I got a queston hopefully someone can help me with it. I have some older kicker comp vr 12's dual voice coil abot 3- 4 years old I have never run a good amp on them, right now they are in a bandpass box. I went to an audio store and they told me to put them in a ported box, and in another audio store they told me it would be better in a sealed box. I was lke [&:] they just said the opposite of the other store. So which is the correct box for my speakes if you need more specs ill post some pics of the speakers. thanks

 

it's personal preferance. Generally speaking, a ported box will hit lower notes louder giving that rumble effect. Not always true but mostly.
Sealed on the other hand will hit punchier bass cleaner, giving a "kick in the back" effect. Make sure the box in built to specs (try not to get a pre fabricated box ESPECIALLY a ported prefab box) If you have no experience in the matter, go sealers give them about 1.0- 1.7 cu.ft. per sub, give them about 200 watts RMS each (clean power, no sony amps, pioneer or any low end stuff) and you'll have plenty of sound.
Enjoy, Todd

 

IMO sealed sounds better but ported is louder. R u gonna upgrade your amp?

 

theonecalledtod, thanks. So I should run an amp with 200 watts rms per speaker? Would that be min or the max recomended? Another question would be how could I find out how to make the box fall between the 1.0-1.7 cubic ft per sub. Sorry don't remember how to get that, its been a while since I got out of school. If you could tell me the formula to do that I would be so greatful.

rob3980, I would (want) to upgrade my amp since the one I have is too small for the speakers, It's a concept but doesn't say how many watts or anything on it.

What amp would you guys recomend? I was looking into a concept or a Kicker amp, that is the one they recomended for my speakers I don't know much about systems. Thanks to all of your help.

 

Forgot to mention that I think since I'm going to make the box I'm going to go with sealed.

 

Please clarify as that makes no sense....

A Ported box will not create the "rumble effect" or hit low notes better then any sealed enclosure. A sealed enclosure as large as 1.7 cubes is more then enough to get bass extension from most woofers below audible frequency. A ported box will make more sound down to its port frequency, but will produce very little noise and tear up the woofer if played much lower at full power. That is why it is important to put a sub-sonic filter on woofers in ported enclosure. Below the port frequncy the woofer is basically playing free air.

Another rule of thumb is that a ported box with a low tuning frequncy (Below 30-32 hz) will only have a small decrease in "puchiness" but produce higher SPL then a sealed enclosure.

Generally kickers are made for ported enclosures. People that like SQ don't buy kicker...


A little more help for guy bored. Building a ported box is super easy as well. Build a reqular enclsoure built to kicker's ported specs and use 4" PVC for the port. You can even buy a hole cutter that should be the perfect diameter. Make sure you have as much distance between the back of the enclosure and the port as the diameter of the port and you are good to go.