Enclosure Setup & Troubleshooting - AudioBahn AW1051M Owner's Manual

Enclosure, Setup & Troubleshooting
Building an Enclosure
To work properly, the walls of the enclosure must be rigid and not flex when subjected to high
pressure generated by the speaker's operation. For optimum performance, we recommend
using 3/4" MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard) and internal bracing. The enclosure should be
glued together along with support of screws or nails. Because MDF is porous, it is suggested
that you seal the outside with polyurethane prior to painting or carpeting.
Calculating Volume
Calculating is merely a matter of measuring the dimensions in inches, and using the following
formula: Box Volume = (Height) x (Width) x (Depth) divided by 1728.
This will give you the volume of the box in cubic feet.
If two facing sides are uneven length, add them together, and divide by 2 to take the average.
Using this number will give you the volume without the necessity of calculating the box in
sections, and adding the sections together. The thickness of the baffle material reduces the
internal volume so this must be subtracted from the outside dimensions to determine the
internal volume. The amount of air displaced by each model is listed on the specifications
sheet in this manual and should also be subtracted from the gross volume calculation. All
box parameters include displacement for ports and subs. These specs do not include the
volume of the material used to bond the box, so this must still be factored into the calculation.
Subwoofer Crossover
There are two operational types of crossovers, passive and active. Passive crossovers (coils
and conductors) are placed on the speaker leads between the amplifier and the speaker.
An active crossover is an electronic filter which separates the audio signal fed to different
amplifiers. For optimum subwoofer performance, we recommend using an active 80-100Hz
low pass crossover at 12dB/octave.
If you start having problems with distorted sound or loss performance after installing your
subs, you can follow the instructions below to try and locate what is causing the problem.
1. If you have any distorted sound, loss of performance, or rattling from your subs, check
the connections running from your amplifier or other processor to the box. You will also
want to check the connections inside the box to make sure no wires have become
unhooked or are loose.
2. If the above does not solve the problem, check your enclosure thoroughly to see if
there are any leaks, cracks, or broken pieces. Any loss of structural integrity of your
enclosure can cause significant performance loss and distortion.
3. The next step you can take is to remove the subs and look for any burned wire leads or
separated components. You can normally smell something burning when a sub blows
or is going bad. Sometimes when you play subs to hard for too long, they will start to
heat up.
4. If none of the above steps solve the problem, you will want to start looking at the other
components in the vehicle. Start by checking all connections to and from the box,
amplifier, source unit, or any other processors you may be using. You will need to refer-
ence to that particular manufacturer for any setting configurations or troubleshooting.