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Death Star Subwoofer

bmfs writes "A subwoofer so powerful it could loosen fillings, shake out the cholesterol from arteries and generally make a lot of noise. It seems that the Death Star, ignoring the weakness that ultimately lead to its complete destruction, was a pretty good design... so someone made his own (with a lot of help from a housemate). The Death Star Subwoofer is currently up for sale on Ebay."

47 of 357 comments (clear)

  1. So... I see your Bass is as big as mine... by losman · · Score: 5, Funny

    Let's see how you handle it...

    --
    Q: I am short, useless and provide no value. What am I? A: a sig
    1. Re:So... I see your Bass is as big as mine... by mzwaterski · · Score: 4, Funny

      Isn't this off-topic? Why is the parent talking about fish??

  2. A disturbance in the Force by AtariAmarok · · Score: 5, Funny
    "....powerful it could loosen fillings, shake out the cholesterol from arteries and generally make a lot of noise"

    Just like George Lucas' legal team!

    --
    Don't blame Durga. I voted for Centauri.
  3. death star? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    looks more like a "deaf" star, yo.

    *pauses to pour out a 40 for my fallen homies who have joined the force*

    1. Re:death star? by Hogwash+McFly · · Score: 4, Funny

      Listening to ebonics is a fate worse than deaf.

      --
      Mother, do you think they'll like this sig?
  4. Even more cool... by CommanderData · · Score: 4, Informative

    Are the construction photos of the Death Star Subwoofer. He won't ship it due to size and weight so you need to be local to Reading, UK to pick it up. These photos betray enough of the design to build your own fully armed and operational battle station.

    --
    Urge to post... fading... fading... RISING!... fading... fading... gone.
    1. Re:Even more cool... by Jamu · · Score: 5, Funny

      These photos betray enough of the design to build your own fully armed and operational battle station.

      Many Bothans died to bring us this information.

      Sorry.

      --
      Who ordered that?
    2. Re:Even more cool... by dr_dank · · Score: 4, Funny

      He won't ship it due to size and weight so you need to be local to Reading, UK to pick it up.

      It's a trap!

      --
      Where does the school board find them and why do they keep sending them to ME?
    3. Re:Even more cool... by B3ryllium · · Score: 4, Funny

      Every time you make that joke, God kills a Bothan.

  5. handwaving by justforaday · · Score: 5, Funny

    This isn't the bass you are looking for...

    --
    I'll turn into a supernova and burn up everything. Well I'll turn into a black little hole and you'll turn into string.
  6. I take "Paraphrase This!" for $500 by richdun · · Score: 4, Insightful

    from the eBay listing:

    "a subwoofer so powerful it could loosen fillings, shake out the colesteral from my arteries and generally make a lot of noise. It seemed to me that the Death Star, ignoring the weakness that ultimately lead to it's complete destruction, was a pretty good design... so I made my own (with a lot of help from my then housemate)."

    from the post:

    "A subwoofer so powerful it could loosen fillings, shake out the cholesterol from arteries and generally make a lot of noise. It seems that the Death Star, ignoring the weakness that ultimately lead to its complete destruction, was a pretty good design... so someone made his own (with a lot of help from a housemate). The Death Star Subwoofer is currently up for sale on Ebay."

    Hmmm...the copy and paste is strong in this one. At least he fixed a couple spelling/grammar errors.

    1. Re:I take "Paraphrase This!" for $500 by saderax · · Score: 5, Funny
      At least he fixed a couple spelling/grammar errors.

      No, that was probably the editors!

      BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH....
      HAHAHAHahahaha...
      ahahahhahah
      hehe... heh.
      *wipes a tear from his eye*

  7. So... by Tuxedo+Jack · · Score: 5, Funny

    Who's going to build the Bass-tille?

    --

    Striking fear in the authors of godawful fanfiction, I am here, appearing in darkness, Tuxedo Jack!
  8. Funniest eBay listing I've seen in a while by Monte · · Score: 5, Funny

    The Q&A section alone is worth reading TFA.

    Q: Look at the size of that thing!
    A: Cut the chatter Red 2.

    1. Re:Funniest eBay listing I've seen in a while by DrEldarion · · Score: 4, Funny

      Hah, this one is even better:

      Q: If your "deathstar" subwooofer had a stand-up fight with a "borg cube" all-in-1 hi-fi then who'd win and how?
      A: The Death Star can destroy a planet. I can't imagine it would struggle against a gramophone with a built in wireless and auto-reverse cassette deck.

    2. Re:Funniest eBay listing I've seen in a while by silicon+not+in+the+v · · Score: 5, Funny

      When reading those Q&A things, I started thinking up some on my own.

      Q: I would like to see if your Death Star subwoofer would go well with the Alliance tweeter I built, but I live in the US, so it's too far away.

      A: The US is too remote to make an effective demonstration, but don't worry, we'll deal with your treble friends soon enough.

      --
      We may experience some slight turbulence and then...explode. -Capt. Mal Reynolds
  9. Re:Completely off-topic by AtariAmarok · · Score: 4, Funny
    "Who dies in the new Harry Potter? Who? Please let me know!"

    I think Jar Jar Weasley dies when the Dark Lord Vadermort blows up Hogobah... oh never mind.

    --
    Don't blame Durga. I voted for Centauri.
  10. Idiots never learn from history. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    The subwoofer installed is an Alpine 12" SWS-1242D, rated at 900W peak power, 300W rms. The enclosure is filled with foam wadding and ported. The ports are vented directly out the bottom of the subwoofer. The design was modelled on WinISD to calculate the port lengths... it's proper stuff :) There are two 4mm binding posts at the back for connection to a power amplifier. I'll be adding the amplifier to e-bay as soon as I type out a description, but any amplifier will work.

    These suckers have put in yet another thermal exhaust port that would be the prefect fit for a couple of proton torpedoes. Idiots never learn from history. The Bose alliance is going to have a field day with this.

  11. Looks great... unfortunately... by lpangelrob · · Score: 5, Funny
    Unfortunately, a lightning bug entered through an exhaust vent at the end of a trench in the subwoofer, resulting in the destruction of the subwoofer.

    Reportedly, the force was with it.

  12. Chavs by Gaima · · Score: 3, Insightful

    A subwoofer so powerful it could loosen fillings, shake out the cholesterol from arteries and generally make a lot of noise.

    Just like many of the chavs who drive past my office every day.
    I'm about 250 yards from the road, and mini-roundabout they have to stop at. There are doubled glazed windows, and insulated timber walls between too.
    Some of these chavs have bass so loud and powerful, it physically hurts even when sat at my desk, or is low enough to give people headaches, or pop ear drums like when leaving a tunnel.
    Deathstar has nothing on these people, if you can call them people anymore... Zombies probably covers it better, what with their pickled brains and all.

    1. Re:Chavs by dpilot · · Score: 3, Funny

      I've always had this pet idea to get a little ricer, mount the subwoofer on the outside, and have an "engine noise synthesizer" coupled to the gas pedal and perhaps vacuum, as well. Pipe the synthesizer through the sub, and it sounds like you've got an engine the size (and muffler) of a monster truck in a Civic-like car.

      But I've got SO many better things to do with my time and money that I'd have to be immortal and already have my own space program, before I'd bother with this.

      --
      The living have better things to do than to continue hating the dead.
  13. For those who say by jaysones · · Score: 4, Funny

    "I find your lack of bass disturbing."

  14. Wow! by kjkeefe · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Who do you pay to get your ebay auctions posted on slashdot!?!? He'll be having a very nice christmas I'll bet...

    --
    1, 2, 3, 4, 5... That's the combination on my luggage!
  15. Recipe by GauteL · · Score: 5, Funny

    1. Make silly Star Wars / Star Trek gadget.
    2. Put it up on eBay
    3. Notify Slashdot
    4. Profit!

    1. Re:Recipe by bugnuts · · Score: 5, Funny

      I find your lack of ??? disturbing.

    2. Re:Recipe by ari_j · · Score: 3, Funny

      Re:Recipe (Score:0, Offtopic)
      where are modpoints when I need them!

      Evidently, they have fallen into the wrong hands.

  16. No shipping? by ShyGuy91284 · · Score: 3, Funny

    He should have thought about it more. Even if the shipping was a hundred or so, I'm sure he could have found people that would be willing to pay much more for it even with shipping since some Star Wars fans can be rather rabid and obsessive... *cough* Time to return to my homemade Star Trek bridge.....

    --
    In undeveloped countries, the consumer controls the market. In capitalist America, the market controls you.
  17. Sadly, Even When Added To Your Sound System.... by BRock97 · · Score: 4, Funny

    ... it will still be insignificant when compared to the power of the Force.

    --

    Bryan R.
    The price of freedom is eternal vigilance, or $12.50 as seen on eBay.....
  18. Re:Obligatory reference... by mbadolato · · Score: 5, Funny

    All Your Bass Are Belong To Us!

  19. Re:Completely off-topic by AtariAmarok · · Score: 4, Funny
    "Whathisname, the token black kid."

    You mean Boromir, right? The guy killed by the Cylons because he entered a stargate during a Wraith attack.

    --
    Don't blame Durga. I voted for Centauri.
  20. That's not a subwoofer.... by Tyler+Eaves · · Score: 5, Interesting

    THIS is a subwoofer.

    --
    TODO: Something witty here...
    1. Re:That's not a subwoofer.... by Reverberant · · Score: 3, Funny

      I see your folded horn and raise you one flatbed-mounted horn...

  21. Re:That's no moon... by FidelCatsro · · Score: 5, Funny

    no no no its ,
    That's no moon ,Its a Base station

    --
    The only things certain in war are Propaganda and Death. You can never be sure which is which though
  22. Re:Nice Idea... by ka9dgx · · Score: 3, Informative
    He did port and tune it... you merely needed to Read the fine E-Bay Entry Listing (REBEL) to learn that.

    --Mike--

  23. Just let me know by AtariAmarok · · Score: 4, Funny
    "All they need now is one I can attach my car stereo to so people can hear me coming from 30 miles away."

    Just let us know when you build your Imperial Car Destroyer. Put the plans up here (slashdotting be damned). I bet it would be a real babe magnet.

    "Hey, baby! Anyone ever tell you look just like Natalie Portman? Come over here and check out my ride. It's got 385 Tauntauns under the hood. Maybe we can go over to my apartment. I've got hot grits and Death Star loudspeakers. Yeah, baby."

    --
    Don't blame Durga. I voted for Centauri.
  24. nitpick... by craighmac.com · · Score: 4, Insightful
    "When Darth Vader decided to take over the universe, he decided he needed a really big gun.... a really very big gun indeed, a gun so big it could destroy an entire planet in a single shot. With this in mind he built the Death Star"
    According to the most recent episodes II and III, Darth Vader had nothing to do with the inception, design and initial construction of the Death Star. It was entire the purview of Palpatine.
  25. When's my turn? by AtariAmarok · · Score: 3, Funny

    I've got a Weber propane BBQ painted to look like Jabba's barge. If I put it on eBay, can you make it a Slashdot news item tomorrow?

    --
    Don't blame Durga. I voted for Centauri.
  26. I've got a bad feeling about this... by glassgnost · · Score: 3, Funny


    all your vibes are belong to us

  27. That ol' WAF again by splatterboy · · Score: 3, Interesting

    From TFA: "That won't fit in our apartment"... My Girlfriend

    Obviously, the power of this deathstar pales in comparison to the power of the Wife Acceptance Factor (OK girlfriend, same thing basically in this case) How about Wife Acceptance Force?

    WAF -Bane of audiophiles, pretenders and geeks in general

    --
    "Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but not their own facts." ~The Honorable Daniel Patrick Moynihan
  28. What a chump. by jlseagull · · Score: 4, Insightful

    See, this is the first thing that women do when they get their hooks into you - make you get rid of something you put hundreds of hours and pounds into, just because "it won't fit into the apartment". It's not about that, it's about her controlling him with sex, just seeing how high she can make him jump.

    Next she's slowly going to start getting rid of his bachelor friends, the better to control him. This is why any reasonable man should steer clear of "modern" women. Start your own business, invest well, buy and build cool stuff, and always keep women at arm's length - lest you become a pussywhipped fool who replaces his brilliantly engineered subwoofers, motorcycle, and sports car with window treatments, no sex, and a minivan.

    Dumbass.

    --
    'Be always mindful, even when ditch-digging.' --D. T. Suzuki
  29. The Plans by spacemky · · Score: 4, Informative

    The guy has his plans posted on how he built this thing.

    Now is see why it weighs 65Kilos.

    --
    640YB ought to be enough for anybody.
  30. Re:Yes that's very cool but.... by 3nd32 · · Score: 4, Funny

    I AM a beowulf cluster of these things, you insensitive clod!

  31. Can it do the brown note?? by lbmouse · · Score: 3, Funny


    I'd bid if it could produce a sound that would make me shit my pants.

  32. Re:Nice Idea... by Reverberant · · Score: 4, Interesting
    Speaker manufacturers go through great lengths (no pun intended) to assure that the internal dimensions of the enclosure do not allow standing waves to build up. In "box" enclosures, the length, width and height are all differing dimensions, with no dimension being a multiple of the other.

    The Death Star subwoofer is, well, a subwoofer. Most subwoofer crossovers filter frequencies above 80 to 100 Hz, per Dolby & THX recommendations, so the maximum frequency that will (hopefully) be generated by this sub is 100 Hz. The wavelength of 100 Hz is roughly 10 ft. The half wavelength at 100 Hz is 5 ft. The diameter of the Death Star subwoofer is 3 ft.

    Basically, the smallest half-wavelength that will be generated by the subwoofer is greater than the diameter of the cabinet, so standing waves just aren't an issue here. It is something that needs to be considered for higher-frequency speakers, but a lot of the "rules-of-thumb" that are applicable to mid/high-frequency speakers don't apply to subwoofers because the wavelengths of bass frequencies are so large. (some gotcha's, like baffle-step, may apply, depending on the geometry of the cabinet)

  33. Re:That's no moon... by spyder913 · · Score: 3, Interesting
  34. oh, CRAP, get an EV 30W and do it RIGHT. by swschrad · · Score: 3, Interesting

    12 inch driver, big whoop. get'cha an EV 30W organ/reinforcement woofer someplace, 30 inch diameter and something like only 25 watts drive power, and build something that will crush that little clock-radio sub on eBay.

    some notes. excellent article in a 1960s popular electronics on building it. you need a reflex or exponential horn cabinet, depending on how many mcf of room you want to rattle. cutoff frequency is 80 HZ, don't drive it any higher. you will need to use at least 1-1/4 plywood with stout internal bracing, screws, and glue to put the cabinet together, and 1-1/2 inch is better. "stout internal bracing" means clear hardwood 2x4 or larger.

    this speaker was also used in the EV Patrician speaker system back in the day, as well as electric organs for churches and halls. they are very easily damaged in transit, and should be shipped in either the factory box or the original cabinet it was found it.

    last ones I saw on eBay were $3500 each. they used to be $125 drivers back in the day. shipping of the speaker alone is over 100 pounds.

    make a tennis-ball woofer with one of THOSE puppies, and write if your confuser survived turning it up. long been a dream of mine to whip one up, but never had the money or room....

    --
    if this is supposed to be a new economy, how come they still want my old fashioned money?
  35. Re:Wow... by kebes · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Cool. Let's do some stats. The first post was at 11:36 (4000 count on ebay). Your post was at 11:48 (11000 count). To this, I'll add my own observations, and we come up with some data on slashdotting:

    Here's some data in the format: "time -- time since article was posted -- counter on eBay":
    11:35 -- 0 mins --
    11:36 -- 1 mins -- 4000
    11:48 -- 13 mins -- 11000
    12:22 -- 47 mins -- 37000
    13:42 -- 127 mins -- 84775
    13:49 -- 134 mins -- 87721
    13:51 -- 136 mins -- 88734
    13:57 -- 142 mins -- 91214
    14:03 -- 148 mins -- 94027

    From this, we can see a couple of things. First off, ebay can be counted as one of the (few) servers that survives slashdotting (slashdot also seems able to survive). Secondly, if you fit the above data, the trend is quite linear (R-squared of 0.997). The slope of the fit indicates that after a story goes live, about 600 people per minute check the link supplied in the summary. Probably lots more people read the slashdot article without actually reading the linked article.

    This is one of the rare times that slashdot links to a site that can handle the load, and supplies a counter. The counter in this case isn't unique to slashdot visits, but it looks like most of the hits on the counter have come from slashdot (it was at 4,000 before slashdot posted, and now is at >90,000. This makes for some fairly interesting statistics. I'm interested to see how long it takes before the curve starts levelling off. How many people read slashdot stories right away, versus how many read it the day after? Obviously this is not perfectly scientific, but it's kinda interesting all the same.