Preference For Sealed Cabs? Why?

[CL400Peavey]

I like 2 15's for my rig. What if i used one sealed and one ported ? would i get the best or worst of both worlds in my sound ?

There are a lot more variables to consider outside one ported and one sealed driver.

 

[LiquidMidnight]

I like both designs and own both designs. However, there is something about a sealed design that I just love. I find the higher roll-off generally sits really well in the mix above the kick drum that just seems to work for a lot of styles of music. The trade-off, of course, is usually a loss of efficiency. That's usually not a big deal with an already powerful amp, but it can be important with a lower-watt amp or a tube amp.

 

[dukeorock]

The "Iron Law" states Low, Light, Loud; pick two. It think it could also be Low, Loud, Clear; pick two with most bass cabs.

 

[dkelley]

Well, gee---than someone should tell that to John Dunlavy who was one of the most respected speaker designers in audio who's testing lab rivaled virtually anything out there. His speakers (in the late 90's) routinely were regarded as the best of the best in Stereophile and Absolute sound. But I'm sure that an amateur bassist on TB would know better.

Cabinet designs are compromises. IMO sealed boxes sound better----but---to get them to the point where they do sound better requires compromises that I for one an unable to live with. (size, weight, low sensitivity)

Wow Mike. Sorry to piss you off so personally by pointing out the ignorance of a hifi salesperson.

If you want facts, please study how a port or passive radiator work (they are very similar in result).

And who says I'm amateur? LoL

 

[dkelley]

These statements are way too absolute to apply to something that is half science and half art.

No, ports are 100% science. Completely predictable and computer designable. No art about it. This is true of everything in speaker design.

What we like to hear is subjective art, however.

 

[dkelley]

However, the strongly peaked upper-bass typical of many ported cabs can cause a lack of note to note consistency.

They're also the sign of a poorly matched driver to the ported cab or poorly designed ported cab in the first place. No ported cab should have a hump anywhere

 

[dkelley]

I like that. The keeping out of trouble. I agree. Very little low bass is better than bad low bass. People can rant and call me names but I'm sorry---I don't like ported cabs. I don't like the quality of the lows.I've always (until recently) built ported cabs. Again--worthwhile compromises. Maximum volume and extension in a much smaller cab. With a sealed cab, I like the envelope of the notes better. And it's not just because there isn't the extension to get you in trouble. It's all about the envelope of the note for me. In the living room or garage---most cabs do well. But at volume on a gig--I have trouble getting the envelope that I like with a ported cab.. I've played the best of the reflex cabs and just don't like the low end definition. Too much overhang--at concert volume. I feel now that ported designs aren't worth it for the compromises in the envelope of the notes.

That's perfectly true, although there can be ported speakers that don't exhibit those issues... I mean they exist in HiFi audio... But quite possibly in bass cabs the complications due to the sheer amount of air traveling through the port(s) could be an issue or the drivers themselves may not be ideal for ported use due to requirements of the huge output levels and excursion requirements

 

[seamonkey]

No, ports are 100% science. Completely predictable and computer designable. No art about it. This is true of everything in speaker design.

It is that simple isn't it?
And everything in speaker design can be measured.
Maybe eventually we'll see consumers demanding some honest measurements
http://professional-sound.com/sound...ningful-loudspeaker-headphone-specs/#more-974

 

[AstroSonic]

They're also the sign of a poorly matched driver to the ported cab or poorly designed ported cab in the first place. No ported cab should have a hump anywhere

The upper bass hump is engineered - intentionally. It's point of view: to produce a tone that players will like, that will sell in the showroom or sound good in a live situation. A design that achieves its goals efficiently and at relatively low cost is a successful, well engineered design.

Agree that ported cabs need not have such non-linear low end response. They can be designed to be remarkably flat (linear) low end response. IMO, a musical instrument should sound musical. That includes cabs.

 

[dkelley]

The upper bass hump is engineered - intentionally. It's point of view: to produce a tone that players will like, that will sell in the showroom or sound good in a live situation. A design that achieves its goals efficiently and at relatively low cost is a successful, well engineered design.

Agree that ported cabs need not have such non-linear low end response. They can be designed to be remarkably flat (linear) low end response. IMO, a musical instrument should sound musical. That includes cabs.

Excellent points, I have a strong preference for low system q ported cabinets due to my own builds for my own use (home audio only), so I tend to forget that people intentionally do that sometimes.

However i do want to reenforce that bass reflex (ported) cabs CAN be neutral and even sounding while improving system Ehrlich m efficiency by allowing a speaker with higher efficiency in exchange for poorer bass response to still get down there just fine thanks to several db of improved deep output thanks to port loading.

Also ports do NOT resonate after the cycle ends.... Glass beer bottles resonate.

For accuracy.... There is a lot if misinformation in threads.

Cheers all

Edit... Stupid phone... Ehrlich m lol

 

[David Jayne]

They're also the sign of a poorly matched driver to the ported cab or poorly designed ported cab in the first place. No ported cab should have a hump anywhere

Unless of course, that's what you're going for. I personally like a low mid bump.

 

[David Jayne]

It is that simple isn't it?
And everything in speaker design can be measured.

Well, as you know most would agree that the physical properties of speakers CAN in fact be measured. You can plot extremely detailed graphs, of resultant frequencies and their relative amplitudes at very granular levels. But it's harder to measure just what that SOUNDS like to a human brain. Combinations of harmonics, relative amplitudes and deep holes or peaks in different response areas will resonate differently with different folks. There are certain 'rules' that work for most ears, but there are parts that aren't so well - defined. That's where the art lies. You can see it, all of it, but what do you do with it? That's the tricky bit.

 

[David Jayne]

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[JimmyM]

All this spec nerd stuff is awesome, and believe me, I have great respect for those whose life work is involved in making great sounding cabs and nobody believes more in education than I do. But at the end of the day, I just want a cab that sounds like what I like without too much effort on my part, and I really don't care what it looks like on paper or whether it's razor flat or not.

 

[David Jayne]

..... and I really don't care what it looks like on paper or whether it's razor flat or not.

Trust me, if it were razor flat you probably wouldn't like it Jim! (me too). : D

 

[David Jayne]

Anyway I've never tried a sealed cab. I've always been into small, efficient ported cabs that don't go really low but speak loudly in the low mids. Might have to try one though. What the heck.

 

[JimmyM]

Trust me, if it were razor flat you probably wouldn't like it Jim! (me too). : D

Ya, I like my razor flat cabs to be the PA cabs sending out a duplicate of what I'm getting out of my amp which usually involves a slight mid scoop and a cut past 5k most of the time. I like mids enough to be heard and felt, but too much high mid and I don't dig it. Then again, not enough and I don't dig it either. A very fine line for me.

As for sealed cabs, they're all quite different, too. That's why I don't get too caught up in how a cab is made. I got sealed cabs I love, I got ported cabs I love. I'm just full of love.

 

[dukeorock]

As for sealed cabs, they're all quite different, too. That's why I don't get too caught up in how a cab is made. I got sealed cabs I love, I got ported cabs I love. I'm just full of love.

I've always said that about you, Jimmy

Like I said, I've been fooling around with a sealed cab I built recently. Still learning and tweaking, but it's giving me something I really like, so I'll keep messing with it.

Some of my cabs are ported as well. It really is all about the design. I'm just finishing up a short European tour. 12 shows in the UK and Europe. The backline cab I have is a sealed 410 and it's just an awful little thing... "Light, Loud and Low. Pick none!"

 

[Mr. Foxen]

Well, as you know most would agree that the physical properties of speakers CAN in fact be measured. You can plot extremely detailed graphs, of resultant frequencies and their relative amplitudes at very granular levels. But it's harder to measure just what that SOUNDS like to a human brain. Combinations of harmonics, relative amplitudes and deep holes or peaks in different response areas will resonate differently with different folks. There are certain 'rules' that work for most ears, but there are parts that aren't so well - defined. That's where the art lies. You can see it, all of it, but what do you do with it? That's the tricky bit.

Kind of a learning to read issue. The data will have limited meaning to someone who can't read them to the extent it forms the appropriate image in their mind. That doesn't invalidate the data. Loads of people can't read music, doesn't mean written music isn't musical.

 

[Fuzzbass]

Trust me, if it were razor flat you probably wouldn't like it Jim! (me too). : D

Some engineers (I've known one) look at "tube warmth" as a design flaw.

I get the argument that a flat speaker should be chosen to reproduce the tonal coloration(s) you go for using your bass and amp. But it makes just as much sense to add the speaker to the tone equation. As the cliché goes, "if it works, it works".