DIY Subwoofer Risers

[mj79]

2 questions about these things.. To me it seems like it can be done for cheap.. Some of the $500-$600 risers or ( sub trapS) are just mind blowing to me, ..


If you wanted to build a sub trap, couldnt you just basically make a square enclosure out of MDF ( basically a sealed sub box ) the throw legs on it with acousticalfoam on the bottom and wrap it in vinyl or carpet , whatever you choose???



Also, for the standard risers, instead of using acoustical foam , I was just curious if pink polystyrene would work as a base... not assoft and acoustical ( in terms ) as a piece of acoustical foam, but in a way can reverb soundwaves in the same way..


Just curious

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by mj79

2 questions about these things.. To me it seems like it can be done for cheap.. Some of the $500-$600 risers or ( sub trapS) are just mind blowing to me, ..


If you wanted to build a sub trap, couldnt you just basically make a square enclosure out of MDF ( basically a sealed sub box ) the throw legs on it with acousticalfoam on the bottom and wrap it in vinyl or carpet , whatever you choose???



Also, for the standard risers, instead of using acoustical foam , I was just curious if pink polystyrene would work as a base... not assoft and acoustical ( in terms ) as a piece of acoustical foam, but in a way can reverb soundwaves in the same way..


Just curious

The answer to both of your questions is yes. Make a sealed box, stuff it with old mattresses, wrap it with carpet, add some legs or spikes to it, and you will have one hell of a riser.

[mj79]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

The answer to both of your questions is yes. Make a sealed box, stuff it with old mattresses, wrap it with carpet, add some legs or spikes to it, and you will have one hell of a riser.

Thanks bd. I might try ths out with some spare mdf from my enclosures and pink 2" foam I have left over from building my garage. I hope it works cuz the foam is dense and basically an insulator/ isolator. Maybe an basic sealed enclosure about a foot high or so? So about 18w x18d x 12h. And if it sucks, I guess I have a nice new sealed box the the aa

so in a nutshell how did the riser sound different to you?

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by mj79

Thanks bd. I might try ths out with some spare mdf from my enclosures and pink 2" foam I have left over from building my garage. I hope it works cuz the foam is dense and basically an insulator/ isolator. Maybe an basic sealed enclosure about a foot high or so? So about 18w x18d x 12h. And if it sucks, I guess I have a nice new sealed box the the aa

so in a nutshell how did the riser sound different to you?

After I put the four subwoofers in my HT room on risers, I measured the results by an SPL meter. The total gain was about 10dB. Of course, this is very much room dependent.

[CdnBlu]

I've been going through this thread for sometime, and now that I finally have a worthy boomer, it's time to put it on a riser. I've been doing some research and decided I'm going to try to build a 'Subtrap'. I'm curious as to how I should go about building one. I was going to just build a 'box' and put my sub on it, but I saw a couple pictures where the inside of some Subtraps have a tube down the middle. What exactly does this tube do?

So far I've drawn a couple designs up, and will hopefully get to work on the weekend.

[mj79]

Originally Posted by CdnBlu

I've been going through this thread for sometime, and now that I finally have a worthy boomer, it's time to put it on a riser. I've been doing some research and decided I'm going to try to build a 'Subtrap'. I'm curious as to how I should go about building one. I was going to just build a 'box' and put my sub on it, but I saw a couple pictures where the inside of some Subtraps have a tube down the middle. What exactly does this tube do?

So far I've drawn a couple designs up, and will hopefully get to work on the weekend.

I would have thought it was a brace since I don't think They serve any tuning purpose

[CdnBlu]

Yeah I'm still unsure. I drew a couple more mock-ups today, I hope to have a final tomorrow so I can get to work

[mj79]

Originally Posted by CdnBlu

Yeah I'm still unsure. I drew a couple more mock-ups today, I hope to have a final tomorrow so I can get to work

nice! I ll get one built as soon as i finish taping my garage... kinda interested to see if I get any difference in sound , because my house in general has terrible acoustics

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by mj79

nice! I ll get one built as soon as i finish taping my garage... kinda interested to see if I get any difference in sound , because my house in general has terrible acoustics

You may want to use corner bass traps or other types of room treatment.

http://www.thefoamfactory.com/acoust...bassbroad.html

[Ventura]

This thread has been a great read. Call me crazy, but I've actually skimmed through most of it, and there've been some amazing pictures along the way.

I'll be putting a riser together for my Richter Thor this coming Saturday, and will likely add pics to my gallery once I'm done.

[crazyBLUE]

Originally Posted by Ventura

This thread has been a great read. Call me crazy, but I've actually skimmed through most of it, and there've been some amazing pictures along the way.

I'll be putting a riser together for my Richter Thor this coming Saturday, and will likely add pics to my gallery once I'm done.

No your not crazy I am

Good luck designing & making the riser . Lots of pics too ~ We like that around here .


Good Morning Big Daddy

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by crazyBLUE

No your not crazy I am

Good luck designing & making the riser . Lots of pics too ~ We like that around here .


Good Morning Big Daddy

Good morning. Don't you ever sleep?

[crazyBLUE]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

Good morning. Don't you ever sleep?

Yes I do . Sometimes

I have come up with A cool Idea for A riser for the 15" . Maybe this weekend I will start it .

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by crazyBLUE

Yes I do . Sometimes

I have come up with A cool Idea for A riser for the 15" . Maybe this weekend I will start it .

Keep us posted.

Also, add a few lines of description to the pictures you posted in the DIY SUbwoofer Building thread. For example, what type of wood is that that you added to the outside of the box? Did you uses glue?

[Ventura]

Originally Posted by crazyBLUE

No your not crazy I am

Like I said, I've done a lot of reading, and I can believe that

That said, I have absolutely no DIY skills atall, and I have no tools whatsoever. Not to mention, out here in Australia, you just cannot buy hardware of the same calibre that you can get elsewhere.

If I tried to assemble something like the first couple of pictures that Big Daddy posted, would I be able to just screw in four L-shaped metal brackets per leg (two at each end)? My table will be at about 20" x 20", 1" thick, and it will support a sub that weighs about 65 pounds. At a height of about 6", if I have both legs at 2" thick, that's not going to be a problem, right? I don't have a hammer, or a drill, but having assembled a few computers in my time, I've got plenty of screwdrivers lying around.

So yeah, have I got the right idea, or am I just better off buying an Auralex Gramma?

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by Ventura

Like I said, I've done a lot of reading, and I can believe that

That said, I have absolutely no DIY skills atall, and I have no tools whatsoever. Not to mention, out here in Australia, you just cannot buy hardware of the same calibre that you can get elsewhere.

If I tried to assemble something like the first couple of pictures that Big Daddy posted, would I be able to just screw in four L-shaped metal brackets per leg (two at each end)? My table will be at about 20" x 20", 1" thick, and it will support a sub that weighs about 65 pounds. At a height of about 6", if I have both legs at 2" thick, that's not going to be a problem, right? I don't have a hammer, or a drill, but having assembled a few computers in my time, I've got plenty of screwdrivers lying around.

So yeah, have I got the right idea, or am I just better off buying an Auralex Gramma?

You have the right idea. You don't really need any tools except a screw driver and a saw. A drill is convenient, but not required. In the U.S., many hardware stores cut the wood for free and you can rent tools from places like Home Depot. Alternatively, you can buy a Gramma riser, but a DIY riser is cheaper and you can build longer legs for it. That is important in a sub's performance.

[Ventura]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

You have the right idea. You don't really need any tools except a screw driver and a saw. A drill is convenient, but not required. In the U.S., many hardware stores cut the wood for free and you can rent tools from places like Home Depot. Alternatively, you can buy a Gramma riser, but a DIY riser is cheaper and you can build longer legs for it. That is important in a sub's performance.

Thanks mate. Yeah, the local hardware store will cut the wood for free, and I'd prefer being able to put it all together without having to also purchase a drill. My partner was concerned that just trying to manually screw in brackets would splinter the wood, but I don't think that will necessarily happen.

Increased height is a bonus, but my primary goal is definitely to isolate the sub from the floor. The higher I dare to go, the more I will be concerned about the table's stability, and the more foam I will require if I want to fill it in.

If I'm feeling brave, I'll risk going to 8", but not an inch higher

[liquidice]

8" really isn't that high, I guess it depends on how much of a space you create for the platform. Most of us have made the risers to a few inches greater than the surface of the subwoofer itself. Properly spaced out legs will provide enough stability to go higher if you like.

Honestly though, 8" is pretty good. I think I set mine at 8 as well.

[Ventura]

Originally Posted by liquidice

Properly spaced out legs will provide enough stability to go higher if you like.

So if I have a table at 20" by 20" and I have the legs spaced at about 12" apart, I could easily go 10" high if I really wanted? Damn, I might just do that, and I'll get as much acoustic foam under there as I can

[CdnBlu]

Alright guys and gals, not exactly what I had planned on paper, but this is what I ended up with:



Original plan was to make an overhang on both the top and the bottom. That didn't work out so well so I ended up just making a 'lid' for it with a half inch overhang all around. I wasn't sure if the box itself would hold the woofer, so I added 2x2 pillars to give it extra support. The pillars ended up being 3/4" shorter than the box itself so the bottom piece could be glued and screwed into the bases and sit flush with the rest of the box.



I ended up filling it with this fluff I found, but the box still sounds hollow. I'm going to try to find something else to add around the inner walls and I'll cover it up with some carpet last.

The box stands 18 3/4" high, with a length and width of 22 1/2". The pillars inside are 2x2's made of Spruce, and they are 18" tall.
The box itself is made of 3/4" MDF.

I may have gone a little too large with the whole thing, but it was easier to do it this way due to the sheets of MDF being 24x48".


Couple quick questions:

-What could I use to line the inner walls with? I was considering some of that "Wal-mart Foam" or possibly the Acoustic foam.

-Should I put some feet on this still? it sits surprisingly flat, and will be on a carpeted floor.