The 4th Order Bandpass Subwoofer Enclosure

It is important for stereo enthusiasts to understand that purchasing a subwoofer speaker to increase the amount of bass in their stereo system is only part of the process. Another necessary requirement is to choose the proper box to put the speaker in.

Different types of subwoofer enclosures provide different types of bass. In fact, there are several choices when it comes to subwoofer enclosures and one that has gained popularity in recent times is the 4th order bandpass enclosure. The reason for increased popularity has more to do with the type of music that the 4th order bandpass enclosure supports with slamming bass that many people seem to desire now. The ideal music for this type of enclosure is rap or hip-hop music, which has clearly made a huge impact on the music scene over the past twenty years or so. The youth of today is enthralled with rap music and a major component of it is the outrageous bass that pumps out from nearly every rap song. To effectively capture that bass and produce the intended sound for rap music, it is necessary to use not only a subwoofer, but also the proper enclosure.

The proper enclosure for rap music, or at least one choice that makes a lot of sense is a 4th order bandpass enclosure. It is a special type of box that is designed as a ported box, which allows the sound waves to emerge from the ported side of the enclosure. The speaker is mounted inside a dual chambered box with the one side completely sealed and the other side ported. The sound escapes the ported side of the 4th order bandpass enclosure within a narrow frequency and it is extra loud. There is an acoustic filter in front of the driver which does affect the size of the box and is considered one of the defects of this choice for a subwoofer enclosure, especially for people who are interested in adding bass to their car stereo system as space is usually limited to some extent and it can be very tight to fit the 4th order bandpass enclosure into many types of vehicles. However, next to the sealed subwoofer enclosure the 4th order bandpass enclosure is a close second for many people.

Since the sound from the 4th order bandpass enclosure is emitted from the vents or ports on the ported side of the box, port noises are inevitable. These unwanted sounds can be minimized by using a notch filter and the largest port diameter possible for the enclosure should definitely be used. Another option is to flare the ports of the 4th order bandpass enclosure as this will certainly help decrease the extra unwanted sounds from the subwoofer.

No matter what additional steps are taken to minimize the unwanted sounds of the 4th order bandpass enclosure, the bass this subwoofer provides will still deliver for most stereo enthusiasts that are interested in listening to bass booming rap music. It is important to remember a bit of courtesy when utilizing such a powerful and loud stereo system. Not everyone wants to hear the latest hip-hop or hard core rap songs, as many contain harsh language and inappropriate subject matter for many people. Just remember that if you have nearby neighbors or are rolling down the street with the windows open or top down.