Audio and Electronics Discuss in-car entertainment systems, audio and video systems, car alarms and other electronics topics.

Ported or Sealed Subwoofer Enclosure?

Old 06-04-2011, 05:05 PM
  #1  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (12)
 
MIK3's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: California
Posts: 1,106
Ported or Sealed Subwoofer Enclosure?

I'm rounding off my system with an Infinity 10" 1062w. Not exactly sure on the benefits of certain types of enclosures. Anyone have any input? This is all I've pretty much found.

1. Sealed = tighter bass vs. Ported = deeper bass
2. Sealed = more amplification needed (don't know how true this claim is)

This specific sub is more geared toward the SQ crowd, which is why I bought it. I'm looking for a clean bass supplement. Something that can even tighten up the bass associated with Dubstep. With that, would a sealed enclosure make it too tight?
MIK3 is offline  
Old 06-04-2011, 05:39 PM
  #2  
Senior Member
iTrader: (1)
 
BossMaxima's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: atlanta, ga
Posts: 318
I have heard the same analogy concerning ported vs. sealed. I have always had a ported box but I did try a sealed box in my Explorer behind the third row.. The music that sounded better was usually rock or something that isnt very bass intensive. For dubstep I would suggest a ported box because those notes alternate between really high and really low but they dont move too "fast".
BossMaxima is offline  
Old 06-04-2011, 05:58 PM
  #3  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (12)
 
MIK3's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: California
Posts: 1,106
Yeah, just got off the phone with a sonixelectronix.com rep. He listens to the same genre and has listened to both types of boxes. He has the same sub as well and recommended ported. Thanks for the input!

The required box volume for this specific sub is 1.75'. Having a hard time finding something that meets that. Anyone have any recommendations?
MIK3 is offline  
Old 06-04-2011, 07:43 PM
  #4  
Senior Member
iTrader: (7)
 
AscendantMax's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Houston
Posts: 12,619
you'll get a lot more ouput with a ported box, at the expense of losing some quality. A good subwoofer will still sound tight in a ported box.

Sealed will give you the best response. You don't necessarily have to have MORE amplification, but output won't be as much as a ported enclosure. The total space of a sealed box will also be much smaller than its ported counterparts.

I would get the box custom built by someone who knows what they're doing so that your sub can perform optimally.

Here's a nice plan for a 1.75 ft^3 box, ported and tuned to 32Hz:

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images...26sqin2rg.png/
AscendantMax is offline  
Old 06-05-2011, 02:57 PM
  #5  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (12)
 
MIK3's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: California
Posts: 1,106
Thanks for the plans there.

Do you guys know how essential it is to stick to the recommended box volume? Is there any room for volume fluctuation?
MIK3 is offline  
Old 06-06-2011, 05:36 AM
  #6  
§è~® f®ÈÄk
iTrader: (56)
 
nismos14's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: NJ
Posts: 17,511
A variation of ~10-15% is usually acceptable.
nismos14 is offline  
Old 06-08-2011, 08:33 PM
  #7  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (12)
 
MIK3's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: California
Posts: 1,106
Ended up finding a 1.75 cu. ft. vented. Thanks guys.

Also, I was so happy to see the guy in brown show up today. Only to deliver me a DENTED sub woofer. I just want to get this stuff installed - I'm not asking too much, am I?
MIK3 is offline  
Old 06-08-2011, 09:06 PM
  #8  
Senior Member
iTrader: (7)
 
AscendantMax's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Houston
Posts: 12,619
where is it dented?
AscendantMax is offline  
Old 06-12-2011, 11:12 PM
  #9  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (12)
 
MIK3's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: California
Posts: 1,106
Originally Posted by AscendantMax
where is it dented?

The metal surround under the cone woofer itself, on the edge. A good 1 inch dent - would have thrown off it's alignment onto the box. Got my new one already and my amp will arrive tomorrow
MIK3 is offline  
Old 06-24-2011, 10:19 PM
  #10  
Junior Member
 
Maxine02GLE's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Ranson, WV
Posts: 44
I install stereos, etc...and I can tell you it is vitally essential that if you want optimal performance from your subs to have a box custom built to the specifications the manufacturer provides. Also,if youre looking for loud deep bass, youre going to want to step up to a 12" subwoofer. The 10" sub will provide punchy tight bass, but will not produce bass as low as with the 12"...

No matter what you decide to do good luck and post some pics of your install...
Maxine02GLE is offline  
Old 07-20-2011, 09:39 PM
  #11  
Senior Member
iTrader: (4)
 
4DRZ's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Florida
Posts: 336
Just remember that a properly built and tuned ported enclosure will play 3db louder than a properly built sealed enclosure for the same sub. Sealed enclosures are typically less efficient because by nature of the back wave being sealed off from the front wave, the pressures generated inside of the sealed enclosure actually act as a giant spring on the subwoofer, hence the reason for needing more power. Ported enclosures, well simply put, the back wave isnt completely sealed off from the front wave, and thus the sound emits from not only the front of the subwoofer, but also from the port via the back wave, thus giving you a 3db gain. Oh and OP It doesnt matter what the manual says, that Infinity 10" sub will NOT handle anywhere near 1062 watts. Thats a musical peak for a brief, very brief period. I am betting it is more like 250-350wrms

Last edited by 4DRZ; 07-20-2011 at 09:48 PM.
4DRZ is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
James92SE
3rd Generation Maxima (1989-1994)
142
01-02-2024 09:23 AM
mpbclutch33
8th Generation Maxima (2016-)
8
12-26-2015 11:11 AM
JonBlz
5th Generation Classifieds (2000-2003)
2
10-05-2015 06:02 PM
The Wizard
4th Generation Maxima (1995-1999)
24
10-01-2015 08:47 PM
sliptap
7th Generation Maxima (2009-2015)
2
09-30-2015 05:57 AM


Thread Tools
Search this Thread
Quick Reply: Ported or Sealed Subwoofer Enclosure?



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 05:58 AM.