Thinking about going from sealed to ported sub to gain about 5db

[purbeast0]

not to totally hijack the thread, but it's kind of on topic, but what exactly is the difference between a ported and sealed sub? is one recommended over the other for certain focuses?

ie., one recommended over the other in general for a movie experience? or is it just totally dependent on other factors, and if so, what are those other factors?

[sdifox]

Originally Posted by purbeast0

not to totally hijack the thread, but it's kind of on topic, but what exactly is the difference between a ported and sealed sub? is one recommended over the other for certain focuses?

ie., one recommended over the other in general for a movie experience? or is it just totally dependent on other factors, and if so, what are those other factors?

http://www.hifisoundconnection.com/S...ubwoofer_Boxes

generally speaking, sealed is more accurate while ported is louder.

[purbeast0]

Originally Posted by sdifox

http://www.hifisoundconnection.com/S...ubwoofer_Boxes

generally speaking, sealed is more accurate while ported is louder.

ok so if i'm looking at subs that are in the $2k - $3k range, power probably isn't much of an issue so i would think that both a ported and sealed would be loud as shit - is that true?

i found that link as a first search result in google, but i don't know, i was looking for a little more general terminology lol. but i did get out that the sealed is a more cleaner sound, which is what i like in my stuff. but i also like to feel it!

[sdifox]

Originally Posted by purbeast0

ok so if i'm looking at subs that are in the $2k - $3k range, power probably isn't much of an issue so i would think that both a ported and sealed would be loud as shit - is that true?

i found that link as a first search result in google, but i don't know, i was looking for a little more general terminology lol. but i did get out that the sealed is a more cleaner sound, which is what i like in my stuff. but i also like to feel it!

That is why I said build an IB sub. Infinite Baffle basically means your sealed enclosure is mathematically infinite in size

Think room size subwoofer enclosure

http://ibsubwoofers.proboards.com/index.cgi

part of the fun is learning how to do it and actually doing it.

Once I get around to putting my ht back together, I will probably have an IB. I moved in Jan, everything is still in boxes

[Vdubchaos]

Ported > Sealed IMO

Sealed boxes have tight bass and just sound weak with the higher frequencies IMO (50-100hz). If you like to feel it, go ported.

[purbeast0]

Originally Posted by Vdubchaos

Ported > Sealed IMO

Sealed boxes have tight bass and just sound weak with the higher frequencies IMO (50-100hz). If you like to feel it, go ported.

yea it just sucks that 2 of the higher rated subs aren't really B&M so it's not like i can just go into the stores and test them.

i mean i love feeling the bass, but i also love when the bass is clean and smooth, and can stop on a dime. i guess i want the best of both worlds hah.

but i'm wondering if i am going higher end, i'm sure they would both sound great.

[Vdubchaos]

Originally Posted by purbeast0

yea it just sucks that 2 of the higher rated subs aren't really B&M so it's not like i can just go into the stores and test them.

i mean i love feeling the bass, but i also love when the bass is clean and smooth, and can stop on a dime. i guess i want the best of both worlds hah.

but i'm wondering if i am going higher end, i'm sure they would both sound great.

We are also talking Car Audio here, I think you are referring to Home Audio.

Anyways, before you blow you money (and I know the amount you want to spend) I highly suggest you listen to it FIRST.

I know there is lot of companies out there that are online only and are considered "the best"....but frankly whenever we get into thousands no amount of "expert" advice will do the job my eyes/ears have to do to spend that kind of money.

And good luck finding anything local...also room size is a HUGE factor so it will be kind of hard to determine how it will sound at home anyways depending on the size of the demo room.

Sounds like it's a shot in the dark and that's why I would probably never spend more than $500 bucks or so on a sub.

But I'm a simple man with simple standards. Polk PSW505 does everything I can imagine and some for me....$180 bucks

[kornphlake]

[QUOTE=Vdubchaos]First impression. It's a big difference. I can finally hear higher end bass much better than before (before it was just ......flat/almost non existent). Puny would be a better word I guess.

As for the low end bass, it is much deeper and stronger now. Heck it feels/sounds better with the seats up than it did with the sealed box+ the seats down.

I would say the chart I posted in the OP from Kenwood is pretty much on point.[\QUOTE]

Originally Posted by Vdubchaos

Ported > Sealed IMO

Sealed boxes have tight bass and just sound weak with the higher frequencies IMO (50-100hz). If you like to feel it, go ported.

Unless the frequency response graphs are incorrect (which isn't impossible, but somewhat unlikely since both the graph from kenwood and the graph soccerman provided agree) you're not getting better response from 50-100hz. The response has a peak at 50hz, meaning that tones at 50hz will be about 5db louder than tones at 100 hz. It may be better than the response in your old box, but that doesn't mean that a ported box is better, all it means is that your original box wasn't designed very well.

[sdifox]

Originally Posted by Vdubchaos

Ported > Sealed IMO

Sealed boxes have tight bass and just sound weak with the higher frequencies IMO (50-100hz). If you like to feel it, go ported.

Where did you get that idea?

[Vdubchaos]

Originally Posted by sdifox

Where did you get that idea?

Ok I might be off on defining the hz perhaps.

Basically all of the drum beats and Bass guitars etc sound much better (not talking deep bass, which sounds WAY better/deeper).

[sdifox]

Originally Posted by Vdubchaos

Ok I might be off on defining the hz perhaps.

Basically all of the drum beats and Bass guitars etc sound much better (not talking deep bass).

That was because your original box was improperly sized.

[Vdubchaos]

Originally Posted by sdifox

That was because your original box was improperly sized.

Not really improperly, chart does call for .75 Cubic feet for sealed, mine is .8.

I'm curious to what it would sound like in a 2.0 cubic feet Sealed box (or 1.75 as recommended). I'm almost tempted to build one for shits and giggles (I do enjoy doing these things and I already have all the material).

Anyways, right now it does everything better and the difference is pretty sweet.

[Plugers]

Originally Posted by sdifox

That is why I said build an IB sub. Infinite Baffle basically means your sealed enclosure is mathematically infinite in size

Think room size subwoofer enclosure

http://ibsubwoofers.proboards.com/index.cgi

part of the fun is learning how to do it and actually doing it.

Once I get around to putting my ht back together, I will probably have an IB. I moved in Jan, everything is still in boxes

I was going to suggest the same thing. the 18"Fi (IB3?) are good.

I have actually heard the cheap Pyles (PLWB155) people are using IB and was actually surprised, they sounded good (2x 15"s). I know they don't ahve the 30mm of excursion like the Fis, but I'm thinking they have 15mm+

[sdifox]

Originally Posted by Plugers

I was going to suggest the same thing. the 18"Fi (IB3?) are good.

I have actually heard the cheap Pyles (PLWB155) people are using IB and was actually surprised, they sounded good (2x 15"s). I know they don't ahve the 30mm of excursion like the Fis, but I'm thinking they have 15mm+

Cheaper to get better drivers as opposed to more amp power to drive more drivers.

[Plugers]

Originally Posted by sdifox

Cheaper to get better drivers as opposed to more amp power to drive more drivers.

Agreed, my buddy had the 18" Fi driver, and a buddy of his has the 2 Plyes. While I personally would spend the extra for the Fi, I was really surprised with the Pyles.

If someone was on a budget, I would actually recommend them, Maybe make the baffle able to be unbolted in case they ever wanted to upgrade.

The difference being, once you started playing with material below 15 hz, which to be honest is few and far between, the Plyes were excusion limited and would bottom out at louder levels.

But the guy with the Pyles also picked them up for $40 a piece shipped, I think they are a $58 shipped at the moment. I want to say the Fi was around $250, nice driver though.

[kornphlake]

Originally Posted by Vdubchaos

Not really improperly, chart does call for .75 Cubic feet for sealed, mine is .8.

I'm curious to what it would sound like in a 2.0 cubic feet Sealed box (or 1.75 as recommended). I'm almost tempted to build one for shits and giggles (I do enjoy doing these things and I already have all the material).

Anyways, right now it does everything better and the difference is pretty sweet.

The chart from kenwood is misleading, it shows the frequency response for a few small sealed enclosures that are much smaller than the optimal size for the driver. You've got to look at the graphs soccerman provided, the driver response is flatter and louder in a larger sealed enclosure. As long as you're happy with what you've got that's all that matters, typically mobile audio installations are compromised by the amount of available space anyway.