sealed vs. vented

[jjeckelxz5]

i'm looking at purchasing a new sub and was looking at elemental designs and the ported subs are much more expensive so what are the benefits of a vented subwoofer over a sealed subwoofer?

 

[gmichael]

If the drivers and amps are the same, then a ported sub will usually give you more output (volume) while a sealed one would be more accurate.
The amp and driver will play a larger part than the box though.
A vented box is more complicated to build.

 

[rnatalli]

Something else to consider is that room correction software that corrects the LFE channel like Audyssey MultEQ, have a harder time with ported designs as they'll often boost the frequencies below the port's tuning frequency. A sealed design presents less of a problem.

 

[lsiberian]

i'm looking at purchasing a new sub and was looking at elemental designs and the ported subs are much more expensive so what are the benefits of a vented subwoofer over a sealed subwoofer?

It takes more effort to build a ported sub than a sealed. Designing them is also more work, but that's not too significant a difference.

Something else to consider is that room correction software that corrects the LFE channel like Audyssey MultEQ, have a harder time with ported designs as they'll often boost the frequencies below the port's tuning frequency. A sealed design presents less of a problem.

I believe Audyssey stops filtering around 50hz though. So I'd be surprised to see a sub get corrected below tuning. Certainly an ED sub will be a fairly low tune given the quality of the drivers.

 

[jjeckelxz5]

Thanks for the input guys. From what i'm hearing it seems more logical to save money and go with the sealed sub, also i would prefer a more accurate sub then a louder sub.

 

[lsiberian]

Thanks for the input guys. From what i'm hearing it seems more logical to save money and go with the sealed sub, also i would prefer a more accurate sub then a louder sub.

Well a vented sub will have more extension and more headroom. But a sub with the quality of the ED driver will still deliver impressive output in a moderate room in a sealed enclosure. SVS subs are another option to consider.

 

[jostenmeat]

I believe Audyssey stops filtering around 50hz though. So I'd be surprised to see a sub get corrected below tuning. Certainly an ED sub will be a fairly low tune given the quality of the drivers.

You believe wrong. MultEQ XT corrects down to 10hz, as said by the CTO of Audyssey, and has been measured by people trying multiple EQ methods. (The bass specific products also offer a multiplication of the FIR resolution, as well as a multiplication of the measurement points. The SVS used to have 256x resolution, but firmware has allowed it to match the SubEQ at 512x resolution.) Actually, looking at the ASEQ1 thread right now, an expert says it actually goes under 10hz. (I am following the discussion on this product.)

Maybe you are instead confusing Audyssey with MCAAC, which does cut off correction above 60hz, and does nothing at all for the LFE channel, last I read.

Well a vented sub will have more extension and more headroom.

Did you read the below/aforementioned? . . . Ported designs roll-off drastically below the port tuning. A vented sub can only have more extension if the port tuning is very low, and/or that you are comparing some very capable ported sub to an inferior sealed sub. Regarding what I stated above, if Audyssey was boosting frequencies below the port tuning, and that your belief that 50hz was the cutoff for Audyssey was actually true . . . wouldn't the below seem strange in that you are inferring the subs that rnatalli is referring to have port tunings above 50hz?

Something else to consider is that room correction software that corrects the LFE channel like Audyssey MultEQ, have a harder time with ported designs as they'll often boost the frequencies below the port's tuning frequency. A sealed design presents less of a problem.

 

[GlocksRock]

Ported subs can be accurate too, don't think sealed subs are the only subs that can sound good.

 

[rnatalli]

Thanks for the input guys. From what i'm hearing it seems more logical to save money and go with the sealed sub, also i would prefer a more accurate sub then a louder sub.

Sealed subs generally cost more as they require more amp power than a ported design to reach the same output level.

To GlocksRock's point, ported designs can be just as accurate. HSU has some excellent designs and are very musical. Don't get too hung up on sealed vs ported as overall design is what counts.

 

[lsiberian]

You believe wrong. MultEQ XT corrects down to 10hz, as said by the CTO of Audyssey, and has been measured by people trying multiple EQ methods.

I was unaware of how deep, but I find it hard to believe it would go to 10hz.

As far as a ported vs sealed sub. A properly designed ported sub will almost always best a sealed sub in useful SPL and Extension.

A 20hz tuned subwoofer doesn't even get passed until around 15hz by the sealed design, and the most important bass in a movie is above 15hz.

To the OP I'd go ported if you can afford it. If not the sealed sub will still be excellent. ED makes very good subs

 

[lsiberian]

Ported subs can be accurate too, don't think sealed subs are the only subs that can sound good.

absolutely correct. A well built ported sub is something to behold. The only thing better than a well built ported sub is a horn.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

You guys sure that ED makes good subs? I have heard the opposite.

.

To the OP I'd go ported if you can afford it. If not the sealed sub will still be excellent. ED makes very good subs

 

[GlocksRock]

You guys sure that ED makes good subs? I have heard the opposite.

Not sure about their home audio stuff, but their car audio stuff is pretty good... their older Ov2 line is comparable to the JL W6 line, and I put a pair of 12" Kv2 subs in my girlfriends car and it sounds great. I also run a pair of eD amps in my car and they are badass. I would be willing to bet that their home audio subs are pretty good for the money, but their finishes leave something to be desired.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

I just remember Mike C. getting one.

This is what he said about it:

bad quality driver for one.

customer service that passed the buck.

basically emotiva x 1000.

Not sure about their home audio stuff, but their car audio stuff is pretty good... their older Ov2 line is comparable to the JL W6 line, and I put a pair of 12" Kv2 subs in my girlfriends car and it sounds great. I also run a pair of eD amps in my car and they are badass. I would be willing to bet that their home audio subs are pretty good for the money, but their finishes leave something to be desired.

 

[lsiberian]

I just remember Mike C. getting one.

This is what he said about it:

bad quality driver for one.

customer service that passed the buck.

basically emotiva x 1000.

That's surprising. I'd always heard good things about them. I know their drivers are used by some folks in DIY audio. I don't think it's SVS or JL Audio quality, but their not terrible.

 

[MidnightSensi]

I remember JL Audio got upset because of eD using design 'elements' (sorry, couldn't help it) from the W series that were patented. eD had to remove some of these things in order to release their subwoofer. Then there were high failure rates.

Take the above with a grain of salt, I'm not exactly sure how it went down.

 

[GlocksRock]

I remember JL Audio got upset because of eD using design 'elements' (sorry, couldn't help it) from the W series that were patented. eD had to remove some of these things in order to release their subwoofer. Then there were high failure rates.

Take the above with a grain of salt, I'm not exactly sure how it went down.

I think you are refering to eD using patents from the W7 line in their 13Av2 drivers. I guess you get what you pay for... eD stuff isn't bad, but there is better stuff out there.

 

[billy p]

Fwiw....

Another way to make a sealed unit more efficient is by using passive radiators. They allows you to lower the tuning which should help the overall output and extension without going to a huge box. In the end, it's your decision...I chose a port designed simply for the "wow" factor, but its pretty freaking good musically too.

 

[rnatalli]

You guys sure that ED makes good subs? I have heard the opposite.

http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=65155

The HSU STF-2 was for a long time my favorite sub at the $350 mark, but in my review above, I preferred the eD. I believe AH reviewed an eD sub or two and found them quite capable.

 

[jostenmeat]

I was unaware of how deep, but I find it hard to believe it would go to 10hz.

LOL. So because you find that fact hard to believe, you instead choose to believe that 50hz would be a cutoff point for a high-end $1,350 Audyssey MultEQ XT powered SubEQ system? 50hz?

A 20hz tuned subwoofer doesn't even get passed until around 15hz by the sealed design, and the most important bass in a movie is above 15hz.

So, tell me, how does this point further your assertion that a ported subwoofer indeed has superior extension to a sealed subwoofer?

If the sealed sub can take it, you can boost the low end, anyhow.