Ported or Sealed box

[JLw7123]

i am making a poll about sub boxes Ported, sealed or bandpass sub boxes.

[adam337]

i like sealed boxes better than ported.. and ive never heard a bandpass box. it can also depend on the car and where the box is actually located. for example i dont have my alero anymore and theres not seats or trunk blocking me from the box my subs are in where as in the alero the box is in the sealed off trunk

[xXManwhoreXx]

I have a sealed box with 2 12's right now but I had a ported 15 for a while. It's all about preference to be honest. Sealed boxes sound the best inside the car but if you want major bass go ported. With ported boxes though its all about the range its ported for though. At some ranges it will sound great at have mch more bass but if you have to low of a range it will fall on its face. I don't know much about bandpass but I have heard that it really hits hard and doesn't distort the sound as much as just porting.

[MattismodderX]

it really depends on what the ported box is tuned at. a box tuned to 26hz would hit a lot deeper and be louder lower but not so hot on most music. a box tuned to 40 hz would sound better on most music but not so hot on the low end

[xXManwhoreXx]

33hz should be a good medium for bass and sound quality

[Cashdollar2009]

All types are good for their applications:

Sealed - "tight precise", simple to build, may implement less space

Ported - May select desired tuning in regards to music prference, more efficient when built properly, can get louder off of less power, less forgiving when building, require more space than your typical sealed box

Bandpass - Depending on type: (4th order, 6th order, etc.) Can get loud off of less power, control over frequency response, require more space than your typical ported box

Lots of variables, it really depends on how much space you have to work with and what you plan to get out of your build.

[MattismodderX]

i want to try an experimental build someday with a box tuned to 65hz purely for metal. of course it would need a special kind of sub to be able to handle that. i saw something like it on youtube but i cant find it. looks like it would be intense

[sleepyalero]

People told me you always get more bass out of ported but I had two twelves and use em in a ported for a week then a sealed and the sealed sounded a lot better and seemed louder.

[Cashdollar2009]

People told me you always get more bass out of ported but I had two twelves and use em in a ported for a week then a sealed and the sealed sounded a lot better and seemed louder.

Chances are that your ported box was either built poorly, tuned way too high, or wasn't made to meet your musical taste.

If it were a prefab you were probably tuned at like 44Hz. I have heard a few of these magical ported prefabs and they seem to work like ****. I could build you a box for whatever setup you are running, built to woofer specs, and I guarantee you'd ditch that sealed box. ;)

[MattismodderX]

or it could have been the sub was made for a sealed box. ive put a sub made for a ported in a sealed and laughed as my mids drowned it out by 20% volume and put it in a ported box and it was like 30x louder

[Cashdollar2009]

or it could have been the sub was made for a sealed box. ive put a sub made for a ported in a sealed and laughed as my mids drowned it out by 20% volume and put it in a ported box and it was like 30x louder

True. What subs sleepy?

[AleroB888]

i want to try an experimental build someday with a box tuned to 65hz purely for metal. of course it would need a special kind of sub to be able to handle that. i saw something like it on youtube but i cant find it. looks like it would be intense

Metal, you say? A musician buddy of mine had these for sale:

http://cgi.ebay.com/2-McCauley-he-designed-JBL-18-6256-speakers-/150488180256?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2309cb6620

Free air resonance 51 hz

I was going to try them in home as subs, but they don't reach down low enough.

[MattismodderX]

Metal, you say? A musician buddy of mine had these for sale:

http://cgi.ebay.com/2-McCauley-he-designed-JBL-18-6256-speakers-/150488180256?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2309cb6620

Free air resonance 51 hz

I was going to try them in home as subs, but they don't reach down low enough.

:eek: 4 of those 18"s in a suv playing some winds of plaugue your brain would explode

[AleroB888]

:eek: 4 of those 18"s in a suv playing some winds of plaugue your brain would explode

He's got 4 of them, last I heard, mounted in large stage boxes..

edit: no, looks like he got a bid on 2 of them...

[Afugy]

:No:

Please stop.

[xXManwhoreXx]

When I hear winds of plague all I can think of is this

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4043826761702194248#docid=-880582174642648205

it makes me laugh haha

[AleroB888]

:No:

Please stop.


Well, the poll didn't make that much sense, anyway. A true subsonic system will go well below 32 hz, and to do that with reasonable efficiency, a ported box is called for. I prefer passive radiator or resistive reflex (aka aperiodic).
Sealed box for 60-80 hz or above.

[Cashdollar2009]

Well, the poll didn't make that much sense, anyway.

This.

[robalero]

its all about preferrence on a box designed properly.

I like ported myself ive owned and been in many different and for whatever reason I love having a ported box specially when my box with my cheap backup amp 350watt kenwood sounds just as good if not sometimes better then my buddy's sealed sub and his 2000 watt kenwood exelon amp

[Ryan from Ohio]

6Th order bandpass.

Because if you dont have a clue you will self destruct subs and seeing carnage is cool.

Different subs, different boxes. Different tastes, different boxes. Different tastes, different tuning. And it goes on.

There is no sure fire.

[Stickybuddz420]

Sealed oversize for 12"s 200-800W a piece, 15"s Would definitely ported considering how shotty a L7 sounds in a sealed. IMO skip bandpass, Port larger subs to flex hard, Seal smaller subs for tighter bass AND Longer sub life. Don't forget IMO....Only 9 years experience here. :)

[Stickybuddz420]

its all about preferrence on a box designed properly.

I like ported myself ive owned and been in many different and for whatever reason I love having a ported box specially when my box with my cheap backup amp 350watt kenwood sounds just as good if not sometimes better then my buddy's sealed sub and his 2000 watt kenwood exelon amp

Yeah....That ending made me LOL a bit :drunk:

[MattismodderX]

Sealed oversize for 12"s 200-800W a piece, 15"s Would definitely ported considering how shotty a L7 sounds in a sealed. IMO skip bandpass, Port larger subs to flex hard, Seal smaller subs for tighter bass AND Longer sub life. Don't forget IMO....Only 9 years experience here. :)

size has nothing to do with what box it will take:rolleyes2:

[Stickybuddz420]

size has nothing to do with what box it will take:rolleyes2:

Did you really just say that? Soooo..... Lets put a 8" sub in a hmmm 6 cu. ft box? or maybe a 15" in a 2 cu. ft.?

Ok I read it again and i stay with my comment, 12"s ported sounds like shit and 15" sealed sounds like shit.....maybe u skipped the IMO part....oh well. :D

This because i have my 12's in a oversized sealed box ( after trying many, many others ) and It Hits great lows, mids and high vibrations high's lol, still punchy bass, rock sounds great along with rap n such, I'm just speaking from personal applications.

[MattismodderX]

Did you really just say that? Soooo..... Lets put a 8" sub in a hmmm 6 cu. ft box? or maybe a 15" in a 2 cu. ft.?

my bad its 2am i meant size has nothing to do with ported/sealed box type


edit: i had a 2000rms 12 in a 3.9 cubic box tuned to 32hz and it sounded phenomenal. extremely deep rich bass with little to no rattle

[Stickybuddz420]

Right on but was it able to perform all the other notes? im not competition, just a daily driver who likes it loud n low lol, and i get it outta them 12s in a big box, not much noise outside near the car, but away from it and inside the car vibrates ur vision n shit lol.

[MattismodderX]

Right on but was it able to perform all the other notes? im not competition, just a daily driver who likes it loud n low lol, and i get it outta them 12s in a big box, not much noise outside near the car, but away from it and inside the car vibrates ur vision n shit lol.

the only thing it didnt play too well was punk music or something with nothing under 70hz. plus you cant do hairtricks with sealed boxes

[Cashdollar2009]

You have to play with port area as well as a few other parameters if you are expecting to get that "flat response." Ported boxes can definitely do that.

Bandpass imo has it's place as well. Someday, when I have money to throw around, i'd like to venture into the bandpass world to try a thing or two. :)

[Cashdollar2009]

Ok I read it again and i stay with my comment, 12"s ported sounds like shit and 15" sealed sounds like shit.....maybe u skipped the IMO part....oh well. :D.

I understand it is your opinion, so technically I cannot tell you that you are wrong. I will though say that your opinion has to be a bit on the ignorant side though. Ignorant as in I am not very sure out of those 9 years as to how many well built enclosures of the different natures that you have been able to personally hear for yourself. I dare you to go to a car audio competition nowadays. No, odn't look at the burp or spl cars in which I am sure you would to prove you opinion correct, but sit in one of these cars running 10"s or 12"s and doing mid 140's on music. Actually, my next goal is running two 12"s PORTED OF COURSE and reach a 146db sealed on the dash and the 30-40Hz range.

Different subwoofers can be built for different applications. 12"s ported sound like shit? No offense, but you need to get out man. lol Some 10"s and 12"s you can't even run in sealed boxes without considering cooling, etc.

Here's a friend of mine with his two 12"s on 2,000rms moving some air.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afqAiEkNB5o&feature=related

A pair of 10"s in again, a ported box in my other friend's car tuned to 29Hz:
http://www.youtube.com/user/alexcuteness100k#p/u

Some sealed 15"s doing work:
http://www.youtube.com/user/Naledge503#p/u

plus you cant do hairtricks with sealed boxes

I may have to disagree here. It does take a bit more effort and power, but in the right application... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bo8RudmxRRo

[Ttop191]

that 10'' setup is NASTY!

[Alerojester]

i would have to agree on that 10 set up that would be fun but nasty, hey maybe even a good way to make messes in your seats if its set up right (gotta love lows and women)

[Stickybuddz420]

HAHA yeah considering the 3 setups you just showed me I'm sure they spent more than the $250 I have in my car now, so them videos mean absolutely nothing to me lol, I know if u got the money u can make anything move some air. My point that i am getting at is when I first got into it, and from what I have seen and heard from the best sounding stereos with great SPL usually comes with lots of sealed 10"s or 12"s but usually them huge drivers found on such subs as FI and Kicker Solo X's typically ran best with ported to keep the driver cool as well as push air for great SPL. And yes it has been a while sense i have made it to the audio scene, So I'm sure that people have discovered many ways for each application. I'm not going to touch the ignorant comment because its the internet, comments of such are simply looked over due to lack of immaturity. No hair trick with sealed box?? uhh wtf matt i can even move hair with a 1600W system LOL.

[MattismodderX]

I may have to disagree here. It does take a bit more effort and power, but in the right application... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bo8RudmxRRo

yea i was thinking it would be possible with enough power/woofers, just haven't seen one before that. ported just moves so much more air due to high excursion

[MattismodderX]

HAHA yeah considering the 3 setups you just showed me I'm sure they spent more than the $250 I have in my car now, so them videos mean absolutely nothing to me lol, I know if u got the money u can make anything move some air. My point that i am getting at is when I first got into it, and from what I have seen and heard from the best sounding stereos with great SPL usually comes with lots of sealed 10"s or 12"s but usually them huge drivers found on such subs as FI and Kicker Solo X's typically ran best with ported to keep the driver cool as well as push air for great SPL. And yes it has been a while sense i have made it to the audio scene, So I'm sure that people have discovered many ways for each application. I'm not going to touch the ignorant comment because its the internet, comments of such are simply looked over due to lack of immaturity. No hair trick with sealed box?? uhh wtf matt i can even move hair with a 1600W system LOL.

i used to have 2 rockford fosgate 400rms 12"s in a sealed box and the 300rms single 12 in a ported i have as the temp sub moves more air then they did

why do so many people on this forum assume people are trying to pick them apart and shit on their day?

[Stickybuddz420]

its a open convo, feel free to stress freedom of speech, and opnions are like assholes, everyone has one and they ALL stink.....So there yah go :D And btw I LOVE shitting in peoples cheerios, its makes me LOL when ppl get mad on the net.

[MattismodderX]

it is an open convo. some people are there to discuss while others just want to be right

[Stickybuddz420]

Yeah I just want to broaden the outlook on different boxes, that's what this thread is for no? lets stick to it lol. How about some applications that work well in each setup? So just find 1 bandpass, 1 sealed, and 1 ported setup to run comparison with SPL, SQ, Money Spent, U know, give people a good idea on what to look for when it comes to certain applications/limitations.

[Ryan from Ohio]

This thread is full of endless possibilities...

of...

FAIL

Opinions? How about myth's and wrong. That is what I see.

Ported or sealed? Its all based off EBP (Efficiency Bandwidth Product)
EBP -
EBP stands for "efficiency bandwidth product", and it's just a helpful calculation, to expand on what Qts tells you with regard to the "what box is it good with?" question.
EBP = Fs / Qes. Simple calculation.
It includes Fs in the equation, because in a sealed box, the subwoofer needs a low Fs in order to play low frequencies.
In a vented box however, you can design the enclosure so that it helps extend the low frequencies farther than a sealed box, so Fs isn't as important for that.
Qes is important because in a vented enclosure, you have higher pressure forces at work - so you need a stronger motor to contend with them. In a sealed box, that stronger motor will drive up the system resonance (a box/sub combination version of Fs), making for bad sealed performance.
The actual EBP number tells you whether it's good in sealed or vented...
EBP at 50 or below, sub is best suited to sealed.
EBP higher than about 80, sub is best suited to vented boxes.
EBP in between, sub is OK in either sealed or vented.

Now as far as sealed box sizes, taking a sealed box and increasing volume will not change the Fs output much. It will however have effect on required power for the sub.

Some of the comments here are just ridiculous at best. Sure any sub can sound like crap in the wrong box. People are dumb also, dont forget that! People just buy subs and toss them in whatever box they want to without any considerations... Sure then it has potential to sound like hell...

This whole topic... Endless can of worms...

Use whatever box fits the subs needs.

\end thread

[MattismodderX]

^ learn something every day. never knew what the EBP was or what it determined. good to know

[Stickybuddz420]

I knew Ryan would show up sooner or later saying fail thread....If he would have read my LAST post then he would see I am talking about just basic shit for people who don't want to get into all the technical of how sub woofers work. Basically saying wouldn't it be easier if someone came here and asked what type of box is good for ex. ( Rap Music on a L7 15" in a 2004 Alero) I would say probably Ported firing into the car sealed from the trunk, BUT that is solely from personal limited experience with Kicker in Aleros. So Ryan its not about being wrong or right IMO but help from people who can dumb stuff down for the people who just want quality noise w/o having to study the shit.

[Ryan from Ohio]

Post skimming happens. What you say on the next page may be missed. Thats why its best to be thorough.

Unfortunately there is not much dumbing down on topics such as this. Its simply ignorant to make comments such as:

Sealed oversize for 12"s 200-800W a piece, 15"s Would definitely ported considering how shotty a L7 sounds in a sealed. IMO skip bandpass, Port larger subs to flex hard, Seal smaller subs for tighter bass AND Longer sub life. Don't forget IMO....Only 9 years experience here.

To figure out what box subs need consult the owners manual. Most subs come with a manual and most manuals give you specifications for boxes known to work well with the subs. When you just start throwing subs in any old box is when you have issues, especially ported and bandpass boxes. Not every sub will work in every box...

The manual is a good starting point. Once you understand things better you can actually design your own enclosure. To do it properly you must first know what the speakers are capable of. Know what range of music is being used, what power is available. Then you need to know the overall goal. Then the trick is to take all that info and blend it together.

plus you cant do hairtricks with sealed boxes

False. Sealed boxes depend on subwoofer excursion. The more the sub moves, the more air it will displace. The more air you can displace, the better the chance at doing hair tricks.

My point that i am getting at is when I first got into it, and from what I have seen and heard from the best sounding stereos with great SPL usually comes with lots of sealed 10"s or 12"s but usually them huge drivers found on such subs as FI and Kicker Solo X's typically ran best with ported to keep the driver cool as well as push air for great SPL

This whole above quoted thing is a contradiction. Read it carefully. Best sounding with great SPL from sealed 10's & 12's but usually huge drives ran best ported?



yea i was thinking it would be possible with enough power/woofers, just haven't seen one before that. ported just moves so much more air due to high excursion

Actually its quite opposite. If you understood how ported enclosures work this comment wouldnt of been made. Excursion only plays a small roll in ported enclosures. Ever hear of the Cerwin Vega Stroker? That didnt have ultra high excursion but set many records in the day- in ported boxes.

The long and the short is- a ported box in tuned to a specific frequency. At said frequency the air inside the port is acts as a spring to the sub. Below said frequency the sub drops off sharply without much ability to control it.

I know not all of these quotes are from Sticky, but they are the ones that need pointed out.

I have no issue with opinions. But when stated as such people will think thats what you consider true- which it is not.

[Afugy]

W horn loaded 4th oder box with 2 18"s does 139 db in open air with 600 wrms at 55hz. This box also has a second resonating peek at 105hz, with the correct amp settings you can not hear any peeks on a sweep or pink noise, basically sounds like the same volume from 30hz all the way up to 150hz.

Theres no need to "dumb down" what you're saying, if they want to know how to do it them selfs, they need the full version or we'll only end up with more threads like these.

[Cashdollar2009]

Theres no need to "dumb down" what you're saying, if they want to know how to do it them selfs, they need the full version or we'll only end up with more threads like these.

Amen brotha.

[Stickybuddz420]

Post skimming happens. What you say on the next page may be missed. Thats why its best to be thorough.

Unfortunately there is not much dumbing down on topics such as this. Its simply ignorant to make comments such as:



To figure out what box subs need consult the owners manual. Most subs come with a manual and most manuals give you specifications for boxes known to work well with the subs. When you just start throwing subs in any old box is when you have issues, especially ported and bandpass boxes. Not every sub will work in every box...

The manual is a good starting point. Once you understand things better you can actually design your own enclosure. To do it properly you must first know what the speakers are capable of. Know what range of music is being used, what power is available. Then you need to know the overall goal. Then the trick is to take all that info and blend it together.



False. Sealed boxes depend on subwoofer excursion. The more the sub moves, the more air it will displace. The more air you can displace, the better the chance at doing hair tricks.



This whole above quoted thing is a contradiction. Read it carefully. Best sounding with great SPL from sealed 10's & 12's but usually huge drives ran best ported?




Actually its quite opposite. If you understood how ported enclosures work this comment wouldnt of been made. Excursion only plays a small roll in ported enclosures. Ever hear of the Cerwin Vega Stroker? That didnt have ultra high excursion but set many records in the day- in ported boxes.

The long and the short is- a ported box in tuned to a specific frequency. At said frequency the air inside the port is acts as a spring to the sub. Below said frequency the sub drops off sharply without much ability to control it.

I know not all of these quotes are from Sticky, but they are the ones that need pointed out.

I have no issue with opinions. But when stated as such people will think thats what you consider true- which it is not.

Enough said I suppose :drunk: