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Sometimes crazy ideas make the best possible ideas
There's not enough subwoofer love right now, so I present you my crazy IB install.
Not sure if many remember, but a few months ago I mentioned I was exploring using some 18s in an IB setup. I wasn't looking for more SPL, but I did want to dig deeper. I wanted to shake things not worth SPL, but with actual moving mass. I want to dig deep without going louder.
I'd been exploring an IB setup for a year or so, but I was just dreaming. Fast forward a few months and Stereo Integrity was having a close out sale on their HT18 line - not exactly the perfect fit for IB, but for that price I couldn't say no. Fast forward another 5 months of waiting, and here we are!
So originally I was planning on two separate manifolds in the floor (thank goodness for crawl spaces) each loaded with (2) HT18s. But after exploring more options and doing some measures with a sub crawl, I wasn't that impressed with the responses. Additionally, the work of 2 boxes + 2 holes in the floor was exponentially harder than one. So I ended up going with one giant box housing all (4) drivers directly underneath the couch. My measurements showed it being a fairly decent natural room response with a big SPL boost due to proximity. Location in the room below (look for the red box).
Enough already, let's get onto the install
So nothing crazy about the box design. Inner layer is the width between joists I had to work with. Outer layer is an added layer of 3/4 BB ply. These 18s barely fit that. Will post the CAD drawing soon.
Quick glue-up shot
Added support in the middle of the box during assembly - had to get creative
After I routed out the holes, painted and installed (partial at this point)
Drivers installed
Only a manifold in the room (directly below the couch)
So how is it
I've been playing with it for almost a week. It's legitimately hard to describe. It's absolutely savage
I'll get another set of posts up with measurements soon. Working through the final structural reinforcement at the moment. As soon as that is done, I will post my walk through of raw data, tuning and integration. But I can tell you early measurements show -/+ 3db all the way down to 5hz
Quick video of the intro to Edge of Tomorrow (if your PC has subs, I recommend turning them down).
Not sure if many remember, but a few months ago I mentioned I was exploring using some 18s in an IB setup. I wasn't looking for more SPL, but I did want to dig deeper. I wanted to shake things not worth SPL, but with actual moving mass. I want to dig deep without going louder.
I'd been exploring an IB setup for a year or so, but I was just dreaming. Fast forward a few months and Stereo Integrity was having a close out sale on their HT18 line - not exactly the perfect fit for IB, but for that price I couldn't say no. Fast forward another 5 months of waiting, and here we are!
So originally I was planning on two separate manifolds in the floor (thank goodness for crawl spaces) each loaded with (2) HT18s. But after exploring more options and doing some measures with a sub crawl, I wasn't that impressed with the responses. Additionally, the work of 2 boxes + 2 holes in the floor was exponentially harder than one. So I ended up going with one giant box housing all (4) drivers directly underneath the couch. My measurements showed it being a fairly decent natural room response with a big SPL boost due to proximity. Location in the room below (look for the red box).
Enough already, let's get onto the install
So nothing crazy about the box design. Inner layer is the width between joists I had to work with. Outer layer is an added layer of 3/4 BB ply. These 18s barely fit that. Will post the CAD drawing soon.
Quick glue-up shot
Added support in the middle of the box during assembly - had to get creative
After I routed out the holes, painted and installed (partial at this point)
Drivers installed
Only a manifold in the room (directly below the couch)
So how is it
I've been playing with it for almost a week. It's legitimately hard to describe. It's absolutely savage
I'll get another set of posts up with measurements soon. Working through the final structural reinforcement at the moment. As soon as that is done, I will post my walk through of raw data, tuning and integration. But I can tell you early measurements show -/+ 3db all the way down to 5hz
Quick video of the intro to Edge of Tomorrow (if your PC has subs, I recommend turning them down).
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