There are a few different shapes of subs. Circle being the primary and then there are square, pentagons, triangles, and even hearts. But I don't get how they can determine the size of the subs. For example, a 12 inch square subwoofer has 12 inch sides but the longest distance (which is from one corner to its diagnol) is about 17 inches. So why aren't these subwoofers classified as say 15" which is about the average of the two lengths. Why are they considered 12 inches and you can compete with them as 12 inch subwoofers when they are really more like 15's????????

 

For Example, the Kicker Solo Baric, I know these were created for the sole purpose of being a "cheater " sub, they designed it so that it was no more then 12" from side to side, or top to bottom, but iwth more surface area hence being a "cheater" sub! I asked a few reputable shops and had SEVERAL different answers, but this is the most logical, and it was posted somewhere as well from a sponsered "team kicker". I gave up after hearing that :P but Heart shaped subs?? WHo makes them?

 

"heart shaped subs who makes them?"

Haha, they were on the home page of the kicker website for about a month. Kicker makes them and they looked pretty fricken cool but I doubt that the performance is there.

Does anyone think that the spl contests might make square subwoofers illegal in the future? Because like you said, they are "cheater" subwoofers and it only makes sense that they might do that.

 

Granted they are a "cheater" but they have been on the market for a few years now!!!

 

bazooka makes a triangle sub :P

 

The kicker 'heart' sub was never actually produced... it was put on their web page on the 1st of April as an 'April fools' joke

 

The loudest in the world still uses round subs!

 

no they are not treated as round subs when being placed in classes. ie in iasca 0-160 square inches 2 10 inch round are 157 square inches, but they classify two square 10s at 200 (basic square area calculations haha). so it is made more fair. anyone know the proper forumula for the surface area of a heart LOL

 

GAWD! I feel dumb! Hahahahahaha. That is awesome, it totally fooled me. I thought they were crack heads if they thought they would make money off of them but it would have been cool to see a few everyso often.

 

Xtant also makes a hexagon. plus there's the "quadrasub" which is 4 motors and a 21" square flat cone... freaky.

All that being said... serious audiophile speaker manufacturers gave up on square drivers in the 1930's, but for SPL they can work. plus Kicker's surrounds, as well as bazooka's are ribbed on the corners so that that part of the cone isn't under as much stress as it would be if it wasn't ribbed.

Sony's "pentagon" subs are pretty much just a round basket with a funny shaped cone... stupid design principle if you ask me.

Round is predominantly used because the stress on the spider and surround is then uniformly distributed and allows the driver to center itself much more precicicely with the least amount of engineering BS.

oh, and boston accoustics has some half round with straight top/bottom designs that look really dumb.