I always walk away from these kind of discussions with an empty feeling - Like why do people think that there is a single best way to do anything in audio given the huge number of compromises that any system involves? And a list of what types of systems sound best? Where is the data to support such a claim? "Sounds good to me"?

My opinion, the room makes more of an effect than any of the factors that are being thrown arround here. Bandpass, ported, sealed, they all have their benefits and drawbacks.

What do I do? Actually I use them all. Thats right, I have five LF drivers in my Home Theater. Two are closed, one ported and two more are bandpass. Five woofers spread around the room makes for a very smooth low end with an effortless sound quality. I don't know muddy from slipery, or slimy, but I do know that the more LF sources there are in a room the smoother the frequency and spatial response will be. And transient response - in a woofer? Does that even have any meaning?

I'd like to participate in the discussion but I don't really follow it.