Kicker 15" L7 - Boxes - advice!

 

Bronze Member
Username: Businessboy

Post Number: 38
Registered: Sep-04
as some of u know, -i have this sub in a 1.5 cubic foot box. Is it worth building a custom box? I have seen the diagrams on the kicker site. - and want to make a 3 foot ported enclosure.

Will it affect the performance if i design a box differently? I was thinking of using all the bootspace by having a wide box - but not too high - this way i could put stuff on top of the box.

is it worth porting the enclosure, or sealing it? I'm into RnB hiphop etc, and like my low bass - but also want some punch.

 

Silver Member
Username: Southernrebel

Monroe, Louisiana USA

Post Number: 243
Registered: Mar-04
if you have what you the tools to build a box, then yes. its well worth trying. if you have a table saw or a skill-saw and some other wood working tools, then i'd say sure...build away!

a sheet of 3/4" MDF is only about $18, a can of caulk is only bout $3, and you can get woodscrews really cheap too. so if you already have to tools, and even if you mess up on a box then your only out about $25.

but if you buy a box (like from an audio shop or something) your looking at ~$60 at least. so it you can build it yourself, then do it.
 

Bronze Member
Username: Blownriv

OH USA

Post Number: 38
Registered: Nov-04
doubling the box size and porting it will make a huge difference. if you do things right, you'll notice the bass will be both lower and louder.

just be careful putting loads of power into a large ported box at low frequencies. if you have an infrasonic filter, id recommend using it.
 

Bronze Member
Username: Businessboy

Post Number: 39
Registered: Sep-04
thanks aaron, - i think i may built the 3 foot enclosure to kickers spec. cant go wrong then!

hopefully it'l be louder and lower. (already too loud as it is though!) but want to be greedy - might as well get the most outa tha sub!
 

Bronze Member
Username: Blownriv

OH USA

Post Number: 39
Registered: Nov-04
even to kicker's specs, the L7 will operate in free-air below the box's tuning frequency. be careful when unloading the woofer below 25Hz or so.

my advice would be to try a big, sealed box instead - go with kicker's largest recommended volume. it won't be as loud as vented, but you'll be impressed with how deep it can go.
 

Bronze Member
Username: Businessboy

Post Number: 40
Registered: Sep-04
kickers larget volume is 6 cubic foot!!! that would easily take up the whole boot of my new golf!!!

i'm luking at a 3 foot enclosure -ported. whilst i am tempted about a 4 foot sealed box. -this will be easier to build! (bit worried about the tuning side on the ported box.)



 

Bronze Member
Username: Lbeckner

Tulsa, Ok Usa

Post Number: 34
Registered: Oct-04
You can change the diminsions of the Kicker recommended box, but you need to try to keep the area of the box and port the same. I think you will notice a huge difference by switching the box.
 

Bronze Member
Username: Businessboy

Post Number: 41
Registered: Sep-04
cheers lucas, will get designing the box today! i printed out the kicker pdf and read that bit last night!

not to sure how to bend the port though! cos i want it facing upwards- the same as the sub.
 

Bronze Member
Username: Businessboy

Post Number: 42
Registered: Sep-04
by the way i need a subsonic filter if i want a ported box - um not to sure what they are - think the amp has 1 built in? i have the kicker 850.2 amp.
 

Bronze Member
Username: Blownriv

OH USA

Post Number: 42
Registered: Nov-04
i don't know if your amp has one. if it did, there should be a switch to turn it on/off.

a subsonic filter cuts frequencies below a certain point. if you tune the enclosure to say, 25Hz, you don't want anything below that frequency getting to the sub (at least not very much).
 

Bronze Member
Username: Lbeckner

Tulsa, Ok Usa

Post Number: 35
Registered: Oct-04
I'm not sure how a subsonic filter works or exactly what it does, but I think it helps prevent damage to the subwoofer when in a ported enclosure. wish I knew. I'm pretty sue that kicker amp has one.
 

Bronze Member
Username: Lbeckner

Tulsa, Ok Usa

Post Number: 36
Registered: Oct-04
Let me know how it sounds please. I am getting 2 15" L7's, but they will be an a 3' cu. box. I may need to try a ported also.
 

Bronze Member
Username: Businessboy

Post Number: 43
Registered: Sep-04
hi guys, started building the box today - decided to go for a 3.5 foot sealed. this will give me adequate room in the boot - whilst being much easier to construct. i hope theres a big difference to the 1.5 box!!!
 

Bronze Member
Username: Blownriv

OH USA

Post Number: 44
Registered: Nov-04
there's gonna be a whole lott'a shakin' goin on!

you should listen to some bass tones and/or take some measurements in the existing box. then, afterwards, you can compare to the response specs of the new box. should be cool to see what happens betweet 10-25Hz.
 

Bronze Member
Username: Businessboy

Post Number: 44
Registered: Sep-04
there is already alot of shakin going on with the 1.5 box! it's not as clear as i'd have liked loud - but things should be different in this larger box - it's actually 4 cubic foot! :-)

should be done 2mrw hopefully -and carpeted soon!

the things gona weight a ton!
 

Unregistered guest
i have two L7 12's, i had them in a box i got when i bought them that was sealed. i took the time to build my own box for them using the kicker web site specs and i can tell you it at least doubled the sound, if not more. i am in the process of buliding the spl size box that has 3.25 cubic feet vs the 2.75 i have now. i was told that by doing this i will double the loudness of the 2.75 box making for a 4 times greater sound over the sealed box, also i must say that with the 2.75 i have rocked buildings and knocked stuff off walls and shelf's. so with the 3.25 it might be nasty. contact me with any questions
 

Bronze Member
Username: Businessboy

Post Number: 46
Registered: Sep-04
so the 2.75 u have is a sealed box? what amp u running them with?

my box is nearly built! can wait to hear it. box actually doesnt fit in my boot!! i have to put it in through the front doors! madness!
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