A question about front-ported speakers

It depends on what sort of environment the designer tuned the speakers for. The port tuning will be the designer's best guess as to what will work well given the speaker's anticipated environment. In the real world, low-frequency room acoustics varies enormously so the ideal tuning for a given application may be different from what the speaker left the factory with. Not many manufacturers offer user-adjustable tuning, but if you don't mind improvising you can adjust it anyway.

If you find there's too much bass close to the walls, either increase the port length or reduce the port diameter or both, thereby lowering the tuning frequency and hopefully transforming undesirable "boominess" into deeper extension. This can be accomplished with a section of PVC pipe wrapped with just enough electrical tape to give you a snug friction fit in the existing port (I've never actually done this but it's what I'd do in your situation). There is a chance that you'll introduce some port noise or bass compression at very high volume levels.

Once you've made a speaker choice, feel free to e-mail me with enclosure and port dimensions, and I'll do some calculating and offer a suggestion or two.

Duke
dealer/manufacturer

I have personally had both front ported and acoustic suspension designed large speakers. BOTH have sounded much better out into the room.

I don't know your room size, but you might reconsider "getting far away" from your speakers.

Richard

There are speakers designed for placement against the wall - Audio Note, older Linn, etc

Paradigm make some good in walls too - so consider these.

Trying to read between the lines here...

In my experience I have found that you can get a front ported speaker closer to the walls then a rear ported speaker.

That said, YMMV = no substitute for trying it in your space.

Keep in mind that in many cases a rear port design is used to add bass - closer to the wall will add more.

Acoustic suspension speakers are great but also placement sensitive and are generally power hogs.

If you haven't done so I would suggest you check out the Cardas site for his comments on how to place speakers. There are also some good threads here and on Asylum on the topic. Generally you will see that your position relative to the speakers is also important, and that your position relative to the wall behind you will also have a major impact.

Few things in this hobby require as much trial and error as optimizing speaker placement.