I'm not sure how sealed systems got a reputation for being superior considering most high end home systems use ported enclosures. The only thing I can think of is that the complexity of building and tuning a proper ported enclosure caused many poor results. Sealed systems are much easier to get good reults with and as such has created the myth.

 

^ You are correct - too many shops have no idea how to build a decent vented enclosure, let alone the evil bandpass . I still shake my head at how many shops do not have even WinISD FREEWARE!! downloaded so they can build a decent custom enclosure.

 

I think the main advantage of a sealed box would be the size, as they are smaller enclosures. Plus they are easier to build, and do sound good. Sealed boxes do sound better in the upper range of low frequencies, but like Dukk mentioned, a sub woofer is designed for a narrow range to begin with, so vented boxes offer more output in that range. I've been itching to throw this one out....

NEW MYTH!!!

Capacitors are useless

 

My PC has lots of them.

 

Caps aren't useless, but they do store a very small amount of energy.

 

Outboard storage capacitors are not useless but very people use them effectively and far too many expect them to fix all their electrical issues.

 

defintely not useless, but very misunderstood!

 

I like to use them when customers don't want to run an extra power wire to an extra amp. The sub am will steal power from the front stage amp, causing unwanted distortion and sometimes smoked speakers. That extra little power storage can save big money in speakers.
Other times, we can use a cap like a band-aid for the useless charging system. It doesn't always work, but sometimes...

 

How does a cap prevent smoked speakers?

 

^ I'll put a cap or lightbulb in line with actively crossed over tweeters as a failsafe/power limiter.







(I know this is not what you meant)