Sealed or Slot Ported...?

**MHayes** · 07-12-2008, 10:01 AM

RE: Sealed or Slot Ported...?

Just run a sealed box, it'll be a lot easier. Ported boxes may produce a little higher SPL, but then you need to get the port (i.e. dimensions) just right according to what you hertz you are tuning the box to.

Also, I'm not sure of the fiberglass thickness in the cooler, but you might need to do some reinforcing in the walls to reduce flexing.

**OHLNautique** · 07-12-2008, 01:59 PM

RE: Sealed or Slot Ported...?

How did you vent the door for the cooler access? I want to do that in my 210. I have tons of experience building enclosures and in my opinion, ported is the only way to go in a boat. It will create much higher SPL's which is needed in a boat because there is nothing to hold in the sound waves like there is in a car. HOWEVER, ported enclosures are dificult to build and take up a lot more space. The airspace and port tuning have to be very accurate or it will sound like crap. If you don't have any experience building enclosures buy a prefab one or have someone build it for you. Make sure it gets coated with fiberglass resin as well. Otherwise it will absorb moisture and come apart. Hope that helps.

**flaudia402** · 07-13-2008, 11:59 PM

Re: RE: Sealed or Slot Ported...?

Originally posted by OHLNautique

How did you vent the door for the cooler access? I want to do that in my 210. I have tons of experience building enclosures and in my opinion, ported is the only way to go in a boat. It will create much higher SPL's which is needed in a boat because there is nothing to hold in the sound waves like there is in a car. HOWEVER, ported enclosures are dificult to build and take up a lot more space. The airspace and port tuning have to be very accurate or it will sound like crap. If you don't have any experience building enclosures buy a prefab one or have someone build it for you. Make sure it gets coated with fiberglass resin as well. Otherwise it will absorb moisture and come apart. Hope that helps.

The vented door I bought from Earmark Audio.

As far as the Ported box, what does the Hertz have to be tuned to? The amount of space available in the compartment where the sub box will be going? I have a gentleman I know who can make me a marine grade sub box, that's done some amazing work in the past. When I give him the dimensions, will the hertz correlate directly to the port space in the box? Or...is it all dependant on how much room is available where the box is going?

**OHLNautique** · 07-14-2008, 06:39 PM

RE: Re: RE: Sealed or Slot Ported...?

The tuning freq has nothing to do with where the enclosure is going. Tuning frequency is mostly preference and where the sub will perform best. If you listen to a lot of rap tune the box a little lower, between 32 to 38 hertz. For rock go a little higher 38 to around 43. Don't get much higher than that or you will loose a lot of low end. The sub manufacturer should be able to supply you with specs according to where you want the box tuned. Be sure the guy building the box knows that the volume of air taken up by the port is NOT part of the total volume of the box. For example if you want a net volume of 1.5 cuft and the port takes up .5cuft the total internal volume should be 2.0 cuft. Not accounting for this is the biggest mistake in ported box construction.

Where on Earmark Audio did you find that door? Can't find it. Is it made specifically for the Nautique?

**flaudia402** · 07-14-2008, 08:06 PM

RE: Re: RE: Sealed or Slot Ported...?

Great. Thanks for that info. Jl recommends that the Ported Box be tuned to 32 hz, by the normal specs.

http://mobile.jlaudio.com/products_subs.php?series_id=9

As far as the vented door, I e-mailed Earmark, or you can call them, and say you're on Planet Nautique and want to purchase a vented cooler door for your boat. I e-mailed them and I got a response back within 2 days to paypal them, and they'll send it right over.

**OHLNautique** · 07-14-2008, 09:45 PM

RE: Re: RE: Sealed or Slot Ported...?

Any chance of getting a pic of that vented door? The W7's are badass subs. I had one 10w7 in a 4 door Tahoe that hit 138db's with 500 watts pushing it. (JL 500/1) 138 is pretty loud for 1 10" sub in a vehicle that big. The box was ported. Let me know how it sounds, I'm debating what to put in the same loacation in my new 210.

**flaudia402** · 07-15-2008, 01:14 PM

Re: RE: Re: RE: Sealed or Slot Ported...?

Originally posted by OHLNautique

Any chance of getting a pic of that vented door? The W7's are badass subs. I had one 10w7 in a 4 door Tahoe that hit 138db's with 500 watts pushing it. (JL 500/1) 138 is pretty loud for 1 10" sub in a vehicle that big. The box was ported. Let me know how it sounds, I'm debating what to put in the same loacation in my new 210.

http://www.earmarkcaraudio.com/insta...irNautique.asp

This is the exact door I ordered. Like I said, give them a call and tell them what you need. There was a recent post also from them explaining what material it's made of. Its a straight swap, which is nice in case you need to return your boat back to stock and replace your cooler door. I like how factory it looks though. I see that they made an additional vent in that 220, but it seems like they had to do some cutting and fabricating for that vent. A little more than I'd like to do for sure.

I'm definitely excited about the sub. I think I'm going to have a ported enclosure made. Probably won't be made to spec since it is requiring about 22.5 x 15.5 and I think thats definitely a little bigger than I have to spare. My system should be almost identical to the link I posted of that 220. I actually spoke to Robert the owner of that boat and he loves it. The only difference between mine should be the tower speakers (I'm using NVS) and the amplifiers (I'm going with Kicker). I also won't be running any different batteries at this time. With only 2,000 watts to two batteries, I think I should be good until at least next season -- at that time, I may decide to upgrade to blue top optimas.

**01superair** · 07-15-2008, 05:19 PM

If you are going with the w-7s I would go sealed boxes you will get plenty of boom, I am running 3 of them in my 210.

Attached Files

**flaudia402** · 07-15-2008, 05:44 PM

You say sealed...however you have 3 of them. I'm sure you have plenty of boom. I'm also certain had you gone ported you probably wouldn't have had enough room, and secondly it would've been ungodly loud. I am however only running 1 12W7 with a 750 watts to it. I talked to JL and a few other individuals, both installers professional and amateur and they've stated to go ported specifically since it is a boat and due to the open air environment it is justified. Thoughts?

**01superair** · 07-15-2008, 05:51 PM

It has been my experience with the w-7s you are going to get louder bass with the sealed box, again just my thoughts. If you ask me a car audio shop doesn't know jack about how something is going to sound in a boat unless they do a lot of these big systems in boats. It all depends on what you are looking for out of your system what sounds good in a car isn't going to be the same in a boat. I am just giving you what works for me and my w-7s.

**OHLNautique** · 07-15-2008, 09:08 PM

It does not matter if the sub came from JL Audio or Radio Shack, a ported enclosure ALWAYS produces more volume. Simple physics; a sealed enclosure only uses the soundwaves coming from the front of the cone, a ported box uses the front and rear soundwave. However, I am sure 3 sealed w7's in a 210 hammers. What size are they and what amps are you running? Did you have to upgrade the alternator?

**SuperSquirt** · 07-15-2008, 10:31 PM

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!

**01superair** · 07-16-2008, 03:27 PM

They are the 12 w7s and I am running Orion XTR pro 2400's, 1 amp to each sub at 1600 watts each, Balmar 210 amp alternator with 8 blue top Optimas.

**OHLNautique** · 07-16-2008, 09:34 PM

Originally posted by damador

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!

Easy damador! My point was the difference between sealed and ported, not JL vs Radio Shack. I've had JL religiously through my car audio career and everything they make is as good as it gets. BTW, read my previous post about a 10w7 in my Tahoe.

01Superair:
How do you keep the gelcoat from flying of your boat? That's a ton of power!

Sealed or Slot Ported...?

Sealed or Slot Ported...?

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