RE: What was the great answer on the question: "why nobody makes sealed enclosure speakers anymore....?"

Speaker Asylum

General speaker questions for audio and home theater.

Back in the days of monophonic systems, we tended to have very large, efficient speakers and low-power tube amps to drive them. When stereo came in and acoustic suspension speakers were developed, the trend seemed to be to abandon the large speaker systems in favor of more manageably-sized enclosures because two speakers were needed. Acoustic suspension speakers are less efficient so more power was developed in amps, and we began to see 200 watt/channel solid state stereo amps.
Then, as I understand it, Thiele and Small developed a system of measuring loudspeaker driver characteristics that allowed speaker manufacturers to predict more accurately the performance of drivers in a specific enclosure, after which there seemed to be a growth in ported designs like KEFs 104aB that used a passive radiator or ducted port. These speakers were often more efficient than sealed box designs.
All this being said, I wonder about John Atkinson's comment about no one ever going broke designing a one-note loudspeaker. I guess, to reverse his comment, did people go broke designing sealed box speakers that were not one-note bass reproducers? I understand that JA was partly joking, (I believe he uses PSB Synchronys which have several ports as his current references) but I wonder still if ported designs are so bad, what advantage is there in their use? Are they inherently cheaper to build?
As a fan of ported speakers (I have enjoyed Klipsch Cornwalls, Altec Model 19s, PSB Stratus Golds, Thiel 3.6s and KEF 104aB's (these last two both with passive radiators). I think I know one-note bass when I hear it, and I think many of these designs were pretty successful in avoiding it. Careful positioning of the speaker can enhance or reduce one-note bass for certain.
I considered that one advantage of ported designs was reduced cone excursion in these often more efficient designs and a reduction in distortion products. At least that was Paul Klipsch's contention: that distortion was inversely proportional to efficiency.

Perhaps others would comment.

Enjoy your music!

George

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - What was the great answer on the question: "why nobody makes sealed enclosure speakers anymore....?" - Eldragon@gmx.com 11:21:30 08/04/12 (21)

PEOPLE ARE CONFUSED - Belgarchi 18:46:32 08/09/12 (0)

RE: What was the great answer on the question: "why nobody makes sealed enclosure speakers anymore....?" - hahax@verizon.net 20:35:59 08/08/12 (0)

My KLH 5s will deafen all that disbelieve. I think they're solid - tinear 08:52:12 08/08/12 (0)

RE: What was the great answer on the question: "why nobody makes sealed enclosure speakers anymore....?" - Bruce from DC 15:33:32 08/07/12 (0)

bought my floor standing Hales for the great imaging and the deep tight bass (nt) - Spun1 15:54:10 08/05/12 (0)

RE: What was the great answer on the question: "why nobody makes sealed enclosure speakers anymore....?" - Don Bunce 12:42:59 08/05/12 (1)

Thanks: that's really funny -nt - Feanor 11:34:17 08/08/12 (0)

A critically dmaped reflex alignment can have low-enough q at resonance and still have better ext - Timbo in Oz 08:42:39 08/05/12 (2)

No fair using science in a religious belief thread. - Edp 12:07:12 08/06/12 (1)

Single-issue-itis gives me the shits / pisses me off - Timbo in Oz 15:44:46 08/06/12 (0)

RE: What was the great answer on the question: "why nobody makes sealed enclosure speakers anymore....?" - George S. Roland 08:08:12 08/05/12 (0)

It was JA, answering his own question after hearing ESP Concert Grands at my place - John Marks 16:48:05 08/04/12 (5)

RE: Great article - thanks! (nt - Eldragon@gmx.com 11:40:38 08/05/12 (0)

RE: It was JA, answering his own question after hearing ESP Concert Grands at my place - tad 21:48:49 08/04/12 (3)

Just to clarify, it was my sidebar, in which I quoted JA - John Marks 07:28:26 08/05/12 (2)

RE: Just to clarify, it was my sidebar, in which I quoted JA - hahax@verizon.net 20:32:56 08/08/12 (0)

RE: Just to clarify, it was my sidebar, in which I quoted JA - tad 18:25:35 08/05/12 (0)

I dunno, my Gallo Ref. 3.1s are "sealed"... - rlw 15:16:31 08/04/12 (0)

Stereophile has reviewed a few good ones during the past several years... - genungo 14:33:18 08/04/12 (0)

Too many PETA groups complaining about all the seals which had to be killed to make them. (nt) - 1973shovel 13:13:33 08/04/12 (1)

Good one! Heh, heh...NT - rlw 15:14:01 08/04/12 (0)

Follow Ups

RE: What was the great answer on the question: "why nobody makes sealed enclosure speakers anymore....?" - George S. Roland 08:08:12 08/05/12 (0)

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