Originally Posted by
RMC
Hi Goldjazz,
RE "were no longer sealed to the cone."
Going crazy? Probably not with regards to improvement in mid bass punch. Speakers should be an air tight system, except for the vent when the design calls for one.
Air leaks rob you of some of a driver's low end. The effect of losses is nicely illustrated in Vance Dickason's Loudspeaker Design Cookbook, 5th ed., P. 51.
Bullock on boxes (e.g. P. 20) has repeatedly insisted on having air tight cabinets and that includes the driver(s) sealing the front baffle holes (excludes vent when there's one). He describes this as the single most important requirement, and adds " I cannot emphasize this point enough". He did have to seal porous dustcaps to settle some losses issues.
An air leaking dust cap may well explain some of your sound issue. Can't say about better imaging though. Regards,
Richard