port or no port? im confused...

[Mitch Lamb]

hello, im building a box the exact same dementions/specifcations as the box sold by soundstream with their stealth sub installed. Ive got a plastic port tube from an old sub box. Should i put this in, or leave the box completely sealed?

yes i know the box wont be optimum for this sub which is an audioline 12inch 500 watt (very crappy i know). i cant find any enclosure recconendations or any info for that matter on the audioline (probably because of the 'no name' brand).

i just want to know whether i should put the port from the subs original box in the replica of the soundstream box. this is just a quick materials project for a tafe certificate.

thanks

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[Bumpin' Goalie 10+ year member]

If you want to port, determine that you have the proper space and proper port tube for the space. Diameter and length are crucial variables.

 

[Mitch Lamb]

so u think maybe i should leave it completely sealed to start off with?, i thought without some kind of hole the sub wouldnt be able to move beause of a vaccum?:S i thought without some sort of hole in the box there would be no sound?

please help im very confused

 

[Cruzer 10+ year member]

sealed boxes are made for subs just as much as ported boxes are. ported boxes are just to get more output from the sub. if u build a sealed box, it will work and sound great.

your worried air cant escape so u wont get sound? air isnt supposed to escape with sealed boxes.

 

[Mitch Lamb]

sweet so i should just make sure everything is sealed, drop the sub in and itll sound pretty good?

i just couldnt fathom how it would work without a hole somehwere in the box? it seems that sealing it completely defeats the purpose of the box.

man i sound stupid...

 

[audioholic 5,000+ posts]

sweet so i should just make sure everything is sealed, drop the sub in and itll sound pretty good?i just couldnt fathom how it would work without a hole somehwere in the box? it seems that sealing it completely defeats the purpose of the box.

man i sound stupid...

A speaker creates sound waves not just off the front of the cone, but the back of the cone as well. Under most circumstances, the front and rear sound waves must be kept isolated from one another to avoid cancellation. A sealed box keeps the rear waves sealed inside the box, no interference. A ported box of the correct dimensions will allow the rear waves to escape the box, but at just the right time so as to not cancel the front waves, but reinforce them instead.

The amount of airspace inside the box will be the main determining factor in whether or not you should port it. At least one other person has already said that in this thread, but you still haven't mentioned enclosure size.