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Ported AND Sealed?

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Old 10-08-2009, 09:07 PM
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Ported AND Sealed?

Is there anyway possible to have a ported box, but plug the ports with foam or something when you want it sealed? Is this even a logical idea? and would it sound good?

Just an idea. thanks.
Old 10-08-2009, 09:26 PM
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Re: Ported AND Sealed?

any particular reason you want to do so??
Old 10-08-2009, 11:03 PM
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Re: Ported AND Sealed?

the best way would be to get a new box because if the subs hit hard enough then they will most likely blow through whatever you do or it will sound like crap and if you do get a non ported box the subs wont sound as good or hit near as hard as they do with a ported box.
Old 10-09-2009, 01:36 AM
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Re: Ported AND Sealed?

Originally Posted by Tyrel2018
the best way would be to get a new box because if the subs hit hard enough then they will most likely blow through whatever you do or it will sound like crap and if you do get a non ported box the subs wont sound as good or hit near as hard as they do with a ported box.

That is simply not true. Sealed boxes 9 times out of 10 have better sound quality than that of a ported enclosure. Sealed boxes perform well on a greater variety of music and can play better at more frequencies whereas a ported enclosure is tuned to a specific frequency and have a very narrow band that it plays at. The reason that ported enclosures are louder are because it allows air and pressure to be forced out of the box and pressurizes more air than that of a sealed box. You can in fact make a box that can be ported or sealed, but in a camaro the best situation to do so is to use aero ports so that you can plug them. It's not as effective as building a box for specifically a ported application or a sealed application, but it can be done and can still sound pretty good. But you're best bet is to just build a box specifically for either and just stick with that unless you are very good at box building and doing all the calculations that would be required for making a dual purpose box.
Old 10-09-2009, 05:42 AM
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Re: Ported AND Sealed?

Well, I'm sure I can make one... As for the sound quality, not sure on that one. Just asking if it was possible. I just thought it might be cool if it was possible.
Old 10-09-2009, 10:19 AM
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Re: Ported AND Sealed?

Originally Posted by MikeSmith0890
Sealed boxes 9 times out of 10 have better sound quality than that of a ported enclosure.
I somewhat agree with that... It is harder to build a properly tuned ported enclosure, but I have heard few ported enclosures done right that played really well... better than a sealed box, imo...

We just got the specs for a Pioneer dual band pass box that looks to be a monster... the low frequencies it plays is lower than either sealed or ported, and the boost above sealed or ported is much louder (in the band pass section) and it's very linear, no dips / valleys, etc... compared to both sealed and ported too.... Can't wait to hear it

Rafael
Old 10-09-2009, 10:55 AM
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Re: Ported AND Sealed?

It depends on taste...but if you are into SQ sealed is the best choice..and if you are into SPL go ported....thats not a general rule though...not all SQ fans have sealed boxes nor every SPL dude out there has ported.

A sealed box with give you tight, more accurate bass..A ported box will give u less accurate bass but it will be boomier...

The best of both worlds is a bandpass box...A sealed enclosure inside a ported enclosure... but those are a b*** to buiild properly from what Ive heard.
Old 10-09-2009, 06:54 PM
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Re: Ported AND Sealed?

Originally Posted by 87 WHITE GTA
It depends on taste...but if you are into SQ sealed is the best choice..and if you are into SPL go ported....thats not a general rule though...not all SQ fans have sealed boxes nor every SPL dude out there has ported.

A sealed box with give you tight, more accurate bass..A ported box will give u less accurate bass but it will be boomier...

The best of both worlds is a bandpass box...A sealed enclosure inside a ported enclosure... but those are a b*** to buiild properly from what Ive heard.
Hm ... I want it punchy, but when I need it, I also want to show all the little ricers and VW's at school that they suck.
Old 10-09-2009, 07:17 PM
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Re: Ported AND Sealed?

Yea it hard to do ported, that big 12 ported box I got for free, just after a guy paid $300 to have it pro built. I tried it as was for a bit.

Then I got sick of its size and sound and so I cut it in half.

I then had 1 sealed box, 1 ported box.

hands down the ported was the best and the box now performed well.



Old 10-09-2009, 07:26 PM
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Re: Ported AND Sealed?

I personally prefer a Transmission Line enclosure (T-Line), but its near impossible to do properly in a Camaro, but sounds great in suvs in small power and single sub applications. But I also love the 6th order bandpass. Sigh, I love all bandpass.. lol Camaros are just very had to design a well built system in. It can be done, but is easiest done with a proper EQ and the ability to use time alignment etc etc.
Old 10-09-2009, 07:46 PM
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Re: Ported AND Sealed?

Well I'm looking at getting 2 P3 Punch Subs from Rockford Fosgate, and giving them a 1500 Watt amp to share... Not sure yet...Kind of on a budget, How MUCH deeper is ported then sealed. and HOW sloppy does it get?
Old 10-09-2009, 09:15 PM
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Re: Ported AND Sealed?

Here is my sealed box set up. Honestly i havent heard a ported in a fbody before but im not gonna lie mine is loud and sounds great. Its very punchy and also is loud enough to shut up most cars on the road. I say most, mainly because I have one friend that has two memphis mojo 15's 4000d amp and so on in a sport-u and its just crazy fricken loud.

Anyway my car meter's in the mid 130's(windows down) and its sealed(mind you I payed 800 for the whole system and did the work myself). It is actually very loud and my dad and his wife tell me they can hear me way before I even pull in the driveway. If im in the garage(with car windows and t-tops on or off it doesnt really matter to the ear) it will shake the pictures on the walls, shake the broom hanging on the other side of the garage, shake the door on the electrical box, and just about anything else that will move. If you step outside of the garage with all windows closed and doors(on garage not car) it sounds like a monstor is about to rip out. The siding all rattles, the garage door is just one crazy loud shaking metal noise. Its quite crazy how loud it is for what little money and low end product I have in it.

...not that crossfire is crap, but I have db3's which are the bottom of the list for crossfire.


Here is a pic of my set-up...


Last edited by mtwlkn122; 10-09-2009 at 09:19 PM.
Old 10-11-2009, 09:33 AM
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Re: Ported AND Sealed?

The box is the key. The box can make good speakers sound bad and bad speakers sound good.

As for which is best...depends on what you want.

I've heard ported 12's sound great and move the hair on the back of your head.

I like sealed...just a personal preference. My two sealed Soundstream 10's hit 135 db with the gains at half

No one design is better than the other, just different. A GOOD sealed box will make you very happy.
Old 10-11-2009, 10:48 AM
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Re: Ported AND Sealed?

Originally Posted by The Project
The box is the key. The box can make good speakers sound bad and bad speakers sound good.

As for which is best...depends on what you want.

I've heard ported 12's sound great and move the hair on the back of your head.

I like sealed...just a personal preference. My two sealed Soundstream 10's hit 135 db with the gains at half

No one design is better than the other, just different. A GOOD sealed box will make you very happy.
I was leaning towards Sealed, now what exactly makes one box bad and one box good? Just airspace and airtight?
Old 10-11-2009, 01:16 PM
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Re: Ported AND Sealed?

Originally Posted by 19Chevrolet84
I was leaning towards Sealed, now what exactly makes one box bad and one box good? Just airspace and airtight?
The physical design of the box. Especially true is going towards a ported box. Naturally the box needs to be airtight and sealed.

Also any box (sealed or ported) needs to have the proper airspace (size) as determined by the sub. Too large or too small a box will affect how the woofer works. The box should match the woofer specs.
Old 10-11-2009, 02:27 PM
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Re: Ported AND Sealed?

Originally Posted by The Project
The box is the key. The box can make good speakers sound bad and bad speakers sound good.

As for which is best...depends on what you want.

I've heard ported 12's sound great and move the hair on the back of your head.

I like sealed...just a personal preference. My two sealed Soundstream 10's hit 135 db with the gains at half

No one design is better than the other, just different. A GOOD sealed box will make you very happy.

I completely agree
Old 10-11-2009, 03:17 PM
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Re: Ported AND Sealed?

Originally Posted by The Project
The box is the key. The box can make good speakers sound bad and bad speakers sound good.
BINGO on that, the 12s or now 12 in that ported box I got is some crazy off brand Urban Audio but it works very well, hits like a ***** with clean sound and has to be 10-15 years old.
Old 10-11-2009, 08:52 PM
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Re: Ported AND Sealed?

Can I throw more watts over RMS to my subs? and will this be better/worse? Thinking of giving 2 12" P3 Punch subs, (500W RMS-1000W MAX) a 1500 watt amp.

Yes/No?
Old 10-12-2009, 12:38 PM
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Re: Ported AND Sealed?

Hmm if i remember correctly they are 500watts rms a piece right?

Do you have the dual 4 or dual 2 ohm coils? This makes a difference in the amp you choose.

Either way giving them combined 1500 watts rms would be fine. Thats 750 a piece. Just tune the amps to the subs well and you wont have a problem. Actually those subs will take the 750 pretty well as long as you are responsible about the gains and settings. I used to have the the dual 2ohm p3's with a 1500 rms amp on them and they SLAMMED.

....They WERE in a sealed box tho. Sealed boxed seem to allow you to over power your speakers a lil bit more and still control it because the air in the box acts as a "bump stop" and restricts the sub from bottoming out. Just be careful not to over heat your coils. Like dont slam them as hard as you can for and hour or something. Not saying you cant enjoy it as a DD im just saying dont expect to over power them and slam them for hours straight and expect the longevity of the subs to last as long.

From my expierance slights overpowering your speakers is alot better then underpowering them.

Like ive posted in the past my subs call for 250 rms at 2ohms but i give them each 500 rms at 2ohms. They actually love the power and really slam. No one has ever said my system sounded like crap. People have said thats loud but mines louder...well ya no **** two Digital Design 15's with a 4000D memphis amp in a blazer should be louder! lol


I may have missed the post...are you going ported or sealed? Have you decided?
Old 10-13-2009, 04:33 PM
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Re: Ported AND Sealed?

No, you didnt miss the post, im still deciding. Just looking for more input. Im like 90% towards sealed. And i didnt pick 2 ohm or 4 ohm P3's yet.
Old 10-13-2009, 06:45 PM
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Re: Ported AND Sealed?

And might be a completely stupid question... but just making sure...is Vas(liters) what amount of airspace you need? I'm trying to look at the RF website. and its not idiot proof. =[
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