*** Mythbusters' Super-Woofer Destroys An MB...NOT! ***
 

Mythbusters tried to destroy a Mercedes 300 Series Diesel with a 51" Super-Woofer... :furious3:

The "test" resulted in a "popped" sunroof (It was "blasted" from its track on both sides), which "saved" the car from further damage from the woofer - which, BTW, did self-destruct (The woofer - not the car.). :P

The "driver force" for the woofer? The car's drive-shaft. :confused: :wtf:

The measured Hz. and sound pressure? 16 Hz. @ 161.3 dB.! :eek: :eek:

IF they had used any other vehicle, they might have achieved their original objective - Destroy a vehicle (Windows exploding - panels tearing loose, etc..).

One of the hosts, Jamie, had two t-shirts with the following wisdom silk-screened on them:

"Failure is always an option."
"I reject your reality and substitute my own."

.

They should have used a Citroen 2CV. It sure comes apart when you drive it in the engine wash of a 747.

old news pfft

I really like Mythbusters. Some of the things those goofballs do are certainly entertaining, but about 1/4 of the time, their approach is whacked, so it's fun to see the reactions and subsequent second or third approaches.
There was one episode in particular where Adam stuck his face in a motor that was moving and he ended up with a nasty cut. No reason was ever given for him doing that other than "it seemed like a good idea at the time".

I have come to the definite conclusion that at least some of those folks are stoned a lot of the time, primarily Kari, Adam, and Tory.

Kari is the nicest:D

anyone got a link to the episode online?

Surpised they even made an eposide about it.

If any one here has ever attended a stereo sound-off "SPL contest", it pretty much involves the same thing. The top contenders bring barely driveable vehicles stuffed to the gills with subwoofers. The doors and windows are reinforced to prevent flex, which is where sound pressure loss would occur.

All of the systems are activated remotely...permanent hearing loss (and possibly bowel loss) would occur is the contestants actually remained in their vehicles during the competition.

Last I remember, the top SPL scores were in the neighborhood of 171 db!!! :eek:

For those cars with stock chassis but large systems, shattered windows aren't the norm...typically the window seals give first, so rear windows pop off (where most subs reside), and loose trim comes off.

Back in my car sound off days, the shop that did my install had a company vehicle that would dust the competition when it arrived. One year, the woofers in the trunk broke all of the welds from the ribs along the trunk lid!!

A db figure is useless without the frequency it was taken at.


SPL contests hardly go into the sub-bass region (if ever at all.)



Just dont get me going on the watts debate; another useless figure...

They did send the kid (Tory, I think) to an "SPL Contest" - he got himself learnt...

They did a little report at the "SPL Contest" - that point was mentioned, but not the "possible bowel loss" or "brown note" issue...:eek: :P

In the show, they brought out the facts concerning dB. levels experienced during the contest and what relative dB. levels have occurred during the recent 100 years...The Atomic Bomb had an "SPL" of approximately 240 (?) dB..

Monomer: Your quotes: "A db figure is useless with the frequency it was taken at. /// SPL contests hardly go into the sub-bass region (if ever at all.)
/// Just dont get me going on the watts debate; another useless figure..."

The show made the point that at the frequency that was measured in the MB (16 Hz. w/an SPL of 161.3 dB.), at the SPL Contests, very rarely are any measurements made below 25 Hz., just because human reception of frequencies at, or below, are extremely rare. You feel it more than you heard it.

The measurements they made on the show was a full-scale measurement, due to the fact that the speaker was so large (51" diameter) and the amount of energy that was going to be needed to move it (Probably "measured" in Horse-power, not Watts! :P ).

The fact that the show is "Mythbusters" and not "Mr. Science" is just for entertainment purposes...more "tongue-in-cheek" than real science. AAMOF, when they do wander down "science-fact" lane, they warn the viewers that there's some real knowledge about to be imparted their way...

And, when the stated objective isn't achieved, they'll go out of their way to somehow, "skew" the more explosive myths to a fitting end. (Think more "bang" for the viewers' buck!) ;)

ANYWAYS, still a fun show to watch and "learn" from.

BTW, it was Adam that had the goofy T-shirts on - not Jamie. Jamie is the one with the mustache (sp?) and serious attitude. Without him, I think the rest of the cast would be weekly replacements for the dead and maimed on the previous week's show.

Adam is the one with the red hair and trouble-maker-looks and without Jamie, would probably have killed by the first intermission of the first show during the first season. He always appears to be about a teaspoon of gun-powder away from leaving this orb.

Hardly. A SPL is a SPL whether you can hear it or not.

But a measurment at 20Hz is FAR diffrent than one taken at 120Hz.


A SPL vs. Frequeny chart is the only option to actually show the responce of the said array/speaker.

I agree with your idea on measurement, but the point was to blow out the windows.

I still remember driving around the "hood" in theh 80's in my buddy's Ford Fairmont with his custom installed stereo.

The lights would blink with every beat of the music!! :eek:

People use large Caps to prevent this now.


But nothing replaces a battery - caps have their flaws...

Anyone got a link to Kari?

i second that one!:D :D :D :D :D