Sealed or Ported, depending on room heelp!

[Terranova]

Im planning on getting an Fi Q12 from Ficaraudio.com but i'm having some real issues finding out how i can get this thing installed in my truck. I have a 1998 Dodge RAM 1500 SLT Quad-Cab, theres not very much room in the back. I am now thinking about just going with a sealed box even though ive heard it wont be as loud or hit as low, i need to keep some space in the back for when i have passengers or when im taking computers around. Has anyone installed a sealed or ported box into this kind of truck? Here are the Dimensions for the sub: Ill try to get some pictures of my truck in here witht eh backseat and what not. Thanks Guys!
Linky:
https://ssl.perfora.net/www.ficaraudio.com/sess/utn;jsessionid=1547a3a4a35e774/shopdata/0020_Q/product_overview.shopscript
Fi Q12
DUAL 1 | DUAL 2
Fs: 28.4 Hz | 27.1 Hz
Re: 0.7 Ohms/coil | 1.4 Ohms/coil
Qms: 05.39 | 5.63
Qes: .49 | .48
Qts: .45 | .44
Mms: 211g | 231g
Cms: 0.15mm/N | 0.15mm/N
Sd: 481cm^2 | 481cm^2
Vas: 48.3 l | 48.3 l
Spl: 85.4dB 1W/1m | 84.8dB 1W/1m
Bl: 10.4 N/A | 15.1 N/A
Xmax: 27mm
Rms: 1000W
Sealed box: .8-1.5 cuft
Ported box: 1.8-2.5 cuft @ 28-33Hz
Sub OD: 12.500”
Cut ID: 11.125”
Mounting depth: 7.000”
Displacement: 0.16cuft

Product code: 01712

Price: $ 259.00

[Old Thrashbarg]

So that I don't have to type it all out, I'll just point you here (http://diyaudiocorner.tripod.com/dilemma.htm). It'll prolly take reading it a few times to digest it all, but it's a good explanation of the advantages and disadvantages of each type of box, and it also tells what a lot of those specs mean on the driver you're looking at.

I'd personally go with a sealed box. It is the easiest to implement, gives the smallest box, and will give you good accurate and "punchy" bass. It'll still give you good deep bass response, but will require a bit more power to drive it to high SPL as compared to a ported box. (Your chosen sub can handle a crapload of power, though, so that shouldn't really be an issue.) You also have a bit of room to adjust the sound style to your tastes, depending on how much foam batting you stuff into the box.

[Jacobman]

Well generally SQ=sealed, SPL=ported. Im more toward SQ so i would recommend sealed but it depends on your tastes. BTW i adjusted my stuff so you need to hear it again, i think it sounds alot better but im not sure.

[Terranova]

honestly, i think im gonna just settle with your opinion J. Sealed would be alot easier and not as space consuming. Im ordering the components and the amp this week so ill come by so we can get all the wiring and what not as well mkay.

[Jacobman]

With going sealed we probably will be able to do that cool box thats integrated with your middle section front seat. A secret subwoofer!

[Terranova]

w00t, i think it would be kinda cool if we do it there it will definately be a secret sub and no one will be abel to see it so they cant steal it lmao!

[nvidiaOCmaster]

Its not always ported for output and sealed for quality. When it comes to HT, a low tuned ported box, with a large port is usually best. If you put a sealed enclosure in a HT, you will get tight, responsive bass but anything below 30hz will not be heard well if at all. To get these frequencies with a sealed box it needs to be much larger than a ported box tuned to the same frequency.

If you need to save time and money, build a big sealed box. Its simple to build a sealed box, you can make it any shape you want, besides square. The only problem is, you need huge amounts of power to get good output in a sealed box.

and a quick note, that sub is rated for 1000WRMS, but that is just a BS spec so inexperienced people dont kill them with too much power/gain. That is a quality speaker, you should be safe up to 1500-1700WRMS if you make sure the gains are set right.

[Evilsizer]

ok heres my take while i its true about seal vs ported. you can lower the port tuning to still get higher low end vs sealed and still get the SQ of sealed. the down side is a longer port, another option to get extension ported offeres use a passive raditor. since that driver has 27mm xmax, i havent seen a passive with 54mm of cone travel...

ocmaster,
hearing things below 30hz or there abouts is not based on the enclosure. its more based on the driver used and room, like this driver for instance.
http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&Partnumber=295-460 10in/14mm xmax, sealed box 1cu.ft., predicted/F3-39.72hz/F6-30hz/F10-23hz.
http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&Partnumber=295-444 12in/14mm xmax,sealed box 1.9 cu.ft.,predicted/F3-36hz/F6-28hz/F10-21hz.

no if the room is rather largish, then imo a sealed would be a way to go. the large room will help pick up the low end in the sub...

i ran 2 8in's for HT with 3db@40hz BB/sealed in a rather large living room, superman metor scene was sweet. things were rattling on the walls in the house.
these are the 8's i used
http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&Partnumber=264-854 <-back on sale agian!

[Mikecdm]

I'd say if space is your main concern go with the sealed box. It's obviously going to be a lot smaller than the ported box. Since the Q is FI's sound quality sub I'd say that it can play well in both types of boxes and I have heard that it can get plenty loud and low in a sealed box.
Optimal volume for a sealed box is just around 1.0 cu/ft for the 12", while ported its probably going to be twice as big and you have to add to that the port. If you just throw it on the back seat it's going to look bulky either way.
BTW, I have never seen a quad cab 1998 ram 1500, mind showing a picture?

I personally was going to buy a Q, but didn't have the money for both the sub and the amp that I wanted.