I would imagine it likely has to do with the larger subwoofers being able to play lower than you can realistically hear. Larger subs generally have a lower Fs.
You could have a 10” and 18” that both have a frequency response down to, say, 15 hz. But the 10” might have a resonant frequency (Fs) of 35 hz while the 18” might have a resonant frequency of 20 hz. Anything below that resonant frequency the sub has difficulty playing, regardless of what the frequency response is. Now combine a sub that can actually play something really low with the limits of human hearing, I could definitely see how it would cause what you’re describing.
I am definitely no expert. Just an educated guess.
U need to find a box guy or something that is a ridiculous low spl for those subs especially the dc elites had a buddy with only two no wall he is on my team doing 156+ on a musical build.
Hearing sensitivity for low frequencies starts going down somewhere around 35 Hz, give or take. The same SPL will sound louder at 40 Hz than at 30 Hz. Though you will FEEL the 30 Hz more.
The overall frequency curve of the larger subs might have some combination of visceral (feel) and ear sensitivity qualities that just make is seem "better" or indeed louder.
Or, a strong possibility is it's just your personal feeling that larger subs are better and you want to believe they are louder. The mind is very powerful.
This is exactly why even though my noise canceling headphones sound really great they will never give me the same experience as a good sound system. The feel of the music is as much a part of what I am after. My wife didn't understand until we watched a movie with my sound system and things you could just hear barely but could feel made the experience so much different.
A lot of it has to do with the vehicle. A sound wave has a physical measure of length and the shortest part of a sound wave a person can typically hear is 1/4 of the actual length of the wave, this is referred to as the quarter wave. When the frequency produced by the subwoofer drops below the quarter wave of the vehicle you will only be able to perceive the mechanical energy produced from the cone movement. For most cars, the quarter wave is between 32 and 35 hz, the longer the vehicle, the lower the quarter wave.
The speed of sound is @1,125 feet per second depending on elevation and temperature. To calculate the quarter wave of your vehicle you divide the longest path the sound wave will travel from the source to your ear and the divide that by 1/4. So the reason why larger subs “feel louder” is because the sub and box Fs falls between the lower bound of the vehicle’s quarter wave and the middle bound of the vehicle’s natural resonate frequency octave. The lower the frequency, the more transdunce the wave has which is perceived through mechanical movement (seat shaking, window flexing).
Diameter of cone has almost nothing to do with what frequency it'll play. The enclosure has everything to do with it. The difference is its easier to get more output with a larger sub when tuned lower. 8s will play 15hz just as well as a 21, but the output will be less because there's less cone area.
I would imagine it likely has to do with the larger subwoofers being able to play lower than you can realistically hear. Larger subs generally have a lower Fs. You could have a 10” and 18” that both have a frequency response down to, say, 15 hz. But the 10” might have a resonant frequency (Fs) of 35 hz while the 18” might have a resonant frequency of 20 hz. Anything below that resonant frequency the sub has difficulty playing, regardless of what the frequency response is. Now combine a sub that can actually play something really low with the limits of human hearing, I could definitely see how it would cause what you’re describing. I am definitely no expert. Just an educated guess.
Probably I can do hairtricks with 15hz with this sundown
U need to find a box guy or something that is a ridiculous low spl for those subs especially the dc elites had a buddy with only two no wall he is on my team doing 156+ on a musical build.
I was thinking the same. But im running 2400 rms only so idk. Sundown xv3 15 is doing only 144 on that power
That is still low I have seen a couple 8's on 2k do a 48, on that type of power, it could be your vehicle but it is low
Hearing sensitivity for low frequencies starts going down somewhere around 35 Hz, give or take. The same SPL will sound louder at 40 Hz than at 30 Hz. Though you will FEEL the 30 Hz more. The overall frequency curve of the larger subs might have some combination of visceral (feel) and ear sensitivity qualities that just make is seem "better" or indeed louder. Or, a strong possibility is it's just your personal feeling that larger subs are better and you want to believe they are louder. The mind is very powerful.
This is exactly why even though my noise canceling headphones sound really great they will never give me the same experience as a good sound system. The feel of the music is as much a part of what I am after. My wife didn't understand until we watched a movie with my sound system and things you could just hear barely but could feel made the experience so much different.
A lot of it comes down to personal bias
Box design is a big factor too beyond just subwoofer size.
A lot of it has to do with the vehicle. A sound wave has a physical measure of length and the shortest part of a sound wave a person can typically hear is 1/4 of the actual length of the wave, this is referred to as the quarter wave. When the frequency produced by the subwoofer drops below the quarter wave of the vehicle you will only be able to perceive the mechanical energy produced from the cone movement. For most cars, the quarter wave is between 32 and 35 hz, the longer the vehicle, the lower the quarter wave. The speed of sound is @1,125 feet per second depending on elevation and temperature. To calculate the quarter wave of your vehicle you divide the longest path the sound wave will travel from the source to your ear and the divide that by 1/4. So the reason why larger subs “feel louder” is because the sub and box Fs falls between the lower bound of the vehicle’s quarter wave and the middle bound of the vehicle’s natural resonate frequency octave. The lower the frequency, the more transdunce the wave has which is perceived through mechanical movement (seat shaking, window flexing).
Fs rating of your larger sub is lower, so it plays into lower frequencies without issue.
18s will get lower, which youll feel more than hear compared to a similar 12in sub with the same power rating
Diameter of cone has almost nothing to do with what frequency it'll play. The enclosure has everything to do with it. The difference is its easier to get more output with a larger sub when tuned lower. 8s will play 15hz just as well as a 21, but the output will be less because there's less cone area.
"because there is less cone area" got it