bandpass enclosure woofer selection

[Opie]

Hi all,
When choosing a woofer for a 4th bandpass application, should the woofer have a high x-max or a low one?. Isn't it true that increased x-max increases the distortion generated by the woofer?

Any input would be helpful

Opie

 

[kelticwizard]

All other things being equal-which they usually aren't-a woofer with a high Xmax is superior to one with a small Xmax.

The only exception I could think of would be if the speaker will facing up or down, instead of sideways. There, the components necessary to enable a large Xmax to occur are likely to sag.

Otherwise, go for the larger Xmax if the other considerations are more or less equal.