Subwoofer box Vented or not vented.?

Question

Here is the deal. I have a 12" power acoustic sub 800watts rms. I just bought a truck crew cab so my only option is to build a box to sit on the back seat in the middle. So i don't want it to take up too much room. I'm thinking it has to be (just a estimate) 13"tall by 12 or13" wide by 14 at bottom and about12 or so on top. Would it be better if its vented? I had it in a bigger box vented and it sounded nice. Now since i need a smaller box i'm wondering what would be better vented or not vented. By the way this is going on a 01 frontier crew cab if anyone has any ideas of something else i could do or what you have done thanks.

Answer 1

Very tricky Question ;)  but it all depends upon the mounting of the subwoofer as to where and how it has been installed and what is the construction of the box(shape/size) before you can decidfe if venting is needed, and some subwoofers work better and some work worst with the vent Hole. something you would have to learn your self mate, gud luck.

Answer 2

ok heres a much better answer for you

we will start with the vented question

First off, Find your manual on the sub, it should state the Cu. Volume the box should have for optimum output and small output being either vented OR sealed.

Now SEALED will SOUND BETTER, but if you have the leg room to accommodate a VENTED box (which is louder but generally much bigger) you will have more SPL aka NOISE or Db

most likely with the smaller space you want sealed.  THe other thing to do would be to get wats known as a down firing box, check them out on ebay.com or other various vendor sites.