box size vs power?

[smashedz28 110]

Alright.. im kicking around the idea in my head to purchase a crescendo 3kwp to use with my 18" BTL (d2) .. when i had my box built for me he wanted to know what size amp i was going to use.. i told him the sundown 1500 (which is hooked up right now) ..he made the box on the larger side, i dont know exactly what the cu ft is.. thing i dont know is, should I do a new box up if i decide to throw a 3kw on it? Does my box size play a big role on the amount of power i feed my sub? Whipping up a new box will be a pain in the ass lol.. but if i go dump the money into a new amp then re building isnt gonna kill me. Im pretty sure I can answer this already.. i have a feeling the size matters alot, but maybe someone can lay it out for me in a way i can really grab ahold of the idea. Would i need to get ahold of Fi to see what they recommend? the sub is rated at 2000 rms and ill be giving it more depending on my install.. how would i calculate this into the box size? a BTL is known for taking more than the rated rms. this is probably one of those "if you have to ask you shouldnt be doing it" things lol.. oh well. Better to ask and be sure than to jump in and blow my $500 sub. anything you guys can add would be great.

[Duran 387]

Find out the internal enclosure volume.

[smashedz28 110]

Also.. off topic a little bit, but upping the power from a 1500 sundown to a 3000 crescendo should be audible right? no competing.. just runnin around pissin off people i drive next too lol. the 1500 works nice.. but i just feel the speaker has more in it.. ehh just a random thought before i go dump some more money into something i may or may not benifit from.

[Sir-Lancelot 216]

yes it would be louder as long as your voltage stays up.

[smashedz28 110]

i tried measuring the box one time before for people on here to help me figure out what it is, failed miserably lol.. Box for my 18" BTL

[smashedz28 110]

this is gonna be one scattered ass thread lol.. voltage, i suppose i wont know till i go out and actually test it, but thats something im not sure about either.. i have 2 kinetik hc2000's, all 1/0 and a 220a alternator.. i just go off the stock guage which bounces around like crazy.. not sure if i trust it, you would think with just a 1500w sundown runnin and 2 battery's + the alt i shouldnt see it moving.. IF i get the crescendo think another battery will be in order?

[smashedz28 110]

voltage may be an issue, going to make another thread for that now.

[KU40 173]

Also.. off topic a little bit, but upping the power from a 1500 sundown to a 3000 crescendo should be audible right? no competing.. just runnin around pissin off people i drive next too lol. the 1500 works nice.. but i just feel the speaker has more in it.. ehh just a random thought before i go dump some more money into something i may or may not benifit from.

Don't be one of those guys. We don't support that behavior at SSA, and you're likely going to get fewer responses if that is your goal.

Larger boxes handle less power. It will be up to you on the volume knob to determine when enough is enough.

[hispls 23]

You can most likely smoke an 18" BTL if you're abusive and don't pay attention to the warning signs that you're pushing things too much (odd smells and bottoming out noises).

I haven't even looked at your box but I highly doubt it's "too big". Really the only place you run out of x-max is below 30hz anyway and that's what a subsonic filter is for if you even get near that AND if you're tuned low to start with you likely won't run out of x-max over 20hz since the port will controll the cone down low anyway.

My bigger worry would be do you have the electrical system to run a 3KW amp? You will want minimum 1 extra battery, ideally an upgraded alternator as well. Smoke the 500$ sub and you can recone it for 125$ or so, smoke a 550$ amp and a refrub will cost you 250+ shipping.

[KU40 173]

I haven't even looked at your box but I highly doubt it's "too big". Really the only place you run out of x-max is below 30hz anyway and that's what a subsonic filter is for if you even get near that AND if you're tuned low to start with you likely won't run out of x-max over 20hz since the port will controll the cone down low anyway.

There are still dangers above tuning. There is another spike in xmax in a ported box about 10-15 hz above tuning, check it out in a modeling program.

[emh9009 199]

just runnin around pissin off people i drive next too lol.

just dont

You don't really have to worry about numbers so much. Like others have said watch carefully for signs of stress. When you hit that point turn it down a bit, or if your voltage is dropping low.