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In ceiling IB subwoofer

Maximo

Well-Known Member
I believe it was snowman that did this for his room. I am wonderin how well that went?
 
I absolutely love them for music. Couldn't be happier. Once I got the can lights secured in the ceiling everything was fine for music. With strong movie LFE however, there are issues. They get going so strongly that it sets up distracting vibrations and rattles in the structure of the ceiling/roof.

It should be possible to locate and reinforce the problem areas and eliminate those issues, but I just haven't done it yet. In the meantime I am using my old SVS16-46 PC+ to handle everything below 40hz (IB's handle above that up to my regular crossover settings). This is not ideal but it works OK- better than hearing the rafters rattle. It at least allows me to watch movies without those annoying distractions.

I would recommend the IB setup to anyone who is prepared to deal with the home structure issues, as they truly do sound great- especially for music. For those who don't want to deal with these problems, I say just buy a damn good sub and you will be happy.

FYI these are the drivers I'm using:

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=295-420

The Amp:

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=300-811


IB2.jpg



IB10.jpg
 
Wow thanks! I am not a critical music person and more of a feel it in your chest person.

But honestly, for $1,000 in part plus the labor, I may be better off just getting an HSU or two.
 
An IB sub will provide 10x the output and a 1/10th the THD below 25Hz, which is MUCH more "feel it in your chest" than any commercially available box sub.

You have it exactly backwards.

Snowman's issue is with structural issues in his home. I think that can be addressed with some bracing, but that requires work.
 
Right. I should have known that. I guess another way for me to look at it is that, I have no business putting that kind of rig into my home becuase my kids are still small and there is no way that thing won't wake them up.
 
What would happen if snowman put a layer of batt insulation over those woofers? I am concerned (for him) about heat loss and condensation on the basket and coils.
 
Well, I finally got to the task. After getting home Friday, I got into the attic and went to work. Had the father-in-law downstairs using that Audacity® program to generate tones at different frequencies and I started the hunt. After lots of prodding, prying, squeezing and such, I found a solution.

http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

See those innocent little screw heads in the left corner, and then the right? I put those in four corners of the "box" that keeps the insulation off the drivers. That secures it to some upright structure, and seems to eliminate vertical movement, which was the root of my problems. Now I'm using the subs as Flint intended when he suggested this approach. No more extra sub. No more unnecessary crossover. It is nice. Very smooth and deep.

DSCF5060.jpg


DSCF5061.jpg


Thank you Flint, and thank you Maximo for giving me the kick in the tail that I needed with this thread. Now if you could just start one about keeping the lawn cut....
 
Nice! That's cool that it was such an easy fix, once you figured out the source of the problem. Good job.
 
I've thought about an IB sub since the day I decided to buy this house. Aside from the sound improvement, I'd love to improve the look of the front stage by ditching the big box. But... the cabinets and can lights in my room already rattle some during big bass scenes with the HSU. I can't imagine the effort it would take to keep those can lights from rattling if the drivers were bolted to the ceiling. An even bigger concern though is the projector and ceiling fan.
 
Doug...............way to go!!!

Sometime the perfect solutions are the easy ones!!
 
That's AWESOME!!! i can't believe it was that simple. I need to come listen now. Maybe one evening on my way home I'll swing by.

John
 
yromj said:
That's AWESOME!!! i can't believe it was that simple. I need to come listen now. Maybe one evening on my way home I'll swing by.

John
Sweet!!! Another gtg!! :banana-rock:
 
mazersteven said:
Is the sub enclosure covered or open to the attic?

Open to the attic. It's not really a box or enclosure, but just a barrier to keep the pink fiberglass away from the drivers.
 
That's funny, I hope your wife doesn't find out or the ball busting will begin.

I hate it when I am procrastinating and my wife is on my ass to do something. I keep telling her how difficult a job it could turn out to be and when it takes 5 minutes she is all over my ass. I hate it when she actually pays attention.
 
Is there a way to shock mount this to prevent the vibration issues with the framing effecting the rest of the home? Suspend the frame from a set of cables, rubber blocks on sides to keep spacing.
 
I was thinking that if we modify the design for the dipole speaker box that it would reduce the vibration the way a boxer engine reduces vibraton to the auto. Additionaly it would fit into a smaller area.

http://www.linkwitzlab.com/woofer.htm

When installed this would still function as infinite baffle.
 
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