Sealed or Ported?
Each driver is different, so this isn’t a yes or no question. The advantage to a ported box is that is can be louder (about 3db), but this increase in db will only be at certain frequencies, depending on how the port tunes the box. If tuned at the right frequency, then this bump in sound level can counteract the normal roll-off of the woofer at the low end and actually help to create a flatter response curve. A standard sealed box improves the power handling of the driver, produces a smoother low end roll off, and basically sounds tighter, but you don’t get the extra bump at the end. Sealed boxes also allow more room for error in design. In the end, the driver itself should determine if it is best suited to a sealed or ported enclosure. If the Efficiency Bandwidth Product (EBP) is less than 50, then a sealed enclosure is better. If the EBP is greater than 100, then an ported enclosure is better. Between 50 & 100 either sealed or ported will work. Again, these are only rough guidelines.
