to port or not to port..., sub enclosures Options

[danny_t82]

hi peeps,

if you've been reading my posts u might be aware that i'm about to start constructing my boot install, question is should I port my sub box or not? I have a 12" 300w rms infinity reference sub (4ohms) run off a bridged JBL lc-a752 2 channel amp (150w). The sub box is gonna be smaller than the ported one i use at the mo coz i wanna squeeze its new mdf home in the corner behind the wheel arch on the side of the spare wheel with the most room. The sub will be facing upwards and this is the face I intend to set the port too if you guys think i should stick with it.

Lend me your wisdom!.....

[shid]

Are you going for SQ or SPL? Porting is mostly for SPL. Makes it louder, but not better

(right?)

[Digndoug]

DO NOT PORT! Porting a sub always makes it sound worse, unless u like loud crapy noise. some subs are made for ports, and some are not, if u already have a sub look up what it requires or sounds better in.

[danny_t82]

thought you might say that, when i bought it off a mate it came in a ported box so built mine that way, wanna get it spot on this time tho so no port it is! The crisper the sound the better! where do u suggest i look up the best volume/options etc?

cheers!

[Coomer]

You guys haven't heard a properly tuned ported box with a good sub.

With the right design and tuning frequency, you can attain very good sound quality while having 3db more volume than having the sub in a sealed box. The common misconception is that porting leads to poor sound quality...that's usually in a improperly designed box or one that's tuned to too high of a frequency.

Danny,
because you're looking to save space, I'd probably suggest a sealed box. I haven't played with WinISD or even looked at that sub's parameters and specifications, but I'm guessing that a vented box for it would require substantially more space. If you go sealed, you could make a fiberglass sub enclosure fairly easily to save even more space as well. Making a fiberglass enclosure that's ported is very, very hard.

[Scarrell]

hmmmm, so you want to port a SQ driver? most Infinity setups you see are never ported because Infinity is more of a SQ brand. if you are going to port your box then do not just cut a piece of PVC pipe(or whatever you may use) and stick it in there.... if his box came like that then it was probably some prefab crap.. i myself have a "ported" box (well its vented )... and its 4.3cf tuned to 28hz... buuuuut... porting a box if done wrong will sound like ass and very possibly damage your sub... it looks like to me you want some nice accurate response.. "the crisper the sound the better"... if this is the case then your best bet is to go sealed... sealed boxes are generally your best type of box for all around music.. venting or porting a box is usually to squeeze that last bit if bass out of a subwoofer, but isnt always your best bet.... with an Infinity setup id get sealed... plus porting you can lose precious SQ...i hope that helps!

[danny_t82]

thanks guys!

seems to me that i'd do better without the port so i'll contstruct the box sealed, won't be hard to add the port if it doesn't work out i guess. I started work on the box today, hopefully finish tomorrow. That just leaves the cd changer box and the false floor. Soon as its done i'll get pics up here i promise!!

Cheers!!

PS operation neon lights went up in flames (literally!!)

[Scarrell]

hey i hope we helped you, let us know how it sounds!! and dont let anything catch on fire!

[Digndoug]

You guys haven't heard a properly tuned ported box with a good sub.

With the right design and tuning frequency, you can attain very good sound quality while having 3db more volume than having the sub in a sealed box. The common misconception is that porting leads to poor sound quality...that's usually in a improperly designed box or one that's tuned to too high of a frequency.

Danny,
because you're looking to save space, I'd probably suggest a sealed box. I haven't played with WinISD or even looked at that sub's parameters and specifications, but I'm guessing that a vented box for it would require substantially more space. If you go sealed, you could make a fiberglass sub enclosure fairly easily to save even more space as well. Making a fiberglass enclosure that's ported is very, very hard.
[right][snapback]236584[/snapback][/right]

I Have heard one and mad a moc set-up of a replic from a bose sub box (that i had a bose rep get me a copy just to see the demensions and deisgn and stuff) It sounded great, but was also to big and when i cut it down, it didnt sound as nice. Also from going what he said and is looking for , I kinda got the idear that he wasnt going to put that effort into it and just drill a hole, so it wouldnt be sounding as good.

[danny_t82]

digndoug,

i bought the sub through a mate and such I have no references as to what kind of box the sub is built for i.e cubic volume and whether it should be ported. I have a plastic tube port about 2.5" in diameter that came with its original box (not infinity) so if i was going to port it i would use that and not just drill a hole!! Do you know any sites i can look up the ideal box for my sub??

Dan

[Scarrell]

Bose sucks... all the way around..... anyway, that box you have Danny is just a thrown together ported box.... it isnt even properly tuned... you do not want to use that same port because its just cut like that to fit... anyway here:

sealed box volume: 1.25 cu. ft.
ported box volume: 2.00 cu. ft.


if you want to save room then go with sealed.. plus with that sub you wont get much SPL from a ported box anyway... you will also lose alot of SQ.. i really think a sealed box is your best bet... but thats just me.. its up to you in the end...

[Makaveddie]

1) There are subs designed for ported applications that sound just as good (and louder) ported than they do sealed. Some would even claim that it sounds better ported. Porting is an art, and requires technical spec calculations in order to be properly done. Check your sub's response to sealed and ported enclosures.

2) SQ will depend on your tuning. You will NOT always lose SQ.

3) Generally speaking, your ported setup will be as loud as DOUBLING the wattage going to your setup (given it is done correctly both ways), or an estimated increase of 2-3 dB. This is why most competitors port. A ported box takes up a LOT more space though.

4) GUYS STOP CLAIMING THAT PORTING WILL MAKE YOU LOSE SQ. This is an ignorant statement.

If you have to ask, just seal them. Chances are you won't care about the difference.

Much love,

Ed.

[Digndoug]

Bose sucks... all the way around..... anyway, that box you have Danny is just a thrown together ported box.... it isnt even properly tuned... you do not want to use that same port because its just cut like that to fit...  anyway here:

sealed box volume: 1.25 cu. ft.
ported box volume: 2.00 cu. ft.


if you want to save room then go with sealed.. plus with that sub you wont get much SPL from a ported box anyway... you will also lose alot of SQ.. i really think a sealed box is your best bet... but thats just me.. its up to you in the end...
[right][snapback]237300[/snapback][/right]

now u just sound ignorant. I have 1986 bose speakers in my room that sound better then most all speakers in a decent price range. Its also the fact the use box design incorporating a quality sound. They are over priced, but they surly do not suck.

[Scarrell]

oh im sorry... i guess you didnt read where i had been telling him that if he doesnt tune it righ then he will lose all his SQ... sorry you read over that...and actually Bose home audio stuff is sort of a standing joke in the home audio community.
nobody really takes Bose seriously. They got a big name from one pair of speakers (the 901 series) for their accuracy for classical music back in the 1980s.
Of course, they were $1,500 each at the time, and consisted of something like 28 3" speakers in a tuned enclosure. They badly needed a sub for any sofrt of low end extension, and needed a good amplifier to sound half way decent even at that.

Really for the money there is much better stuff out there than Bose.. even at home. sorry but id rather take a nice pair of Martin Logans... or something nice from Krell.