Building a Subwoofer as a table? (1 Viewer)

[Zac_F]

Due to WAF, I am considering building a subwoofer that will blend into a room as a table. Not as the usual cube on the floor type, but as console type table with legs.

What I am thinking of is to build a Shiva based Adire alignment sub, but stretching the box dimensions lengthwise, and shrinking heightwise, keeping the same volume. I'll be putting the whole thing on a sturdy quarter sawn oak apron, with through tenon and biscuit joints. Its going to be a "Mission" sub. The apron will hide the driver and amp underneath. Qtr Sawn Oak veneer on the box.

My question. Is there a limitation on the dimensions a box can take? Does it matter if the box is only 8" tall internally, as long as I can fit the port tube? How about a trapezoidal shape? Would the non-parallel sides be OK? If you can build a sonosub, why not a traposub? I have a bay window behind the couch and a trapezodal shape would fit right in.

I just bought an SVS 20-39CS sub used, and even I think the thing is too big, even though it fits in an unused space behind my speakers. I promised my wife a table and can't resist the thought of combining the two.

 

[Rob Lloyd]

Only problem I see is weight. It's going to weight about 80+ lbs. That's a lot of weight to support unless you do it right. You don't want it sagging later on or stressing the legs and crashing down. Depending on the length you might want to consider 6 legs on it or a middle one in the center.

It will look great if you plan it out right.

I'm sure others will help w/ the design and space issues.

Let us know what you do. Sounds interesting.

 

[Juan Castillo]

Wonder if stuffing it, as you may need to anyway, will cancel out any bad effects the trapezoid shape will have on the subs performance? Anyone?

 

[Zac_F]

I plan on using some hefty oak legs and rails to compensate for the weight. Oak is pretty damn strong and the rails will prevent sag.

I also had a thought about the top surface. Since the thing will vibrate like crazy, I'll inlay a soft surface into it, as in a leather top desk, so I can put things on it. Probably need to secure things with double stick tape anyway. I'll put the antique ming vase somewhere else.

 

[Cam S]

This might help you out http://www.toshistation.com/thunder/default.htm
Though I'd go with a 15" driver like the Tempest, and I'd bet it would be louder than the 18" Kicker used here.

 

[Brian Bunge]

Also, I'd reconsider mounting the amp on the bottom. It's more likely to overheat. I'd suggest building a separate box for it and then running speaker wires from it to the sub.

Brian

 

[Jack Gilvey]

The main problem I always mention when this comes up is that of placement. The position of the sub will be more-or-less determined by its table-ness, and that position may be a bad one acoustically, rendering even a great sub anemic.

 

[Cam S]

Jack has a good point, I've tried it with my Shiva, and the bass was almost muted when it was in the middle of the room.

 

[Zac_F]

It would go in a bay window, which is oddly shaped, but still has 3 walls around it.

My other question still stands. Would altering the basic cube into something a lot more rectangular, but retaining the volume, be OK.

 

[Jeffrey Noel]

Would altering the basic cube into something a lot more rectangular, but retaining the volume, be OK.

As long as you keep the internal volume the same, it shouldn't matter what shape the enclosure is.

 

[Will Pomeroy]

i'm just curious, but why would the 15" tempest be louder than the 18" kicker?

 

[BrendanL]

I've contemplated building one of these as well. Would concrete work for the top? Then you could hopefully set a drink on it. I would put about 2" of concrete and set the sides (already built) into the wet concrete to cure and solidify.

 

[Jack Gilvey]

i'm just curious, but why would the 15" tempest be louder than the 18" kicker?

Got specs?