Some measurements of port compression using 15TBW100

´I have remade the ports for my DIY subwoofer with a 15TBW100 driver. The ports were previously undersized (two round 103mm ports, 164mm² port area), the tuning frequency was about 32.5 Hz with a net internal volume of 100 liters (~3.5 cu ft). The undersized ports had a 14mm radius flare on both ends.
The new rectangular ports have a total 296mm² area and a 55mm flare radius on both ends, but they sit directly against the bottom and walls, so only 2 of 4 sides of the ports are flared. The tuning frequency increased to 38.5 Hz, and the net internal volume is now 81L, due to the larger ports.
I've made frequency response measurements of the subwoofer at different power levels before and after the changes using UMIK-1 (6db gain) and REW, and put together some port compression data in a spreadsheet.
All measurements are ground plane 2m. Velocity in m/s and compression in db.

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The spreadsheet shows input voltage, WinISD simulated port velocity and measured compression compared to the 5.66V sweep for Fb - 2.5 Hz, Fb, and Fb + 2.5 Hz. It also shows compression at 130 Hz (low impedance) in order to get some indication of possible power compression, depending on sweep level.

Some things I found interesting:
Port compression mostly affects frequencies below Fb. The undersized ports had only 0.7 db port compression at 77,9V and 35Hz, despite a (very high) simulated port velocity of 36,3 m/s.
Power compression at 130hz was considerable, although later in the sweep (more time for the voice coilt to heat up), it means that power compression likley affects the high power sweeps. For instance, there is more compression at 41Hz, 112V after the mod, than at 35Hz, 77,9V before, despite lower port velocity (28,3 vs 36,3 m/s).
 
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“Power compression at 130hz was considerable, although later in the sweep (more time for the voice coilt to heat up), it means that power compression likley affects the high power sweeps. For instance, there is more compression at 41Hz, 112V after the mod, than at 35Hz, 77,9V before, despite lower port velocity (28,3 vs 36,3 m/s)”

What i meant by this is exactly what you are saying, higher compression despite larger ports means that thermal compression significantly affects the results at the high power sweeps.
I may not have been clear enough.
 
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The ports were previously undersized (two round 103mm ports, 164mm² port area), the tuning frequency was about 32.5 Hz with a net internal volume of 100 liters
I have some difficulty to replicate your speaker and port specifications.
the two ports are 103 mm long, correct?
the port cross section surface is 164 mm2? that seems waaay to small if I understand it correctly.

If I try to define a 100 liter enclosure with 32,5 Hz tuning that needs one port with about 60 cm2 and 10,3 cm length (or two with 30 cm2 each).

I did some research regarding port compression and according to my findings the relation of port radius and air displacement is the relevant one.
if you like have a look here:

https://www.diyaudio.com/community/...rbers-and-port-geometries.388264/post-7755603
 
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