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To port or not to port

Hiya,

I have a dedicated 2 channel music only set up. (no HT) and currently have a pair of PSB Synchrony One B bookshelfs. I really like the speakers but sometimes percussive bass gets boomy and bass guitar has a resonant, for lack of a better term, droning quality to it. I feel the rear ports are the culprit. I've moved the speakers away from the wall in increments but it still remains. I've used every bass management crossover option on my pre-amp to no avail. PSB does not recommend stuffing the ports.

I'm thinking of going with a sealed design since I have a Rythmik sub to handle the low frequencies and a Parasound A21 amp to handle the lower sensitivity of a sealed box.

In the $2-3000 dollar range I've only come across 2 models.
The Vapor Audio Sundog and two from ATC, the SCM11 and SCM 19.

Would a sealed box "tighten things up" in the low end? And does anyone know of any other manufacturers making a sealed bookshelf?

Thanks.
mjm1124
zd542
5,339 posts
 
"I really like the speakers but sometimes percussive bass gets boomy and bass guitar has a resonant, for lack of a better term, droning quality to it. I feel the rear ports are the culprit."

You may be right but there many things that can cause this type of problem. You may want to broaden your search and consider some other possibilities.
johnnyb53
3,510 posts
 
What? Not one mention of the amplifier involved or the crossover point to the sub, or the location of the sub?
tls49's avatar
tls49
1,351 posts
 

Agree with Lowrider57, stands need spikes at the floor.
buconero117
2,311 posts
 
Depends, and yes it is complicated. Illustration, ProAc had one of their models, I forget exactly which one, that ported in the front. Ideal if you want to place them on a shelf. I have ProAc 140's, which are ported on the bottom. When I first got them, I installed two inch spikes to replace the small ones provide by ProAc, bass was okay. Next I put each speaker on a large, rolling plant stand, which added another two inches of height. I did this mainly to tune there placement and make them easy to move around the room. Base was significantly improved. So, I left them on the rolling plant stands. So, as all things in audio are, keep tweaking.
ngjockey
1,042 posts
 
Too often I've seen commercial speakers using too small a box for the driver. Whether this is packaging or marketing, it leads to a peak in the bass. Are you actually using a high pass on the bookshelfs or just a low pass on the subs?

NHT makes sealed speakers.
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