Why do some companies make rear ported and others front ported is there any real sound differences between the two
front ported vs rear ported speakers
- Thread starter robbie1982
- Start date
I think it has to do with aesthetics and speaker placement, with front ported often being more versatile with regard to where it can be located.
CnoEvil said:
Unless you are going to put speakers tight to a wall there should be little difference.
At very high levels yo can get port noise, either 'chuffing' or reflections from inside the cabinet, this is more noticeable with front ported enclosures. However we are talking pretty loud here.
B&W do the golf ball dimples thing on their reflext port tubes, claiming it reduces chuffing noise. I never seem to hear chuffing with rear ported speakers while playing very loud but OK, maybe some actually do.
ifor
Well-known member
One of the reasons I bought my Spendors was because they are rear ported. The foam bungs in the front ports of my old TDLs had become rather unsightly having be sprayed so many times by Pissing Pippin (cat).
My neats are under ported, I'm not a speaker designer but think it helps with there nice low bass lines.
ifor
Well-known member
plastic penguin
Well-known member
robbie1982 said:
There shouldn't be any real difference unless the speaker is close to a wall. In addition, with small standmounts there's no room to place a port at the front. FWIW, my old RS6s were ported back and front.
Al ears
Well-known member
Wherever a port is placed it will make little difference to sound. The same box ported on the front or rear will inevitavbly 'sound' pretty much the same.
A port is placed where it is based on design constraints and aesthetics.
You could always go with a non-ported speaker if you wish.
A port is placed where it is based on design constraints and aesthetics.
You could always go with a non-ported speaker if you wish.
chebby
Well-known member
plastic penguin said:
Just a small selection of current models ...
http://www.acoustic-energy.co.uk/#!301/c1hz8
http://www.hifix.co.uk/graphics/pics/large/23392.jpg
http://www.whathifi.com/review/bw-685-s2-0
http://www.dali-speakers.com/en-US/Loudspeakers-1/LEKTOR-1.aspx
http://www.stereophile.com/images/reccomp2013/loudspeakers/041113.harbeth10.1.jpg
http://www.cambridgeaudio.com/media/aero-2-dark-walnut-1377701467.jpg
http://www.usheraudio.com/Loudspeaker_S-520.html
http://www.whathifi.com/review/tannoy-mercury-v1i
... lots more.
I'm far from tech savvy but I vaguely recall that infinite baffle speakers tend to have slightly lower-than-average sensitivity (?)
chebby
Well-known member
Singslinger said:
The handful of bookshelf ones still being made tend to be lower in sensitivity. It wasn't always thus.
My JPW Sonatas are 87dB @ 8 Ohms and my old Naim nSats were about the same. (Both small cabinets.)
Al ears
Well-known member
Possibly a sign of the times. My old Heybrook HB1's were quoted as 90dB @ 8 Ohms .
Quite often these figures have to be taken with a pinch of salt though as what manufacturers quote and what is actually measured can, in some cases be wildly different.
Manufacturers are given more leeway, these days, to produce speakers of lower sensitivity because they know most people are going to be using them with moderately powerful solid-state amps.
Quite often these figures have to be taken with a pinch of salt though as what manufacturers quote and what is actually measured can, in some cases be wildly different.
Manufacturers are given more leeway, these days, to produce speakers of lower sensitivity because they know most people are going to be using them with moderately powerful solid-state amps.
bigfish786
Moderator
I had rear ported floor standers that were a pain to position perfectly. The focals are both front and downward firing ports and give much better bass.
Native_bon
Well-known member
True about this. I listened to the neat SX1 & was really surprise the amount of bass these little floor standers produced. Also boom free.!letsavit2 said:
Al ears
Well-known member
stevebrock said:chebby said:
ouch
To be fair he did say 'small'Some on the list I would not consider to be particularly small (in the DB1 sense).
However, chebby has a point and if an enclosure needs a port they generally find a place to put it (even if it is more ofter a slot these days.)
chebby
Well-known member
Al ears said:stevebrock said:chebby said:
ouch
Some on the list I would not consider to be particularly small (in the DB1 sense).
Most are 30cm (or less) in height. That's small. The DB1is (your reference) are 29cm tall.
I'll grant you the Harbeths though.
It wouldn't take long to put together another list of small bookshelf / standmounts with front ports. As I said, there are lots.
I just wanted to point out that the exceptions to the statement "... with small standmounts there's no room to place a port at the front" are many and various
Rethep
Well-known member
chebby said:I just wanted to point out that the exceptions to the statement "... with small standmounts there's no room to place a port at the front" are many and various
25cm tall, while also integrating a power supply, two 25W A/B amplifiers and volume control:
I see your A3x and raise you with this....
Equator D5, same size (more or less) but with a bigger 5.25 inch dual concentric, inbuilt DSP and 50 + 50 watts continuous.
Less than £400pr if you look around.
Equator D5, same size (more or less) but with a bigger 5.25 inch dual concentric, inbuilt DSP and 50 + 50 watts continuous.
Less than £400pr if you look around.
chebby
Well-known member
EvPa said:chebby said:I just wanted to point out that the exceptions to the statement "... with small standmounts there's no room to place a port at the front" are many and various
25cm tall, while also integrating a power supply, two 25W A/B amplifiers and volume control:
I kept off the actives and 'powered' and desktop speakers just to prevent PP from accusing me of cheating. (He doesn't 'do' all that active stuff or desktop speakers.)
Another three small, front ported, standmount (passive) speakers ...
http://www.whathifi.com/review/guru-junior
http://www.arcam.co.uk/products,Solo,Loudspeakers,Muso.htm
http://www.linn.co.uk/all-products/loudspeakers/majik-109 (Just 3cm taller than DB1is)
chebby said:EvPa said:chebby said:I just wanted to point out that the exceptions to the statement "... with small standmounts there's no room to place a port at the front" are many and various
25cm tall, while also integrating a power supply, two 25W A/B amplifiers and volume control:
I kept off the actives and 'powered' and desktop speakers just to prevent PP from accusing me of cheating. (He doesn't 'do' all that active stuff or desktop speakers.)
Another three small, front ported, standmount (passive) speakers ...
http://www.whathifi.com/review/guru-junior
http://www.arcam.co.uk/products,Solo,Loudspeakers,Muso.htm
http://www.linn.co.uk/all-products/loudspeakers/majik-109 (Just 3cm taller than DB1is)
After all he is a mine of info
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