i have never used areo ports before. i want to though. when your sub sounds like chit on the lows its more than likly cause the sub is trying to play lower than what the box is tuned at. which is very harsh on the sub. try plugging a port and see if theres a difference. by doing that the tuning of the box will drop lower. also is your enclosure free of any leaks? beleave it or not theres more air pressure inside a ported box than a sealed. every kind of enclosure needs to be perfectly air tight, accept infinite baffle of cource.