m/sec, with a port length of 823mm, which can be accommodated using some bends

Using Boxnotes to calculate dimensions and resonances gives the following info:

The ports will occupy an additional 9.7 litres. Rounding up by 2.3 litres for the driver, amp and bracing, gives a total box volume of 62 litres.

Settling on a 700mm height to match floorstanding mains, and keeping the width to 300mm, boxnotes informs me that for 19mm MDF, the depth will be 400mm

The Port resonance will be at 208hz and locating the driver 300mm down from the top gives the first enclosure standing wave at 225hz (driver to bottom)

With these resonances well above the Dolby LFE cutoff of 120hz, this alignment should work well for home theater.

Postscript: The client has given the go-ahead for this speaker and It's built - See the Snorky page

It is possible to arrive at this page from several locations

Please use your browser's Back button to return to the previous section