What's the Difference between Sealed - type and Ported - type Car Subwoofers and How to Choose?

Sealed - type:

1. Working Principle

The enclosure of a sealed - type subwoofer is completely sealed. When the speaker unit is working, the air inside the enclosure acts like an "elastic element". For example, when the speaker cone moves inward, it compresses the air and the air pressure rises; when it moves outward, the air pressure drops. This change in air pressure exerts a reaction force on the speaker, which, together with the elasticity of the speaker itself, controls the movement of the speaker. This structure restricts the movement of the speaker to some extent, resulting in a tighter bass performance.

2. Sound Characteristics

Deep Low - Frequency Extension: It can reproduce lower - frequency sounds well, and the low - frequency response is relatively linear. For example, when playing organ music, it can more accurately reproduce the deep, rich bass.

Pure and Clear Sound: Due to the damping effect of the air inside the enclosure, the transient response of the sound is good, and the sound is clean and tight without excessive trailing or reverberation. When playing the drum part of fast - paced electronic music, each drumbeat sounds crisp and clear.

3. Enclosure Design and Size

The enclosure design is relatively compact and ultra - thin, and the volume is relatively small, making it easier to install when the space inside the vehicle is limited. It can be placed under the car seat.

Ported - type:

1. Working Principle

A ported - type subwoofer has a port on the enclosure. When the speaker is working, the air inside the enclosure is connected to the outside through the port. When the speaker cone moves forward, a part of the air is expelled through the port; when it moves backward, the outside air enters the enclosure through the port. At a specific frequency, the air expelled through the port and the sound produced by the speaker are superimposed on each other, thus enhancing the bass effect.

2. Sound Characteristics

Powerful Bass: Under the same power, the ported - type can produce a greater sound pressure level and the bass is louder. For example, when playing hip - hop music with a lot of heavy bass, it can produce a stronger bass impact and make the music more impactful.

Higher Efficiency: Through the synergy of the port and the speaker, more air is pushed, enhancing the bass effect. Compared with the sealed - type, it has an advantage in terms of efficiency. However, the ported - type subwoofer may be slightly inferior in terms of low - frequency purity and sometimes there may be a slight "buzzing" sound.

3. Enclosure Design and Size

It requires a larger enclosure. There are various choices in terms of enclosure shape, size, and material, and it can be customized according to different usage scenarios and user needs. For example, there are square, round, oval and other shapes of enclosures. Users can choose the appropriate style according to the characteristics of the space inside the vehicle and personal preferences. It can be installed in the trunk, under the seat, in the corner of the vehicle, etc. The enclosure subwoofer can better cooperate with other car audio equipment (such as speakers, amplifiers, etc.) to improve the performance of the entire audio system.