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Harkness
03-10-2009, 04:45 PM
Researching the best 15" driver to build a living room sub with 2x15 in a ported enclosure..

timc
03-11-2009, 06:36 AM
Researching the best 15" driver to build a living room sub with 2x15 in a ported enclosure..


Do you just want it deep and loud, or do you want the fast snappy bass as well?

For something in between you could check out the JL Audio W7 woofer. It's only 13.5" but oh my it can kick.

-Tim

Robh3606
03-11-2009, 07:22 AM
The best readilly available JBL 15 would be 2235's unless you try for the newer JBL sub drivers which are very difficult to come by. If you are going to go a pair why don't you look at the 18" 2242. It's going to take up the same amount of space as paired 2235's.

Rob:)

jbl_daddy
03-11-2009, 11:35 AM
I have owned a pair of ADS servo subs and replaced them with a pair of JBL B380's ten years ago, gobs of low end and heart pounding at the same time. Make sure you get the crossover with the B380 if you go that route.

Allanvh5150
03-11-2009, 12:10 PM
I would have to go with everyone and suggest the 2235. The cabinet will be rather large for a living room though. Do you have a lot of space?

Allan.

JBL 4645
03-11-2009, 12:27 PM
Running with a diy JBL 4645 hence my username, for 11 years and its got plenty of slam kick and deep almighty lows that can tax the ears sometimes. Enclosure is actually loaded up with JBL 2240 18" that I brought for £100.00 pounds, enclosure cost around with paint finish about £60.00 pounds.

robertbartsch
03-11-2009, 02:32 PM
Well, I was enjoying a movie at home last night with a single 18" 2242 and it was very convincing.

I would recommend the 18" and not the 15" for a sub applicaiton.

Double woofs seem like overkill in a home setting, however.

Make sure you have the Hover Dam to power it, install it (them??) in a big ported box and you should be fine.

4313B
03-11-2009, 04:03 PM
Double woofs seem like overkill in a home setting, however.Well they're not.

Allanvh5150
03-11-2009, 04:53 PM
I would have to deffinately agree with 4313!!:D

Harkness
03-11-2009, 08:01 PM
thanks for the replies, i appreciate everyone's input!

i have horn loaded C40's that have snappy punchy low end, but cut off around 40 Hz. as well, my room is not that big so the sub lows don't develop as well as the upper bass...

so i would like a sub that extends the frequency response down to below 30, and gives me a bit of boost up to around 60, at which point the C40's have enough energy. i'd also like to match the dynamic response i get from the C40 horns, but i don't think i want to undertake a sub based on a 30Hz horn enclosure. or do i?

i've got about 5 feet between my 2 C40's that i could fill with the sub, i just wouldn't want it to be higher and deeper than 20-22 inches. i could fit a couple 2235 drivers in there (or perhaps 2 18's??) is 20 cubic feet too small?

Harkness
03-11-2009, 10:04 PM
Well they're not.

i also agree :)

it turns out i could be obtaining a pair of vintage Altec 421A 15" Bass instrument speakers.. in good condition. the spec sheet in the library claims uniform response from 35Hz up in a 'suitable enclosure' but no details as to what a suitable enclosure might be. i am guessing it doesn't need to be tremendously large, because that would make it impractical for use in a bass guitar cab. is there anyone around with experience building cabs with these drivers?


cheers!

louped garouv
03-12-2009, 10:56 AM
thanks for the replies, i appreciate everyone's input!

i have horn loaded C40's that have snappy punchy low end, but cut off around 40 Hz. as well, my room is not that big so the sub lows don't develop as well as the upper bass...

so i would like a sub that extends the frequency response down to below 30, and gives me a bit of boost up to around 60, at which point the C40's have enough energy. i'd also like to match the dynamic response i get from the C40 horns, but i don't think i want to undertake a sub based on a 30Hz horn enclosure. or do i?

i've got about 5 feet between my 2 C40's that i could fill with the sub, i just wouldn't want it to be higher and deeper than 20-22 inches. i could fit a couple 2235 drivers in there (or perhaps 2 18's??) is 20 cubic feet too small?


what's the acoustic treatment situation like in your room?

Harkness
03-12-2009, 06:29 PM
it's just my living room. no special acoustic treatment..

Allanvh5150
03-12-2009, 06:41 PM
Oh yea! I can picture a twin 15 sub under the monitor. :D

Allan.

p.s. Now I can see why you wanted a bigger woofer.

rgwalker
03-14-2009, 01:49 PM
i also agree :)

it turns out i could be obtaining a pair of vintage Altec 421A 15" Bass instrument speakers.. in good condition. the spec sheet in the library claims uniform response from 35Hz up in a 'suitable enclosure' but no details as to what a suitable enclosure might be. i am guessing it doesn't need to be tremendously large, because that would make it impractical for use in a bass guitar cab. is there anyone around with experience building cabs with these drivers?


cheers!

I have a pair of 421As that I've used as bass guitar speakers for many years and while they are great for that purpoose they suck as subs.

Bob Walker

Steve71
03-15-2009, 01:38 PM
but i don't think i want to undertake a sub based on a 30Hz horn enclosure. or do i?

Maybe take a look at tapped horns? A 30hz horn loaded with a 12" driver shouldn't be too large and certainly much smaller than conventional folded 30hz horn.

I built a 20Hz tapped horn with a 15" B&C PS100 driver and it's about 4ft x 3ft x 18inches and it's sensitivity is around 100db/w/m in room and 95db/w/m in 2pi (ground plane) space. 120+ db from 20hz up isn't too bad from a single $200 15" driver with 8mm xmax.

The easiest tapped horns to design and build are tall (6-8ft) but have a very small foot print (15x15") or (18x18") depending on the driver size.

Harkness
03-16-2009, 04:25 PM
Maybe take a look at tapped horns? A 30hz horn loaded with a 12" driver shouldn't be too large and certainly much smaller than conventional folded 30hz horn.

I built a 20Hz tapped horn with a 15" B&C PS100 driver and it's about 4ft x 3ft x 18inches and it's sensitivity is around 100db/w/m in room and 95db/w/m in 2pi (ground plane) space. 120+ db from 20hz up isn't too bad from a single $200 15" driver with 8mm xmax.

The easiest tapped horns to design and build are tall (6-8ft) but have a very small foot print (15x15") or (18x18") depending on the driver size.
i just did a little googling on tapped horns and i believe that is a very interesting suggestion that bears some serious consideration.. thanks for that.

jcrobso
03-17-2009, 11:14 AM
If you unfolded a Klipsch horn it would be over 6' long.
After I stopped playing in bands I put my D140Fs in home made C40 cabinets.
Yes response drops off below 40Hz.
In the early '80s Speakerlab offered plans for "K" horn. I got the plains and a friend and I made 3 sets. I put my D140Fs in them, I can get down to 25hz out of them in my living room, so I have never added a sub.
The 3rd set of K horns is in my garage the other friend changed his mind and never picked them up, they are looking for good home.:( John

Steve71
03-17-2009, 12:41 PM
i just did a little googling on tapped horns and i believe that is a very interesting suggestion that bears some serious consideration.. thanks for that.

You're welcome.

Mr. Cowan has some great info on his site including plans (IIRC) and measured responses for a few different tapped horns.

http://www.cowanaudio.com/

Eric also has some plans for his horn here

http://www.volvotreter.de/th.htm

There is also the huge thread over at DIY audio
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=97674

I haven't measured my tapped horn but I'll give you the link since there are very few high output doubled folded horns and I thought the dimensions of the double fold might make it appealing as a TV stand.

http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=97674&perpage=25&pagenumber=95 (http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=1628202&highlight=#post1628202)

(see second post on p95)