Difference in Boxes?

Ok, this will sound pretty lame to the majority of you out there but after all i am a newbie. Everyone is always talking about ported,sealed and other tyoes of sub boxes but i don't know what the differences are between them. What is the difference and how does it affect the sound quality (all around sound, not just SQ)?

Thanks for your time if you end up answering, i really appreciate it!

Always remember the only stupid question is the one that goes unasked.  We all had to learn at one time.

Sealed enclosures are the easiest to build.  When you build them smaller, there usually is a peak in the frequency response.  When you make the enclosure larger, you increase the low end and level things off.  Also a larger enclosure increases your efficiency, thereby allowing you to reach full output with less power.

Ported enclosures give you more flexibility.  They generally are larger, so they are much more efficient.  You can actually tune them to your tastes though.  If you tune it high, you get a large peak in response.  If you tune it low, you get really good output throughout the entire bandwidth.

Ported enclosures usually are thought of as more SPL type enclosures, while sealed are more SQ type.  But that isn't always true.  When using the proper speakers and a proper enclosure design, you can get great SQ out of a ported enclosure. 

Another enclosure type is Infinite Baffel, which just uses the entire trunk as an enclosure.  These offer great sound quality with the deepest bass (basically a very large sealed enclosure after all), and a great deal of efficiency.  Although looking simple, they can be very difficult to pull off.

And finally there is bandpass.  These are the most difficult to get right.  I think pre-fab bandpass enclosures designed for any sub to drop in should be illegal.  But from what I hear, a properly built bandpass setup can sound great. 

There are several other exotic types as well.  But I will let somone else take care of them if they want to.

Steven Kephart

Adire Audio

i do believe the other types of boxes are just vaiations of the ones you listed aren't they? i mean isobaric is usually in a sealed enclosure and there is 4th, 6th and 8th order bandpass boxes but are there others that im not thinking of right now?

pimpincavy wrote:

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What about large custom boxes? For example; a car with the back seats removed and a custom enclosure built where the back seats would be. Do these type of enclosures offer the same type of sound as boxes do, or are they more for looks?

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Custom designed enclosures (such as you describe, designed to fit into the area where removed seats once were) are still enclosures and must obey the laws of physics that govern all enclosures.  If you want to learn about the various different types and the basic properties and applications of each, read through Brian Steele's excellent web site for starters.  Enclosure design is the difference between a good system and an excellent system.

Good rule of thumb = the more complex the box the larger the chance it won't sound as good as a simple square/rectangle the correct size