Hi,
Just a quicky...
I have a ported active speaker, which plays down to 40hz (-3) but I will be using them with sealed subwoofers, probably crossed around 80/100hz.
Is there any benefit of plugging the ports of my active main speakers? Or just by crossing them over 80hz I avoid port chuffs and resonances?
Cheers
Just a quicky...
I have a ported active speaker, which plays down to 40hz (-3) but I will be using them with sealed subwoofers, probably crossed around 80/100hz.
Is there any benefit of plugging the ports of my active main speakers? Or just by crossing them over 80hz I avoid port chuffs and resonances?
Cheers
I'll give your thread a nudge in the hope that the subwoofer experts will chime in! Indeed, your question would no doubt get a better response in the 'Subwoofers' section of the forum.
I think that plugging the ports may better integrate your speakers with the subwoofers as it would tighten up their bass response in the crossover region.
I think that plugging the ports may better integrate your speakers with the subwoofers as it would tighten up their bass response in the crossover region.
I've done it both ways (open or plugged), depending on what works best.
The port's output phase lags by 180 degrees from the driver's upper response. Depending on the Fb, (box tuning frequency) the response may not be "in phase" with the sub's phase response at the crossover point. With DSP, delay compensation is easy, with analog crossovers, it might not be available, so no "one size fits all" response will answer to the benefits or drawbacks of your particular set up.
I would always plug the port when mating to a sub, regardless of sub cabinet type. It allows for much cleaner gap free integration of audio mainly because of better phase tracking. The phase response flips around on a ported system down low as weltersys already mentioned. The only thing to watch is overheating the woofer (midbass) VC when the port is plugged - no more cooling air flow into the enclosure. Depending on playback levels (which usually can then be increased thanks to lack of excursion limited power handling), this may become an issue when playing the system loud for longer periods of time.
Thanks for your replies.
But if my mains are high passed "higher" than the port tuning, wouldn't that make them act as "sealed"?
IE:
Speaker 1 = Ported 2-way speaker tuned to 40Hz, high passed to 100hz
Speaker 2 = Sealed 2-way speaker with a "natural" 2nd order down slope, F3 90hz, high passed to 100hz
When integrate Speaker 1 (and leave port open) with sealed subwoofer it will be as "easy" as integrating speaker 2, as the port won't produce any sound, so there will be no phase shift.
But if my mains are high passed "higher" than the port tuning, wouldn't that make them act as "sealed"?
IE:
Speaker 1 = Ported 2-way speaker tuned to 40Hz, high passed to 100hz
Speaker 2 = Sealed 2-way speaker with a "natural" 2nd order down slope, F3 90hz, high passed to 100hz
When integrate Speaker 1 (and leave port open) with sealed subwoofer it will be as "easy" as integrating speaker 2, as the port won't produce any sound, so there will be no phase shift.
Depends on the XO slope order in that we ideally want at least a > -25 dB vent tuning where our hearing acuity has rolled off far enough, so with it only a little over an octave away you'll need 4th order.
That said, as already noted the vent will be outputting some out of phase 'background' noise that in room might be noticeable as higher order resonances, so recommend trying it both ways.
That said, as already noted the vent will be outputting some out of phase 'background' noise that in room might be noticeable as higher order resonances, so recommend trying it both ways.