[firebri]

Since I now have all the major pieces to my upcoming system, I figured I had everything figured out, but now my obsession has shifted from which products to which enclosure...

I will be feeding 1200 JL Audio HD watts to a single Morel Ultimo 124. After a hell of a lot of reading, I had pretty much figured I'd go with a sealed enclosure of about 2 cf. I'm trying to build a SQ system in a Kia Soul. I have an HD 600/4 lined up for my Morel Hybrid 602's for the front, and an MS-8 for DSP duties.

I now find myself being seduced by some of the custom enclosures available out there, including some impressive ported designs, some of them especially designed for my specific driver. SAVE ME FROM MYSELF! Or give me some advice...Stick with sealed...or...

I listen to mostly hard rock, but also dabble in dubstep, techno funk, and some other stuff...thoughts?

 

[Audiophilefred]

I say go for a custom ported enclosure that way you get good output and sq. cause that sub needs a ported enclosure to get any kind of output

 

[kyheng]

For sub, I'll go for ported, easier to tune and power friendly.

 

[SkizeR]

If u really wanna get weird, the ultimo is a good candidate for an aperiodic enclosure. I'm going to be doing that with mine

 

[chithead]

You sound like me. Sealed seems like the "go-to" SQ enclosure. But ported can sound so good while increasing the output.

 

[firebri]

One that caught my eye was this one:

LAB SlapBox™ 1.65 ft^3 Ported MDF Enclosure - Morel Ultimo 12 Subwoofer

There are also several custom box builders out there who ask for all the details of your equipment, needs, etc. prior to building you an enclosure.

Obviously I have nothing against increased output, I just don't want to sacrifice sound quality. I guess I just feel like I spent a ****-ton of money on this sub and the amp that goes with it...I just want to get the most out of it.

 

[firebri]

I've built simple sealed enclosures in the past, and I know I could throw together a sealed box of the recommended size, but I've never had equipment of this caliber

 

[Lorin]

Im in the process of going from a sealed box (ultimo sc12) to a ported (2.1 ft3) enclosure. Models very well, with 3-5 db more output from 20-40 hz

 

[Patrick Bateman]

Probably one of the easiest ways to make your sub sound better is to simply isolate it from the car itself.

 

[SkizeR]

Probably one of the easiest ways to make your sub sound better is to simply isolate it from the car itself.

you mean like no energy of the sub and box transferred to the body and panels of the car?

 

[UNFORGIVEN]

I have two myself in a sealed enclosure which is too small for the power I have on tap IMO. I'm contemplating throwing them in a ported box 3 cubes @32 hz on the same power just to compare

They sound good enough as is that I haven't changed the setup in over a year.

 

[firebri]

Just ordered a set of plans for a custom sealed enclosure from The Box Guy. SQ simplicity.

 

[firebri]

I guess I figure an Ultimo 12 with 1200 quality watts will have plenty of output for personal listening in a properly designed sealed enclosue. Morel does recommend a sealed enclosure for the Ultimo.

 

[bugsplat]

I'll always run sealed myself. Tried many different types of boxes and sealed fits my listen style the best. Most to least----> Metal> classic rock> R&B> rap> classical. For me its not about SPL, its about accuracy. A ported can be setup great but a sealed is stupid easy and 99% of the time it sounds great. Ported is so hit and miss. you can have a great design but it doesn't always work in the car you put it in. I've know guys who will build 3-4 ported designs before they find one they like.

 

[Lorin]

you are correct that Morel states sealed for sq. That said, I was able to call Morel tech support and talk with the technical support side. explained what I was looking to improve over my current setup (wanted more from 20-40 hz). He called back two days later after modeling the sub for use in my vehicle (using Morel's box program \ LEAP). still in the process of building the box, but very much looking forward to it.

 

[chithead]

^^^ Anxious to "hear" your results

 

[SkizeR]

you are correct that Morel states sealed for sq. That said, I was able to call Morel tech support and talk with the technical support side. explained what I was looking to improve over my current setup (wanted more from 20-40 hz). He called back two days later after modeling the sub for use in my vehicle (using Morel's box program \ LEAP). still in the process of building the box, but very much looking forward to it.

What kind of box did it call for?

 

[Sine Swept]

Patrick, how is this accomplished?

How can I fly my sub enclosure in my hatchback?

 

[Sine Swept]

Patrick, how is this accomplished?

How can I fly my sub enclosure in my hatchback?

 

[firebri]

Correct me if I'm wrong...but it would seem that if one were going for pure accuracy of a recording, taking a sub known for it's accuracy such as the Ultimo, and putting it in an enclosure that is known for accuracy which would be a sealed enclosure, would give you the most accurate reproduction. I realize that some people look for increased output, and tune their ported enclosures to achieve this, but are you not in essence coloring the original recording by adding increased output at certain frequencies that was not intended?