Ported vs. Bandpass

**sporty_drew** · 09-02-2006, 05:22 PM

I have 2 JL W3v2 Dual 2 Ohm subs in a ported box (don't know what hz, bought i before i knew about them) and i'm planning on getting a new box and i can't decided if i should go with another ported box ( if so what should i have it tuned at?) or if i should go with a bandpass box (same goes for it). I listen to rock, but i like to put in a good bass cd to show off and get the most out of my subs.

Right now i have a profile 1000m amp powering them wired down to 2 ohms. That would give me 250 rms and 500 peak running to each sub which is a perfect match. Thanks alot, Drew

**Pathos** · 09-02-2006, 05:37 PM

Before tuning a ported box you should know the resonant frequency of the car it is going in and for the impact I like a bandpass but the lower freq tend to sound like mush as most notes within some lower registers sound the same to me

**sporty_drew** · 09-02-2006, 05:47 PM

Originally Posted by Pathos

Before tuning a ported box you should know the resonant frequency of the car it is going in

How would i find this out?

**Shadow** · 09-03-2006, 02:02 PM

Pathos, you mean the cabin boost frequency, not the resonant frequency. This is the frequency that the cabin of the car helps to accentuate the most. You can find this out by getting a cheapo SPL meter from RadioShack and testing at low volumes with tones to find out what frequency is boosted.

Also, just as most ported boxes are larger than sealed boxes, most bandpass boxes are larger than ported boxes.

**sporty_drew** · 09-03-2006, 06:08 PM

well i think i'm going to stay with a ported box. is there a reason that my subs don't sound as good when i have my trunk open and am listening to them (standing by them) as my friends alpine type r's in a sealed box? How do i fix it?

**Shadow** · 09-03-2006, 09:49 PM

...because your box is designed improperly maybe? Generally subwoofers aren't meant to be listened to in close proximity. Your trunk has a pretty drastic effect on your speaker whether or not you realize it.

**kamikaze2112** · 09-04-2006, 12:15 AM

Originally Posted by Shadow

Generally subwoofers aren't meant to be listened to in close proximity. Your trunk has a pretty drastic effect on your speaker whether or not you realize it.

That's the biggest reason right there. Your trunk acts like a speaker box as well.