Sealed vs. Ported

[Tsunami982]

building up a system and was wanted to hear peoples' opinions on the old sealed vs ported enclosure argument. i currently have a jl 12w3v2 but might be upgrading to 12w6v2.

i know that sealed produced better SQ and ported pumps out better SPL but wanted to know more about durability (ported allows sub to last longer but by how much???) and peoples' overall recommendations.

if you build boxes and are interested in building one at a reasonable price PM me (for more info on that go to my WTB post at http://forums.anandtech.com/me...8868&enterthread=y .

 

[Dulanic]

Always used sealed, better SQ, will always continue to use sealed.

 

[MikeMike]

Originally posted by: Dulanic
Always used sealed, better SQ, will always continue to use sealed.

thats not always true. it depends on the sub and what it is ment for. some sound like sh!t in sealed and just dont work as well.

i personally will go ported most every sub seeing as how the increase in output is MUCH greater than the loss in SQ. and the w6 will sound good ported.

as for the box, it will cost the person about 30$ to build it. so figure 40-50 actually for your price.

MIKE

 

[EvilYoda]

I can't say I've ever factored durability into the equation as if you're even concerned about a high-end sub driver blowing on you with adequate conditions...something's wrong. Unless you're doing SPL contests every weekend, you shouldn't have to worry about it.

 

[glen]

It changes the shape of the curve.
Sealed is flatter.
Ported is more rounded - it will drop off rappidly below the port frequency.
To say one has better SQ is not arguable.

 

[NL5]

Sealed.

 

[Tsunami982]

Originally posted by: EvilYoda
I can't say I've ever factored durability into the equation as if you're even concerned about a high-end sub driver blowing on you with adequate conditions...something's wrong. Unless you're doing SPL contests every weekend, you shouldn't have to worry about it.

yeah thats what i figured. when i was at the shop one of the sales guys kept on saying that the W6 will last much longer in a ported. i asked him well how long is much longer and he seemed to have no clue, like he read it out of some magazine and had no real world knowledge of it. structurally it seems like ported would technically be much kinder to the sub itself but i just wanted to know if it really mattered THAT much. thanks for answering my question though.

 

[95SS]

I don't know about a sub lasting longer in a vented enclosure, since one could run it below the tuning frequency and destroy it quickly. My sub enclosures will always be vented, tuned as low as I can go and still maintain a reasonable size. If you go vented, run a subsonic filter at or just below your tuning frequency.

 

[Nebor]

Ported and polished. You'll get better flow, and depending on displacement, you could gain up to 25 hp.

 

[Apex]

Originally posted by: Nebor
Ported and polished. You'll get better flow, and depending on displacement, you could gain up to 25 hp.

Haha, awesome.

I'd say (given you're choosing the right driver for each application), ported for HT, sealed for music, as a very very very general rule.

 

[NutBucket]

I like my sealed box.

 

[ThisIsMatt]

ported

 

[Nebor]

Originally posted by: Apex

Originally posted by: Nebor
Ported and polished. You'll get better flow, and depending on displacement, you could gain up to 25 watts.

Haha, awesome.

I'd say (given you're choosing the right driver for each application), ported for HT, sealed for music, as a very very very general rule.

Oh.... crap. Here, let me edit it.

 

sealed, gotta have the tight bass

 

[Tsunami982]

does anyone have any experience with both sealed and ported with JL 12W6V2 or 12W3V2's?