THE DIY SUBWOOFER NETWORK

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This post is going to hit a nerve!  People get very sensitive about this subject. Plywood (left) and MDF (right) Subwoofer Enclosures There are two main materials that we build boxes with.  Plywood and MDF so here are the pros and cons of both. Five Pro's of MDF: MDF is heavy!  You want heavy and dense for your sub box!   MDF is "inert" -- meaning it will not resonate and color the sound.  It also does not expand and contract as humidity changes.   MDF is true to size!  3/4" MDF is 3/4"  While plywood is often NOT MDF is easy to Machine.  If you are dong complex router work use MDF, it will not tear out like Plywood. MDF is CHEAP!  That is not reason to use MDF, it is a great material for the above reasons.  So think of the lower price as a bonus. Carpeted MDF Enclosure Five Pro's of Plywood: Plywood is light, up to 50% lighter than MDF.   Plywood looks awesome!  If you know how to finish and stain wood then you can make some amazing works of art out of plyw

 Here is a short list of must-have woodworking tools you will need for your DIY subwoofer! Subwoofer Box for 2 12" Drivers Router: Bosch 1817 Kit I have been using this Bosh brand router for years.  Go ahead and get the kit with both the plunge and fixed base.   Circle Jig: Jasper Circle Jig. This is the legendary, and reliable Jasper Circle Jig.  It is a must-have, and the best tool for DIY speaker cut outs.  For those that don't like making Jeff Bezos even richer, consider purchasing one from Taylor Tool Works .  Spiral Router Bit: Spiral Cut Bit Go ahead and spend the money on a quality bit.  You will use this, along with the circle jig and plunge router, to plunge into wood and cut holes for speakers, ports, and terminal cups.  A straight bit will work, but these spiral bits plunge much better.  Again, check check out Taylor Tool Works as an alternative to Amazon.   Cord Reel: Cord Reel I regret not getting one of these sooner!  Hang this to your ceiling or high up on a w

All builds are budget builds, budgets are just different.  Here are four budgets and some gear that will get you the bass you crave.  Make sure you check out the end of the article for a few caveats*.   $300 Amazon Build For this build we are going with a single 12" instead of an 8" or 10".  Cone area is king.    Enclosure:  SKAR Audio SK1X12V      $94 Sub:  SKAR Audio SDR-12 D2             $90 Amp:  LEGIS Audio 500.1 D                  $66 Wire: Recoil OFC 8 Gauge Kit                $50 LEGIS Audio 500.1 D   That puts us right at $300 before taxes, most of it is on amazon, so shipping is free for prime members. I have personally reviewed the SKAR box and the LEGIS amp.  If you go this route pay close attention to the subwoofer and the amp.  Make sure you get the dual 2 ohm sub.  Wire the two connections in parallel to get the most power out of the amp.  When looking at the amp LEGIS also has a "1600 watt" version for the same price.  Look at the fuses.  The

An 8" Passive Radiator on the Back Side of a Small BoomBox   What exactly is a passive radiator, when and why would you use one? I remember my first encounter with a passive radiator.  I was in high school and I was browsing a catalog (way back in the stone age before we had the internet).  I was smitten with some very sexy tower speakers that had multiple 6.5" drivers.  Reading through the stats I noticed that 2 of the 3 drivers were passive radiators.  That same catalog had pre-loaded car audio subwoofer enclosures designed to fit under the front seat of a car, these designs used passive radiators, also called drone cones.  Several manufactures have made these over the years.  The modern version is the JBL Fuse , pictured below.  My initial gut reaction was that this was a rip-off.  A speaker with no magnet or voice coil that gave the illusion of multiple drivers.  I could not have been more wrong. JBL Fuse Subwoofer (Click on Image to View on Amazon) It turns out that t