Yes, in smaller rooms where the room pressurizes at higher frequencies, like 30Hz, a sealed sub would be preferred because a ported sub would have far too much output in the subsonic frequencies. Room gain is a real thing, so in a room where the gain at 25Hz is 24dB where the room gain at 50Hz is 12dB, then the output from the sub at 25Hz will be 12dB louder than at 50Hz if it has a flat response. You really don't want that as it will make it too boomy for no benefits to accuracy or detail. Similarly, if you have a habit of adjusting your subwoofer to be far louder than your main speakers, a ported sub will exaggerate the difference and when hit with a ton of truly deep subsonic energy from those specific movies and songs which have it can make somewhat overbearing bass completely out of control over the top boomy bass that is not pleasing. So, people who insist on cranking their subs often think a sealed sub sounds more "musical".
Likewise, if the desire is to keep the price down, a sealed sub generally does better in the 40Hz to 80Hz range per dollar if you're looking for a $400 subwoofer. However, that, to me, isn't a "subwoofer" since it doesn't provide significant output in the octave from 20Hz to 40Hz.
Also, outdoor speakers and car audio speakers tend to last longer if they are sealed, for obvious reasons.
If my little speaker company ever gets into the subwoofer business, then I am sure we'd offer both sealed and ported models.
Likewise, if the desire is to keep the price down, a sealed sub generally does better in the 40Hz to 80Hz range per dollar if you're looking for a $400 subwoofer. However, that, to me, isn't a "subwoofer" since it doesn't provide significant output in the octave from 20Hz to 40Hz.
Also, outdoor speakers and car audio speakers tend to last longer if they are sealed, for obvious reasons.
If my little speaker company ever gets into the subwoofer business, then I am sure we'd offer both sealed and ported models.
