Need suggestions for a single sub for outdoor use

[dalbert02]

Imagine a small outdoor bar/pool area that has (4) QSC AD-S82 speakers mounted along a wood fence facing a pool and bar. http://qsc.com/products/loudspeakers...mount/AD-S82H/
The area is comparable to an average size back yard. The QSCs are powered by a Crown XTI 2002 and another Crown XTI 2002 is available for immediate use. https://www.parts-express.com/crown-...ifier--245-407 The QSCs do not play much below 80. We want to put a sub inside the structure of the bar, facing toward the pool. The bar/seating area has (4) ceiling mounted speakers powered by yet another amp (70w/Ch) that also don't play much below 80Hz. The maximum external dimensions allowed for the sub box is 20"h X 20"w X 30" deep. I am thinking a Peavey Low rider 15" with (2) 4" ports in a 2.67 cu ft box. https://www.parts-express.com/peavey...river--294-303

I would like any input. Obviously, more subs would be better but I am constrained to one sub in this one location. 99% of the time low volume background music is playing or audio from TVs mounted on the wall. The pool area is usually slightly louder than the bar area. Once in a while the system will be cranked up for a party or event. Thank you.



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[Paul O]

Re: Need suggestions for a single sub for outdoor use

Sure.. that'll do it.. .but make the enclosure the Medium size recommended in the PV spec sheet.

[Tin_Ears]

Re: Need suggestions for a single sub for outdoor use

Are you trying to PO your neighbors?

[ejh2854]

Re: Need suggestions for a single sub for outdoor use

Had a similar application, and in the end built a Titan 39:

http://billfitzmaurice.net/T39.html



...which will eventually be installed under the deck (original plan) or integrated into an outdoor bar/seating area (Plan B under consideration).

The back yard is a little over a half-acre, and the T39 effortlessly paints it with "bass everywhere" on just a handful of volts... anything close to war volume would net a visit from the gendarmes. This one is too big for your maximum silhouette, but the BFM pages have other options which might work.

.

[Brian Steele]

Re: Need suggestions for a single sub for outdoor use

That space you have available works out to just under 7 cu.ft., which is plenty of space for a good subwoofer. Lots of different possibilities. Only issue I see your poor "bartender" having to put up with the boom when you have that occasional party, LOL. Are you sure you can't consider a design that allows you to wheel it out by the fence when it's party-time? .

[Cuppa Joe]

Re: Need suggestions for a single sub for outdoor use

If you're using 3/4" ply for the sub, those dimensions work out to about 5.25 cubic feet net, including the usual displacements plus a 1" lip. A Sigma Pro 18A would fit if you vented on a side or rear panel. Tho with only 6.1mm of excursion, you couldn't push it TOO hard to disturb the neighbors.

[zhillsguy]

Re: Need suggestions for a single sub for outdoor use

Since the driver may be somewhat exposed to the elements, perhaps one of PE's "coated paper" 15" drivers may be in order:
Link

From personal experience I highly recommend PE's PA385S-8 15" driver that was introduced at the beginning of the year, a big step over and above the 15" Peavey LR. However, Mother Nature may dictate periodic replacement as regular maintenance. Maybe you could squeeze in two PA380-8's and call it a day? Whatever the case, tune the enclosure to between 35-40 Hz, protect it physically, and set up a high pass filter in the Crown slightly below tuning. Look for a lower Q driver for a smaller enclosure.

Keep us posted.

[Cuppa Joe]

Re: Need suggestions for a single sub for outdoor use

What about creating a clamp-on panel to cover the driver / vent baffle when the sub is not in use? Also, DuraTex is a fairly weather-resistant coating.

[dalbert02]

Re: Need suggestions for a single sub for outdoor use

Thank you for the replies. Bar construction is complete. We were very fortunate that someone donated some very nice commercial grade stainless steel doors for the bar. However, since the doors were slightly bigger than what we had designed, we had rebuild the bar frame which is made of pressure treated 2x4's. It was cheaper to buy some 2x4's than buy stainless doors we originally spec's out. So, The new max dimensions are 23" wide and 25" high by up to 30" deep, so the cubic feet issues should not be a problem. The bar frame will be covered with hardy board and then tile.

Neighbors will not be a problem, they'll be invited! Bartender will have to suffer tho!

Does anyone have any experience water-proofing regular drivers? I was thinking a very light spray of clear polyurethane on just the cone (not the surround). Is it worth it or not advised as it will change the drivers characteristics?

[Sounder]

Re: Need suggestions for a single sub for outdoor use

Build a Simplexx 15 Sub and you won't have to worry about waterproofing the driver or getting kicked, its downfiring.

http://www.billfitzmaurice.com/Simplexx.html

[Brian Steele]

Re: Need suggestions for a single sub for outdoor use

Once the bar is covered, I don't think you'll have to worry too much about water-proofing the driver. I'm going to guess that rodent damage is likely going to be the bigger threat. Make sure that you've got a good grille in place protecting both the driver and the vent (one of my friends lost a good driver when a mouse crawled into the vent and made the subwoofer a home, using paper harvested from the driver to make its nest).

If you're concerned about water damage, you could opt for a driver that's suitably protected in the first place, e.g. one with a poly cone. This may put you in car audio driver territory, but note that some of those drivers are capable of pretty decent output when mounted in vented boxes. A bigger concern I think is making the box moisture resistant, which is going to require treatment both outside and inside.

[wg_ski]

Re: Need suggestions for a single sub for outdoor use

Rodent damage is a MUCH bigger threat. Wood rats in my shop are just a fact of life now that we have dogs instead of cats. I've had a couple drivers in conventional cabs destroyed by them over the years. And almost all my ported boxed have gotten rat poop and other stuff left inside for me to clean up even if the drivers are intact. NEVER had one in a horn loaded box even touched - except for some straight midrange horns about a foot and a half deep. Squirrels had put a bunch of acorns in between the slot throat and the cone. Left a mess but it didn't hurt anything really. I pop the covers and inspect the drivers in my folded horns about once a year, expecting to find damage and so far nada - since 2002 when I built my first. They just don't go back into the folded horn subs and kickbins to get to the drivers - a good reason to use a front loaded horn. I keep my TH's facing one another so as not to tempt fate - and those drivers are pricey.

[ejh2854]

Re: Need suggestions for a single sub for outdoor use

Whatever the design, I'd second the need to keep wildlife out of the enclosure. In addition to the usual irritants like mice, around here the yellow jackets (and the d*mn Carolina Wren) will quickly build lavish nests in practically any hole of opportunity.

I've got a layered approach of PE grill cloth and fiberglass window screen, with an outer critter barrier of wire mesh covering the terminus of the T39... hopefully it's enough protection that I don't need claymores and a moat.

.

[Cuppa Joe]

Re: Need suggestions for a single sub for outdoor use

Thank you for the replies. Bar construction is complete. We were very fortunate that someone donated some very nice commercial grade stainless steel doors for the bar. However, since the doors were slightly bigger than what we had designed, we had rebuild the bar frame which is made of pressure treated 2x4's. It was cheaper to buy some 2x4's than buy stainless doors we originally spec's out. So, The new max dimensions are 23" wide and 25" high by up to 30" deep, so the cubic feet issues should not be a problem. The bar frame will be covered with hardy board and then tile.

Neighbors will not be a problem, they'll be invited! Bartender will have to suffer tho!

Does anyone have any experience water-proofing regular drivers? I was thinking a very light spray of clear polyurethane on just the cone (not the surround). Is it worth it or not advised as it will change the drivers characteristics?

Scotchgard.

[dalbert02]

Re: Need suggestions for a single sub for outdoor use

An update. Build pictures below are self explanatory. The only hiccup we had was the 'sub out' of the receiver would only play when the main (ceiling speakers) were playing. There was no audio on the receiver's 'sub out' when we selected zone 2 (fence speakers). I solved this by using an RDL box that senses audio and would send whichever audio was present 'sub out' or 'zone 2 out' to the sub amp which was programmed to play from 32hz to 80hz. Now the sub pumps if the ceiling speakers or the fence speakers or both are playing. Balancing took some time but now is pretty good, the sub plays at the correct volume if the ceiling speakers or the fence speakers are playing. Since each can have it's volume set independently, the RDL chooses to follow the ceiling speakers first and if there is no audio present will then follow the fence speakers.

Also, waiting for a custom white grill to cover the speaker in the bar area.

Link to pictures: http://imgur.com/a/FnPYp#0