Porting a box?
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Porting a box? I'm trying to learn as much about audio before i spend money on a set-up otherwise it would be money wasted, so... What are the advantages of it? What are the disadvantages? How do you do it? And isn't there a specific formula for how long you make the tube going into the box? Thanks
A ported box allows more air to move, which means a louder system.
Percieved disadvantages? People are so used to hearing junk subs in generic Best Buy boxes, that the stereotype of ported boxes being inherently "sloppier" than sealed boxes is perpetuated (along with the myth that bigger subs = sloppy subs). A ported box can sound just as crisp and clean as a sealed box, but offer much more output.
Actual disadvantages...ported boxes typically require a good bit more space than a sealed box for the same driver. It requires you to have, and know how to use, a program like WinISD, and utilize a program like AutoCAD or SolidWorks to design a box with the volume and port dimensions as determined by WinISD. Since the box will be larger, you introduce more weight - and especially as far in the *** end as most boxes are for f-bodies, you lose handling ability and add weight.
You also have different types of ported boxes. You have your basic ported, which is a box with a hole in it (very basic description). You then have a 4th order bandpass (again, people are used to hearing **** subs in **** Best Buy bandpass boxes, so they can be regarded as even worse-sounding than standard ported boxes), 6th order bandpass, ABC box, and snailshell enclosures. If you're building the box yourself, and it's your first go at designing and building a box, stick with a normal ported one. 6th order can get tricky, and an ABC box can be rather hard to get right. I wouldn't even want to tackle a snailshell box, and I've designed a lot of systems.
Percieved disadvantages? People are so used to hearing junk subs in generic Best Buy boxes, that the stereotype of ported boxes being inherently "sloppier" than sealed boxes is perpetuated (along with the myth that bigger subs = sloppy subs). A ported box can sound just as crisp and clean as a sealed box, but offer much more output.
Actual disadvantages...ported boxes typically require a good bit more space than a sealed box for the same driver. It requires you to have, and know how to use, a program like WinISD, and utilize a program like AutoCAD or SolidWorks to design a box with the volume and port dimensions as determined by WinISD. Since the box will be larger, you introduce more weight - and especially as far in the *** end as most boxes are for f-bodies, you lose handling ability and add weight.
You also have different types of ported boxes. You have your basic ported, which is a box with a hole in it (very basic description). You then have a 4th order bandpass (again, people are used to hearing **** subs in **** Best Buy bandpass boxes, so they can be regarded as even worse-sounding than standard ported boxes), 6th order bandpass, ABC box, and snailshell enclosures. If you're building the box yourself, and it's your first go at designing and building a box, stick with a normal ported one. 6th order can get tricky, and an ABC box can be rather hard to get right. I wouldn't even want to tackle a snailshell box, and I've designed a lot of systems.
Originally Posted by Mike @ FbodyAudio
wow element, that's the first time I've seen someone talk about ported boxes on a non-car audio website that actually knows what they are talking about. 
I was around until the stuff with eD went down, with the owner and company being called out about the issues they had known about and didn't fix (VC detachment), and it seemed like all the major audio forums turned into flame battles with one camp calling the other names. That seemed especially prevalent on CAF, which is the main reason I got out of audio :\
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Originally Posted by Mike @ FbodyAudio
wow element, that's the first time I've seen someone talk about ported boxes on a non-car audio website that actually knows what they are talking about.
Element, what "went down" over at eD? I bought (and still run) a 12K.44 (flat cone) woofer, and the VC detached from the cone. I sent it back and got another woofer with a thin metal plate lining the back of the cone. I've been whaling on it with 500W rms for a few years and no problems. Are the problems your talking about with the new silver coned subs, or with the nomex flat cone units? I know ppl were talking lots of **** on the forums because during the beginning days they would take people's money, then order a bunch of components a month later, build the woofers and ship them out, everyone getting their subs a few months after ordering. The were probably doing that because they didn't have the capital at the time to have subs in stock. oh well- people were getting pretty immature and stupid about it. I waited 3 months for my woofer and was thoroughly impressed with it (besides the VC thing) hell, I think I only paid $120 for it.
Oh, to the original poster.. Here is a great resource to help you build an enclosure:
http://www.the12volt.com/caraudio/boxcalcs.asp#por
Last edited by Snootch; Jan 14, 2007 at 11:04 PM.
Originally Posted by Snootch
No ****... I always tell people that for a ported box to sound right it must be a custom built enclosure tuned correctly. Honestly with the massive cabin gain from the f-body hatch, I just go with a sealed box. It's a simpler job to build the box just by going sealed. JUST SAY NO TO PREFAB PORTED BOXES!
Element, what "went down" over at eD? I bought (and still run) a 12K.44 (flat cone) woofer, and the VC detached from the cone. I sent it back and got another woofer with a thin metal plate lining the back of the cone. I've been whaling on it with 500W rms for a few years and no problems. Are the problems your talking about with the new silver coned subs, or with the nomex flat cone units? I know ppl were talking lots of **** on the forums because during the beginning days they would take people's money, then order a bunch of components a month later, build the woofers and ship them out, everyone getting their subs a few months after ordering. The were probably doing that because they didn't have the capital at the time to have subs in stock. oh well- people were getting pretty immature and stupid about it. I waited 3 months for my woofer and was thoroughly impressed with it (besides the VC thing) hell, I think I only paid $120 for it.
Oh, to the original poster.. Here is a great resource to help you build an enclosure:
http://www.the12volt.com/caraudio/boxcalcs.asp#por
Element, what "went down" over at eD? I bought (and still run) a 12K.44 (flat cone) woofer, and the VC detached from the cone. I sent it back and got another woofer with a thin metal plate lining the back of the cone. I've been whaling on it with 500W rms for a few years and no problems. Are the problems your talking about with the new silver coned subs, or with the nomex flat cone units? I know ppl were talking lots of **** on the forums because during the beginning days they would take people's money, then order a bunch of components a month later, build the woofers and ship them out, everyone getting their subs a few months after ordering. The were probably doing that because they didn't have the capital at the time to have subs in stock. oh well- people were getting pretty immature and stupid about it. I waited 3 months for my woofer and was thoroughly impressed with it (besides the VC thing) hell, I think I only paid $120 for it.
Oh, to the original poster.. Here is a great resource to help you build an enclosure:
http://www.the12volt.com/caraudio/boxcalcs.asp#por
It came out after the problems with the Nomex-cone drivers started showing up that eD did know about the problem - in fact, had somewhat expected it - but refused to redesign the sub in order to fix the problem, and kept selling the subs until their new design came out, which supposedly fixed the problem. I got off all the forums right when the AO series (think that was it) came out, which was supposed to be the "revised" old design, to keep the VC from seperating. Think it wound up being that only one or two sizes (for some reason, the 15" comes to mind as the only "fixed" one that was actually fixed) stopped having VC seperation. There were also some conversations posted on one of the forums (forget which) about some very, very shady stuff the owner of eD did. It's been so long, and I didn't really pay attention to it in the first place, that I forget exactly what happened. There was, also like you mentioned, the whole "Wait and build". That's fine - as far as I know, that's how Adire runs things - but I don't believe they were very forthcoming as to why it was happening, and a lot of people got really pissed. I can understand why...when I order things and the company I order from refuses to say anything, it doesn't make me happy.
I have figured out that RE still sucks absolute *** when it comes to trying to get an email response from them
I must have sent 3 emails asking for a price on 2 15" MX or SX subs, and no answer at all. 
