Ported cabs. Yes/No/maybe?

[fdeck]

True, there are other things that make it even more difficult to hear.

E.g. if you electronically adjust the response of a closed cab to mimic that of a ported one(exact same driver) you may get the same frequency response but still it sounds very different. The driver in the closed cab will have a larger cone-excursion in the freq range where normally the port would aid the driver, this will cause added harmonic and intermodulation distortion. The ported cab on the other hand will have lower distortion but worse transient response in the freq range where the port aids the driver. There's no free lunch here, each enclosure type has it's own cons 'n pros.

Definitely a good point. And the electronic adjustment (e.g., some kind of EQ) will add its own group delay, further clouding matters.

Distortion is definitely a difference.

And this raises an interesting issue. If you're using an amp with built-in voicing, such as "scooped mids" typical of many bass amps, then the amp itself is affecting your transient response.

 

[pie_man_25]

To work best in a sealed cabinet, the driver should be designed to work in a sealed cabinet.
In home audio that is usually foam surrounds. Just not a good choice for pro drivers.

I'm afraid I don't see how a foam surround would be more ideal for a sealed cabinet, or useful at all really. Although their tendency to disintegrate over the years has benefitted me financially (two eight inch subwoofers for twenty bucks? why the heck not?), I can't see much use for them. If you'd care to elaborate, I'd be grateful to learn.

 

[Mike Arnopol]

There are durable rubber-type surrounds now that function more like a foam surround but with better durability I OEM a bunch of different drivers and many use what is called a Santoprene surround.Plenty durable. The 18Sound 5 incher (stock driver) I use also uses Santoprene.

 

[Toptube]

To work best in a sealed cabinet, the driver should be designed to work in a sealed cabinet.
In home audio that is usually foam surrounds. Just not a good choice for pro drivers.

ok, but eminence says you can use it both ways, right on the product page. It may not be the best ever, but the S2012 is quite good as long as you understand it's not gonna take a billion watts like a Fearful. and I've seen them basically randomnly added to various cabs, to great delight. They seem to be a pretty flexible driver.

I dropped one into a GK Neo 12-II. Added some padding on the inside, and I am super happy with it. Cab modeling and technical specifics be damned.

 

[seamonkey]

Yep - agreed. Big Tony at Eminence points out that "sometimes you just get lucky".

I just don't think there's going to be a big market for a bass driver specific to a sealed cabinet.

 

[Korladis]

Hi. I was just curious about everyone's opinion on ported cabs, vs. non ported cabs. And could anyone explain what the differences are (sound wise/pro's and cons) to me? Gracias amigo's.

It really, really, depends on the specific model of cab and its design.

One of my favorite cabs is ported. The Sunn 2000S 2x15 cab. Bigass port in the middle. Huge, gnarly sound.

However, my least favorite cab (or, I should say, most hated cab) is also ported. The Ampeg 410HLF. To me it sounds really scooped and has a near uncontrollable bottom end (at least with the head I used). Neither of which I like.

 

[JimmyM]

However, my least favorite cab (or, I should say, most hated cab) is also ported. The Ampeg 410HLF. To me it sounds really scooped and has a near uncontrollable bottom end (at least with the head I used). Neither of which I like.

Old ones sound like that but new ones are better about it. Still way too low for me, but they have more mids and the lows are better controlled.

Just sayin'

 

[Korladis]

Old ones sound like that but new ones are better about it. Still way too low for me, but they have more mids and the lows are better controlled.

Just sayin'

Well, it'd be hard for them to have less.

Still, not really the sound I'm going for.