Username: Password:

Author Topic: Cabinet porting  (Read 3215 times)

psy

  • Featherweight
  • ***
  • Posts: 432
    • Me singing & guitaring
Cabinet porting
« on: April 27, 2009, 02:57:51 PM »
Does anyone understand the science behind porting a guitar cab?  Either the round bass reflex tubes like Ear Candy use or the straight openings Port City use?

I'm trying to design a 2x12 & really can't get me head around it.
Cold Sweat set in Mockingbird NJ Classic > Boss GT6 > Sansamp PSA > VHT 2/90/2 > Zilla 2x12 cab > =D

Dmoney

  • Welterweight
  • ****
  • Posts: 3577
Re: Cabinet porting
« Reply #1 on: April 27, 2009, 04:09:54 PM »
i think you need to read up on thiele & small parameters. you use those to mathmatically tune the bass response of a cab of a particular size and a particular speaker with a particular sized port. i think thats the case.
 i found a java applet that yoou could enter the thiele values into and the cab sizes etc, and it gave you a freq response and spl chart along with dimensions of a cab and ports for you. or you could suggest different things and it would work it out. Genz Benz make a ported 4x12. looks bonkers though. i think Mills 4x12 cabs are ported too.

psy

  • Featherweight
  • ***
  • Posts: 432
    • Me singing & guitaring
Re: Cabinet porting
« Reply #2 on: April 27, 2009, 04:45:23 PM »
Aye, I downloaded a little program earlier called WinISD that showed some curves & vent sizes & what not.  It knowing what length of vent to use & what frequency is best to tune to.  All very confusing.  I think just go with a standard closed cab & avoid the headaches.  LOL
Cold Sweat set in Mockingbird NJ Classic > Boss GT6 > Sansamp PSA > VHT 2/90/2 > Zilla 2x12 cab > =D

Dmoney

  • Welterweight
  • ****
  • Posts: 3577
Re: Cabinet porting
« Reply #3 on: April 27, 2009, 04:47:36 PM »
ive read about people building cabs for others by taking into account the tuning they use and using that base frequency as a starting point. so a cab resonates on an e chord or whatever. but i dunno how reliable that info is.

psy

  • Featherweight
  • ***
  • Posts: 432
    • Me singing & guitaring
Re: Cabinet porting
« Reply #4 on: April 27, 2009, 04:50:17 PM »
That sounds reasonably logical.  So for me a cab resonating on a B chord could be an idea (I tune BEADF#b).  I'l have to ask Paul at Zilla about it.  He's building the thing after all :)
Cold Sweat set in Mockingbird NJ Classic > Boss GT6 > Sansamp PSA > VHT 2/90/2 > Zilla 2x12 cab > =D

jpfamps

  • Lightweight
  • ***
  • Posts: 767
    • http://www.jpfamps.com
Re: Cabinet porting
« Reply #5 on: April 27, 2009, 05:57:11 PM »
Porting of cabs is a way of extending the bass response of a driver unit compared with having the driver in a sealed cabinet by allowing some of the low frequency sound to be projected from the port.

It is important to have the cab tuned to the resonant frequency of the driver units so that the sound projected from the port is in phase with the sound eminating from the speaker otherwise you will reduce bass response!!

To accurately tune the port you need to know the Thiele Small parameters of the driver units you are using. It is very rare to find these for guitar speakers. Furthermore these parameters are unique to the drivers being used, so if you want to change driver units in a ported cab you will effect the resonance of the cab.

I'm not 100% convinced that TS ported cabs are much use for guitar. There are several problems with them, not least you probably don't know the TS parameters for the speaker. Below the tuning frequency of the system the bass response drops like a stone, and the loudspeaker cone is unloaded, which can cause it to travel excessively and be damaged.

Having said that there are several ported or tuning guitar cabs out there that have good reviews, eg the Dr Z 2x12, and the THD 2 x 12 (although this a rear slotted port so is really a "semi-open-backed" cab).

For bass guitar, where increased efficiency in the bass frequencies is beneficial, a ported cab is probably to way to go.

psy

  • Featherweight
  • ***
  • Posts: 432
    • Me singing & guitaring
Re: Cabinet porting
« Reply #6 on: April 27, 2009, 06:11:12 PM »
Thanks for that JPF.  I'll keep the cab sealed then :)  It'll just be easier all round.
Cold Sweat set in Mockingbird NJ Classic > Boss GT6 > Sansamp PSA > VHT 2/90/2 > Zilla 2x12 cab > =D