Best Subwoofer Enclosure: Sealed vs. Vent vs. Bandpass

When it comes to subwoofers, most people do their research and spend a great deal of time figuring out which subwoofers are best for them. Fewer people spend the same amount of time considering something as important as the subwoofer and that’s the box that the subwoofer requires. There is a wide variety of subwoofer boxes or cabinets on the market today. They come in different styles and sizes, are made from different materials, and are made by many manufacturers. Many audio enthusiasts even choose to build their own boxes. Although such a wide selection is available, there are essentially three types of boxes. The two most popular types of subwoofer cabinets are sealed and vented. A third option is a hybrid of the first two called a bandpass box.

Sealed

A sealed subwoofer box is exactly what it sounds like. The speaker faces out of the box and the rest of the box is sealed so no air can escape. This is probably the most common type of box. Due to the fact that no air can leak into or out of the cabinet, a sealed cabinet produces very accurate sound and can handle very low frequencies better than most cabinets.

One disadvantage of a sealed box is that it typically requires more power than a vented box. However, a sealed box is a good option for anyone who wants real high-quality sound from their subwoofer.

You can buy a sealed box at any good electronics store or you can build your own. There are numerous websites and / or videos available on the internet with plans to help you with construction.

Ventilated

Ventilated boxes are also known as ported boxes. These types of boxes contain a small ventilation hole or port in the cabinet that allows air to escape from the box. These cabinets produce very loud sound using less energy to drive the woofer, but they are also less accurate and will deliver lower quality sound than a sealed cabinet.

Vented boxes are tuned to a certain frequency range determined by the length, width, and diameter of the vent. There are several different variations of vents. For example, a vent could be round or it could be long and narrow, more like a slot. Each subwoofer has a specific frequency that it is designed to operate at to obtain its maximum output. By modifying the ventilation, the subwoofer can be tuned to different frequency ranges.

One of the advantages of a vented cabinet is that it requires less power to drive the subwoofer. However, a disadvantage of a vented box is that the bass is not as accurate as with a sealed box.

Band pass

Another option that is often overlooked when people discuss which type of subwoofer box is best is the band pass box. This is a type of hybrid box that is essentially a combination of a sealed and vented box. Bandpass boxes are extremely efficient. A subwoofer is mounted inside a two-chamber box. One chamber is vented and the other is sealed. The bass from the speaker travels out of the sealed chamber and then continues through the vent in the outer case. This produces a deeper sounding bass and requires less power than a single sealed cabinet. However, not all subwoofers will work in a bandpass box, so you need to do your research when considering a bandpass box. They are also quite difficult to build. If you are thinking of building your own box, it may be easier to opt for a traditional sealed or vented box.

As with many decisions in life, the choice of which subwoofer box is right for any individual will depend on that individual and the factors that influence their choice. It really depends on so many different factors that no one can tell which box is the best overall. Factors like size, cost, and sound quality will influence the decision. The good news is that no matter the combination of factors, there is bound to be a subwoofer box to suit all your needs.