2 ported 12s vs. 2 sealed 15s?

[violator5spd 10+ year member]

I tried searching, but couldn't really find an answer. Basically, I don't really have adequate room for a pair of ported 15's, only sealed. I do however have enough room for a pair of ported 12's. So, I'm wondering, given the same specs & everything other than actual cone size, which setup should be louder?

For an example, two sealed 15" SXs vs. two ported 12" SXs. The 15's would have about 1.5^3ft each, while the 12's could have a little over 2^3ft each. This is because of my **** trunk opening. If I make a box that is 15.5" tall, I can't make it that deep. But if it's only 12.5" tall then I can make it much deeper. Pisses me off. Anyways, I'm not sure what a good amp would be. The BX1500D would have to be run @2ohms, which is only like 1000 watts. I don't know, maybe I'll just get a single XXX 15", then I could run it @1ohm and get the BX1500D. I'm so confused, as always. What do you guys think?

Either way, I want to have something that will be very loud and sound pretty good. I figured if I went with either two 12's or one 15" then I could make a ported box with a port plug.

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[violator5spd 10+ year member]

The two SX12s ported plot louder on BBP6 than the two SX15s sealed ...

Thanks for the info J. I assume then that two SX12s ported would also plot louder than one XXX15?

 

[Diplexers 10+ year member]

It depends on the amp(s). If you power the 12's with a thousand watts or the 15's with the same power the twelves will play louder. However, if you give the 15's a thousand each in a sealed enclosure, they should play louder. There are just too many variables to make an accurate assumption.

 

[Termlab 10+ year member]

i think if the ported box is built right, it should make up for the difference in power and then some.

i also noticed you were from ohio.... which part??

 

[Termlab 10+ year member]

oh, also, i'm a 15 man myself. why don't you go with 1 15 ported??? i think that has some potential too.

 

[violator5spd 10+ year member]

Yea Termlab, I'm leaning towards a single ported 15" as you suggested. I'm in Massillon, Ohio.....the Canton/Akron area if you don't know where Massillon is.

 

[Termlab 10+ year member]

i know where akron is, but i have never heard of massillon ohio. i'm from southeastern ohio (athens, or just outside of)

but back to subject, i've had alot of luck with just single 15's ported. i ran a memphis hpo 15 with 800 rms in an eclipse was doing 144's on the new term lab meters (said to be the hardest on the market). the box was tuned at roughly 40 hz. i got it up to a 146 and some change (tuned for spl) but the eclipse vehicles just plain out **** for spl. atleast on the floorboards (meca).

in a civic hatch we can get up into the 150 + range on a single 15 *again tuned for spl* with a jl 500/1 or cadence z9000. just throwing in my 2 cents to maybe help you make your decision.

not that 12's can't be just as loud/louder, i just think you can use 1 15 for less money, and produce the same results.

 

[denim 5,000+ posts]

the 1 15 ported is a good idea IMO