What Effect Does Speaker Enclosure Size Have on Bass Frequency Response?

Overview

The purpose of this experiment was to find the optimal enclosure size for a woofer driver. My experimental question was “What effect does speaker enclosure size have on bass frequency response?” To test this, I built a 7” x 8 ½” x 25” speaker enclosure out of medium-density fiberboard with a slidable back panel, which allowed me to change the enclosure’s internal volume. With an OmniMicV2 microphone and REW software, I took measurements of the speaker’s bass frequency response at six enclosure volumes ranging from 0.06 ft3 to 0.51 ft3 by moving the position of the back panel. I took readings of the speaker’s frequency response above and below the driver’s Compliance Equivalent Volume (Vas), 0.34 ft3, which is the volume of air that exerts the same force as the driver. I took and averaged three measurements at each volume. Every measurement was consistently 1.5 - 3 decibels louder than the one before it with a smaller enclosure volume. This continued until the measurement at the driver’s Vas, where the bass frequency response was very similar to its frequency response at larger enclosure volumes, showing either little or no improvement. My hypothesis was that the driver would play louder in a larger enclosure, until the enclosure was equal to or larger than the driver’s Vas. This was supported by the results: the speaker’s bass frequency response improved every measurement until the Vas, after which there was very little or no improvement.

Awards (1)

• Category Award: HM

Competition history

• CSEF 2023 Materials Science · Entry J1313

Resources

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