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Should I Mod A Sealed Subwoofer Box With A Passive Radiator?

Cody AOC

Cody AOC

Active Member
So I thought since I have a sealed subwoofer box and i'm not a fan of the sealed so how would it compare if I did either a vented box or passive radiator to the enclosure people say that a passive radiator does the same job as a vented box but I really don't have the space for a huge box since my 15"subwoofer requires a 11 cu ft box for a vent and the box I have is a 3 cu ft box and if the subwoofer is in the face and if I would add a passive radiator to the top of the box would that be ok here's the passive radiator: https://psicaraudio.com/product/15-passive-radiator/ I thought about buying this subwoofer: http://www.parts-express.com/dayton-aud ... l--295-514
and tune it to 30-35 hz it would be for my home audio system since my current subwoofer is just not enough.
 
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Cody AOC said:
Why?
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Well, if you read the product specs for that woofer, they call out a 3.1 cf sealed enclosure or a 6 cf ported enclosure. I'm not sure how randomly adding a passive radiator to a 3.0 cf enclosure makes things any better.

bs
 
What's lacking now when you say you're not a fan of sealed subs?

The manufacturer took some effort to design the sub you have now. Unless you have some theory know how to implement the passive in a way that makes good design sense, you're shooting in the dark and have a better than good chance of messing things up rather than improving them.

One option is just sell the sub you have now and buy a ported one if that's really what you want.
 
bshorey said:
Well, if you read the product specs for that woofer, they call out a 3.1 cf sealed enclosure or a 6 cf ported enclosure. I'm not sure how randomly adding a passive radiator to a 3.0 cf enclosure makes things any better.

bs
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I've done some research that a passive radiator would be similar to a vented box i'm not sure how but they say it does.
 
captouch said:
What's lacking now when you say you're not a fan of sealed subs?

The manufacturer took some effort to design the sub you have now. Unless you have some theory know how to implement the passive in a way that makes good design sense, you're shooting in the dark and have a better than good chance of messing things up rather than improving them.

One option is just sell the sub you have now and buy a ported one if that's really what you want.
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It say's on the parts express site that the subwoofer can be used in a ported or sealed box the reason why I wanted to do a passive radiator because I could then I have space in the spot to put it and all the other boxes I find are tuned way too high and not low enough for the size so this is where I been thinking of.
 
If it's not an expensive sub to begin with and you don't mind taking a risk, you can try. Just weigh the costs vs potential benefits (with probability of success) and make the decision you're most comfortable with.

Best of luck whatever way you decide. :beerchug:
 
captouch said:
If it's not an expensive sub to begin with and you don't mind taking a risk, you can try. Just weigh the costs vs potential benefits (with probability of success) and make the decision you're most comfortable with.

Best of luck whatever way you decide. :beerchug:
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What if i went with a ported box ported @ 32hz and is 4 CU. FT. that is the biggest i can find with being in the 30ish hz tuned? the reason why @ 32hz because people say anywhere in the mid to early 30ish hz would sound the best so I made that to be a remembered thought to stay with.
 
Cody AOC said:
So I thought since I have a sealed subwoofer box and i'm not a fan of the sealed so how would it compare if I did either a vented box or passive radiator to the enclosure people say that a passive radiator does the same job as a vented box but I really don't have the space for a huge box since my 15"subwoofer requires a 11 cu ft box for a vent and the box I have is a 3 cu ft box and if the subwoofer is in the face and if I would add a passive radiator to the top of the box would that be ok here's the passive radiator: https://psicaraudio.com/product/15-passive-radiator/ I thought about buying this subwoofer: http://www.parts-express.com/dayton-aud ... l--295-514
and tune it to 30-35 hz it would be for my home audio system since my current subwoofer is just not enough.
Click to expand...

Adding a passive sub to a sealed sub has similar constraints to a vent. Think of the air column in the port acting as a passive radiator. You gain some flexibility and no so-called "chuffing" sound with a passive, but using a passive radiator does not make up for lack of volume. I prefer sealed subs or transmission lines and multiples for music. What are you trying to achieve? Louder or lower? HT or music? There are numerous well designed subwoofer plans on the internet. Check out the Martysub and Parts Express projects.
 
bhunter said:
Adding a passive sub to a sealed sub has similar constraints to a vent. Think of the air column in the port acting as a passive radiator. You gain some flexibility and no so-called "chuffing" sound with a passive, but using a passive radiator does not make up for lack of volume. I prefer sealed subs or transmission lines and multiples for music. What are you trying to achieve? Louder or lower? HT or music? There are numerous well designed subwoofer plans on the internet. Check out the Martysub and Parts Express projects.
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Mostly music I love to be very loud but also sound good i'll have to probably go get a vented enclosure
 
So any of you willing to answer if I used a smaller box that is vented but a 6 cu ft vented box sizing is recommended by the manufacturer and I use a 4 cu ft box would that still be ok that is the biggest in sizing I could go after that 21" deep I have no more room for a box
 
Cody AOC said:
I've done some research that a passive radiator would be similar to a vented box i'm not sure how but they say it does.
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I understand how a passive radiator works. My comment was that I don't see how it would be an improvement if you throw it into the box that was designed for the sealed parameters.

If you want to talk about using a passive radiator instead of ports in the 6 cf box that they call out for a vented application, then that's a different discussion. But you're talking about a 3 cf box.

bs
 
Cody AOC said:
It say's on the parts express site that the subwoofer can be used in a ported or sealed box the reason why I wanted to do a passive radiator because I could then I have space in the spot to put it and all the other boxes I find are tuned way too high and not low enough for the size so this is where I been thinking of.
Click to expand...

Smaller box = higher bottom frequency. Look at the specs they state for the 6 cf vented box, if you go smaller then your bottom end will not be as deep as that box.

bs
 
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