Or should I say my son wants loud. I've e-mailed Scott a couple of times, but I know how busy he gets. I thought I'd try here. What I'm looking for is the loudest possiblw set up that I can get with an honest 1400 watts @1 ohm available. I can build a box any size I need to, so that's not an issue. It's going in a mini-van so I've got plenty of room. He's trying to do better than his current setup of 2 AA Arsenal 12's in a ported box (tuned around 32-35Hz). My initial thoughts were 2 SSD18's w/dual 2 Ohm vc's in a ported box, but I'm looking for advice from someone from Fi. Once the drivers are chosen, I'll need help with box dimensions. TIA, Carl.

If you've got room go with the SSD 18's and possibly the flatwound coil option.

If you've got room go with the SSD 18's and possibly the flatwound coil option.

That was fast, thanks. We've got room to spare. Do you think this will be NOTICEABLY louder than what he's got now?

more cone area so yes

more cone area so yes

That's what I thought also, but doesn't efficiency have something to do with overall SPL? The Arsenal 12's are rated at roughly 87db and the SSD is a little over 89db. I didn't know if that would be a large difference. Of course I don't know how to factor the increased port area of the larger box as it relates to increase in SPL. I'd hate to spend $500.00 and build a new box if we weren't going to see a fairly large jump in wangage. Thanks for helping educate me. Thoughts?

i'm curious as to how you are going to take 2 dvc 2 ohm subs and get a 1 ohm load. dual 1 ohm i can see unless you just hoping for that much impedance rise to get the amp up to the 1 ohm mark since dual 2's would either be .5 or 2 ohms....

more cone area so yes

That's what I thought also, but doesn't efficiency have something to do with overall SPL? The Arsenal 12's are rated at roughly 87db and the SSD is a little over 89db. I didn't know if that would be a large difference. Of course I don't know how to factor the increased port area of the larger box as it relates to increase in SPL. I'd hate to spend $500.00 and build a new box if we weren't going to see a fairly large jump in wangage. Thanks for helping educate me. Thoughts?

Efficiency is a really interesting #. Install is everything. A well built enclosure can be night and day from an ok built enclosure. I would consider your goals. Will 18" SSD's get louder than 12" AA arsenals. It's like adding 2 more 12" subs to your current set-up. It's a theoretical instant 3dB gain, or about ~33% louder because our hearing is logarithmic.

i'm curious as to how you are going to take 2 dvc 2 ohm subs and get a 1 ohm load. dual 1 ohm i can see unless you just hoping for that much impedance rise to get the amp up to the 1 ohm mark since dual 2's would either be .5 or 2 ohms....

Yes, that would be a trick. I meant 2 dual 1 Ohm subs. That's what we're running now. My mistake.

more cone area so yes

That's what I thought also, but doesn't efficiency have something to do with overall SPL? The Arsenal 12's are rated at roughly 87db and the SSD is a little over 89db. I didn't know if that would be a large difference. Of course I don't know how to factor the increased port area of the larger box as it relates to increase in SPL. I'd hate to spend $500.00 and build a new box if we weren't going to see a fairly large jump in wangage. Thanks for helping educate me. Thoughts?

Efficiency is a really interesting #. Install is everything. A well built enclosure can be night and day from an ok built enclosure. I would consider your goals. Will 18" SSD's get louder than 12" AA arsenals. It's like adding 2 more 12" subs to your current set-up. It's a theoretical instant 3dB gain, or about ~33% louder because our hearing is logarithmic.

I agree that cone area wise, 226 sq in now and 508 sq in with the 18's will be more than doubling the effective cone area. The SSD's have 3 mm more stroke, so I'll have more swept voulme also. Port area should increase substantially (I have no idea how much) which should help also. Lastly 2 dB in efficiency will also help the cause. do you think 3dB is a little conservative?

Secondly, a well built enclosure is a must, I agree. The box I built for his current subs were from plans that Chad at AA sent me. I'd need that kind of direction with this project also.

more cone area so yes

That's what I thought also, but doesn't efficiency have something to do with overall SPL? The Arsenal 12's are rated at roughly 87db and the SSD is a little over 89db. I didn't know if that would be a large difference. Of course I don't know how to factor the increased port area of the larger box as it relates to increase in SPL. I'd hate to spend $500.00 and build a new box if we weren't going to see a fairly large jump in wangage. Thanks for helping educate me. Thoughts?

Efficiency is a really interesting #. Install is everything. A well built enclosure can be night and day from an ok built enclosure. I would consider your goals. Will 18" SSD's get louder than 12" AA arsenals. It's like adding 2 more 12" subs to your current set-up. It's a theoretical instant 3dB gain, or about ~33% louder because our hearing is logarithmic.

I agree that cone area wise, 226 sq in now and 508 sq in with the 18's will be more than doubling the effective cone area. The SSD's have 3 mm more stroke, so I'll have more swept voulme also. Port area should increase substantially (I have no idea how much) which should help also. Lastly 2 dB in efficiency will also help the cause. do you think 3dB is a little conservative?

Secondly, a well built enclosure is a must, I agree. The box I built for his current subs were from plans that Chad at AA sent me. I'd need that kind of direction with this project also.

Yes, my 3dB estimate was conservative.