Just to share what project I'm currently doing. This is the last piece of my array of speakers that I haven't done myself: SUBWOOFER. I don't actually have problem with my Hsu sub. It's just an itchy hand want to build the thing. Thanks to bro 2100 here who gave me tons of information regarding the woofer, simulation program, etc.
Woofer selectionThere were few 12" woofer candidates that were considered during the selection phase including old SVS woofer due to the cost, but nobody wanted to sell me one. So I started looking around for the new one. To name a few: Elemental Design, Audiopulse Epic, Rythmik Audio, and Acoustic Elegance. Then I started to play around with WinISD software to simulate those woofers and predict the freq response. It's definitely not zhun one but good estimate can be obtained. Audiopulse and Rythmik gave rather similar results. I believe Rythmik is made by Audiopulse/TC Sound. Old SVS was also made by TC Sound so I would expect similar performance. Acoustic Elegance AV12-X on the other hand gave more output at lower freq though the sensitivity is lower.
Under my constraints, AV12-X has freq peak around 28Hz while Rythmik and Audiopulse has freq peak of around 33 Hz. I don't play really loud so the choice was easy for me: AE AV12-X. I was debating between AV12-X and AV12-H that has stronger motor. Simulation showed smoother freq response for the X so I settle with it. I could be wrong but I don't think I can go wrong with either one. With some room gain and a little bass bost from the amp I think I should be getting below 20Hz easily. Hey, my little Hsu still give usable output at 20Hz in my room.
http://www.aespeakers.com/shop/catalog/ CabinetEvery design has its own compromise. This project is no exception. With the space I have the maximum size I can build is about 50cm cube or slightly smaller. This translates to about 55 liter box. With this size I cannot tune port freq low enough with longer port to get the freq response that I want at the more appropriate port diameter. So no choice I had to choose smaller diameter of port, which could means that I should not play extremely loud due to port chuffing because of restricted air flow area. Otherwise I had to resort to something like Hsu Research Turbocharger design. Well since I don't play really loud I guess I can get away with it.
Box construction uses 18mm MDF with stiffener on each side. The photograph does not show all the stiffener. Additional 12mm MDF is glued to the baffle where the woofer is mounted.
Amplifier Another consideration was amplifier selection. I was trying to look for cheap and good sub amp on Ebay but somehow didn't find the one I want. I was also considering 370W Rythmik amp that has similar PEQ and subsonic filter like SVS PB12 Plus amp. I finally settled with O Audio 500W amp that also has PEQ and subsonic filter. It's cheaper.
http://www.oaudio.com/500W_SUBAMP.html Now the amp has landed in SG but I don't know whether the woofer has been shipped or not.
Author