Sealed versus Ported

[Deleted]

I was leaning towards a sealed sub but I'm convinved that the ported techology is leaps and bounds better than what it used to be.

I've ordered an Elemental Designs A3-300 and can't wait to put it through its paces. I am very critical of a sub when playing music so that is going to be my area of focus. I'm quite sure it will handle the H/T well.

[ntrain42]

Feb 8, 2010 17:45:23 GMT -5 neekos said:

I was leaning towards a sealed sub but I'm convinved that the ported techology is leaps and bounds better than what it used to be.

I've ordered an Elemental Designs A3-300 and can't wait to put it through its paces. I am very critical of a sub when playing music so that is going to be my area of focus. I'm quite sure it will handle the H/T well.

"Ported technology" is no different now than it was 10 or 20,30 years ago etc. Nothing has changed. Higher Fs tuned ported boxes yield a larger spl bump naturally, and lower tuned boxes will flatten out the curve. All ported boxes have a sharp roll off below the tuning port.

And some of the boxes(the ports themselves specifically) for HT that are tuned in the 20-30hz range are literally worthless as the box volume itself is basically the main reason for the output and frequency extension. If you have the room for that big of a box, better off to keep it sealed(you may at best lose a negligible db or 2 tops maybe at the tuning point) All your doing is asking for sub overhang and mechanical excursion issues when playing at high output due to the lack of accoustical suspension helping the driver remain linear and in control. If you got the room for a large or smaller sized "ported" sub, better off then just going with a sealed enclosure of the same volume. All of the benefits, none of the negatives.

[Deleted]

uh, I think there have been improvements in how they are implemented, braced, etc...

Regardless, I have no problem getting rid of it if it does not meet my standards for music. That is my only concern right now.

[ntrain42]

Feb 8, 2010 19:12:31 GMT -5 neekos said:

uh, I think there have been improvements in how they are implemented, braced, etc...

Regardless, I have no problem getting rid of it if it does not meet my standards for music. That is my only concern right now.

There have been improvements in drivers, electronics etc, but the base principle design and physics behind a ported box hasnt changed one bit. Regardless, if music is your cup of tea and you want accurate bass, sealed is still the way to go. You want a sub that also has enough output to satisfy your HT needs? Do one or more sealed subs or a LARGE sealed sub and driver combo.

[Deleted]

Feb 8, 2010 19:15:31 GMT -5 ntrain42 said:

Feb 8, 2010 19:12:31 GMT -5 neekos said:

uh, I think there have been improvements in how they are implemented, braced, etc...

Regardless, I have no problem getting rid of it if it does not meet my standards for music. That is my only concern right now.

There have been improvements in drivers, electronics etc, but the base principle design and physics behind a ported box hasnt changed one bit. Regardless, if music is your cup of tea and you want accurate bass, sealed is still the way to go. You want a sub that also has enough output to satisfy your HT needs? Do one or more sealed subs or a LARGE sealed sub and driver combo.

I'm not going to argue the point of gains in ported technology.

I've had sealed subs in the past that were decent for music but lacked for h/t. I've owned, a Def Tech Super Cube II, Sunfire True Sub, B&W ASW 700. The Sunfire was the only one with better performance for h/t but I could easily notice that distortion would set in at certain levels. I also owned at Velodyne DD12 which was a nice sub, but again, not great for h/t.

[Deleted]

Feb 7, 2010 18:21:18 GMT -5 ntrain42 said:

Dec 24, 2009 1:14:52 GMT -5 @n8dogg said:

Adding twice the power to a sub that already is running at or close to xmas with it's rated power at a specific tune is not going to gain you 3db's. Ported or sealed.


I'm just trying to make the point there is no "ported is better than sealed" mumbo jumbo. Your room and activities in that room, will determine what the best sub for your needs would end up being.

Name a time when a ported enclosure is the best route to go over a sealed enclosure, PLEASE. And make sure its other than allocated budget allowed. The minute you add a port to an enclosure, you limit the subs ability in reality.

And another thing to point out. People don't realize that the majority of the extended ported volume is due to the enclosure itself, not the port. If you got the room for a larger ported enclosure, your really better off just making a larger sealed enclosure in reality. Ports kill the smooth frequency response and extension.

Easy, a big room. We all understand you think you know EVERYTHING about everything but your only posting "opinion" rather than any type of fact (even though you seem to think it is)

You can go listen to you sealed sub and I'll go listen to my ported ones and we can get on with life.

BTW ported is better ;D

[ntrain42]

Feb 8, 2010 19:24:22 GMT -5 neekos said:

Feb 8, 2010 19:15:31 GMT -5 ntrain42 said:

There have been improvements in drivers, electronics etc, but the base principle design and physics behind a ported box hasnt changed one bit. Regardless, if music is your cup of tea and you want accurate bass, sealed is still the way to go. You want a sub that also has enough output to satisfy your HT needs? Do one or more sealed subs or a LARGE sealed sub and driver combo.

I'm not going to argue the point of gains in ported technology.

I've had sealed subs in the past that were decent for music but lacked for h/t. I've owned, a Def Tech Super Cube II, Sunfire True Sub, B&W ASW 700. The Sunfire was the only one with better performance for h/t but I could easily notice that distortion would set in at certain levels. I also owned at Velodyne DD12 which was a nice sub, but again, not great for h/t.

OK just because its a sealed sub, doesnt mean its still going to be optimal for music. There are ALOT of tiny sealed cubes on the market with big honkin low sensitivity/efficiency drivers overstuffed into a tiny sealed box that need 1000 watts plus just to get the low compliance drivers to move. Just like all consumer products, not all are created equal.

And IMO, most HT setups should be running multiple smaller drivers(or very large drivers in the 15"/18" range to achieve the desired output)in parallel to get the desired output for a given sized room.

[ntrain42]

Feb 8, 2010 19:24:46 GMT -5 @n8dogg said:

Feb 7, 2010 18:21:18 GMT -5 ntrain42 said:

Name a time when a ported enclosure is the best route to go over a sealed enclosure, PLEASE. And make sure its other than allocated budget allowed. The minute you add a port to an enclosure, you limit the subs ability in reality.

And another thing to point out. People don't realize that the majority of the extended ported volume is due to the enclosure itself, not the port. If you got the room for a larger ported enclosure, your really better off just making a larger sealed enclosure in reality. Ports kill the smooth frequency response and extension.

Easy, a big room. We all understand you think you know EVERYTHING about everything but your only posting "opinion" rather than any type of fact (even though you seem to think it is)

You can go listen to you sealed sub and I'll go listen to my ported ones and we can get on with life.

BTW ported is better ;D

I got a big HT room, guess what Im running? 4 15" sealed drivers each in a 4 foot sealed boundary loaded enclosure. Many "ported" subs don't have the internal volume my sealed units do. I garentee they will keep up with those 2 (I assume ported) 18"s...........

[Deleted]

Just out of curiosity, what did you not like about the ED A5S-300's ?

[ntrain42]

Feb 8, 2010 19:31:28 GMT -5 neekos said:

Just out of curiosity, what did you not like about the ED A5S-300's ?

Bit boomy.......hard to tune to my bedroom HT setup. I had to set the xover to the lowest point and drop the 40hz eq point on my processor just to get it relatively smooth for in room response. Hated the lack of controls on the plate amp. Only a 12db variable xover and variable phase, thats about it.

THe Rythmiks on the other hand have a 9 way subsonic filter, 3 way single band PEQ(+3/-12 gain structure), 12/24 db variable xover slope, rumble filter, limiter etc........the Rythmik uses the nicest plate amp I have ever seen on a sub under $3k.

[Deleted]

Feb 8, 2010 19:30:58 GMT -5 ntrain42 said:

Feb 8, 2010 19:24:46 GMT -5 @n8dogg said:

Easy, a big room. We all understand you think you know EVERYTHING about everything but your only posting "opinion" rather than any type of fact (even though you seem to think it is)

You can go listen to you sealed sub and I'll go listen to my ported ones and we can get on with life.

BTW ported is better ;D

I got a big HT room, guess what Im running? 4 15" sealed drivers each in a 4 foot sealed boundary loaded enclosure. Many "ported" subs don't have the internal volume my sealed units do. I garentee they will keep up with those 2 (I assume ported) 18"s...........

You probably could but it would take you double the drivers to do it

[ntrain42]

Feb 8, 2010 19:57:24 GMT -5 @n8dogg said:

Feb 8, 2010 19:30:58 GMT -5 ntrain42 said:

I got a big HT room, guess what Im running? 4 15" sealed drivers each in a 4 foot sealed boundary loaded enclosure. Many "ported" subs don't have the internal volume my sealed units do. I garentee they will keep up with those 2 (I assume ported) 18"s your running...........

You probably could but it would take you double the drivers to do it

Double the drivers is a good thing in my book. Output and Fs extension is all about SD and xmax. ;D

[Deleted]

I agree with the multiple drivers, ain't nothing look cooler than a bunch of subs peeking out at you.
What drivers and amps are you using in your HT?

[flamingeye]

OK first I`m no expert and do not even clam to no that much , but I guarantee you that if you give me the best sealed sub and ported sub I can make them both sound like crap in my room or sound excellent I think it has more to do with how you implement the sub and how your room is etc... built quality and specs are one thing but even a perfectly built sub if placed wrong ,over driven ,Eq`d wrong or put in a poorly designed room will not sound good sealed or ported and if you do not think a ported sub can sound as good as a sealed one then you must be ether ignorant or closed minded ,.it`s not that hard to make a ported sub sound better then a sealed sub and vis a versa , to clam that a sealed sub will always sound better then a ported sub in any room no matter what is to me just an opinion and not a fact I`m suer I could find someone that would say the same about ported subs with just as many specs and facts , but it would still be just his opinion. No one typ of sub is better then the other just like there’s no one typ of amp that`s better then another amp there just different it`s how you use them and what sources etc.. you use with them that makes the difference , but of cores this is just my opinion too