powered sub question on porting

[Shimy87]

First what I have and then the question. 12 inch sub in custom, sealed enclosure, powered by single 200 watt amp. I want the bass to be crisper, that hit you in the chest sound. Now its okay but more muddy than crisp. If I port the enclosure will that help or hurt. Now the sub points to the rear of the car, was going to put a 3 inch port facing the front.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[phil_long]

adding a port will make louder, and decrease sound quality by a small margin.  Depending on the type of sub, you will get the sound that you are referring to.  I am running a 12 inch Alpine Type X in a custom enclosure, with the box ported and tuned at 27 Hz.  I recommend porting, but only with a SQL type sub, oppose to SPL.  Whenever sound quality is a factor, always be sure on the type of sub you are running.  Now, I am running 1000 watt amp, but the sound quality is unmatched and beyond superb.  I love it.  Not muddy at all.  What sub are you running?

[Steve Wood]

good thing Muddy Waters was never ported....he mighta be Crispy Wafers

[Shimy87]

Its a pioneer, dont know if its SPL or SQL, how do I determine that? Made the box to the exact interior dimesions they recomended, would it help if I decreased the interior volume? Ported? or both? Thanks, dont really know much about subs?
 
Steve, Muddys favorite snack was crispy wafers

[daveismissing]

I would expect it to sound cleaner if you reduce the volume. Box and speaker are a system, speaker's parameters dictate enclosure to a great extent.

[Shimy87]

Descided to reduce volume of box and port it   

[phil_long]

Ok, goo luck with it and let us know how it go. You could just do a search to find out if the sub you have is built for sound quality or more for sound pressure.

[Shimy87]

Original box was built at 2 cubic feet, spec's called for between 1 and 2. removed about half a cubic foot and put a 3 inch port in. Honestly only seems a tiny bit better if at all, maybe wishfull thinking. I'll have to give it some time and see.

[phil_long]

Well bigger boxes equal bigger sound. Decreasing the size of the box will only Decrease dB(on a decibel meter). I kno thats not what you're really going for, but all our ears hear diff. Out of all the competitions i been too, all of the equipment was mostly SPL subs, give or take a couple SQL. But, i never heard the muddy bass. What kind of highs are you running? Your highs ate emporyant and they mus be able to keep up with your lows.

[Shimy87]

Yesterday I spent about an hour "tuning" the system....time well spent   It really sounds great now, wife has always said with all the equipment I have installed in it, it never sounded as good as she thought it should. After tweeking it I had her come and listen and she couldnt believe the difference. I love it now

[phil_long]

Good stuff man.

[daveismissing]

By tuning you mean EQ? (vs box alterations etc?)

[Shimy87]

I altered the box, didnt like it so I worked on adjusting the settings on the speaker amp, got them good, then on the sub amp, then on the EQ on the head unit.

[Shimy87]

I like to see others so I thought I'd post some pic's of the sysyem in the trunk
 

[Steve Wood]

Looks nice!