2. speakers
  3. 192645-7795

Can you damage your speakers by plugging bass port vent?

HI All,

I have ProAc K6 Signature driven by AR Ref 150SE with AR Ref 5SE preamp....Unfortunately I am now staying in an apartment building - all concrete slab walls, ceilings etc.... Bass is just horrible... This is just a temporary arrangement and so I don't want to spend any moeny on acoustic treatments etc...  Will be moving to a house in about 9 to 10 months.... However, in the meantime, I was thinking to plug the bottom firings woofer port vent with some foam or fabric. But worry that this may cause all the energy to bouce back inside and....after several months...cause some damage to either the woofer or the speaker cabinets.... 

Is this something to worry about or would you say plugging the vent won't cause any issues....

PS: I would probably experiment with various materials, like cloth or foam or whatever.... to get the right balance.

THANK YOU !!

ether
signaforce's avatar
signaforce
207 posts
 

The only way I could get my R11’s to play nice with my F12SE’s was to plug my R11’s two rear facing ports with the KEF supplied foam inserts. The plugs lessen the bass, but don’t seal.
Frequency response changes verified with room correction software. Then used mini DSP on sub to further flatten. Very good results. 

g2the2nd
96 posts
 

Try a Schiit Loki Mini and turn the bass down.

avanti1960
1,484 posts
 

@ether

no damage for sure but be aware that not all ported speakers are designed to be plugged. Unless your speakers came with plugs originally chances are they are not. It depends on physical properties of the woofer suspension stiffness and travel. In general sealed speakers are looser and have more cone travel and ported speakers tend to be stiffer with less travel. Some are right in the middle and capable of both modes.

Plugging speakers that were not designed for it may restrict the travel of the woofer such that the output will suffer. 

Such was the case with some PSB towers I had.  Too much bass so I plugged the ports but the sound was not good.  See if you can give yours more distance to boundaries if plugging doesn’t sound very good. 

More to discover