TragicMagic

Put together a new enclosure for a 12" Eclipse Sw7200. 2 cubes, ported at 30Hz.
When we hook up the unit to my amp we experience a slight buzzing noise, but only for a small frequency range. The sound has a "metallic" feel to it.

Box is 3/4 MDF, 17x17x17 outside dimensions. Glued and screwed. Screws are spaced 3" apart where possible. Half the port is inside the box, and the other half is on top of the box. This was a design feature that turned into a flaw during construction.
The inside of the box has been sealed with silicone. The woofer and the speaker terminal have a strip of non-hardening weather stripping beneath them, as well. I tried to silicone the speaker wire inside the box, to take out the slop, but I pulled it off again when I re-inserted the subwoofer.

Eclipse recommends a 30 to 40 hour break-in period. Could this sound be emanating from the woofer, simply because its new? Everything on the box is tight. It sounds like its coming right from the driver... We'll let it play lightly for a while, maybe it will go away. The fact that the woofer is not being driven very hard, and that there is a port, that there isn't enough vibration through, or pressure in the box itself to be causing the noise. It sounds like it right behind the cone...

Just wanted some experienced opinions on the matter.

lpchouinard

Speaker wire touching the cone?
Maybe the tinsel lead is too long and touch the cone?

Try to send some low notes to the sub when it's out of the box (at low volume) it will help you identify the source of the noise. If it come from the sub and it's not the lead my guess is that you got a defect sub.

Denonite

iTrader: (1)

check the tinsel leads on the sub, sometimes they can make noise. also make sure it's not the amp that's making the noise by substituting another driver if possible.

TragicMagic

This driver came with a pair of jumper wires to use for putting the voice coils in parallel or series. The speaker wire goes into one terminal, and the jumper wires go into the other - the voice coil terminals are right beside each other.

I made sure that the sub was oriented in the box so the terminals were at the bottom, and the speaker wire comes off the box terminal near the bottom too, I don't think the speaker wire is hitting the cone since they should be hanging below the sub.

I'm going to try running the sub out of the box, to see if I can pinpoint where the noise is coming from. Going to secure the speaker wire again, too.

I'll take a pic when my fiancee gets back with my car tonight.

I've been using a friends 12" TypeR, sealed, with no issues. Its not the amp.

If it is the tinsel leads, is there anything I can do to rectify it?

Thanks guys.

TragicMagic

This is what I've got. I'll take a better picture later of the cone side of the terminals.
I did notice that one of the pins on the "jumper" wire was prone to popper out with little force. Maybe its a little loose in the top of the terminal. Perhaps I should try ing it a little to have a tighter fit.

The jumper wires are a 4" version of these...

If the pin end is too narrow, to could come out.

Father Yuli

iTrader: (17)

air leak?

TragicMagic

It might be, Yuli. But why would it be evident only on a particular note? Wouldn't an air leak be a constant, as long as the woofer is being driven?

And I'd think that an air leak would be easier to locate. I'm having a hell of a time determining where the sound is coming from.

Father Yuli

iTrader: (17)

i had a simliar sound coming out of my box and only when some notes hit. turned out it was an air leak. i was surprized myself it would sound that way.

TragicMagic

Did you have to build a new box, or were you able to seal the leak?

My fiancee took my car into work last night (equipped with snow tires). She called me during her shift, I asked her how the sub was working for her (since it'll be going in her car eventually), she said that it wasn't making the noise anymore. I'm going to check it out myself when she gets home this morning. Her hearing isn't as good as mine. lol

Sasha

iTrader: (10)

The sub should not be making such noise when new or old. Any possibility of placing that sub in a sealed box and checking if it makes that noise then. Perhaps the ported box did not turn out like it should have.