• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Precision Audio

Bainbridge: (229) 246 2111 Thomasville: (229) 233 5001
  • Financing/Lease to Own
    • Purchase Option with No Credit Needed
    • More Qualified Applicants
  • Financing/Lease to Own
    • Purchase Option with No Credit Needed
    • More Qualified Applicants
  • Our Work
  • Reviews
  • Contact Us
  • Facebook
  • About Us
    • Why Choose Us
    • Hours and Directions
    • Our Team
    • Our Facilities
    • Virtual Tour Bainbridge Store
    • Virtual Tour Thomasville Store
    • Work for Precision Audio
    • Gift Cards
    • Contact Us
  • Car Audio
    • Backup Safety
    • Mobile Video
    • Motorcycle Audio
    • OEM Integration
    • Professional Installation
    • Smartphone Integration
    • Vehicle Navigation
  • Marine Audio
  • Window Tint
  • Accessories
    • Bed Covers
    • Floor Liners And Accessories
    • Grille Guards And Bumpers
    • Hitches
    • Leveling and Lift Kits
    • Jeep Parts And Accessories
    • Spray-On Bedliners
    • Step Bars And Running Boards
    • Toolboxes
    • Vehicle Paint Protection
  • Wheels & Tires
  • Line-X Bedliners
  • Brands
    • JL Audio
    • Kenwood
    • Pioneer
    • Fuel Wheels
    • Line-X Bedliners
    • Llumar Window Tint
    • Rockford Fosgate
    • Cam-Locker
    • Ranch Hand
    • Rough Country
    • WeatherTech
You are here: Home / ARTICLES / Bang For Your Buck: Car Audio Subwoofer Enclosures

Bang For Your Buck: Car Audio Subwoofer Enclosures

May 6, 2018 By BestCarAudio.com Leave a Comment

Car Audio Subwoofer EnclosuresBeyond the features and design of a subwoofer, no single factor affects the performance of a subwoofer system more than car audio subwoofer enclosures and their design. There are several popular enclosure design options available, each with their own unique set of benefits and drawbacks. The most popular enclosures are an acoustic suspension (sealed) and bass reflex (vented or ported) designs. We will close this “Bang For Your Buck” subwoofer discussion with a quick look and bandpass style enclosures.

Acoustic Suspension Subwoofer EnclosuresCar Audio Subwoofer Enclosures

Acoustic suspension subwoofer enclosures are quite simply a sealed cabinet that adds to the compliance of the subwoofer system. This added compliance acts as a high-pass filter and reduces bass output, but also serves to increase excursion-limited power handling. If you look at the graphs below, the yellow curve shows a high-quality 10-inch car audio subwoofer in a 1.2 cubic foot acoustic suspension enclosure. The red curve shows the frequency response of the same subwoofer in a 0.5 cubic foot enclosure.

Car Audio Subwoofer EnclosuresAs you can see, above 60Hz, the smaller enclosure is a little bit louder but remains within a decibel or two. Below 50Hz is where things start to vary more. The larger enclosure is 2.15 dB louder at 35Hz and 3.35 dB louder at 25 Hz. While it might not appear dramatic, 3dB is the equivalent of having twice as much power driving the subwoofer. However, this increase in efficiency comes with no thermal power handling penalty.

Speaking of power handling, we should look at the physical power handling limits of these subwoofers based on cone excursion. The subwoofer in question has an Xmax specification of 19 mm in each direction from its rest position. The graph below shows the predicted cone excursion of the subwoofer when driven with 500 watts (the maximum power for which it is rated).

Car Audio Subwoofer EnclosuresOnce again, above 60Hz, there is minimal difference in the excursion between the two drivers. Below that, the larger volume of air in the big enclosure has less effect on the stiffness of the subwoofer system. The result is the subwoofer moves farther for each watt of power. If you compare the excursion graph to the frequency response graph, the efficiency levels are directly correlated.

As a summary, sealed enclosures are the simplest to design and are the most forgiving of construction errors regarding net volume. In most cases, sealed enclosures are also the smallest, making them extremely popular.

Bass Reflex Subwoofer Enclosures

Car Audio Subwoofer EnclosuresThe second popular option for a subwoofer enclosure is a bass reflex design. In this enclosure, a vent is added to the enclosure and is tuned to resonate at a specific frequency to increase the output of the system. If we take our 1.2 cubic foot enclosure and add a vent that is tuned to 30 Hz, you can see in the red curve on the graph below that we pick up an astonishing 6.9 dB of output at 30 Hz.

Car Audio Subwoofer EnclosuresNow, while most vented enclosures are larger than their sealed brethren, the benefit is often an increase in output that is potentially more than having two subs in a sealed design. In fact, this vented design is louder from 20 to 60Hz than three identical subs in an enclosure that is 50% larger (1.8 cubic feet).

Besides efficiency, there is a second benefit to a bass reflex enclosure design. Cone excursion is dramatically reduced through the majority of the operating range. The graph below shows the cone excursion vs. frequency response of the 1.2 cubic foot sealed (yellow) and vented (red) enclosures. The null (reduction in excursion) at 30 Hz is caused by the tuning of the vent. At this frequency, the majority of the output from the subwoofer system comes from the vent itself.

Car Audio Subwoofer EnclosuresThis reduction in cone excursion increases physical power handling and also reduces distortion – as long as you have designed and constructed the vent properly. Vents need to have a large enough area so that air velocity in the vent is kept to a minimum. The mouth of the vent also needs to have a large radius

As with anything, there are always drawbacks. There is very little cone motion control below the tuning frequency of a bass reflex enclosure. In this 1.2 cubic foot vented design, the driver will reach its 19mm excursion limit at 22Hz when driven with 500 watts of power. Below that frequency, the sub will move more than it’s rated for and distortion will increase dramatically. This excursion issue can be offset by implementing an infrasonic (high-pass) filter around 20 Hz to reduce the power sent to the driver. Many subwoofer amplifiers have infrasonic filters built-in. Most digital signal processors can do the same thing.

Bandpass Subwoofer Enclosure Designs

Car Audio Subwoofer EnclosuresBandpass enclosures are called that because they not only act as a high-pass filter but as a low-pass filter as well. A typical bandpass enclosure features two chambers. The woofer is mounted between these chambers. In a single-tuned enclosure (often referred to as a fourth-order bandpass or single- reflex bandpass), one of the chambers includes a vent from which all the sound is created. A benefit of this design is the ability to feed that vent through an opening in a rear parcel shelf or similar to ensure coupling with the interior of the vehicle.

Car Audio Subwoofer EnclosuresThe second bandpass enclosure design is a Double-tuned design where both the front and rear chambers are vented. In a Series-tuned bandpass enclosure, the large rear chamber vent feeds into the front chamber. In a parallel-tuned design, the vents from each chamber feed directly into the listening area. Double-tuned bandpass designs are often referred to a sixth-order or dual-reflex designs.

Depending on the type of bandpass enclosure you choose to construct, you may gain some significant excursion-based power handling, and some overall system efficiency through it’s operating range. The main drawback of a bandpass enclosure is its complex design and sensitivity to construction errors. Unlike a simple sealed enclosure, errors in speaker parameters and simulations can produce unpredictable and potentially unwanted results.

The second challenge posed by bandpass design lies in the lack of mid-bass they produce. The low-pass filter abruptly reduces (relatively) high-frequency output. This filtering effect can make it very difficult to achieve a smooth transition between the output of a subwoofer system and the midrange or mid-bass drivers in a system.

The third challenge of a bandpass enclosure is the physical size. Put simply, if you expect low-frequency performance similar to a typical bass-reflex design, the bandpass enclosure will be physically larger. With space at a premium in modern vehicles, this could be reason enough to avoid them.

Picking the Right Enclosure for Your Vehicle

In most systems, the choice of enclosure design will come down to the space available. If you are trying to minimize the impact of a subwoofer on the available storage space in your vehicle, a sealed enclosure may be the best choice. If you want increased efficiency, then consider a bass-reflex design. If you have a unique application that requires a bandpass design, then by all means, go for it. But be prepared to pay more for the required design, fabrication and testing time required to get these enclosures perfect.

Car Audio Subwoofer EnclosuresA quick note on “basic” subwoofer systems. Over the years, we’ve seen a LOT of retailers offer “bass packages” that include a sub, amplifier, enclosure and often a wiring kit. In the majority of these packages, the retailer has paired an inexpensive sub with an inexpensive amp and a sealed subwoofer enclosure to minimize the total cost of the system. When you are limited in power and output capabilities, upgrading these packages to a bass reflex enclosure is a great investment. You will typically double the efficiency of the system and reduce the chances of damage to the driver caused by overpowering it.

When it’s time to pick a subwoofer enclosure for your vehicle, work with your local mobile enhancement retailer. They will help design a solution that will balance your performance and space expectations. It’s not a complicated process, but, having someone with experience will make it much easier and more predictable.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Email

Filed Under: ARTICLES, Car Audio, RESOURCE LIBRARY

About BestCarAudio.com

BestCarAudio.com is a showcase for the very best mobile electronics retailers in the world and a place to educate and inform interested consumers about existing and emerging technologies.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Search our Articles and Installs

Recent Customer Review

Spray-On Bedliners

Spray-On Bedliners

Precision Audio is an authorized dealer for LINE-X Protective Coatings. We can make your pickup truck bed look better and last longer with an expertly … Read More »

Car Audio

Car Audio

Precision Audio in Bainbridge and Thomasville are truck and car audio upgrade specialists. Whether you are interested in adding Apple CarPlay or … Read More »

Tags

2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Amplifiers Android Auto Apple CarPlay ATR Bed Covers Cam-Locker Camlocker Chevrolet Dodge F-150 Ford Fuel Fuel Wheels Grille Guards Jeep JL Audio Kenwood Leveling Kits Line-X Llumar Nitto Pioneer Radios RAM Ranch Hand Rockford Fosgate Rough Country Silverado Speakers Step Bars Subwoofers Toolboxes Toyo Toyota TrailFX WeatherTech Westin Wrangler
Product Spotlight Rockford Fosgate Prime Series Subwoofer Enclosures

Product Spotlight: Rockford Fosgate Prime Series Subwoofer Enclosures

April 13, 2021 By BestCarAudio.com Leave a Comment

Since the ’80s, Rockford Fosgate has had a reputation for delivering big bass for car audio fanatics. Its most recent … [Read More...]

Car Radio Controls and Other Control Interface Options

Car Radio Controls and Other Control Interface Options

April 11, 2021 By BestCarAudio.com Leave a Comment

When it comes to ways to control the volume and tracking or seeking on a car radio, the three most popular options are … [Read More...]

Ford Truck Accessories

Thomasville Client Invests in Ford Truck Accessories

April 7, 2021 By Staff Leave a Comment

A client from Thomasville recently visited Precision Audio to inquire about some accessories and upgrades for his 2021 … [Read More...]

How to Properly Audition New Car Audio Speakers

How to Properly Audition New Car Audio Speakers

April 4, 2021 By BestCarAudio.com Leave a Comment

There are two reasons why we’d want to upgrade the speakers in our vehicle: the original speakers may be damaged, or we … [Read More...]

F-350 Leveling Kit

Leveling Kit, Big Tires and More for Franklin’s Spring Creek Ford F-350

March 30, 2021 By Staff Leave a Comment

The team at Franklin’s Spring Creek Ford brought over this 2020 F-350 for a set of big tires, a leveling kit and the … [Read More...]

Bainbridge Location


Get Directions to Precision Audio's Bainbridge Location

Address

Bainbridge
909 Dothan Road
Bainbridge, GA 39817
Phone: 229-246-2111
Email: contact@precisionga.com

Store Hours

Monday8:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday8:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday8:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday8:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday8:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
SundayClosed

Thomasville Location


Get Directions to Precision Audio's Thomasville Location

Address

Thomasville
12588 US Highway 319 N.
Thomasville, GA 31757
Phone: 229-233-5001
Email: contact@precisionga.com

Store Hours

Monday9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
SundayClosed

Let’s Get Social!

Let’s Get Social!
MESA retailer

Copyright © 2021 Precision Audio · Privacy Policy · Website by 1sixty8 media · Log in

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.