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Subwoofer phase
In most cars the standard in-phase connection
(+ speaker to + amp) of the subwoofer will be
the right one. In some cases, it sounds better
if you connect it out of phase. Just change
the polarity: Connect the + terminal of the
subwoofer to the – terminal of the amp
and the – terminal of the subwoofer to the
+ terminal of the amp.
Wiring
Quality and size of wire has a strong effect on
the quality of sound. VDO Dayton therefore
recommends a minimum specification of
2.5 sq. mm oxygen-free copper (OFC) wire,
but ask your dealer for your specific
installation.
Power recommendation
The power handling of VDO Dayton sub-
woofers is very high. Therefore, choose an
amplifier that is powerful enough to drive
the speaker well. An amplifier that is too
small will distort quickly. This will limit level
and quality of sound and possibly cause
damage to the loudspeakers.
A few words about enclosures
Your VDO Dayton subwoofer requires a
sealed enclosure to realise its full low-fre-
quency response.
Be aware that infinite-baffle or "free-air"
mounting will reduce the power handling of
any subwoofer compared to an application
using an enclosure. Finally, any deviation
from recommended enclosures should be
made using dedicated enclosure design
software. If this type of software is not
available to you, ask your authorised VDO
Dayton dealer for help.
VDO Dayton accepts no liability for damage
to the product due to deviation from the
recommended box designs.
YOUR CAR AND BASS REPRODUCTION
Depending on the size of the vehicle’s interior
listening space, reproduced bass frequencies
below 80Hz are boosted by nearly 12dB per
octave in the car as frequency decreases.
NOTE: This effect, known as the vehicle’s
transfer function, plays an important part in
shaping the over-all in-car response along
with freespace response on the enclosed data
sheet for your VDO Dayton subwoofer.
ENCLOSURE CALCULATIONS
AND BUILDING BOXES
Use the recommended box design on the
enclosed data sheet. Choose cabinet
dimensions to fit your vehicle, but do not
change the enclosure’s volume. Doing so will
change the tuning frequency of the enclosure
and may adversely affect final performance. If
you cannot perform the necessary
calculations yourself, please contact your
authorised VDO Dayton dealer for help. In
addition, there are a number of points you’ll
want to keep in mind as you construct an
enclosure:
1. Use 19 mm MDF (medium-density fiber-
board) or marine birch wood to build an
enclosure. Enclosures for 30 cm and larger
subwoofers, or small subwoofers driven by
high-power amplifiers should be
constructed using 26 mm material.
2. Seal all joints with glue and screws; do not
use nails. We recommend "deck", "zip" or
drywall screws since they have coarse
threads for better grip and don’t require
pre-drilling holes. Once the box has been
tested, seal all interior joints with silicone
caulk.
