I’m “baffled” that after more than 100 responses nobody mentions the room the speakers are being used in. OB speakers are the first that worked in my room. Prior to that, even at low volumes, three different ported box speakers (two standmounts, one floorstander) excited the room and muddied the bass significantly. My current OB speakers, Spatial Audio M3 Sapphires are heads and tails better than those speakers IN MY ROOM, so much so that I’m having a pair of endgame OBs custom-made as we speak.
Honestly, the conversation is a waste of time without considering the room. Open baffle speakers are incredibly room friendly as long as you can have them a minimum of three feet out from the front wall. For anyone who has struggled finding a box speaker that works in their room, try open baffles. They make fantastic bass even in small, difficult rooms, no subs required.