DPL12: Sealed or ported?

[needtubes]

I modeled and built two enclosures for my DPL12. One is a vented box, 5.35 cubic feet tuned to 16Hz. The other is a 1.5 cubic foot sealed box. The attached graph from WinISD shows the curve for each (yellow is sealed, green is vented).

I suppose I should also mention the group delay... the sealed box has a maximum of 9.27ms delay at 19Hz, while the vented box hits that delay at about 29Hz and just keeps climbing.

I have built both enclosures and have them in my listening room and have tested both. However, I cannot make a good call about which to use.

Which would you choose? Why? Are there any merits to going sealed over vented or vice versa? Thanks

[Kittle]

If they both sound the same to you, then id pick he smaller cabinet, namely cause its going to be easier to move around.

or, you could try a wider variety of music and at various volume levels. See which box makes a difference, and in what way.

[needtubes]

Well, they don't really sound the same... but I am thinking I prefer the sealed sub.

My main downfall is that I cannot directly A/B compare on the fly- I have to disassemble one and reassemble the other to test both... so in the downtime, I forget what the first sounded exactly like. I guess I'll give it more time... and maybe order another driver. Any suggestions on a sub driver under $100?

[Timn8ter]

Sealed enclosures will have a slower roll off and therefore sound more "natural". Much better for music, IMO. For a 100% HT sub, vented is great. I've heard the sealed DPL12 and thought it sounded very good.
http://www.alegriaaudio.com/adire_dpl12_subwoofer.htm

[Badge]

I have two, each in a sealed 100 liter enclosure. They were slow and heavy sounding for a while, after break in they just disappeared until low notes come in. They do go low and have all the extension I will ever need.