Sealed vs. Ported Speakers

What are the pros & cons of sealed and ported speakers?
(The port can be used to increase efficiency or extend the low frequency response but not both at the same time. The response drops at 12db per octave below the cutoff whereas a sealed speaker drops 6db per octave below cutoff. Sealed speakers will inherently offer a tighter, better defined bass note than a comparable ported speaker. However, design, materials, and implementation will offer benefits and trade-offs for either design.)

Why are the most expensive types of speakers sealed?
(They are not. Wilsons are ported, Magico's are sealed as two prominent examples.)

Are there any $20k and up ported speakers?
(See above.)

(I have both types of speakers, but overall I prefer the sealed box speakers of which I have three pairs.)

(I always liked the description of the port as a resonating column of air no longer directly controlled by the woofer)
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Aerial 12 is ported.

No speaker design is inherently inferior to any other. It just depends on how well a particular design is implemented, and if the music played on it is appropriate for that design.

That being said, I do like rear ported speakers better than front ported speakers. (no snide remarks on my masculinity now, or my fondness for sheep, please)

4 of 5 pair of speakers I run are ported.

In order (largest to smallest):

OHM Walshes: bottom port
Dynaudio monitors: rear port
Triangle monitors: front port
Realistic Minimus 7s: no port

They are all very good, within their specific limits. Performance levels achievable happen to correspond directly to the relative size.

The Sonus Faber Stradivari is WAY more than $20k, and it is ported. The $200k Wilson Alexandria speakers are ported, as are Audionote speakers, Classica Audio, and a host of others. There are plenty of sealed box speakers under $100 a pair.

It is not hard to design and build speakers that are either ported or sealed, so cost is irrelevant.