Ok, and now for the audio question... I'm trying to make my sub boxes smaller because they are too big. According to MTX's website I can reduce the size by 20% (which I did yesterday, BTW power tools are FUN!!!).
-here is what I'm not understanding
MTX WEBSITE SAYS
Damping

If a sealed enclosure is too large to fit in a given area of a vehicle, it is possible to decrease the necessary box volume by about 20%. This is possible by “Stuffing” the enclosure with 1.5 pounds per cubic feet of a low density, high specific heat material (fiberglass, Dacron, long fiber wool). Be sure to keep the stuffing away from the basket and pole piece vent of the speaker. This may be accomplished with a brace placed behind the speaker.



ok, is that talking about the cubic footage REMAINING? or REMOVED?

oh, can I make them any smaller? I do want them to sound like they did before, it's just... as you know, our trunks are pretty damn small. I have tools I gotta fit in there due to my distrust of my car.

Ok i think they mean that you could reduce the size of the box if you put stuffing in there. Lets say you need a box to be 1cu/ft you can make the box 20% smaller as long as you add stuffing.

right, my question was is the amount of stuffing determined by how much smaller it is (i actually cut my boxes smaller).

is it dependant on how much cubic volume there actually is (end product) or how much there was..

more simply put, is the amount of stuffing determined by the actual volume of the finished box, or by the amount that is NOT there because of the smaller size?

Oh i see! i didnt get your origional question but now i dont know. I know i put some stuffing in my box but i didnt think or care how much it was.

you just fill it up as much as you can with the stuffing.

on a side note..it doesnt really work, though it can help dissipate standing waves in the corners if your box is prone to them.

ok, so even if you reduce the size of the box it doesn't even matter?


and I never had stuffing in there before, just open air.

well, it CAN help, but only minutly...not enough to compinsate for a 20% reduction in box size. that figure was made up years ago and i cant find out where it came from, lol. somehow it has spread and is the "general rule" even though its completely wrong. 5% is probably a closer estimate in most cases.

in any event, youve already built the boxes so you might as well try them out. you may even like it better! experimentation is always a good thing.

Originally posted by SPL_Eclipse
in any event, youve already built the boxes so you might as well try them out. you may even like it better! experimentation is always a good thing.

correction, already took a circular saw to perfectly good boxes and chopped them to a smaller size (not much, 2.5 inches off in one direction)

I always thought adding stuffing to a box made the box act bigger?

if you chopped your box, then that´s it! now add insulation to deepen that bass. YOU´RE BETTER OFF BUYING POLYFILL. THIS MATERIAL WILL STAY AWAY FROM THE BASKET. IF UNSURE, USE A THIN PIECE OF FOAM OR CLOTH BEHIND THE SPEAKER. POLYFILL IS CHEAP AND IS USED TO STUFF TEDDY BEARS, PILLOWS, ETC. JUST FILL THE ENTIRE ENCLOSURES, BUT LOOSELY. WORKED FOR ME. :)

redmachine97.. Yes you are correct, that is what we are talking about. Making a box smaller but fooling the sub into thinking the box is still big or bigger by using the stuffing.