Advantage to downward vs. front firing port?

[Glen_T]

I apologize if this has been asked and answered, but I couldn't find it.

I'm curious about the advantage or disadvantage of the port placement on tower speakers. For example, the Monitor 50/60/70 series have the port on the front, but their replacment, the TSI 300/400/500 series have the port on the bottom.

Is the bottom firing port worse on carpet, or does it matter? I will have my fronts near a floor duct, so it doesn't seem like a good thing to have a port on the bottom!

Anyone have some thoughts? Thanks....great forum...

[ShinAce]

Bass will travel like mad through the ducts, but it's not a problem for the speaker. It should sound normal in the listening room.

The ideal place for the port is as close to the speaker as possible. That doesn't mean a port on the back is bad, just not always the best.

[Glen_T]

Thanks for the response....I was more concerned about the warm or cold air from the vent going up into the speaker....