Now i know this is quite a stupid question, so feel free to flame away lol...

Is there a tuning frequency used as a general rule of thumb for 12" drivers (ported), for decent spl?

I know not all drivers would be the same for optimal results.. but just wondering if there is any general frequency to achieve a decent result to the ears.

I was thinking around the 32hz mark for me, but then again i do like deep bass so i dont want the drop off too early. If the dropoff was around -30hz would that make a huge audible difference? When does the feeling of 'deep' come into play? like sub28hz or even less?

32hz wont go loud i dont think.... somewhere in the mid 40's seems to be popular, say around 45hz.... but depends on the woofer etc

32hz wont go loud i dont think.... somewhere in the mid 40's seems to be popular, say around 45hz.... but depends on the woofer etc

Ahh k! cheers!

Hmm... just 40's seems a bit too high for me. Maybe high 30's then? (38-39?)

Ok just did a bit of mucking around... it seems that things start to get 'deep' around the 35-36hz mark. With that said, i reckon somewhere around the 39-40hz mark would be a good tuning freq for my tastes.

Umm.. ok does anybody know roughly what the tuned freq of a factory prefab enclosure would be? Something like the sledgehammer enclosures (in the lower range -45&55 series subs). They have quite a nice sound for spl, to me anyway lol.

Hmmm thats the thing, for SPL you shouldnt be interested in the sound, you should only be interested in numbers.

It is much harder to get higher figures at lower frequencies. (eg below 35)
Although as a sub ideally you want a sub that can linearly down to 20 hz. If you tune a box to 40 hz then there will be a large peak at that frequency, but below there the sub lose control and usually needs a subsonic filter to protect the sub itself from overexcusrion as it does not have the damping of a box to protect it.

To tune a car for spl you want to find the resonant frequency that best suits the car. This is where a standing wave occurs, due to the length, volume and shape of the car itself.

At this frequency cabin gain will cause the SPL levels to rise considerably higher than other frequencies.

Once we have this, we match the boxes frequency to that frequency so our port is most efficient at that given number.

Then we play tones at that frequency. Why tones? Because they will always be louder than music which is dynamic in nature.

it takes a lot of testing to find the best frequency and you need an RTA. But you would only ever want to do this if you are entering DB drags as you dont want a system that is a one note wonder for music.

Instead for music you want a sub that plays linearly from <20hz - 100hz

Peace

Tim

i think the term spl is being used in the wrong context here, he wants it loud... a street system, sounds decent & plays loud... then agian, build your own box and make the ports interchangable, have a lower tuned port for your everyday listening and a higher tune if you ever want to hit the lanes and get a number

Ahh k! cheers!

Hmm... just 40's seems a bit too high for me. Maybe high 30's then? (38-39?)

sorry, just saw this.... i got 2 kicker L7's in a slot ported box, tuned to 40hz, i find it to be a good middle ground (for me any way) my subs do everything i ask of them, music wise, they play quite low, they can keep up with the most complex bass lines and they pack a serious punch, that said theyre also good for 140's on T/L

removable port! :D find your SPL tuning freq, and your sq freq, and swap when you feel like it :D

removable port! :D find your SPL tuning freq, and your sq freq, and swap when you feel like it :D

Yes... i like that idea! Ty