Low Frequency Fury

Designer:
Watts

Project Category:
Subwoofers

Project Level:
Advanced

Project Time:
1-8 Hours

Project Cost:
$500 – $1,000

Project Description:
The project is a home theater subwoofer. It uses a 12 inch Daytpn Audio Reference HO DVC subwoofer with 15 inch Dayton Audio aluminum cone passive radiator. It is powered with the SPA500 plate amplifier with active crossover and parametric equalizer.

Design Goals:
The goal with this project was to build an extremely strong subwoofer with very durable components for long term use.

Driver Selection:
Dayton Audio RSS315HO-44 12″ Reference HO DVC Subwoofer

Enclosure Design:
The enclosure uses a 15 inch passive radiator and 12 inch subwoofer. The woofer was mounted outside of the enclosure and is inverted under the bottom to save on box volume and give it some distinction from a classic subwoofer. The recommended vented volume from Parts Express for this subwoofer was 1.36 ft^3, also knowing the driver Qts from specification, I was able to determine the theoretical box alpha. The alpha parameter is the subwoofer’s volume to air compliance ratio to the recommended box volume. Knowing alpha and the subwoofer Qts I was able to figure out the recommended alignment and is a SBB4 according to the loudspeaker cookbook. Once the enclosure was constructed with all components in place I used a used a loudspeaker measuring system to physically measure the enclosure alpha parameter. I simply continued to add wood (to decrease enclosure volume) to the inside of the enclosure and remeasure alpha until I got the recommended alpha of the enclosure.

Enclosure Assembly:
The enclosure was really easy to construct. I simple used a jig say to cut the PR, subwoofer, and plate amp holes. I also caulked the removable front and back panels.

Crossover Design:
The plate amplifier has a built in crossover and so I did not add a passive filter network.

Conclusion:
It’s awesome!!! This thing is a total beast. I have a large living room and you are completely enclosed in the sound from the subwoofer during a movie. It also work very well with music too. You can tell the subwoofer is higher SQ grade. The 500 watt plate amp with parametric equalizer has plenty enough power to push the sub hard. You can’t though, Its almost too much. It is so powerful, it feels like the air is being sucked out of the room when it hits.

About the Designer:
The project creator is has been building loudspeaker enclosures since the early 90’s. He has developed many subwoofer enclosures and has done development for a few major car audio manufactures. In addition he has built studio monitors for a few recording studios. He has a B.S. degree in Physics and is a working Nuclear Engineer and has been in that industry for 18 years.

Project Parts List: