Speaker selection advice

Cirk · #1 04-23-2011, 03:32 PM

OK, I've got this blank slate of a cab here, internal volume is estimated at 3.72 cubic feet. The front baffle is 14 3/4" wide and 25 1/2" high. The question is, what drivers and crossover to install? So far, I'm thinking of the following options:

12" bass, 6" sealed mid and tweeter
2x10" bass, 6" sealed mid and tweeter
4x8" 6" sealed mid and tweeter

The thing is, I don't know which drivers or crossover to go with. This could end up sealed, ported, or I could install a 10" passive radiator in the bottom.

I'm wide open to ideas, let's hear it. Thanks for your consideration.

MuzikMan · #2 04-23-2011, 04:24 PM

I don't think a 2x10 or a 4x8 with a mid will fit on your baffle board. Are the given dimensions the baffle board or the overall width and height of the cab?

Cirk · #3 04-23-2011, 04:29 PM

They're the dimensions of the baffle board. The cab is a bit bigger all the way around. Externally, about 18" wide and 17 1/2" deep

MuzikMan · #4 04-23-2011, 04:34 PM

Some of your numbers seems off. Could you post the exact internal dimensions (W x H x D)?

Cirk · #5 04-23-2011, 05:23 PM

I wish I could. The trouble is that the cab is already built, sealed up and carpeted. The baffle board was never cut, thus the blank slate approach. My best guess is 3.72 cubic feet. Can't remember the dimensions I used to figure that out, and it could be a bit off. It might be a tad smaller than 3.72 internally, but I won't know until I start cutting. But of course, by then, it would be too late. It's a bit of challenge and a lot of guesswork.

Cirk · #6 04-23-2011, 05:38 PM

have a look at the picture, it may help clarify things.

will33 · #7 04-23-2011, 05:44 PM

Might be able to make an educated guess if you could at least get the exterior dimensions, otherwise.....meh.

Is it ported and if so, need a close guess of the port size and how deep it goes into the cab.

Cirk · #8 04-23-2011, 06:09 PM

Exteior dimensions are 17 1/2 wide, 18 deep and 28 1/2 high. Material looks to be about 5/8 thick. No ports or anything have been cut.

Rick Auricchio · #9 04-23-2011, 06:38 PM

Sell it to someone who will make it into a guitar cabinet.

Reworking it as a ported bass cabinet is like building a car around a transmission you have lying around. Cabs are designed to match the speaker, not the other way around. Doing it this backwards way is a lot of work.

gaffster787 · #10 04-23-2011, 07:06 PM

i'd download WinISD, its free.. and just muck around with different configurations/drivers. You'll start to get a feel for the trade-offs.
If not, sealed full (5Khz range) 2 x 10's sound good to me, even if they are not as loud or quite as deep as a ported cab. They certainly are nice and tight.

Cirk · #11 04-23-2011, 07:17 PM

does WinISD work on a mac? Using OSX here.

GrowlerBox · #12 04-23-2011, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cirk

does WinISD work on a mac? Using OSX here.

It doesn't, unless you have Bootcamp or similar. TB user fdeck has a spreadsheet available in a few file formats. You can get it from his website (Francis J. Deck). Worth a look in any case.

MuzikMan · #13 04-23-2011, 10:05 PM

3.72 cu. ft. does seems reasonable for that cab. There is an issue I see right away in the picture. The front recess appears very shallow. Normally you would want about 1.5" of recess to properly protect the drivers with some type of cover. How deep are the recesses in the front and back?

It is also very important to have some kind of internal bracing going on inside. I wonder what you have going on in there? I would decide on the handles and speaker jack first so you can cut and look inside.

Given that you are interested in a 3-way cab and the dimensions of the baffle, I think a 1x12 or a 1x15 is the way to go. It all depends on the ACTUAL internal volume.

Cirk · #14 04-24-2011, 04:18 PM

The front recess is only about 1/4 inch, none in the back. I took out one of the handles and took a look inside with a flashlight, and it's 1/2 inch mdf all the way around. The only internal bracing runs from front to back on top and bottom, totaling 4 strips of 1/2 x 1/4. Considering the material, I'm going to use neo magnet speakers due to weight concerns.

MuzikMan · #15 04-24-2011, 04:25 PM

I would get rid of the cab. 1/4 front recess -> bad. 1/2" baffle -> bad. Minimal bracing -> bad. MDF construction -> cheap enough to cut your losses and move on. You have a $30 cabinet there at best.