Full flared ports reduce the noise problems with ported designs. I would say both can be made into fine subwoofers. Still for the ultimate in bass for music or HT a bass horn, massive OB design or bass tower sounds best. But they are large costly why most folks purchase affordable subwoofer designs. To me the total design of a subwoofer is flawed from the start designed more for WAF and profits. Less for ultimate perfromance. I would say most loudspeaker designs also fall into this.
sealed vs vented subwoofers
I'd like to ask the forum what the primary differences are in sound, performance, and application of sealed powered subwoofers vs vented either bottom vented, rear, etc. B&W makes most if not all of their current line of powered subs sealed. Yet I see other manufacturers offer vented subs. What is the difference? Do the sealed subs produce a higher quality tighter controlled bass vs a more sloppy reverberating type of LFE out of the vented types? Thanks.