The great thing about DIY (do it yourself) is that you are in control. If you want a conventional look subwoofer, our sub plans make it simple. You may be surprised how cheap it is to build the enclosure. Exceptional performance is guaranteed.

Want something different?

If you want a different look, you can design your own box. Even if you have never designed a subwoofer before, it is quite simple. Before designing your own box, we suggest downloading the plan that best matches what you want. For sealed boxes, the critical parameter is the net internal box volume. As long as the box is solid, the net volume is correct and sufficient clearances are allowed for, you will get the same high performance as our plans. For a vented box, adequate clearance is required around both ends of the vent. The vent should be as large as possible within practical limits. More

top

For many, achieving the best bass comes down to what their spouse will accept. Spouse Acceptance Factor (SAF) for many is the most important parameter. There is no point in buying the best subwoofer if it can only live in the garage!

This is one thing that sets our products apart. They can be adapted to suit any situation. You can tailor it to your room, matching the style of your interior. Here are some suggestions:

Choose a finish to match your room - painted, veneered or both
If space is limited, consider our compact kit, or build a box with a small footprint
If you need more than one sub and space is limited, consider two small subs as well as one large
Look for unused spaces which can accommodate a subwoofer
Consider a built-in subwoofer (eg. a subwoofer in an unused fireplace).
Design a subwoofer disguised as furniture such as a coffee table or chest of drawers

A key advantage here is the ability to have control over the design. You can build it yourself or have it built by a cabinet maker. Either way, you have control and can shape the design to suit your needs. You can even put your own name on the result, and have a subwoofer that is a one of a kind. You can have all this while having the best technology available today.

Alternative subwoofer applications

Direct Servo can be used for any subwoofer, and is not limited to sealed and vented configurations.

Using any free box design program, the required length can be determined for a given vent diameter. Flares on each end are recommended for better aerodynamics. Ideally you should build a flare with the largest diameter that you can build, again within practical limits. A 6" vent with a 6" flare radius would be ideal as the vent velocity would be low and the aerodynamics at the critical vent ends would be very good. Such a vent can only be accommodated in a large box, so a compromise is needed.

top

Direct Servo can be used for any subwoofer, and is not limited to sealed and vented configurations.

In addition to the standard sealed, vented and passive radiator configurations, Direct Servo can work with the following types of subwoofers:

Infinite baffle
Bandpass
Isobaric
Open baffle
Horn loaded
Transmission line

If you wish to use any of these alternatives, contact us regarding the purchase of a custom designed Direct Servo board. We require the frequency response in order to modify the servo board to suit your subwoofer. We don't offer any standard boards which cater to these designs at this time.

Using any free box design program, the required length can be determined for a given vent diameter. Flares on each end are recommended for better aerodynamics. Ideally you should build a flare with the largest diameter that you can build, again within practical limits. A 6" vent with a 6" flare radius would be ideal as the vent velocity would be low and the aerodynamics at the critical vent ends would be very good. Such a vent can only be accommodated in a large box, so a compromise is needed.

top

General advice

A box should be as solid as you can make it. We recommend 3/4" MDF for its performance and value for money. Plywood may also be used, but is more expensive. The advantage of plywood is that it has greater strength. It is used frequently in pro sound where large boxes are required and weight is a major issue. Less bracing is required. For subwoofer applications, we recommend bracing similar in design to our standard box designs. When following such designs with extensive bracing, the extra expense of using plywood is not justified. If size and weight are not a concern, one may consider thicker sheets of MDF or multiple layers.

Our plate amps when installed correctly are suitable for installation in a sealed box without a separate chamber. There are no air leaks. If you do choose to install it in its own sealed chamber, ensure that there is adequate air space to avoid heat build up. You may choose to ventilate the chamber.

The kit does not come with damping material. We recommend 2" polyfill to cover all walls.

Sealed box

The critical parameter of a sealed box is the internal net volume. This should follow the recommendations given for each kit - 2 cu ft for our standard kit and 1.5 cu ft for the compact version. The shape of the box is not critical from a performance point of view, except that adequate clearances should be allowed for. These include adequate clearance below the driver and behind the pole vent (refer our standard box plans).

Vented box

Using any free box design program, the required length can be determined for a given vent diameter. Flares on each end are recommended for better aerodynamics. Ideally you should build a flare with the largest diameter that you can build, again within practical limits. A 6" vent with a 6" flare radius would be ideal as the vent velocity would be low and the aerodynamics at the critical vent ends would be very good. Such a vent can only be accommodated in a large box, so a compromise is needed.

Advice on driver break-in

Please also be careful when testing the sub using test tone signals. Playing a test tone continuously over an extended period of time is considered as abuse and will not be covered by the warranty. The correct way of breaking in a driver is to play the tone for 20 seconds, and then not playing anything for 40 seconds. This will give a duty cycle of 33%.

top