Ported vs Suspended

[mashaffer]

Either can sound good. I tend to prefer sealed or open baffle over ported most of the time. In all fairness I haven't had a chance to listen to bass horns though so there may be another type in my future as well.

mike

 

[Copa1934]

As Robin would say "HUMOR, ARH ARH ARH!!!"

 

[sealy]

And, there is the transmission-line. A category unto itself. If one doesn't care about efficiency, in my(oh-so-humble)opinion, that's the way to go.

 

[nick12345]

I have no preference as far as ported or sealed. Neither design sounds consistently better to me.

 

[cableguy]

I prefer open baffles myself...

 

[RadShak1251]

Just to throw in more food for thought, what's the word on systems that use passive radiators, another form of a BR enclosure?

I usually like them, no chance for port chuffing for example, and was always fascinated with them as a kid back in the late 70s when doing my weekly tour of the local Radio Shack.

 

[dnewma04]

They are so similar to ported enclosures that I see no reason to differentiate them.

 

[poorman]

Cheers to the OP for sparking a lively debate!

Oh, and if I could afford transmission line speakers, I'd certainly give them a go.

As it stands, it's Henry Kloss and his AS 2-ways for me.

 

[Tedrick]

Both can be done well, and the few TL designs I've heard can do some amazing things with small drivers. But overall, I prefer AS designs.

 

[chicks]

Oh, and if I could afford transmission line speakers, I'd certainly give them a go.

As it stands, it's Henry Kloss and his AS 2-ways for me.

DCM Timeframes show up on CL fairly regularly for not a lot of $$$. Gonna have to A/B my DCM TF-350's against the AR-2a's. :scratch2: I think the TF's will win...

Don't have any ported speakers, unless you count Minimus/Optimus 77's

Edit: Forgot about my Boston Acoustics CR-6's, ported and very good near-field monitors...

 

[mikeybc]

Didn't read the entire thread but if you have a large collection of warped records you may want a sealed design. If somebody said it already I'm sorry....I'm just to damn lazy this early in the morning

 

[solarol]

I very much doubt that acoustic suspension is more musical, in my experience ported enclosures don't give up musicality and actually tend to improve some aspects of musicality. As Brennan mentions, some of the best midrange comes from large drivers in big ported enclosures. At the AKfest, I lost count of how many people said Ed and I had the best bass at the show. I doubt anyone in this thread would have found it unmusical, accentuated, slow, sloppy or in any way boomy.

What speakers are you referring to?

 

[dnewma04]

Lambda TD15Ms in 5.5 cu ft boxes tuned to 35hz.

 

[Dan ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ]

I'd prefer a stack of waffles myself...

Me too!

 

[GordonW]

Anyone who says that vented-box or passive-radiator bass can't sound just as good (maybe better) than sealed/air-suspension bass, is suffering from a tired, old, played out stereotype. The best bass I've ever had from any project I've worked on, was TC Sounds 10" drivers (two per box) coupled with TC Sounds 10" passive radiators (three per box). Absolutely artifact free (no audible distortion) down to 16 Hz, at levels that can make windows "breathe" in and out.

Regards,
Gordon.

 

[solarol]

What do you guys think of the bass in CornScalas?

 

[dnewma04]

I prefer cornwall bass to lascala bass assuming there are no subwoofers present.

 

[solarol]

I prefer cornwall bass to lascala bass assuming there are no subwoofers present.

Would you say that Cornwall bass is clean or boomy?

 

[dnewma04]

It's not a great ported speaker, it leans a little more towards being boomy than what I'd be after. Then again, I'm spoiled by the Lambdas.

 

[Retro Stereo]

I prefer fresh water bass to sea bass.....