Can Subwoofers Share Airspace? (Explained!)

When you place two subwoofers in the same enclosure, the air that is present between them will be shared. This indicates that each subwoofer will function in the same manner as if it were contained within its own individual box.

On the other hand, this might not be the case if the subwoofers are not identical and do not receive the same signal.

To ensure that both of the subwoofers function well, it is essential to acquire models that are compatible with one another and to ensure that both of them have the same level of power. If you do this, you can be certain that the sound quality produced by your subwoofers will be of the highest possible standard.

Let’s get down to business and see how two subwoofers may coexist in the same Airspace without causing disruptions.

Can Two Subwoofers Share Airspace?

divided enclosure subs

The answer to your question about whether or not subwoofers can share Airspace is that they can. In point of fact, it is frequently a good idea to do so because doing so can help the bass response of your system.

There are a few factors to keep in mind while using subwoofers that share the same Airspace as each other. To begin, you will want to check that the subwoofers are the appropriate size for the system and that they are able to withstand the required level of power.

Secondly, you will need to pay close attention to the way in which the phase of the subwoofers interacts with each other. And finally, you will need to experiment with various positions to see which one produces the sound quality you want in your listening space.

When Does A Subwoofer Enclosure Get Divided?

If you intended to use a single subwoofer box to house many subwoofers, then and only then would you consider separating the interior of the box into multiple chambers (ignoring bandpass enclosures).

One subwoofer would be housed in one chamber of a divided enclosure, which would consist of a larger box containing multiple smaller boxes.

The number of subwoofers that can fit in the box will determine the number of chambers that are included in the enclosure.

Let’s imagine we have access to a structure that contains two rooms. The box has had its side chopped off so that it may accommodate a pair of subwoofers. Both chambers would have subwoofer, with Chamber 1 having one and Chamber 2 having the other.

Now, contrast this with a subwoofer box of the same size but without a partition in it. Both subwoofers would occupy the same space within this enclosure for the subwoofers.

If Chamber #1 and Chamber #2 were combined into one space, the resulting dimension would be the same as this individual chamber.

If we assume that the two subwoofers are identical and that they receive the same signal, there is not much of a difference between them.

Let’s imagine that every subwoofer requires an air space that is one cubic foot in size.

When it comes to the subwoofer, it does not make a difference whether that air space originates from one chamber or two.

If two subwoofers are placed together in an enclosure that has a volume of two cubic feet, the air that is supposed to be between them will be shared, and the subwoofers will each function as if they were contained in an enclosure that has a volume of one cubic foot.

On the other hand, this will not be the case if the subwoofers are not identical and do not receive the same signal.

For instance, if you play music through your subwoofers in stereo or if you use subwoofers of varying brands, you will notice a difference (neither of which is recommended).

Should a wall be placed in the space between a subwoofer enclosure, then? In the event that both of your subwoofers are identical and receive the same signal, you have the option of dividing the enclosure into two separate compartments.

It won’t have a negative impact on the system as a whole or on the enclosure itself. This is especially the case with enclosures that have the shape of a rectangle.

Long enclosure sides need to be supported in order to prevent undue bending. You might as well make use of one of these braces as a separator, given the fact that they are going to be there anyhow. I propose dividing an enclosure if you can.

It’s possible that I won’t divide the box at all if it’s going to be created with curves, like a fiberglass box. This is because there is a chance that the curves of the enclosure will not align with the curves of the divider.

While some people appreciate having the partition, others do not. In a fiberglass enclosure, bracing is also rarely employed for the same reason as the previous point. The box can have more fiberglass mat put to it in order to make it stronger and prevent it from bending.

Which Would Be Better, Shared Or Separate Enclosures? 

The majority of individuals agree that each sub should have its own enclosure.

However, if you have the option of either putting both subwoofers in the same box or putting them in separate boxes that aren’t the same size (ideally the same exact volume as each other), you should place both subwoofers in the same box. 

Which Is The Better Choice?

If you have combined or shared Airspace, even if one of your subs stops working, the other one can continue to play in an area that is twice as big as when both of them are working.

Then, you’ll reach Xmax at a reduced wattage, which could be disappointing if the sub continues to receive the same power.

If your subwoofers are connected in parallel, this usually won’t be a problem because the one that’s left will only get around half of the original power if you’re using an amplifier that depends on ohms.

However, this could be a problem if your subwoofers are not wired in parallel. Separate containers eliminate the possibility of this happening, perhaps where the proverb “separate is better” started.

How Do You Calculate The Amount Of Air Space Required By Subwoofers?

Each subwoofer requires a varied quantity of air space since the size of the woofer determines the amount required.

A larger subwoofer will almost always call for larger Airspace to accommodate it. This results from the fact that a larger subwoofer requires more air to perform effectively to produce sound.

The most accurate method for determining how much air space your subwoofers need is to use a box calculator.

This will take into account the size of your woofers and provide you with information regarding the optimal size of your enclosure.

Does Sharing Airspace Hurt A Subwoofer?

Sharing Airspace won’t harm your subwoofers in any way, so don’t worry about that. In point of fact, it can assist them in producing a higher quality of sound.

Each individual subwoofer will have its own enclosure even when they are placed in the same air space as one another.

This ensures that each subwoofer will be able to produce sound independently of the others, without interference from the other subwoofers. It’s possible that doing this will help your subwoofers sound even better.

Subs Sharing Airspace In A Ported Enclosure?

Sharing Airspace Hurt A Subwoofer

In an enclosure with ports, if you have two subwoofers that share air space, each subwoofer will have its own port.

This ensures that each subwoofer will be able to produce sound independently of the others, without interference from the other subwoofers. It’s possible that doing this will help your subwoofers sound even better.

Can You Have More Than Two Subs In A Shared Enclosure?

It is possible to fit more than two subwoofers into the same enclosure; however, doing so is not recommended.

This is a result of the fact that the increased likelihood of subwoofers interfering with each other increases in proportion to the number of subwoofers contained within an enclosure.

This may result in issues with the sound quality. If you decide to put more than two subwoofers in the same box, then you need to make sure that they are all the same model and have the same amount of power. You can contribute to the reduction of the likelihood of interference if you do this.

If you ensure that you adhere to these straightforward recommendations, you can be certain that your subwoofers will be able to share Airspace without encountering any difficulties.

If you do this, you will be able to improve the sound quality of your system as well as get the most out of your subwoofers.

Step By Step Guide For Subwoofers Sharing Airspace:

To ensure that nothing will go wrong, you have a number of different choices open to you to make absolutely certain that your subwoofers will have no difficulty occupying the same Airspace simultaneously.

  1. To begin, you need to make sure that the models you choose complement one another. Because of this, the likelihood of someone getting in the path will be significantly reduced.
  2. The second step is to check that each of your subwoofers is receiving the same amount of power. Because of this, the likelihood of someone getting in the path will be significantly reduced.
  3. Last but not least, if you are going to place more than two subwoofers in the same enclosure, you will need a box calculator. This will take into account the size of your woofers and provide you with information regarding the optimal size of your enclosure.

Your system will benefit from this, as it will sound better, and you will be able to achieve the best possible results from your subwoofers.

Conclusion:

Two drivers of the same kind are able to use the same enclosure without any issues, but they require twice power as much space as a single driver would.

Because each driver has their own behavior (TSP) and needs to be adequately aligned, it is impossible for two distinct drivers to work as well together as one does.

Because of this, you should place two subwoofers in the same enclosure, each with the same amount of power.

But regardless of this, utilizing two distinct enclosures will invariably result in improved performance. Conducting an experiment is the one and only approach to finding out what will take place. Construct both, perform the necessary measurements, and you will have your answer. 

1 thought on “Can Subwoofers Share Airspace? (Explained!)”

  1. I totally agree. I’ve built speaker cabinets for over 30 years and never really had good luck with shared enclosures even with identical speakers in parallel. That being said, I’m about to do the unthinkable. I’m giving up my 10 big floor speakers and 2 subs for a more “aesthetically pleasing” living room with wall and ceiling speakers. The big beautiful oak entertainment center is going on Craigslist too. The preamp, amps, and other components will be in an adjoining closet. The only exception will be one long subwoofer cabinet with 4 12″ 16 ohm PA drivers in parallel behind the sofa. The resulting impedance should be 4 ohms. I’ll be driving the cabinet with an 800 watt Crown amp rolled off at about 80 hz. The enclosure will be limited in size to 55″ x 14″ x 10″. Obviously, it’s too small to divide the airspace. I have the speaker parameters, but have not been able to find a calculator online for shared air space. Your help would be most appreciated.

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