ported vs sealed
04-09-2006, 10:20 AM
#2
Administrator
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 16,855
This has been covered in the past - a search may reveal a lot of information (and arguing 
)
I prefer a VENTED box. Why?
1) Free output. Generally 2-5db louder. How can that ever be bad?
2) Lower useable frequency output. A vented box is typically louder between 25 and 45hz than a sealed box. This makes it sound like it 'plays lower' and with very little information below 25hz, I'm willing to make that trade. Look at the F3 point of a sealed and a vented box for the same driver. The F3 point is where the response of the box is down 3db from the reference level. The lower the F3 the 'deeper' the box will generally sound.
Sealed boxes hover in the high 30s to low 50s range, in general. Vented boxes often run high 20s to high 30s.
3) Flexibility. Oh you want deeeeep bass all week and a little SPL comp on the weekend? No problem. Run a 30hz vent all week and swap it for a 55hz vent for the show.
4) Power Handling. Vented boxes generally handle more power than sealed ones. The exception is at very low frequencies below tuning but this is an easy workaround.
Those are the 4 major reasons. The sealed camp wins in respect to enclosure size - but this to me is a minor concession and in more than a few instances one can go with a smaller sub or fewer subs and go vented and have the same performance as a larger or more sealed woofers. The topic of 'group delay' comes in as well. Most people don't understand it and figure 'more is worse'. Technically it is but most boxes, sealed or vented, are not a problem.
I will give sealed enclosures one for sure advantage: If you have some random woofer or like to change woofers a lot without changing boxes, get a sealed box. They are way way more forgiving this way.
)I prefer a VENTED box. Why?
1) Free output. Generally 2-5db louder. How can that ever be bad?
2) Lower useable frequency output. A vented box is typically louder between 25 and 45hz than a sealed box. This makes it sound like it 'plays lower' and with very little information below 25hz, I'm willing to make that trade. Look at the F3 point of a sealed and a vented box for the same driver. The F3 point is where the response of the box is down 3db from the reference level. The lower the F3 the 'deeper' the box will generally sound.
Sealed boxes hover in the high 30s to low 50s range, in general. Vented boxes often run high 20s to high 30s.
3) Flexibility. Oh you want deeeeep bass all week and a little SPL comp on the weekend? No problem. Run a 30hz vent all week and swap it for a 55hz vent for the show.
4) Power Handling. Vented boxes generally handle more power than sealed ones. The exception is at very low frequencies below tuning but this is an easy workaround.
Those are the 4 major reasons. The sealed camp wins in respect to enclosure size - but this to me is a minor concession and in more than a few instances one can go with a smaller sub or fewer subs and go vented and have the same performance as a larger or more sealed woofers. The topic of 'group delay' comes in as well. Most people don't understand it and figure 'more is worse'. Technically it is but most boxes, sealed or vented, are not a problem.
I will give sealed enclosures one for sure advantage: If you have some random woofer or like to change woofers a lot without changing boxes, get a sealed box. They are way way more forgiving this way.
04-09-2006, 01:41 PM
#4
500 Watt CAFz'r
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 779
Originally Posted by simple992
Thanks for your thoughts it makes me think i've been using sealed for like 10 years always thought it was harder on the sub and easier to blow!
04-10-2006, 08:17 PM
#6
Administrator
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 16,855
^ IB? Efficient? I'm going to disagree. I don't want to start a debate but how can it be efficient yet have 'output' and 'power handling' as cons? 
I've rarely been really happy with transients and IB either - one had better have some killer midbass. This is just my opinion though.
Vented rules, then bandpass.. (OMG did he just say that?
)
I've rarely been really happy with transients and IB either - one had better have some killer midbass. This is just my opinion though.
Vented rules, then bandpass.. (OMG did he just say that?
)
04-11-2006, 11:03 AM
#9
vented is the best if there are no restrictions such as space and driver size, I will say though that my new set up with a small sealed box and 2x12's sounds very good and I still have lots of space. I can't say I'm really missing the 4cube box. I don't listen to music at very loud levels anymore, but this system gets more than loud enough to cause tinnitis(ringing in the ear). Anyway, the best set up is the one that fits all your criteria for utility, quality, loudness etc...I required lots of trunk space and I wanted 12's, so the only way I could have both was with a smaller box. I decided that a sealed system would do what I wanted, and it has.
04-11-2006, 11:18 AM
#10
some days you go with what fits not what you like
i like ported boxes but i need to go with a sealed BUT WHAT THE F##K IT WORKS
i would like to do more then one 8th order but the box size are big and i need the room
i like ported boxes but i need to go with a sealed BUT WHAT THE F##K IT WORKS
i would like to do more then one 8th order but the box size are big and i need the room
