Help choosing enclosure type (ported or sealed)

[fergie]

I am building an enclosure with 2 subwoofers for my 01 F150 ext cab to go under the rear seat. I have always built and had sealed boxes mainly because of ease of building and size restraints. The goal is to get the most efficient setup I can with the size I have to work with.

I have 2 subwoofers for the enclosure. I have roughly .5 cu ft per subwoofer to work with. Would I be better off going sealed or is it possible with this amount of volume to go ported? I have used a calculator/program and found that a ported box with .55 cu ft and a 4" x 44" port would work, but I don't think I can fit an almost 4ft tube in the box!! Anyways, here are the specs

Elemental Designs SQ10

Qts: .29
Qes: .32
Qms: 2.7
Fs: 25.50Hz
Re: 3.5
Vas: 46.7L
Mms: 110.0g
Bl: 15.10T*m
SPL: 86.7dB
Sd: 350cm²
Xmax: 9.3mm
Voice Coil: 62.5mm

Magnet Width: 2.700"
Cutout Diameter: 9.125"
Mounting Depth: 3.000"
Weight: 7lb
Total Height: 3.400"
Displacement: .03 ft³

Outside Diameter: 10.250"

[Triticum Agricolam]

While those subs would work very well ported, you don't have anywhere near enough room. A ported box with .55 cf isn't enough for those subs, IMHO. I'd use at least .75 cf and 1 cf each would be better. Then you have to factor in the space the port takes up. Looks like you are going to have to stick with a sealed box unless you can come up with significantly more room somehow.

[fergie]

Ok, I was thinking it would be a bit small for ported with all the reading I have been doing. But I am still very new at this, especially porting. I have been playing with some calculators and it's strange to me how a smaller diameter port requires shorter length than a larger port.

Is it possible that one of these subwoofers in a ported box would outperform two of them within the constraints that I have to work with?

I am awaiting the woofers right now, so I'm pretty excited and anxious about getting them going. I'm trying to educate myself so I'm not building 5 enclosures for it. haha

[mcfalcon]

You could do 2 4" aero ports but .55 is way to small for ported. If you do get the box and port right yes 1 sub could sound better than 2 sealed.

Oh and welcome. That guy triticum that commented is legit. Might be wise to take any advice he gives.

[everybodyknowme]

I agree space is too small for 2 woofers ported but like he said 1 woofer in a proper ported box could sound better than 2 sealed

[mcfalcon]

You could also consider raising your seat a 2-3 inches. Do the math and see what that will offer for space.

[fergie]

Wow, you guys work fast!! I will take all the advice I can get!

I am probably going to build a sealed enclosure for now and maybe play with making a ported one down the line at some point. I haven't measured anything out yet, but going off of pre-fabed boxes for my truck it looks like I have the capabilities to get to about 1 cu ft if I went with 1 woofer. Does it make a big difference with ported boxes for the shape? Mainly since this is going to be long and thin.

[fergie]

You could also consider raising your seat a 2-3 inches. Do the math and see what that will offer for space.

I have thought about this and seen it done. But I haven't really looked into doing it, it looks like it can be quite a bit of work.

[mcfalcon]

Depends. I'm doing my gmc soon. I gonna get some square tubing and longer bolts. That's my theory anyways lol.

[fergie]

Depends. I'm doing my gmc soon. I gonna get some square tubing and longer bolts. That's my theory anyways lol.

haha, best of luck to you! I will have to investigate raising the seat a little bit...... I had originally thought about finding a passenger side bucket seat and building a center console setup, but I don't know how long I am keeping this vehicle so I don't want to put too much work into it.