Should I go sealed or ported with a Q?

[Americanstrat21 10+ year member]

I have an 18" Fi Q and I am wondering if I should go sealed or ported.. I know ported will be louder but which will have better SQ?

Thanks!

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[SHOemup233 10+ year member]

Go ported if you have the room for sure. Unless you are a SQ head, ported can have very good SQ also, and be loud. I would say go ported - because if you go sealed you may want to be louder in the long run and then get a ported box anyway. Save money now. Go ported.

 

[2002XLT 5,000+ posts]

ported.

 

[cnguyen80 10+ year member]

i think you should go sealed. i heard the Fi Q are made best for sealed boxes. If you wanted to go ported, might as well bought the Fi BL, since it is made for ported. I just got my Fi Q 15" in a Sealed box at 2.1 cubic ft and hits every high and low key perfectly. Ill post a video of my setup later and post it on this forum.

 

[SHOemup233 10+ year member]

i think you should go sealed. i heard the Fi Q are made best for sealed boxes. If you wanted to go ported, might as well bought the Fi BL, since it is made for ported. I just got my Fi Q 15" in a Sealed box at 2.1 cubic ft and hits every high and low key perfectly. Ill post a video of my setup later and post it on this forum.

You heard wrong. Straight from FI "Working well in both small ported and sealed enclosures."

Ported boxes will hit every high and low perfectly as well if built right - while being louder. Tune to 30 for the 18 and you can hit down to 22-24 with ease - and that is well below what music will ever play to.

 

[Americanstrat21 10+ year member]

Any other opinions?

 

[mapolley07 10+ year member]

buddy has a 12" Q ported to 32hz and it sounds awesome and gets pretty ****ing loud

 

[cnguyen80 10+ year member]

You heard wrong. Straight from FI "Working well in both small ported and sealed enclosures."

Ported boxes will hit every high and low perfectly as well if built right - while being louder. Tune to 30 for the 18 and you can hit down to 22-24 with ease - and that is well below what music will ever play to.

I know what the site says...even though it says best for both ported and sealed, its best played in sealed box from people opinion. Have you even heard the sub played in a sealed or ported? its best played in a sealed.

 

[cnguyen80 10+ year member]

he asked whats the best for SQ, and that is a sealed box for the Fi Q.

 

[2002XLT 5,000+ posts]

where did you guys here that the Q sounds better sealed? Ive always heard, and my experience shows the exact opposite.

 

[Americanstrat21 10+ year member]

..... Im trying to decide who I should trust Lol... Has anyone actually had experience with a Q?

 

[2002XLT 5,000+ posts]

..... Im trying to decide who I should trust Lol... Has anyone actually had experience with a Q?

Yes, and it was ported, tuned to 32 iirc and it got wicked loud on 1200 rms and sounded clean and crisp.

 

[mlstrass 5,000+ posts]

Have a 15" Q in a ported box tuned to 32Hz and it sounds very good playing metal, jazz, blues, etc... But will hit pretty hard also when playing rap.

 

[Americanstrat21 10+ year member]

hmhm... Looks like I am going ported.. where can I get a box recommendation for 37x30x15

37 being the width which I would like to use up fully.. 30 is the backseat to the hatch and 15 is the height..

Thanks!

 

[cnguyen80 10+ year member]

I have a 15" sealed box 2.1 cubic fit, and a alpine pdx 1.1000 pushing it. I keep the knob bass on the amp at the lowest. Thats how loud it can get in a sealed. If you wait till tmw, ill post a video how loud my sub can get in a sealed box. what type of car are you putting it in?