Is it really that bad using a sealed sub with ported main speakers, I notice that some manufacturers do it in their ranges i.e. Monitor Audio in the Silver range.
A ported and a sealed sub should play well together. I’ve never had any problem with such setup. I had two different setups with ported and sealed subs mixed and everything was fine.
You don't provide enough information about your set up for anybody to provide an informed answer.
Are your main speakers full-range and receiving a full range signal?
What is the frequency response of the sub?
If the sub is using a high-power input source, does it contain an actual crossover or is it simply a low-pass filter?
To give you an example: On my desktop, like most commercial HT systems my amp has a relatively high cross-over point (160hz). I have replaced the front satellites with a pair of ported Sony's. The Sony's frequency response is 70Hz to 20,000Khz, However, the amp is only feeding them 160hz+. In this set-up the cabinet may as well be sealed because the port is redundant - it is not receiving any frequencies it will react to.
Main speakers are ported 6.5 inch bass and tweeter f3 60hz.
Used for music in stereo system, I would prefer a sealed 12 inch sub with plate amp. as it will be smaller than ported sub., but when I read articles everyone seems to say it's not a good idea. But as I said some manufacturers use sealed subs with ported mains.
in theory yes, but like said, all depends on the implementation.
But a ported sub has a bigger group delay and a phase change that can conflict with the sealed sub and so cause distortion. If you adapt your crossover to it, it can be avoided that it does that.
But a ported sub has a bigger group delay and a phase change that can conflict with the sealed sub and so cause distortion. If you adapt your crossover to it, it can be avoided that it does that.
I am not talking of using ported and sealed subs together but ported main full range stereo speakers with a sealed sub.
As others have said, it all comes down to how well you integrate the 2. Your ported mains will be able to be crossed over lower than sealed mains might, but their rolloff will be steeper and have more associated phase shift, so there's less margin for error if you choose a non ideal crossover point. By that I mean there's more chance of you creating cancellation around the crossover point. If you're using DSP for the crossover it's easy to try different frequencies & slopes to mitigate this however, and you can likely adjust phase directly via all pass filters, so it's not the end of the world really.
Just means you have to be that bit more diligent in measuring/checking your integration of the 2.
Just means you have to be that bit more diligent in measuring/checking your integration of the 2.
The answer is: it pretty much doesn't matter. There are a few old wives tales and myths that need to be debunked.
Specific to subwoofers, pound for pound, a ported sub does not need a larger cabinet than its sealed counterpart. A ported sub will always have a at least 3dB advantage over sealed. Ironically, all things being equal, a sealed 12" sub in a 40 litre cabinet will be outperformed by a 10" driver in a ported cabinet of the same size. With domestic subs of this size "roll-off" is largely irrelevant, there is no "music" below 30hz.
In terms of sub-bass, 'phase' is little more than a spreadsheet nerd's wet dream, the issue has no practical basis in reality. Sound waves bounce-off and are reflected by absolutely everything resulting in certain wavelengths being reinforced whilst others are being reinforced. Leave a door open, close the curtains, put your feet up on the coffee table and every calculation has changed.
80 Hz being a typical sub crossover.
If the main speakers are high passed around the same
you can just plug the ports
ironically I was just shuffling through drivers looking for a suitable 12" sealed sub
If the main speakers are high passed around the same
you can just plug the ports
ironically I was just shuffling through drivers looking for a suitable 12" sealed sub
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