Modeling Two Drivers In One Enclosure Using The MathCad Worksheets
By Martin J. King, 10/22/02 (revised 3/29/22)
Copyright 2007 by Martin J. King. All Rights Reserved.
Introduction :
Since I first put my MathCad transmission line models on the Internet for people
to use, I have been repeatedly asked about modeling two drivers in one enclosure. Two
drivers sharing one enclosure volume can be found in MTM arrangements or when one
driver is mounted on the front and another on the back of an enclosure to compensate
for the baffle step response. These questions started almost immediately. The frequency
steadily increased until it seemed to be asked about once a week in private e-mails or
publicly on one of the forums that I frequent. So, I decided to put a short document
together describing methods for performing these types of calculations using the current
MathCad worksheets. There is no original work being derived and presented. A repeat of
commonly used methods is given and hopefully an explanation that provides some
understanding of the rationale behind the methods.
Method Found in the LDC :
The first reference that I checked for guidance in modeling two drivers in a single
enclosure was Vance Dickason’s The Loudspeaker Design Cookbook 3 rd Edition. In
Section 1.9, on page 13, some rules are given for deriving equivalent driver properties
that can then be used to determine enclosure parameters from the many alignment
tables presented in the text. For the standard configuration of two drivers in one
enclosure, the following equivalencies are listed.
fd = remains the same as the single driver
Qtd = remains the same as the single driver
Vad = is twice the single driver value
ZVC = impedance is half if the drivers are wired in parallel
= impedance is doubled if the drivers are wired in series
SPL = +6 dB if the drivers are wired in parallel
= unchanged if the drivers are wired in series
With these revised properties, the text’s alignment tables allow an enclosure to be sized
and the SPL and electrical impedance quantified. Typically, the size of the enclosure
doubles when two drivers are used.
Complete Equivalent Properties for Two Driver :
The equivalent properties provided in Vance Dickason’s The Loudspeaker
Design Cookbook 3rd Edition allow you to size and enclosure but are not complete
enough to run a computer simulation. Table 1 presents a complete set of equivalent
driver properties for two identical drivers wired in series or in parallel as a function of the
single driver’s properties. It is assumed that the input voltage is the same for each
column even thought the combined electrical impedance is different for the two wiring
options. These adjusted properties are entered as a single equivalent driver directly into
the various MathCad worksheets to perform a simulation of two drivers in one enclosure.
These equivalent properties are not unique to the MathCad worksheets and can also be
used in other loudspeaker simulation/design programs.
Page 1 of 10
Modeling Two Drivers In One Enclosure Using The MathCad Worksheets
By Martin J. King, 10/22/02 (revised 3/29/22)
Copyright 2007 by Martin J. King. All Rights Reserved.
Table 1 : Equivalent Driver T/S Properties
Single Driver Two Drivers Wired Two Drivers Wired
T/S Parameter in Parallel in Series
fd fd fd
Qed Qed Qed
Qmd Qmd Qmd
Qtd Qtd Qtd
Re Re / 2 2 Re
Lvc Lvc / 2 2 Lvc
Vad 2 Vad 2 Vad
Bl Bl 2 Bl
Sd 2 Sd 2 Sd
From a mechanical point of view, when you double Vad you are really specifying
that the suspension stiffness of the equivalent driver is half that of the single driver. To
help understand this result, the following derivation is presented considering a single
driver and then a pair of identical drivers in a closed box. In both cases, the volume
tuning ratio = Vad / Vb will be the same.
Consider a single driver, with a cone area of Sd and a suspension compliance
Cad, which is proportional to an equivalent air volume Vad, mounted in a sealed
enclosure. The ratio that defines the tuning of the sealed system is = Vad / Vb where Vb
is the volume of air contained in the enclosure. If the air in the enclosure is pressurized,
the driver’s cone will move out a small distance x. The change in volume and the
increased pressure p are related by the driver’s suspension compliance.
Cad = suspension compliance = Vad / ( c2)
p = (Sd x) / Cad
Cad = (Sd x) / p
For two drivers in a sealed enclosure, the same pressure would move each of
the driver’s cones out the same small distance x. The displaced volume is double that of
a single driver as shown below. A prime is used to denote the equivalent single driver
property used to represent the pair of drivers.
p = (S’d x) / C’ad = 2 (Sd x) / C’ad
C’ad = 2 (Sd x) / p = 2 Cad
Using the relationships above
V’ad = 2 Vad
and
S’d = 2 Sd
which is consistent with the results defined in Table 1.
Page 2 of 10
Modeling Two Drivers In One Enclosure Using The MathCad Worksheets
By Martin J. King, 10/22/02 (revised 3/29/22)
Copyright 2007 by Martin J. King. All Rights Reserved.
Going one step further since the frequency of the equivalent driver does not
change the equivalent moving mass can also be derived.
fd = (1 / 2) [1 / (C’ad M’ad)]1/2
fd = (1 / 2) [1 / (2 Cad M’ad)]1/2
fd = (1 / 2) [1 / (Cad Mad)]1/2
M’ad = Mad / 2
Summarizing the mechanical relationships for the equivalent driver, the
suspension stiffness and the moving mass are half that of the single driver. This is
required to maintain the same resonant frequency for the equivalent driver. Looking at
the impact on the enclosure size, when two drivers are used the enclosure must have
twice the volume of an enclosure containing a single driver if the volume tuning ratio is
held constant.
From an electrical point of view, a decision to wire the driver in series or in
parallel is required. Assuming a standard 2.8284 volts is applied to the finished speaker
(1 watt into an 8-ohm resistor), the voltage across each driver is a function of the
connection selected. For a parallel connection, the voltage across each driver will be the
same as for a single driver. Therefore, the driver displacement as a function of frequency
will remain the same, the SPL will increase by 6 dB, and the impedance will be half of
the single driver impedance. For a series connection, the voltage across each driver will
be half of the single driver design. Therefore, the driver displacement will be halved, the
SPL will be unchanged, and the impedance will be double the single driver impedance.
Sample Problem :
To demonstrate the modeling of single and double driver designs, I have
constructed a sample problem using the Radio Shack 40-1197 full range driver mounted
in a ported box. The MathCad worksheet “Ported Box” has been used to perform the
simulations. The measured T/S parameters of the driver are shown in Figure 1 along
with the baseline enclosure geometry. Figure 2 shows the SPL response, the electrical
impedance, and the driver displacement for this baseline design. For the double driver
simulations, an equivalent driver is placed at the same position in the enclosure as the
single driver which is assumed to be the average position of the two drivers.
Modeling Parallel Driver in MathCad :
To model two drivers wired in parallel, the previously defined modifications to the
single driver properties were used. The enclosure volume was doubled by increasing all
of the cross-sectional areas by a factor of two including the port area. The revised
equivalent driver and the new enclosure geometry are shown in Figure 3.
The simulation results are shown in Figure 4. As expected, the SPL increased by
6 dB while the impedance dropped by a factor of two. The driver displacement is
unchanged. This modeling technique works very well and can be applied to all of the
MathCad worksheets.
Page 3 of 10
Modeling Two Drivers In One Enclosure Using The MathCad Worksheets
By Martin J. King, 10/22/02 (revised 3/29/22)
Copyright 2007 by Martin J. King. All Rights Reserved.
Modeling Series Driver in MathCad :
To model two drivers wired in series, the previously defined modifications to the
driver properties were used. By default, the MathCad worksheets apply a standard
2.8284 volts to the individual driver. In a series connection only 1.4142 volts should be
applied and by doubling the Bl term this is accomplished. The enclosure volume was
doubled by increasing all the cross-sectional areas by a factor of two including the port
area. The revised equivalent driver and the new enclosure geometry are shown in Figure
5.
The simulation results are shown in Figure 6. As expected, the SPL is essentially
unchanged while the impedance increased by a factor of two. The driver displacement is
reduced by a factor of two as expected. This modeling technique works very well and
can be applied to all the MathCad worksheets.
Conclusions :
An example has been presented, using the “Ported Box” MathCad worksheet,
showing how to simulate multiple drivers in a single enclosure. The method works very
well for drivers wired in parallel and in series. Until I write a true multi-driver worksheet,
these tricks are all that is available. Several individuals have built transmission line
designs based on modeling the drivers wired in parallel and report excellent results.
Page 4 of 10
Modeling Two Drivers In One Enclosure Using The MathCad Worksheets
By Martin J. King, 10/22/02 (revised 3/29/22)
Copyright 2007 by Martin J. King. All Rights Reserved.
Figure 1 : Single Driver Properties and Enclosure Geometry
Driver in a Ported Box (Bass Reflex) - Acoustic and Electrical Response
Software : by Martin J. King
e-mail MJKing57@[Link]
Unit and Constant Definition
cycle 2 rad
1
Hz cycle sec
Air Density : 3
1.21 kg m
Speed of Sound : 1
c 342 m sec
User Input (Edit This Section and Input all of the Parameters for the System to be Analyzed)
Driver Thiele / Small Parameters : RS 40-1197 (Fostex FE-103) Average Properties
fd 83.12 Hz Vd 4.95 liter
Re 7.55 Qed 0.415
Lvc 0 mH Qmd 3.580
1
Qtd
newton 1 1
Bl 4.925
amp Qed Qmd
2
Sd ( 3.125 in) Qtd 0.372
4
Enclosure Geometry Definition
L 14 in (Height)
zdriver 5 in (Driver Distance From Top < Height)
zport 12 in (Port Distance From Top < Height)
2 (Area of the Top End)
S0 6 8 in
2 (Area of the Bottom End)
SL 6 8 in
3 (Stuffing density : 0 lb/ft 3 < D < 1 lb/ft 3 )
Density 0.25 lb ft
rport 1.0 in (Radius of the port)
Lport 3.0 in (Length of the port)
Page 5 of 10
Modeling Two Drivers In One Enclosure Using The MathCad Worksheets
By Martin J. King, 10/22/02 (revised 3/29/22)
Copyright 2007 by Martin J. King. All Rights Reserved.
Figure 2 : SPL, Impedance, and Driver Displacement of the Single Driver Enclosure
100
95
90
SPLo
SPL (dB)
r 85
80
SPLr 75
70
65
60 3
10 100 1 10
r d
Hz
Frequency (Hz)
100
80
Impedance (ohms)
Zo
r 60
Zr 40
20
0 3
10 100 1 10
r d
Hz
Frequency (Hz)
4
xd
Deflection (mm)
r
mm 3
xr 2
mm
1
0 3
10 100 1 10
r d
Hz
Frequency (Hz)
Page 6 of 10
Modeling Two Drivers In One Enclosure Using The MathCad Worksheets
By Martin J. King, 10/22/02 (revised 3/29/22)
Copyright 2007 by Martin J. King. All Rights Reserved.
Figure 3 : Two Drivers Wired in Parallel Modified Properties and Enclosure Geometry
Driver in a Ported Box (Bass Reflex) - Acoustic and Electrical Response
Software : by Martin J. King
e-mail MJKing57@[Link]
Unit and Constant Definition
cycle 2 rad
1
Hz cycle sec
Air Density : 3
1.21 kg m
Speed of Sound : 1
c 342 m sec
User Input (Edit This Section and Input all of the Parameters for the System to be Analyzed)
Driver Thiele / Small Parameters : RS 40-1197 (Fostex FE-103) Average Properties
fd 83.12 Hz Vd 2 4.95 liter
7.55
Re Qed 0.415
2
Lvc 0 mH Qmd 3.580
1
Qtd
newton 1 1
Bl 4.925
amp Qed Qmd
2
Sd 2 ( 3.125 in) Qtd 0.372
4
Enclosure Geometry Definition
L 14 in (Height)
zdriver 5 in (Driver Distance From Top < Height)
zport 12 in (Port Distance From Top < Height)
2 (Area of the Top End)
S0 2 6 8 in
2 (Area of the Bottom End)
SL 2 6 8 in
3 (Stuffing density : 0 lb/ft 3 < D < 1 lb/ft 3 )
Density 0.25 lb ft
rport 1.414 in (Radius of the port)
Lport 3.0 in (Length of the port)
Page 7 of 10
Modeling Two Drivers In One Enclosure Using The MathCad Worksheets
By Martin J. King, 10/22/02 (revised 3/29/22)
Copyright 2007 by Martin J. King. All Rights Reserved.
Figure 4 : SPL, Impedance, and Driver Displacement for Two Parallel Drivers
100
95
90
SPLo
SPL (dB)
r 85
80
SPLr 75
70
65
60 3
10 100 1 10
r d
Hz
Frequency (Hz)
100
80
Impedance (ohms)
Zo
r 60
Zr 40
20
0 3
10 100 1 10
r d
Hz
Frequency (Hz)
4
xd
Deflection (mm)
r
mm 3
xr 2
mm
1
0 3
10 100 1 10
r d
Hz
Frequency (Hz)
Page 8 of 10
Modeling Two Drivers In One Enclosure Using The MathCad Worksheets
By Martin J. King, 10/22/02 (revised 3/29/22)
Copyright 2007 by Martin J. King. All Rights Reserved.
Figure 5 : Two Drivers Wired in Series Modified Properties and Enclosure Geometry
Driver in a Ported Box (Bass Reflex) - Acoustic and Electrical Response
Software : by Martin J. King
e-mail MJKing57@[Link]
Unit and Constant Definition
cycle 2 rad
1
Hz cycle sec
Air Density : 3
1.21 kg m
Speed of Sound : 1
c 342 m sec
User Input (Edit This Section and Input all of the Parameters for the System to be Analyzed)
Driver Thiele / Small Parameters : RS 40-1197 (Fostex FE-103) Average Properties
fd 83.12 Hz Vd 2 4.95 liter
Re 2 7.55 Qed 0.415
Lvc 0 mH Qmd 3.580
1
Qtd
newton 1 1
Bl 2 4.925
amp Qed Qmd
2
Sd 2 ( 3.125 in) Qtd 0.372
4
Enclosure Geometry Definition
L 14 in (Height)
zdriver 5 in (Driver Distance From Top < Height)
zport 12 in (Port Distance From Top < Height)
2 (Area of the Top End)
S0 2 6 8 in
2 (Area of the Bottom End)
SL 2 6 8 in
3 (Stuffing density : 0 lb/ft 3 < D < 1 lb/ft 3 )
Density 0.25 lb ft
rport 1.414 in (Radius of the port)
Lport 3.0 in (Length of the port)
Page 9 of 10
Modeling Two Drivers In One Enclosure Using The MathCad Worksheets
By Martin J. King, 10/22/02 (revised 3/29/22)
Copyright 2007 by Martin J. King. All Rights Reserved.
Figure 6 : SPL, Impedance, and Driver Displacement for Two Series Drivers
100
95
90
SPLo
SPL (dB)
r 85
80
SPLr 75
70
65
60 3
10 100 1 10
r d
Hz
Frequency (Hz)
100
80
Impedance (ohms)
Zo
r 60
Zr 40
20
0 3
10 100 1 10
r d
Hz
Frequency (Hz)
4
xd
Deflection (mm)
r
mm 3
xr 2
mm
1
0 3
10 100 1 10
r d
Hz
Frequency (Hz)
Page 10 of 10
