Tang Band W5-1138SM 5-1/4" Neodymium Subwoofer
Best box: 8.9 L bass reflex tuned to 38.4 Hz · F3 36.4 Hz
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Comparable 5.25" Drivers
Drivers with similar piston area, resonance and Qts — useful alternatives when the Tang Band W5-1138SM 5-1/4" Neodymium Subwoofer does not fit your target box volume or tuning. Each entry links to its full enclosure design and Thiele/Small parameters.
⚠️ Engineering Notice for Builders
- The textbook alignment (8.9 L at 36.6 Hz) would need a 45.8 cm port; the recommendation is retuned to 8.9 L at 38.4 Hz so the port can be built.
Recommended Bass Reflex (Vented)
PORT BUILDABLE| Net Box Volume (Vb) | 8.9 Liters |
| Tuning Frequency (Fb) | 38.4 Hz |
| F3 (-3 dB Cutoff) | 36.4 Hz |
| F6 / F10 Extension | 32.2 Hz / 28.7 Hz |
| Port Inner Diameter | Ø 5.0 cm |
| Port Physical Length | 41.3 cm |
| First Pipe Resonance | 417.0 Hz |
| Estimated MOL @ F3 | 94.9 dB SPL |
Recommended Sealed (Acoustic Suspension)
MAX TRANSIENT DAMPING| Net Box Volume (Vb) | 5.1 Liters |
| System Q (Qtc) | 0.707 (Butterworth) |
| System Resonance (Fc) | 65.7 Hz |
| F3 (-3 dB Cutoff) | 67.9 Hz |
| F6 / F10 Extension | 51.2 Hz / 38.6 Hz |
| Air Spring Linearity | High (Zero port compression) |
Thiele/Small Parameters
| Resonance (Fs) | 45.0 Hz |
| Total Q (Qts) | 0.48 |
| Electrical Q (Qes) | 0.578 |
| Mechanical Q (Qms) | 2.83 |
| Equivalent Volume (Vas) | 5.9 Liters |
| Diaphragm Area (Sd) | 94.0 cm² |
| DC Resistance (Re) | 3.4 Ω |
| Efficiency Bandwidth Product (EBP) | 77.8 |
| Linear Excursion (Xmax) | 9.2 mm |
| Thermal Power (Pe) | 40.0 W |
| Nominal Diameter | 5.25" |
| Catalog Source | Load Forge catalog (manufacturer datasheets and retailer listings) |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the recommended ported (bass reflex) box volume for Tang Band W5-1138SM 5-1/4" Neodymium Subwoofer?
Load Forge's calculated alignment puts Tang Band W5-1138SM 5-1/4" Neodymium Subwoofer in a 8.9 liter vented enclosure tuned to 38.4 Hz, reaching an F3 cutoff of approximately 36.4 Hz.
Can Tang Band W5-1138SM 5-1/4" Neodymium Subwoofer be used in a sealed box?
Yes. In a sealed (acoustic suspension) enclosure of 5.1 liters with a Qtc of 0.707 (Butterworth), the system exhibits an F3 of 67.9 Hz.
What port dimensions should be used for Tang Band W5-1138SM 5-1/4" Neodymium Subwoofer to avoid port chuffing?
Sized from cone displacement (Sd × Xmax), a minimum port diameter of 5.0 cm with a length of 41.3 cm is suggested; check the port air velocity at your drive level in the Load Forge Studio.
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Not sure if W5-1138SM 5-1/4" Neodymium Subwoofer fits your physical space?
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