hey everyone i have 2 12" kicker comp cvr's and i need to buy a box for them. im looking to get thew most bass out of these i possibly can. what would be better for that a ported or a sealed subwoofer box?

 

A ported enclosure will give you a lower frequency response than a sealed enclosure, but for the best sound you'd probably be better off to build your own ported box designed specifically for those subs. Another thing you need to think about, a ported box requires more room and takes up more space than a sealed enclosure.

 

ok so basically in stupid people terms a ported box would let me get more bass out of them?

 

Not neccessarily more bass, lower bass. Ported will give you a lower range than a sealed.

 

got the following info from crutchfield.com

Different types of boxes will produce different types of bass:

Sealed boxes: For deep, precise bass
A sealed box is an airtight enclosure housing your subwoofer. A sealed box is best for any music that demands tight, accurate bass. Expect flat response (not excessively boomy), deep bass extension, and excellent power handling. Since a sealed enclosure tends to require more power than a ported box, use an amplifier with ample wattage for optimum performance.

Ported boxes: For forceful bass
Ported boxes use a vent (called a port) to reinforce low bass response. You get more output than you would from a sealed box at any given amplifier wattage. Some people prefer the sound of ported boxes for rock, heavy metal, or any hard-driving music. Ported boxes can deliver deeper bass than sealed boxes, though they need to be much larger than sealed enclosures to accomplish that.

Bandpass boxes: Maximum slam!
Bandpass boxes are a special type of ported box designed for maximum slam. The woofer is mounted inside a dual-chambered box (one chamber sealed, the other ported), with the sound waves emerging from the ported side. The sound that comes out of the port is extra loud within a narrow frequency range.

Because bandpass boxes are super efficient within that range, they tend to boom. Their aggressive sound is great for rap, reggae, and hard rock. Not all subwoofers work well in bandpass boxes, though; consult our product information or call a Product Advisor to be sure.

 

A ported box will NOT give you lower bass or better anything IF the box, port, and subs are not matched properly. In fact, the opposite can be true, plus you can ruin a sub in no time with the wrong set up. When done properly, a ported box will give you that low, low boom that you hear from 2 blocks away. When not done properly, they are crap.

 

how do you determine what is the best setup for your subs?

 

A proted box, if built correctly, is the best bang. Look at your subs specifications. It should say how much cubic ft., etc.

I have sealed as of now; the bass is nice and tight.

Now, I used to have a ported box with a mere 75watts going to each of my subs.
I could set off car alarms like 'that'.

 

Well... It all depends on the subs... but you can get a sealed enclosure to pound as well... I had 4 10's in a 2 cubic foot enclosure that could be heard for 7-8 blocks...

 

Ported or sealed is an age-old discussion. Ported boxes are larger than their sealed brethren. They do, however, tend to be a bit louder in their frequency range. Sealed boxes are usually smaller, sometimes much so. Sealed boxes usually more accurately represent the original source signal. They can also handle more power, all else being equal.

Personally, I have always been a sealed box guy, as the subs tend to be tighter that way, and the boxes are smaller, thus you can fit more subs, etc. Really, it usually comes down to what kind of space you are working with, what kind of subs, how much power you have at your disposal, and where your priority is (accurate tight bass response, or just loud boom).
THe best thing you can do is compare apples to apples. GO to a store that has various sub boxes set up, and you can switch between them. Listen to the same deck and amp, while switching between two boxes with the same sub. This will explain it better than any text-based post in a forum.

Oh, PS: In my previous vehicle (2000 Dodge Dakota Ext), I had 3 Kicker C-15's (circa 1993), in a sealed box, and applied a real 800 watts or so (by 'real' I mean a Phoenix Gold amp, no 'Rockwood' here). When my deck died on me, and I was without it for a month, I noticed I was feeling very fatigued earlier in the day than usual. I realized that it was because I wasn't getting my usual massage between job sites. I quickly replaced my deck, and all was back to normal.

 

ported make booming bass. sealed make punchy bass. if you have a lot of room, go ported. build your own.

 

My Kicker Comp VR 10s are and have been in a sealed box for years. I think the VR series is designed for smaller enclosures. I've always liked sealed better anyway. It sounds much cleaner. Ported sounds distorted.

 

I have 2 JL 10W3's (1998 model) in a bandpass box in my Mustang, they will make you hurt. I am running each sub off of a Punch 360.2

 

I can say the samething. I put a JL 12W7 on a Alpine M501 in a bandpass box. The thing tried to suck my eyes out! I had to cut the power down to it so I could drive without every peep looking over at me.