How much vent area in walk through for subwoofer?

[xrichard]

Related to Thomas205's question about venting the observer's seat area for a sub:

When I installed my sub, I put 6 x 5" diameter holes in the walk through to vent the observer's seat area to the rest of the boat.

My question: is this enough venting area? (117 sq inches).

The sub is a Wetsounds XXX in a vented box driven by a Syn1.

I'm not sure the exact area of the driver, but I'm guessing +/- 95 sq inches.

I'm redoing the cover on the vents in the walk through and can take this opportunity to open it up a bit more if need be. If it'll help, then I will...but I don't want to spend a lot of time and effort increasing the vented area if the benefit is very marginal or non existent.

David@Earmark...I'd love to hear your thoughts as well as others with experience here.

Thanks!

[nyryan2001]

X richard, can you post some pics of these 6 holes you did in the walkway?

[xrichard]

I don't have photos of them. They are behind the black panel in the photo. I cut three across the top of that area and three across the bottom.

The panel is made out of foam covered in speaker cloth. I cut out matching holes in the foam so that the foam would not impede airflow. When the sub is hitting, you can see the fabric move where the holes are cut.

[nyryan2001]

Gotcha. I was having a hard time visulaizing the holes...the fabric looks great.

Its hard not to think the more access the better, so the bigger and/or more holes, the better the sub can radiate bass and music tone accurately with least distortion and obstruction. My opening is roughly the size of yours with a plexi insert.

I can tell you that sub orientation matters.... my sub sounds better oriented towards the hull vs firing directly out the hole into the walkway. I heard it both ways... sounds deeper, more solid and seems to resonate throughout the boat more evenly toward the hull vs walkway for me.

[aZ`]

Minimum would be the same surface area of your sub. Being a 12" sub, it needs a minimum of ~113i^2. Are you sure you didn't do the math ??
Basically the more ventilation the better, a box in a box is a terrible place for a sub woofer.

I am yet to do this to my 210, xrichard did yours have the cooler door to begin with? I am trying to think of a way to make it as neat as yours and still retain functionality of the door.

[xrichard]

12" subs aren't really 12" at the driver...I didn't measure the actual radius, but that's why the area will be less than pi*6^2.

Given the volume of the area under the observer seat, I'm guessing the ideal amount of venting will be larger than the area of the driver.

Mine didn't have a door, just a mesh storage net. For a door, I might make a replacement out of King Starboard and route out slots to vent---maybe back it with speaker cloth so you can't see through.

I think Earmark has some good product that might work for you and save you the fabricating headache.