WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE? AND WHICH ONE SHOULD YOU INVEST IN?

Subwoofers are one of the best parts of a home theater system. They take your music and movie experience to the next level, and they give you that heart-pounding experience that other speakers and soundbars just can’t replicate. Or, in the words of Meghan Trainor, they’re all about the bass.

But which type should you choose: ported or sealed? It’s of course a matter of preference and depends on your personal taste, room size, and what you’ll be listening to. Each one does have their own strengths, and that’s why we’re here. We’ll break down the difference between ported and sealed subs to help you decide which one you should invest in.

WHAT IS A SUBWOOFER?

First, what is a subwoofer? Well, a subwoofer (also referred to as a “sub”) is a type of loudspeaker that’s designed to deliver the lower frequencies. These “lower frequencies” are typically 20-200 Hz. Reproducing low frequencies is not something a traditional surround sound setup can do, so a subwoofer is intended to do the heavy lifting to fill in that gap.

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

Ported subwoofers have one or more openings (ports) in their box. Since they contain the woofer and at least one port, ported subs have two different mechanisms moving the air (the driver and the port), so they produce a louder, more resonant bass. Their boxes tend to be larger than sealed subwoofers.

Sealed subwoofers don’t have any openings, so its woofer is enclosed in a sealed box. As the enclosure is sealed, they produce a tighter, more accurate bass. Their boxes tend to be smaller and more compact than ported subwoofers.

WHY CHOOSE A PORTED SUBWOOFER?

Ported subwoofers are a better fit for a larger space where they can more effectively fill the room with dynamic, resonant bass. The bass is louder too, so if you prefer to really crank it up, or have some neighbors you want to annoy, then a ported subwoofer can better handle those demands using less power than a sealed sub requires.

For this reason, they’re also great with home theater systems. During action-heavy scenes, the ones with the earthquakes and the explosions, a ported subwoofer does a great job enhancing the experience so you feel like you’re right in the middle of it all. Ported is where the thunder is at.

Basically, if you like your bass loud and resonant, go with a ported subwoofer.

WHY CHOOSE A SEALED SUBWOOFER?

Sealed subwoofers are better if you have less available floor space. They’re more compact, and they tend to work better in smaller rooms. Plus, since they’re smaller, sealed subwoofers can be better concealed under couches or discretely set somewhere in the room where they won’t get in the way. They also produce a tighter and more accurate bass.

They can be just as good in home theater systems, despite what a couple myths say, but they are better known for being geared towards music lovers. If you primarily listen to music, a sealed subwoofer will produce that more precise, natural bass for your music. Each beat will play crisply and accurately.

Basically, if you like your bass accurate and controlled, go with a sealed subwoofer.

SUMMARY

The choice between a ported subwoofer and a sealed subwoofer really comes down to one factor: you. If you’d prefer a subwoofer that goes down lower and has a loud, boomy sound, and you don’t mind their larger size, go with a ported subwoofer. If you’d rather have a tighter, more accurate bass and don’t mind that they need extra power, go with a sealed subwoofer. Either way, investing in a subwoofer will improve your home theater’s experience by leaps and bounds, so you’re sure to be happier with a subwoofer in your audio setup - no matter which type you choose.

Thanks for reading! Are you interested in investing in a good subwoofer? Well, you’re in luck! Here at SpenCertified, we’ve got a wide selection of speakers available, including subwoofers, which you can find here. If you don’t see something you like, check back tomorrow! We’re always getting new equipment.

Have a great day!

https://spencertified.com/collections/subwoofers