ENCLOSURE FORMULAS

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ENCLOSURE FORMULA'S
This section outlines some information you will need to manually design your enclosure
if you are using a scientific calculator, or if you are interested in the formulas involved.
You will need the Thiele/Small specifications for the driver you want to configure, and at
least a rudimentary knowledge of math. Google, the search-engine, can direct you to a
number of very good free or low-cost software programs for designing your enclosure.
Remember, all data when figuring speaker enclosures is theoretical! Designing
enclosures is not an exact science, and sometimes what is perfect on paper or a
software graph will be improved upon by listening and making adjustments to the
system. Always use your ears as well as your head!

Metric to English
Multiply Metric Unit by:
mm to inch (linear) 0.03937
cm to inch 0.3937
meter to foot 3.2808
square cm to square inches 0.155
square meters to square ft 10.763
cubic meters to cubic ft 35.314
liters to cubic ft 0.0353
English to Metric
Multiply English Unit by:
inch to mm 25.4
inch to cm 2.54
foot to meter 0.3048
square inches to square cm 6.4516
square ft to square meters 0.0929
cubic ft to cubic meters 0.02831
cubic ft to liters 28.32

Note: Unless otherwise specified, all formulas use English measurements.

^ = exponent, for example 10^3

Efficiency Bandwidth Product (EBP)

To help you design the correct enclosure for the driver you are using, first find
the Efficiency Bandwidth Product of the driver:
EBP = Fs / Qes
50 or less = best used in a sealed enclosure.
50 - 90 = flexible enclosure options.
90 or greater = best used in ported enclosure.

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g

For more information about EBP and designing sealed and ported enclosures,
check out Enclosure Dilemma: Ported vs. Sealed.

Optimum volume for sealed enclosure (cubic ft ):

You may substitute any Qtc between 0.50 and 1.50 in place of 0.70 in both
equations (both must have same value) to experiment with enclosure size. Qtc
of 0.70 is generally considered an optimum alignment, with very good transient
response, low cut-off frequency, and flattest response to the cut-off - See Qtc.
Note: You must always choose a Qtc higher than the driver's Qts!
Find alpha: X = (0.70 / Qts)^2 - 1
Then calculate enclosure volume: Vb = Vas / X
System resonant frequency: Fcb = 0.70 / Qts ( Fs)
To find the theoretical cut-off frequency, use the following chart to find the F3
factor:
Qtc
F3 Factor
Qtc
F3 Factor
0.50
= 1.55
1.00
= 0.79
0.60
= 1.21
1.10
= 0.76
0.70
= 1.0
1.20
= 0.74
0.80
= 0.9
1.30
= 0.72
0.90
= 0.83
1.40
= 0.71
Then: F3 = Fc x (F3 Factor)

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Optimum volume for ported enclosure (cubic ft):

These formulas were engineered by D.B. Keele Jr. using the vented enclosure
alignments developed by A.N. Thiele.
Enclosure volume: Vb = 15 Vas (Qts^2.87)
Theoretical cut-off frequency: F3 = 0.26 Fs (Qts^ -1.4)
Tuning frequency: Fb = 0.42 Fs (Qts^ -0.9)
If an ideal box is to large for your application, choose an enclosure size in cu.ft.
then
Find: F3 = (Vas / Vb)^1/2 (Fs) (an exponent to 1/2 is the same as taking the
square root)
New tuning frequency: Fb = (Vas / Vb)^0.32 (Fs)
Note: these formulas for the "ideal" enclosure provide a flat response curve,
reasonably low F3, and fair transient response. The smaller you make the
enclosure, the larger the peak in the response curve, the higher the F3, and the
poorer the transient response. Enclosures much smaller than the "ideal"
alignment will sound muddled and boomy.

Optimum volume for single reflex bandpass (cubic ft ):

Determine Vr with above formula for a sealed enclosure. The 4th order
bandpass design is optimum with a total system Q of 0.70, using a Qtc and S
of 0.70 for Vr (sealed portion) and Vf (ported portion).
Vf = [(2) (0.70) (Qts)]^2
Vas
Vf tuning frequency: Fb = (0.70) (Fs / Qts)
The system F3 for a properly designed bandpass will be lower than a similarly
damped sealed enclosure. Depending on the System Q and tuning, F3 can be
up to approximately 1/3 octave lower (or more) if system Q parameters are the
same for both types of enclosures using identical drivers. Bandpass enclosures
are best designed with a good software program, as tuning and enclosure
changes can produce endless alignment variations viewable on your pc.
Because these enclosures attenuate mid-range frequencies and higher at 12
dB/octave, they are good only for subwoofer duty.

Circular port diameters for drivers in vented and bandpass boxes:

Driver diameter (inches)
Port diameter (inches)
6

8
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6-8
3
8 -10
4
10 -12
5
12 -15
6
These are general guidelines, and you may use a smaller size port if desired,
especially for ported enclosures. Try and use the recommended values if
possible, especially for bandpass. Recommended port values are for the
minimizing of port turbulence and possible noise.

Port length for vented and bandpass (inches):

iR = port radius in inches (1/2 diameter)
Vb (Vf in bandpass) = box volume in cubic inches (multiply cubic ft by 1728 to
find cubic in ).
Fb = tuned resonant frequency of box in Hz.
Lv = [1.463 (10^7) (R)^2 / (Fb^2) (Vb)] - (1.463) R
If you want to use more than one port, you can solve for the equivalent crosssectional area of the multiple ports that will equal a single, larger port. Two (or
more) circular ports of diameter A and B (C, ect.) can be substituted for a
single port with the larger diameter X:
X = ( A^2 + B^2 )^1/2 (an exponent to 1/2 is the same as taking the square
root)
You may input as many ports as you wish into the equation. Just take the
radius of X and input this into the port length equation. The final length will
apply to all ports being used, i.e. if you want to use 2 ports that are 3" in
diameter, you will solve for a single equivalent port which would need to be
4.24" in diameter. Once you solve for the length of the 4.24" port, just make
both 3" ports the same length to tune the box to Fb.

SOUND VELOCITY
Sound velocity Density (Rm.temp. air, (Standard) (68 F,dry,no CO2) ft/s
cm/s lbs/cu.ft g/cc
1126 33,160 .075 0.001201397774398

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EQUATION FOR A PARABOLA:

Definition:
A Paraboloid is a three-dimensional solid such that the set of all points
comprising the surface of the solid are such that the surface is equidistant from
a given fixed directrix line and a given focus point.
AN ELLIPSE:
x squared over b squared plus y squared over a squared,
where b squared equals a squared minus c squared
Definition:
An ellipsoid is a three-dimensional solid such that the set of all points
comprising the surface of the solid are such that the sum of the distances from
the surface to two fixed focii is constant.
EQUATIONS FOR A SPHERE:
Volume: 4/3 times pi times radius cubed. Surface area: 4 times pi times radius
squared.
Definition:
A sphere is a three dimensional solid such that the set of all points comprising
the surface of the solid are such that the distances from the surface to a single
central fixed point are equal.

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