Sealed or ported?

[samuelostrom]

I have a 400WRMS 12 inch sub. Right now it's in a pretty small ported enclosure. I was about to build my own bigger ported enclosure but learned that if I'm a beginner, I shouldn't do that because you have to know what you're doing otherwise you can mess it up. Someone recommended just building a sealed enclosure that is as big as the recommendations for the sub. I like loud bass so does a sealed enclosure make it alot quieter?

Also is 400WRMS enough for a sealed enclosure? I was thinking of making the volume like 70L / 2,5 cubic feet.

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[1aespinoza 10+ year member]

I like loud bass so does a sealed enclosure make it alot quieter?

It does take more power to get it as loud as a ported box at any given volume, but sealed does sound great.

Also is 400WRMS enough for a sealed enclosure? I was thinking of making the volume like 70L / 2,5 cubic feet.

If the sub is a lower power sub, say 750 watts RMS and lower, it will sound good. I currently have 2 12s of ~750w RMS each in a sealed enclosure. Each is in 1.25 cu.ft. with 600w RMS going into each one and they pound hard. They are not high quality subs so I set the low pass frequency as high as the amp has, that way they blend better with the front stage.
Following recommended box volume is very important for good sound. Too big or too small of a box will kill your bass.

 

[SlugButter]

Plug the port on your current box. That will give you a good idea of what the sub sounds like sealed. Put a towel into a trash bag or plastic shopping bag and shove it into the port kinda tight. What sub is this?

 

[samuelostrom]

Plug the port on your current box. That will give you a good idea of what the sub sounds like sealed. Put a towel into a trash bag or plastic shopping bag and shove it into the port kinda tight. What sub is this?

It's called MDS DS300RS. Got it at a second hand place. I can find very little info about it on the web.

 

[6r33n3y3z]

It's called MDS DS300RS. Got it at a second hand place. I can find very little info about it on the web.

This should get you started. https://www.prisjakt.nu/produkt.php?p=158785#statistics
This is general instructions on how to build a ported box. He is designing his box for SPL. You can design your box on

SpeakerBoxLite. Subwoofer box calculator, Sub box calculator

Subwoofer box design online software. Subwoofer box calculator online. The calculation of sealed, bass-reflex, bandpass boxes by Thiele-Small parameters. Easy and convenient build your box.

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to what ever you desire.

 

[spokey9]

I like loud bass so does a sealed enclosure make it alot quieter?

Really depends on the sub...some subs do very well sealed...others not so much...if you want boomy bass I'd definitely go ported with a 400w sub...

 

[metalheadjoe 10+ year member]

The last time I used a sealed box was the first time I heard a ported box.

 

[Jimi77 5,000+ posts]

Really depends on the sub...some subs do very well sealed...others not so much...if you want boomy bass I'd definitely go ported with a 400w sub...

I can't find specs on that sub, so it's pure guess work. Throw it in ~2cuft tuned to 35hz and call it a day.

 

[1aespinoza 10+ year member]

I can't find specs on that sub, so it's pure guess work. Throw it in ~2cuft tuned to 35hz and call it a day.

Greeneyes above posted a website with this information-

 

[Jimi77 5,000+ posts]

Greeneyes above posted a website with this information-
View attachment 51391

I scrolled thru there trying to find TS specs and must have missed them or they weren't displaying. Anyway, looks like 2cuft tuned to ~35hz was a pretty good guess given those specs.