Sealed or Slot Ported...?

[flaudia402]

Alright, so I'm stuck now at square one trying to decide between a sealed or ported. Lol, the title of the post. Some are saying go sealed due to easy. Another is saying go sealed (but he's running 3 of them...so point made). The general consensus in most car audio (hence the word car), state ported is the way to go for boom...you lose some SQ, but you gain quite a bit of SPL (though, the W7 is a very accurate subwoofer so I'm not so worried about the SQ, esspecially since in a boat that is less crucial as it is due to the massive amounts of air space for the sound to travel).


*sigh* choices choices. I'd hate to dish over $200 on a custom box only to find out it was an awful choice for my application.

[flaudia402]

OHL, i'm giving you 5 seconds to take back that comment using JL Audio and Radio Shack in the same sentence. Have you lost your mind? Statistics and physics don't mean diddly squat to your ears homeboy, only your eyes. JL Audio's W series subs are so precise and sound better than any sub that I have ever heard, even in a small sealed box!

lol. I think you misunderstood what OHLnautique was trying to say. I also think that you should listen to other subwoofers in other categories. Jay-El isn't the latest greatest subwoofer evar. There's quite a bit others for much cheaper. I went with something well known and definitely paid the premium.

[SuperSquirt]

I guess I misunderstood OHL's point, although flaudia, you seem way to indecisive about your stereo selection. You need to just go out and buy something and hook it up.

[flaudia402]

[quote="damador"]I guess I misunderstood OHL's point, although flaudia, you seem way to indecisive about your stereo selection. You need to just go out and buy something and hook it up.[/quote

How am I indecisive? I guess it's a crime to ask questions and gain as much knowledge as possible. I've already bought everything and it's just waiting to be installed. I guess thats still considered indecisive? You have either an awful way of words, or you just miscomprehend everything everyone says.

[SuperSquirt]

Whatever dude, don't even make me go back and repost all 30+ posts you have about amp this speaker that. I must have missed the memo about the website changing names to PLANETFLAUDIA.com I understand you want opinions from everyone, but since you already own everything, why don't you just read the manuals if you need specs.

[OHLNautique]

Whatever dude, don't even make me go back and repost all 30+ posts you have about amp this speaker that. I must have missed the memo about the website changing names to PLANETFLAUDIA.com I understand you want opinions from everyone, but since you already own everything, why don't you just read the manuals if you need specs.

Isn't the point of a forum to ask opinions and advice? Ignore that crap from him and enjoy your system! Whatever it ends up being. Judging from the system in damador's boat and his comments, it's obvious he has more money than sense.

[SuperSquirt]

OHL, you're exactly right about a forum being a place for opinions and advice, i couldn't agree more. Trust me, I have way more sense than I have money, but if I had more money, I would have loaned you some so you could have gotten a TEAM edition SAN instead of a Signature. That my friend is sense!

[flaudia402]

Whatever dude, don't even make me go back and repost all 30+ posts you have about amp this speaker that. I must have missed the memo about the website changing names to PLANETFLAUDIA.com I understand you want opinions from everyone, but since you already own everything, why don't you just read the manuals if you need specs.

The same reason I don't want to make the mistake you did on underpowering your 485's with the PDX 4.150. :|


But thanks for your helpful insight. 8-)

[SuperSquirt]

YOU GUYS NEED HELP!

TIMEOUT, aren't you the same guy that posted this below? I guess all your extensive research on stereo's hasn't paid off because 350 watts per WS485 is plenty of power. Sure they can handle more watts, but I chose PDX amp for quality, not quantity. I'd bet anyone on this website $100 that they couldn't stand in front of these two speakers for a full 5 minutes at full volume.


Post subject: My subwoofer sucks - '06 SAN 220..?'s about replacing PostPosted: Jul 08, 2008 - 04:15 AM

So I've got an '06 SAN 220, with the factory polk audio tower and boat speakers with the factory (10, or 12?) inch sub. Powered by the two factory Clarion amps. Problem is though, the Polk Audio sub thats stock, sucks. It sounds flat as heck, and just rattles really bad. The only way to solve the problem is to turn the music down, or change the bass settings to negative. This sucks, because if you're listening to the music and want the rider or anyone in the rear to hear the music, you have to change these settings. Of course, I don't expect any bass to reach the rider, but the bass should be satisfying for the individuals in the boat as well.

So, my dilemma...I'd like to replace this subwoofer. I'm not sure how powerful the stock Clarion amplifier powering the sub is, but I'd like to put a JL Audio W - series sub in its place, since it's an extremely versatile subwoofer, and can run quite efficiently. I'm almost certain the stock amplifier will be mere peas for the sub, in either a 10 or 13 inch. If, I bring another amplifier in, and have it hooked up to the subwoofer, can I use the stock connections? Or is this set up not going to be a simple plug and play from the systems stock wiring.

If, this isn't a simple plug and play, how do I go about replacing it? I'm a complete newb when it comes to doing my own systems. I've had each one in my cars done professionally, but I don't have a trailer with my boat to take it to an audio shop to have done. Plus, I don't know, should I trust an audio shop to do the install properly? Anyway, any ideas, thanks!

[AirTool]

Re: YOU GUYS NEED HELP!

TIMEOUT, aren't you the same guy that ....

Agree. I quit reading fluadia's threads long ago. It was only by the luck of a wrong click and the screaming here that has caught my attention.

Thanks damador for the bold print. That caught my eye and provided today's humor.

AirTool

[Mikeski]

RE: Re: YOU GUYS NEED HELP!

You guys crack me up... can't you just get along?

One guys big system is another's tinker toy. Ceaser's system is pretty big, comes from a long line of JLW7 systems, Harold's has 4, Grant's had 2 then 3 and now 4. At some point everbody gets worn down after adding more speakers, more amplifiers, more batteries, and more alternator.

My system has both a ported sub and a sealed sub. I can unplug either and adjust the phase of the subs independently. I have probably seen 20 boats with W7's, the most notable have been the sealed installations. If you think you will ever add another sub I would highly recommend a sealed installation. Tuning ported subs in an open boat is not for the faint of heart or the installer on the clock. Matching the phase off the speaker face and off the port is quite difficult. If you are able to get it right the ported sub will be 3db louder, if not it will likely have cancellation issues resulting in less punch than the sealed install.

I might suggest you re-consider your sub location, mount it facing the side of the hull so the whole side of the boat becomes a sounding board. A vented side access door is still a great idea but don't fire the sub through it, let the sound resonate off the boat back through the vent.

W7's are great because they have a very large piston area but they are expensive. I have been very impressed with the results from the Boston Acoustics 555 with less power in a smaller enclosure. I have not been overly impressed with the IDMax sub, I don't feel they are in the same league as the JL or Boston, they just don't move as much air.

If I was starting over I would probably go with a single Boston 555 pushed by 1000-1500 class D watts. Nice, simple, effective, effecient, and not too much extra weight. At this stage I am content with my stereo, I would rather spend my time at the end of the rope rather than under the dash.