Techniques are provided for generating sound using a speaker mounted to an enclosure (e.g., speaker cabinet) wherein a gas pressure level (e.g., air pressure level) inside the enclosure is lower than an ambient air pressure level outside the enclosure. The reduced gas pressure level within the enclosure provides an environment with a reduced pressure level at a back side of a speaker cone of the speaker, which enhances a low frequency response for a given speaker size, while also minimizing resonant frequencies and phase cancellation issues which could otherwise occur with conventional speaker systems in which acoustic sound waves are generated at the back side of the speaker cone. A pressure compensation system is utilized counteract a force applied to the front side of the speaker cone as a result of the gas pressure level inside the enclosure being lower than the ambient air pressure level outside the enclosure.