DIY Subwoofer for home theater

fackamato · Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 12:52 am Post subject: DIY Subwoofer for home theater

I'm building a new subwoofer for my dad, since his last one broke (it only plays when at loud volume, dead at "normal" volumes).

I have been looking for the driver for the subwoofer for a couple of days, and I've settled with the Exodus Shiva-X. I had previously settled for the Perrles 830500 (308SWR XXSL), but the x-max of the Shiva-X, and it's other parameters are just in another league, for this application.

The subwoofer will be used mainly for playing movies, but equally much playing music. For starters, here's the data of the Exodus Shiva-X driver, which can be found (_very_ cheap, if you live in the US of A) at http://www.diycable.com/ :

Mean Machine · Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 1:06 am Post subject:

A meter deep? That is huge. Wink

I don't think that much of subwoofers, as I'm more in to stereo listening, but I know one thing; if you can make it look like the Infinity Cascade woofer, you're a genious. Smile

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fackamato · Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 1:12 am Post subject:

Yeah it's quite big, but that's required to get good SPL at such low frequencies (unless you do a passive radiator box).

Hah, I forgot to mention what was going to power the sub. For now, it's going to be a MDS PH-200, it's specified to push 400W RMS at 4ohms, but I'm guessing that it's a bit lower than that actually. We'll see if I think I need more power Smile

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super dank · Member Joined: 04 May 2006 Posts: 610

Sweet

I hope things in the room don't rattle too much Smile

fackamato · Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 12:23 am Post subject:

We've (me and my dad) now built it... I'm not going to express my opinions of its performance until tomorrow, when it can be placed where it's supposed to be... stay tuned Razz

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fackamato · Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2008 8:01 pm Post subject:

Pictures:

I have a lot more dampening in the box now. It plays deeeeep, I played some Infected Mushroom - Avratz and it shakes the house on that last note (49s into the song), it's 15Hz I think. Overall I'm pleased, but I want more sound pressure! So thinking of getting another amp.. and also finetune the box a bit, there's some things with the pipe like sealing and stuff.
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Delph1 · Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2008 10:44 pm Post subject:

Cool build Smile

//Andreas
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DragooNArT · Member Joined: 18 Sep 2008 Posts: 8

I'm planning on building something similar and i want to see what is the result from this build before doing it since i've only got one shot with the driver and amp(i'm importing them from usa to bulgaria since the only quality drivers around here are visaton's)
First of all is 300W enough to drive the sub and if i build a 150l enclosure when will the port start chuffing?
I'm also interested in the experience that the sub provides,is it body vibrating etc. at low frequencies?And can i bottom it out considering that i'll be using a 300W amp?Oh and if you're able please post some videos or some more shots pleeeeasee

p.s:sorry for the quantity of questions xD

fackamato · Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2008 7:15 am Post subject:

DragooNArT · Member Joined: 18 Sep 2008 Posts: 8

I've decided on the 140l 4"wide17"long port from Kevin's application sheet
and since i'm importing it from USA to EU i need atleast the amp to be light(driver is something like 14 kilos) and i've settled on the oaudio 300w amp but i can't see if it has a high pass filter anywhere.I'm only considering it cuz it weights 3-4lbs and it has a 220v switch

fackamato · Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2008 9:13 am Post subject:

DragooNArT · Member Joined: 18 Sep 2008 Posts: 8

I'm afraid that this will happen after new years cuz thats when my uncle's coming back to bulgaria(poor man carrying all these heavy things)
Will the 150l box and one 4" port cause chuffing with 500w ?Because i saw a much bigger box with two 4" ports on Kevin's forum but i neither have the room nor i want such a heavy sub.If i gather enough money to pay my uncle till new years i'll buy the 500w oaudio which has a variable highpass and a one-band equalizer which is definately a good thing and there have been a test with it which proves that the sub lives up to its specs + it's not a heavy one(BASH technology o.O)

P.s:i'll definetely post pics all over the forums when i start DIYing xD

fackamato · Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2008 1:32 pm Post subject:

Kevin's design assumes a 4" port, using a 500W amp. You won't experience chuffing. Smile

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DragooNArT · Member Joined: 18 Sep 2008 Posts: 8

Glad to hear it!Then maybe i'll settle for the 500w amp xD
Btw i would like to see some more photos or even better videos of your shiva pleeeeeeasee Very Happy

i wanna feel the love Heart

fackamato · Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2008 2:16 pm Post subject:

DragooNArT · Member Joined: 18 Sep 2008 Posts: 8

Oh that would be nice.So its your dads huh Very Happy

The one i'll be building will be personally mine xD i'll be taking it with me when i go to a collage next year

fackamato · Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2008 2:38 pm Post subject:

Yeah, I designed and picked the parts for it, and we built it together. I'll build my own next year Smile

, with the Maelstrom-X (18") and a Behringer EP2500 amp (~2000 watts @ 4 ohm, bridged).
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DragooNArT · Member Joined: 18 Sep 2008 Posts: 8

btw do you remember how much material was needed for the box cuz i'll probably build it out of mdf and here cheapest mdf is 12$/sq.m.

fackamato · Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2008 6:53 pm Post subject:

DragooNArT · Member Joined: 18 Sep 2008 Posts: 8

Hey is it possible to make the subwoofer like a couch if the driver is downfiring(if this is possible with that driver?Cause my room is alittle crowded and i want it to have some other practical use except for shaking the hell out of my room Very Happy

DragooNArT · Member Joined: 18 Sep 2008 Posts: 8

Hey btw how big is the room where the sub is and what are the mains of the system?I'll probably be using Microlab Solo 7 with it and i'm wondering if the sub won't be too overpowering for these speakers plus the room where the system will be is around 20sq.ft. in size?So i'm wondering is it worth it i mean won't something cheaper be enough for this size of room?

fackamato · Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2008 11:07 pm Post subject:

Sorry for the late reply... Razz