Quick Question about my amp/sub

[SS5800]

I recently got a 12" AudioBahn Sub and one of those cheap VR3 AMPs that come from walmart, Its a 200 watt. I got all this for free so i dont complain.

I built a box for the sub, good size but im now realizing that it takes up to much room in back, I think i can narrow down the size a bit.

I was wondering how small i could go on the box without really killing the bass, Maybe small enough to fit on the hump in the back seat of a two door hoe?


And also, should i port it? The one i have built now i ported and am kind of debating on doing it to the next one, Im thinking more cube shape for the next one..

 

[treepete]

can you talk about the specs of the sub a little more, maybe the model number or something? I think with the specs we can tell you the box size you need. I say port it for clarity, unless you just want loud, then sealed. I'm not a fan of audiobahn, but free low end is free low end.

 

[SS5800]

This is the actual sub itself.

http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_123_Audiobahn+ATB12T.html


Thats the enclosure i have, the guy before me ripped off the amp from the back of it and bought one of these for it..

http://www.amazon.com/VR3-WATT-CHANNEL-STEREO-AMPLIFIER/dp/B000VRJA08

So thats waht i have, That enclosure it came with was cut in half to fit into his camaro so, Im not using it, Plus its huge.


I just went out and measured my trucks back seat hump out, It seems that i can do 21" long, 14" Wide, and 8" deep. Is that enough?
Tell me what you think i should do,

 

[treepete]

have you hooked it up and tried that enclosure already? ( the rounded one?)

 

[TahoeGoBoom]

see, this is deff a tricky one to call. as there are no specs on a specific "speaker" just a speaker/enclosure combo, i would try no to make it much larger/smaller than the inner dims of the original enclosure. im just gonna go from experience, I'd say go with a sealed box somewhere around .75-1.25 cubes. you could do ported, which is typically louder, but as you dont know much on the speaker, sealed is safer

 

[SS5800]

I did try that rounded enclosure yes, But it sounded like crap becuase i had to patch and seal the thing back togther after he cut it in half to fit into his camaro.

Another question, What does an air leak sound like in a box? Like something is vibrating against the box? Because thats what the sub sounds like in the box's i have made. I dont have the right material which would be why i have bad boxes, I have nothing to seal them with.

I am going to home depot tommorow can some one tell me what to pick up?


My list includes

Sheet of MDF wood.

Wood Glue

1 1/2" (sheetrock screws?) Maybe <<<

Carpeting

I have all the tools and wire here, I also have a speaker terminal bay to connect the wires to.

What do you guys use to seal the boxes? I heard that silicone smells, flakes and you cant paint over it? So what should i use?

Any other things?

 

[TahoeGoBoom]

heres a list of materials i typically use when i build a wood box,
3/4" MDF
liquid nails
1.25" wood screws
spray glue
carpet
if you decide to go ported i would also get contact cement to hold down the carpet around the port.

as for a leak... theres not necessarily a sound at all. all it would be is air blowing through a hole. you have to feel for a leak more than listen for it.