EXONIC Subwoofer - Manual (Page 5)

Enclosure Types
The three most common enclosures used in the mobile audio environments
are: sealed, vented(ported), or banpass. Each one of these enclosures have
certain characteristics that may or may not suit your needs. In order to choose
the correct enclosure for your system, it will be necessary to answer a few
questions.
One of the most important questions is space. How much area do you have to
work with? Second, you need to know how much power your amplifier can
produce continuously. Next, Decide what kind of bass do you wan: tight,
boomy, punchy, high sound quality, or extreme sound pressure (SPL). Finally,
decide who is going to build your box and should you decide to do the work
yourself, choose a box that is not too difficult for your skill level.
When building your enclosure or if you have a professional build it, make sure
the correct materials are used. EXONIC recommends the use of MDF, also
known as Medium Density Fiberboard as the primary construction material, a
high grade wood glue, premium pure silicone for sealing seams, solid wood
braces for large or high pressure enclosures, high quality fasteners for
assembly (pre-drilled and screwed for high pressure application or heavy
gauge nailer brads for less demanding enclosures, high quality speaker
terminals, box filler when applicable, and always make sure that the mounting
area is flat and the woofer hole is the proper diameter.
The easiest type of box to build is a “Sealed Enclosure”. Sealed enclosures
offer a smaller air space, good power handling at all frequencies, linear
response, and they tend to have exceptional good sound quality.
When building a sealed enclosure, make sure that all of the seams are air tight
by using a high-grade silicon. Sealed enclosures are generally categorized for
tight or high sound quality applications. If the box volume is increased, the
bass will become deeper and will have a flatter response. If you want to
generate more SPL, simply make the box smaller then recommended but keep
in mind the overall response will be inferior.
Vented (ported) enclosures are a little trickier to design and build then sealed
enclosures, but they can offer several advantages as well. The use of vented
enclosures require 50-150% more space; therefore you have to first determine
whether or not you are willing to give up the room in your vehicle or if you have
enough room at all. The reasons why vented enclosures are harder to deigns
is because they are dependant upon a tuning port. If the port side is too small
or too large, the output will be very limited and there is a strong possibility that
you will damage your woofer in the long run. If the port is properly done, there
can be significant increase in output versus other types of enclosures. Other
benefits include excellent deep bass response, lower power requirements
(more efficient), and extreme SPL. Use vented enclosure for extended deep
bass or strong punch.
The most difficult enclosure to design and build is known as a bandpass box.
Described by its name, a bandpass box controls both low and high
frequencies. These enclosures are very unique because they allow the
designer to control efficiency. Usually, however, bandpass boxes require the
most amount of space and cost the most to build. There are many variation to
the bandpass enclosures, therefore, it is usualy a good idea to consult your
Authorized Dealer or call EXONIC for design ideas. However, we have
included a dual chamber, single woofer design for those who would like to
attempt a bandpass box design.
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M o b i l e E n t e r t a i n m e n t
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