"Acoustic Suspension" is a distinct variation on "Sealed" and I’m still not certain why that went so entirely out of favor for ported designs nearly universally decades ago. Make the cabinet a little bigger, power through a couple dB less efficiency, use a bigger woofer (or two), and get cleaner bass that rolls off at 12dB/octave instead of a ported 24dB/octave for far greater real-world extension without any phase shifting.
With modern cabinet and cone materials and motors, I can't imagine a larger-diameter AS woofer with less excursion wouldn't play as loud with less distortion than a smaller ported woofer trying to move that much air though excessive excursions.
I had two of the best examples of AS prior to Thiels, but there were so many apples vs oranges the lower and percussive bass response was merely ’different.’
With modern cabinet and cone materials and motors, I can't imagine a larger-diameter AS woofer with less excursion wouldn't play as loud with less distortion than a smaller ported woofer trying to move that much air though excessive excursions.
I had two of the best examples of AS prior to Thiels, but there were so many apples vs oranges the lower and percussive bass response was merely ’different.’