Okay, I'm getting a JL Audio 10" w3v3-2 subwoofer with a Alpine M500 amp.
sub: http://mobile.jlaudio.com/products_subs.php?series_id=24
amp: http://www.alpine-usa.com/US-en/products/product.php?model=MRP-M500

I have a 1999 honda civic si and I'll be putting the box in the trunk.
I mostly listen to rap/hip hop and techno crap...

I want to go with sealed because I'd love to conserve space and I would think ported would make everything rattle like nuts.(Too cheap to dynamat everything)

But for Hip Hop and Rape etc they say ported is best, and louder.

I personally just want something that you can feel in the car and right outside of it.


What would you recommend?

 

I also don't like ridiculous bass I'm more into a great sounding bass.

 

It's a catch 22. You want small, go sealed. Won't sound as good or be as loud for the type of music you listen to, but it will be smaller. Ported is louder and offers better bass response for your music, but it's bigger. I really don't see the difference in box size being that big between the two in that car, and I'm sure there are people that will agree that the benefits of a ported box outwiegh it's size.

 

If you listen to techno and trance stuff, I wouldn't recommend a ported box. If you listen to hip-hop and rap go ported for sure!

 

Port it. If you don't want everything rattling than turn it down. 1.6 cubes can be stuffed at the very back of the trunk, if you use the width and height at their maximums.

 

if you throw a lot of stuff in your trunk make sure you the the screens that JL has for there subs or build something out of mdf to protect the subs. I learned that lesson the hard way. I also think ported is better. more importantly properly tuned ported box. the JL specs seem good for my 2 12's ported.