Thoughts on single driver IB temporarily?

[evilb]

I've been sitting on a single SI HT18 D4 for some time with plans to use it in a Marty style end table build. Now that I'm a converted cult member I'd like to use it in my first IB build. This will be a through the floor deal from an unfinished basement. Obviously I can no longer aquire a second SI18 so could I use it by itself untill I get a matching pair? I fully understand the desire for dual opposed for mechanical dampening. If I prebuilt a manifold for two or four drivers but only used the one for now (side mounted), how severe would the effect of wave reflection be from firing the speaker into the parallel manifold wall? What about installing a wall at 45 degrees to reflect up to the floor opening? I also thought about just using having a horizontal baffle and facing the driver straight up. Has anyone ever done this? I know it's not ideal but I'd like to use the speaker for something.. Thoughts?

P.S. I'm currently running a UM15 in a 3' sealed box along with a IDQ12 in a 1.2' sealed box. They are powered from an EP4000 fed from a minidsp. The IB setup will take the place of the 12.

[ThomasW]

The issue has nothing to do with lack of a second driver to balancing the vibration or problems with a single driver in a manifold, it's simply that there's not enough Vd to safely reproduce loud LF. As a result, the driver is in danger from bottoming.

Probably the easiest thing to do is sell the driver to someone interested in building a box sub, the buy new drivers for the IB

[evilb]

Thanks for the reply. I understand what you're saying. But surely it would outperform a sealed 12 right? I could implement a mild protective HP.  However, if it won't actually outperform the box 12 then I guess I'll wait. Keep in mind that I also have a sealed um15 in the room. (Small living room)

[ThomasW]

How about mounting the 15" as a sealed box sub, later covert that box to your manifold?

[evilb]

This idea has occurred to me as the box would be exactly the right size but I was considering keeping it to supplement the IB and help cancel room modes. Thanks.

[mikee55]

Hi, I'd just like to say that my first I.B was a 12" Peerless XXLS driver in a manifold, I ran it off a 150w car amp powered by an ATX psu from a computer. My Lounge was 4m x 9m and the other room 3m x 4m. I used a 24db Linkwitz Reily Crossover @ 40hz, I have to say for a quick I.B it made some air move. Now I run 2 15" woofers in more or less same size rooms, (different house), a 450 w.r.m.s amplifier and a Raspberry Pi does EQ for me. I use Raspbian Jessie with JACKCTL and Steve Harris' plugins running on JACK-Rack. I use the 3 band parametric EQ plugin, my house shakes, I'm in a semi detached house and my neighbour tells me his windows rattle!

Being in a smaller English house, you can get away with it. Music is awesome, movie's blow you away. However, if you have a bigger property, you're gonna need more drivers. Even in my smaller home, a 12" compared to 2 15" is a massive difference! You read the parts on here about what people have done and see photos of what people have done, you have to at least take a risk, cut a hole and mount a manifold, one hell of a buzz ;-)

Thanks

Mike