Difference between 15" and 12" sub

[BassThoughts 0]

Ok can someone please explain in detail what the differences are between a 15" woofer and a 12" woofer in playing ability, frequency, and tuning

[Kanaworm$ 292]

If it's the same motor and soft parts, the real difference will be cone area. T/S parameters will roughly be similar. More cone area will produce increased output. As far as tuning frequency and playing ability? It will be install dependent.

[BassThoughts 0]

If it's the same motor and soft parts, the real difference will be cone area. T/S parameters will roughly be similar. More cone area will produce increased output. As far as tuning frequency and playing ability? It will be install dependent.

so a 15 really couldent play a lower frequency louder than a 12?

Edited November 29, 2010 by BassThoughts

[emh9009 199]

If they are the same sub line (we're in the Fi sections, so lets use the Q for an example) a 12 and 15 Q will have no difference other that output and surface area. the 15 will be able to reproduce the lower signals at a higher volume, while being able to move more air from the same amount of power. What you can tune each to doesn't depend on the size of the sub.

[BassThoughts 0]

If they are the same sub line (we're in the Fi sections, so lets use the Q for an example) a 12 and 15 Q will have no difference other that output and surface area. the 15 will be able to reproduce the lower signals at a higher volume, while being able to move more air from the same amount of power. What you can tune each to doesn't depend on the size of the sub.

so generally speaking say if lets use the q they are both in their recommended ported enlcosures in size but both enclosures are tuned to 35hz will the 15 reproduce the lower frequencies at a higher volume and why?

[ssh 924]

If they are the same sub line (we're in the Fi sections, so lets use the Q for an example) a 12 and 15 Q will have no difference other that output and surface area. the 15 will be able to reproduce the lower signals at a higher volume, while being able to move more air from the same amount of power. What you can tune each to doesn't depend on the size of the sub.

so generally speaking say if lets use the q they are both in their recommended ported enlcosures in size but both enclosures are tuned to 35hz will the 15 reproduce the lower frequencies at a higher volume and why?

The 15" will have more output at ALL frequencies because it has more cone area.

[///M5 2,833]

If they are the same sub line (we're in the Fi sections, so lets use the Q for an example) a 12 and 15 Q will have no difference other that output and surface area. the 15 will be able to reproduce the lower signals at a higher volume, while being able to move more air from the same amount of power. What you can tune each to doesn't depend on the size of the sub.

so generally speaking say if lets use the q they are both in their recommended ported enlcosures in size but both enclosures are tuned to 35hz will the 15 reproduce the lower frequencies at a higher volume and why?

Stop linking two questions together.

Yes, a 15 CAN play louder than a 12. As stated above CONE AREA will be the advantage assuming everything else is the same.

No, a 15 cannot play notes any lower or differently than that 12.

There is an old wives tale that states that larger drivers play lower but they are all wrong. Modern drivers have no issues playing as they were designed. Some are designed to play low and others not, some flat and others peaky, some sealed and some ported, etc... There are no rules of thumb and the one you are implying exists is terribly wrong.

[BassThoughts 0]

If they are the same sub line (we're in the Fi sections, so lets use the Q for an example) a 12 and 15 Q will have no difference other that output and surface area. the 15 will be able to reproduce the lower signals at a higher volume, while being able to move more air from the same amount of power. What you can tune each to doesn't depend on the size of the sub.

so generally speaking say if lets use the q they are both in their recommended ported enlcosures in size but both enclosures are tuned to 35hz will the 15 reproduce the lower frequencies at a higher volume and why?

is it just because the 15 has more cone area or is it that the fact that it is a larger woofer it can play lower notes than the 12 no matter the enclosure tuning

[emh9009 199]

Goes back to more cone area. the cone is what moves the air, which technically is what the sound is. If you're able to move more are you're making more sound.

[BassThoughts 0]

okie doke thats all i needed to know thanks but wait why can a bass drum which is larger than a tom drum play lower notes because its bigger im confused lol

[emh9009 199]

why don't you play tweeters at 30 hertz? it's the same thing really. Each piece has it's place in the musical spectrum. That's why we have different speakers for different frequencies. They're made for a set range of sound.

[Bob345 39]

okie doke thats all i needed to know thanks but wait why can a bass drum which is larger than a tom drum play lower notes because its bigger im confused lol

The tentions for the Tom and bass drum heads are different

[emh9009 199]

The smaller drum is tighter around the wood, which lets it flex less, which is quicker movements, AKA higher in the frequency range.

[BassThoughts 0]

well thats just saying that smaller speakers play higher notes and bigger speakers player lower notes which is apparently wrong i geuss? im even more confused lol

[Hzd Skizzy 27]

okie doke thats all i needed to know thanks but wait why can a bass drum which is larger than a tom drum play lower notes because its bigger im confused lol

Because they are made completely different. That's like saying why doesn't this tweeter play las low as my Subwoofer?

That just doesn't happen. Like m5 stated. The 15 would be louder than the 12 due to cone area. the 15 would play the same notes as the 12 (if everything was the same except cone size) because they are designed to do the same thing.

I also don't see why this thread has anything to do with Fi.

Edited November 29, 2010 by Hzd Skizzy

[BassThoughts 0]

true but isnt it the less tight head in a larger enclosure allowing the sound to reverberate at a lower frequency?

[Hzd Skizzy 27]

true but isnt it the less tight head in a larger enclosure allowing the sound to reverberate at a lower frequency?

No, dude a 15 will play the same as the 12 except the 15 will be louder.

[BassThoughts 0]

ok then i have a new question lol sorry appatently i know nothing and need to learn more what does the fs rating on a woofer mean does it mean the lowest frequency it can sustain with out bottoming out and if so why do larger woofer of the same woofer have a lower fs

[///M5 2,833]

true but isnt it the less tight head in a larger enclosure allowing the sound to reverberate at a lower frequency?

First of all that isn't a sentence, second it isn't coherent and third I am not really sure what you are even trying to say but will try to clear this up.

Less tight? How, why, what would make you think that? Think of a driver with the same motor on a 12 and 15, now what's the difference?

Reverberate? Are you trying to imply their is constructive interference at sub frequencies? Look up what the length of a sound wave is at 50Hz and now tell me how that applies to anything.

[Bob345 39]

ok then i have a new question lol sorry appatently i know nothing and need to learn more what does the fs rating on a woofer mean does it mean the lowest frequency it can sustain with out bottoming out and if so why do larger woofer of the same woofer have a lower fs

Fs just states the drivers resonant frequency

[///M5 2,833]

ok then i have a new question lol sorry appatently i know nothing and need to learn more what does the fs rating on a woofer mean does it mean the lowest frequency it can sustain with out bottoming out and if so why do larger woofer of the same woofer have a lower fs

It is the free air resonance of the subwoofer. Has NOTHING to do with bottoming out. As for why it is lower on larger, generically speaking all "larger" structures have lower resonant frequencies if nothing else changes. Rudimentary physics.

[BassThoughts 0]

lol im an idiot so if a larger structure can oscillate with larger amplitude than that of a smaller structure why couldent it create a lower frequency than the smaller

[BassThoughts 0]

how do you know then how low of a frequency a woofer can play with out the driver being damaged

[emh9009 199]

You don't, that's going to depend on the install.

[///M5 2,833]

lol im an idiot so if a larger structure can oscillate with larger amplitude than that of a smaller structure why couldent it create a lower frequency than the smaller

Where do you get larger amplitude from? Amplitude = excursion and is UNRELATED to cone size.