Building the Enclosure


The fact is that installing car stereo equipment is not much fun. Basically, you end up forcing electronics and speakers into places they simply weren't meant to be is quite challenging for even the experienced people. When you really start creative youre your installs, it is even harder.

While every part of system design brings a unique set of challenges on their own to the installation, building custom speaker enclosures is perhaps the most creative aspect of the installer's job. Building the box is regularly done by those people that want smooth, deep bass.

Two enclosure types that are the most practical for most cars are the sealed box and the vented box. Although they are different in design and operation, both types use the same basic construction techniques. But before you start grabbing your tools, you have to decide which box will best suit your needs. So lets looks at those next.







Sealed Enclosures

This is very straightforward in how its built. The sealed box is nothing more than an airtight enclosure whose sole purpose is to enhance the speakers performance. When a woofer is installed in one of these, the sounds that come from the front of the speaker cone are separated from the back. This will certainly improve your subs bass response, since opposing waves will now cancel each other out when they aren't being isolated. This enclosure offers excellent damping, good power-handling, and it is very easy to build. This makes the sealed-box enclosure ideal for many different installs.


Vented Enclosures

Vented enclosures, which are also known as ported or bass-reflex systems are harder to do than sealed boxes, but they offer extra construction work that is necessary if you want to install a vent which is something that will have its own rewards in the long run. Vented boxes are more efficient than the sealed ones, since they channel sound waves from the front and rear of the cone into the listening area. Some other great points that come out of the vented design will include a better reproduction of low bass, and a bit of a flat response curve, and lower distortion. Just keep in mind that this is only if the box is properly made in the first place.