what is best sub enclosure for sound qualitity? [Archive]

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90hertz

12-13-2002, 04:05 PM

what is the best subwoofer enclosure for the best sound quality?

sealed? ported? bandpass?

assumingthat the sub is custom fit to it's enclosure.

what would be best?

thanks

12-13-2002, 09:42 PM

sealed is the only way to go, unless you spend the big bucks and go isobarik like the new monitor audio 212 or the $5000 linn

12-15-2002, 01:28 AM

To a very great extent, it depends on what you are trying to accomplish.  I take it from your comments that you plan to build yourself.  Suggest you look into transmission-line enclosures.  Harder to build, but worth the effort.  For a simpler enclosure I agree with the previous advice, in that I'd go with a sealed (acoustic suspension) system over a ported system *in most cases.*  However, if you just want to add some room shake to an HT setup and don't have a big amplifier to drive the sub, a ported box can do the task.  IMHO, bandpass subs aren't really useful for home use, though they might be ok if you only use them over a very narrow bandwidth (which is all they can cover anyway).

Sealed box is the easiest compromise.  Transmission lines are an improvement, but are much harder to construct.

Hope this helps,

Chuck

12-17-2002, 08:02 PM

I'd agree with Chuck that sealed is probably the way to go. One caveat, however:

Because of its "trapped" backwave, a sealed enclosure will flex and vibrate more than a vented enclosure. So make sure the cabinet is very rigid, especially if you're using a powerful subwoofer driver, otherwise you may end up with reliability and/or sonic problems.

jaguars_fan

01-14-2003, 01:27 PM

Transmission Line Speakers (http://members.shaw.ca/t-linespeakers/diy-11-apr-99/linx.html)

Here is a link that will help you decide where the T-Line speaker is concerned.  Sealed is great, but if you can spare a corner, a T-Line is a great way if you plan to build it yourself.