How do I put multiple speakers (different sizes) in one "box"?

The short questions is: I want to build something like a "chuchero" box. Basically in one box or enclosure I'd like to run one 10-12 inch sub, a couple of 6.5"/6.75" component speakers with crossovers for mid-range, and a couple of tweeters for highs. I am hoping to get a fairly full and clear audible range out of the one box. How do I put all these speakers in one box without them.. I dunno... fighting each other? Obviously I don't know a ton about audio stuff.

I suspect to do this right and get decent sound I'll need to divide the box, creating separate chambers of appropriate size inside the larger box to isolate at least the subwoofer, and I assume the mid-range speakers as well. The guys that I see doing chucheros on YT just seem to drop all the speakers in a single box and roll with it though so I don't know if that's required.


For more context if anyone is curious my ultimate goal is to build something similar to a battery powered bluetooth speaker where the whole unit is an all-in-one kind of deal, only with multiple speakers and amps for bigger and better sound quality. I'd like to attach the amps and crossovers to the box either on the inside or outside (prefferrably inside) of it so they are part of the unit. Then use something like a heavy gauge SAE 12V panel mount connector to put power into the box to power the amps and bluetooth unit from the vehicle (and/or a high power 12V power supply wall plug). Using a single (decent quality) sub is intended to keep power requirements low/reasonable so I can feed one heavy gauge feed into the box then divide that across the mini bluetooth adapter, sub amp and mid range amp.

I want to have a bluetooth adapter in the box, like this unit or something similar:
AudioControl ACX-BT1

The idea is to be able to easily put this box in and out of any car that I put the right SAE connector feed wire pigtail in, be able to swap from vehicle to vehicle, and connect directly from my phone to the bluetooth unit with no head unit required. Then I'll be able to run it in my truck bed for tailgating, the back of my old beetle (in which I don't care to install a head unit), etc. and even take it inside for storage or use.

Any thoughts or advice on this project idea are requested. Thanks!

 

Home theater tower speakers used to be that way for years. Personally, I'd prefer to baffle the space between sub and mid-range, as you said. I wouldn't want that pressure wave to constantly wail on the smaller cones.

 

Thanks Rock Lobster.

Attaching a crummy paint drawing in this post of sort of what I was envisioning. I could either use separate tweeters/horns or I'd be fine with just decent quality coaxial speakers for this since I'm sure I'm not going to get supreme audio quality or any kind of staging from a single box anyways. I figured I'd mount the amps and crossovers inside the box so it is all one unit, and for cooling just add a small 12V fan to pull air through the box over those components?? They'd all be mounted flat on the "back wall" of the box in another chamber sort of separated from the chambers for the sub and midrange speakers. I'd probably use a distribution block to split power to everything inside the box and put a large 12V breaker on the feed wire near the battery to protect the heavy wires running to the box.

I could just use a premade BT speaker I guess but most of those are small and have really crummy sound. They are battery powered and the batteries usually run out long before I'm done wanting to use them, particularly on the larger units. I figured something like this would give me long run times while I'm cruising and better sound than any of the pre-made bluetooth speakers I've seen.

 

this is really outside the purview of a car audio forum. but i know what you're after, and have 'built' 4 separate units of varying sizes and complexities myself(all of my builds were in pre-existing enclosures that were modified for the purpose). my most recent build runs off milwaukee m18 batteries or an a/c power cord, it runs to a 100x2 amp, which powers 2 woofers and 2 tweeters with a passive crossover.. runs for 2 days off battery, has fm/usb/sd card readers, auxilary input, and cigarette lighter adapters, as well as usb high speed charging...

this was one of the first one's i built. a five-below enclosure, a 5wx2+10wx1 amp with integrated battery, and some oxy-clean dispenser cups used as a back box for the smaller speakers...


i only charge it when it needs it. i don't use it as often as i thought i would, it goes for months between charges.



the place you really need to start browsing is the parts express project gallery section. they sell the amps you need, as well as much of the crossover and speaker components you'll end up needing later as well. Amazon and alibaba are also great resources as well once you know what specific item you're looking for, but are usually much less detailed, so you need to know what you need before ordering.


the hardest part of a project like this is going to be deciding on a battery voltage/type, as well as how to properly integrate a charging solution. the battery voltage is going to determine which amp boards will work at that voltage, and what kind of power you can use, but then whatever battery voltage you choose, you need to reliably charge it. a lithium battery for instance requires a separate charger from the output to correctly balance the cells that build up to the voltage needed. you can't always run the project and charge it at the same time unless proper precautions are used.

the dayton KAB boards offer an all-in-one battery and charging solution, but they're much more expensive than other options, though they're one of the few 20w+ options that offer any sort of battery solution. all others require you to build your own.

happy building!

 

Thanks soundman! That's a neat speaker setup! To be clear though I was planning to power my speaker box from the vehicle. I wasn't planning on including any internal battery and battery charger at all. The speaker I am envisioning would only function with a 12V input source either from a vehicle or a 12V power supply adapter (a hefty one). So I really am looking at it as a car audio solution, just fed from a bluetooth source rather than a head unit, though if I'm honest it is more for my Beetle than my Tacoma. My Beetle forum doesn't have an audio sub-forum though and since I DO plan to use it with the truck too I figured I could get away with this post.

Anyway there's some great info in your post and I particularly like the parts express page and their project gallery. I wasn't planning on a battery powered solution for this concept but I think you might have just given me another hobby (darn you ). I could totally see myself finding a cool vintage suitcase and making a custom portable bluetooth speaker out of it. In fact now I'm thinking that for the build I started this post about I'll probably make the sub/speaker box LOOK like an old trunk or footlocker with brass hardware and leather straps (even though I'll likely make it out of MDF).