Many smaller subs vs larger subs

[natd001 0]

Okay, so here's the dilemma I'm having: whether to go with multiple smaller subs, or a couple bigger subs. Now, I've looked this up, but nobody seems to get it. Yeah, if you power one single, massive woofer with enough juice, it'll outperform 2 subs with lower wattage, but what I'm trying to figure out is: say you have 1 or 2 18" woofers, and lets say 4 or 6 12" woofers, with equal total wattage going to either set of woofers, which one is going to be louder? Also, I've heard the bigger woofers will hit lower hertz louder, at lower volume levels than smaller woofers. But, will quantity compensate the larger size of the bigger woofers lower response?

[Bob345 39]

Okay, so here's the dilemma I'm having: whether to go with multiple smaller subs, or a couple bigger subs. Now, I've looked this up, but nobody seems to get it. Yeah, if you power one single, massive woofer with enough juice, it'll outperform 2 subs with lower wattage, but what I'm trying to figure out is: say you have 1 or 2 18" woofers, and lets say 4 or 6 12" woofers, with equal total wattage going to either set of woofers, which one is going to be louder? Also, I've heard the bigger woofers will hit lower hertz louder, at lower volume levels than smaller woofers. But, will quantity compensate the larger size of the bigger woofers lower response?

There is no replacement for displacement

[Julian 641]

Multiple woofers = More motor force, more area to dissipate heat, (sometimes) more cone area.

Cone area rules all, i've heard 6 12's that was loud as balls... but only on 1.5 KW RMS.

for the multiple woofers will you have ENOUGH space for the port needed for four 12's.

These are all things you need to take into account, also you need to factor in woofer displacement also.

567.05747397296 In^2 for 2 18's

678.58401317538 In^2 for 6 12's

[Duran 387]

First off, how much space do you ave available?

[Aaron Clinton 2,372]

If someone has a woofer size chart with multiple size amounts handy, post it up and we will pin the topic in the speaker/subwoofer section.

[Notorious97200 339]

Somebody posted a chart like that a few days ago, on a topic made by Porkchop IIRC. He was asking about his future sub seteup.

[ssh 924]

I'll make one when I get back from school today.

[Aaron Clinton 2,372]

Just split the topic and it is a new topic in the sub woofer section for people to use a quick reference.

[natd001 0]

First off, how much space do you ave available?

I ran out there with a tape measure, and in the back of my four-door s-10, to not have a ridiculously obvious box (dim: 44" W x 33" L x 16" H) cu in ran out to 13.4 cu ft. I could always make the box 24" H And that would get me out to 20.17 cu ft. But even 6 12" BLs would only require a max of 15 cu ft, so I assume 13.4 would be pretty alright. What about the low end response though? Am I gonna have to go louder to get a better low end response? And approximately how many sq in/ft of port space would I need? Or the equation to figure that out...

[djjdnap 78]

ooh ooh what about square and triangular shaped subs?

lmao

[Bob345 39]

I cant take credit for this, I found it on another forum and saved it.

[Sir-Lancelot 216]

First off, how much space do you ave available?

I ran out there with a tape measure, and in the back of my four-door s-10, to not have a ridiculously obvious box (dim: 44" W x 33" L x 16" H) cu in ran out to 13.4 cu ft. I could always make the box 24" H And that would get me out to 20.17 cu ft. But even 6 12" BLs would only require a max of 15 cu ft, so I assume 13.4 would be pretty alright. What about the low end response though? Am I gonna have to go louder to get a better low end response? And approximately how many sq in/ft of port space would I need? Or the equation to figure that out...

All That ^ is all wrong. You are giving yourself an extra cf on volume somehow (I dont know how, but you did) and you are NOT into taking into account the sub and port displacement which would make your volume even smaller.

[cheese20323 13]

On just displacements a rough guess is 2 Cubes....

[Duran 387]

The only way you can run that many woofers in your space available is if you seal the enclosure. It you want a vented enclosure you HAVE to leave plenty of room for the vent itself so you cannot use the same amount of cone area.

[natd001 0]

First off, how much space do you ave available?

I ran out there with a tape measure, and in the back of my four-door s-10, to not have a ridiculously obvious box (dim: 44" W x 33" L x 16" H) cu in ran out to 13.4 cu ft. I could always make the box 24" H And that would get me out to 20.17 cu ft. But even 6 12" BLs would only require a max of 15 cu ft, so I assume 13.4 would be pretty alright. What about the low end response though? Am I gonna have to go louder to get a better low end response? And approximately how many sq in/ft of port space would I need? Or the equation to figure that out...

All That ^ is all wrong. You are giving yourself an extra cf on volume somehow (I dont know how, but you did) and you are NOT into taking into account the sub and port displacement which would make your volume even smaller.

Well, I calculated it out with 44x33x16 = 23,232 cu in divided by (12x12x12=) 1728 cu in to get the 13.4. Although I did some recalculations, and changed the measurements, to compensate for the space wood and bracing would take up in the box (1/2" plywood, braced with 2x4's) to 43" W x 32" L to 17" H (add 2" to height) to get 23392 cu in, divided by 1728 to get 13.53 cu ft. I figure shave off a cube for bracing and woofers, even a cube and a quarter and get 12.25, which is still in the midrange spec for a ported BL 12. And as far as port goes, I was going to have a wide port, added on top of the box, woofers would be on the sides, opposing each other. I'm not building this box to be an ultra-pro or anything, I'm going by specs here. In theory, this all works. And thanks for posting that chart, btw. It looks like I'm over the 2 18" mark, and I avoid some attention from the back of my vehicle looking like it has 2 satellite dishes in the back of it...

[///M5 2,833]

The loudest will be the setup that gives you the most capability to have maximized your excursion and cone area per volume that you have available for you box. There is NO generic answer to your question and even specific answers might require testing although someone who is capable with modeling could determine it as well (and no I don't mean some jackass with a copy of BP6 as cabin gain is by far the hardest portion of the equation to model).