Speaker for custom Sub-Kick

[secutanudu]

Hey all,

So I'd like to make a sub-kick mic. I know the "standard" is an NS10 speaker, but they are crazy expensive on the used market.

Would something cheap like a $20 pyle 8" car subwoofer be sufficient? Or would it be worth it to get a better speaker? Does quality of those low frequencies really even improve with a better speaker?

Thanks.

[29CountsNY]

I went to Parkway, bought a 8" speaker, can't remember the brand and a smaller tom shell and built it that way.
Hit me up at work if you need help.

[albee1952]

I think any woofer between 5 and 8 inches, with a foam surround should do nicely. I used an 8" from an Event ASP8 and it rocks

[secutanudu]

Thanks for the responses.

So I would like to build in a 10 or 20 dB pad inside the unit. I know they make XLR fixed dB attenuators, but what's inside them? Just a resistor?

Seems like it would be pretty simple to just solder a resistor between the speaker and XLR jack - anyone know what type of resistor I'd need and where it would go (on which wire)?

Thanks!

[Matt Hepworth]

Start here - http://www.uneeda-audio.com/pads/

[secutanudu]

Originally Posted by Matt Hepworth

Start here - http://www.uneeda-audio.com/pads/

Awesome, thanks.

I guess my question, would I assume the 8-ohm rating on the speaker I plan to use would apply when using it as a microphone? The example for the 20db pad says this:

We need a microphone pad to attenuate the output of a high-output microphone that is close-miking a loud instrument. The microphone is a 150-ohm device, and the preamp presents a 1500-ohm load. We want to lose 20 dB in the pad.

Would it be safe to assume I can build my pad in the same way they did? Or will I attenuate way too much/not enough?

Maybe I should just buy one - but I thought it would be fun to try building my own. Maybe even making a 10/20 db pad with a switch.

Thanks.

[secutanudu]

Or maybe this would be even easier?

http://www.parts-express.com/parts-e...8-ohm--260-262

[albee1952]

You may not need a pad(unless you have already built and tested). A few folks I know that built this kind of unit have reported needing a lot of gain

[secutanudu]

Interesting. Everything I read seemed to suggest it was necessary.

Did you find that you needed one?

[albee1952]

I did, but my preamp has a Pad button. Its going to depend on the woofer used.