When you think of a subwoofer speaker, what comes to your mind? Perhaps you might think it is just a simple speaker or amplifier. If you wanna know more about Subwoofer speakers, you’re in the right place!
A Subwoofer Speaker isn’t simply an amplifier or speaker; there are multiple components involved in making it function correctly. If you’re planning to purchase a subwoofer speaker, you’ll want to make sure you know what type of subwoofer speaker you’re getting, how to install it correctly, and where to place it in your room.
A subwoofer is a speaker system designed to reproduce deep bass tones. This type of speaker uses a large enclosure filled with air to produce low frequencies, making it ideal for playing movie soundtracks, music, and video games.
Subwoofers are commonly used in home theaters, where they help make the experience more immersive. They can also be found in professional recording studios, where they provide a powerful foundation for mixing audio tracks.
Subwoofers come in many different sizes and configurations. Some models use a single woofer while others use multiple drivers. Most subwoofers are powered via an amplifier that provides power to the driver(s). In some cases, the amplifier itself is housed inside the cabinet of the subwoofer.
What Does A Subwoofer Do?
Subwoofers are designed to deliver deep, powerful bass while maintaining clarity and detail throughout the midrange and high frequencies. In today’s world, you don’t want just one speaker system that does it all; you want multiple speakers that complement each other.
Subwoofers are important parts of any home or car audio system. When it comes to choosing the best subwoofer for your needs, there are three main types: active, passive, and hybrid. An active subwoofer requires a separate amplifier, while a passive subwoofer uses a pre-built amp inside the cabinet. Hybrid subs use both methods together.
Active subwoofers are usually powered by an external power supply. This allows them to produce a wider range of frequencies and louder volume. However, they tend to be heavier and larger than passive models. Passive subwoofers are typically smaller and lighter but don’t provide the same level of performance as active ones.
Hybrid subs combine the benefits of both active and passive designs. These speakers have a built-in amp and speaker driver, allowing them to reproduce a wide frequency range and loud volumes. They’re often small and light enough to fit into tight spaces.
The Importance of Subwoofers in Your Home Audio System
A good subwoofer should be able to handle the low end while keeping things clean and clear. There are different types of subwoofers out there, each designed to do something different. Some are meant to fill up large rooms, others are small enough to fit into tight spaces like under a bed or desk.
Many modern subwoofers, including those found in many home audio systems, are smaller than their predecessors, making it easier to place them where you want them. However, some people think that because they’re smaller, they don’t provide as much bass.
This couldn’t be further from the truth. While some subwoofers might not produce as much bass as larger models, they can still make a big difference in the quality of your music.
Inwall speakers are great for movies and TV watching, but you still need another subwoofer to get deeper lows. You can use a separate subwoofer for music listening, or you can pair one speaker with an in-wall subwoofer. If you choose to go this route, you’ll need to find a subwoofer that covers the frequency range you want.
If you already have a set of speakers, you might consider getting a second subwoofer to help improve the overall performance of your system. A single subwoofer won’t cover all the frequencies needed to give you a full experience. For example, if you listen to rap music, you’ll need a subwoofer capable of handling lower frequencies.
If you’re looking for a new subwoofer, keep these factors in mind when shopping around. The size and shape of your room will also play a role in determining which type of subwoofer you need.
Top Subwoofer Brands
A subwoofer produces low-frequency sound waves. They are used in movie theaters, home theater systems, cars, PA, studios, and gaming consoles.
JBL
Every division produces subwoofers, so JBL fans can get JBL speakers for almost any application, including home audio, live sound, and car audio. The variety of JBL subwoofer speakers combined with their popularity makes JBL a prime choice for getting what you’re looking for. That’s why JBL made this list.
Alpine
Alpine particularize in car audio and navigation systems and derives most of its revenue from sales to OEMs of various automakers such as Honda, BMW, Dodge, and Jaguar.
So when it comes to subwoofers, Alpine excels at producing subwoofers for car audio systems. They have a wide selection of speakers for different makes and models.
Kicker
Ever since Kicker has made a name for itself as a maker of car audio equipment. It is no wonder that Kicker would make this list as one of the finest brands for car subwoofers. The Kicker is based in Oklahoma and has been in the business of manufacturing professional-speaker systems since 1973.
Pioneer
Pioneer started as a radio and speaker repair shop in Tokyo in 1938 before becoming a major player in consumer electronics. It makes sense that the company has become a popular speaker brand. That said, it’s a great brand, especially for subwoofers.
QSC
It was founded in 1968, a California-based QSC Audio Products has long been a speaker manufacturer. Today, its reputation is firmly established as the leading manufacturer of professional subwoofers.
This company focuses on a broad range of audio products including loudspeakers, power amplifiers, digital mixers, and digital signal processors. While the above brands have primarily focused on car-hi audio subwoofers, QSC stands out in manufacturing its PA-style subwoofers for live sound applications.
Alto Professional
Utilizing the latest manufacturing techniques, Alto focuses on both audio professionals and musicians to produce high-quality, intuitive subwoofers for live sound applications.
They produce speakers, amplifiers, and mixers for audio engineers and musicians. Alto manufactures all-in-one PA systems for solo, duo, and small group performances.
Klipsch
Since 1946, Klipsch has been synonymous with quality speaker manufacturing. This company has a wide range of new speakers, as well as many older models that are very popular in the new and vintage markets.
When it comes to subwoofers, Klipsch doesn’t cut corners and you should expect the same standards. Their subwoofer applications include high fidelity, public addresses, personal computers, home theaters, etc.
Electro-Voice
Electro-Voice is one of the oldest audio equipment manufacturers still independent today. It is an industry leader in the development, design, and manufacture of professional audio equipment such as loudspeakers and live sound systems.
Electro-Voice’s uncompromising passion for sound quality is reflected in its superior subwoofer design. Electro-Voice is among the few companies of this scale to design all components in-house and own a number of industry-leading loudspeakers.
How Do I Know What Type of Subwoofer I Need?
If you’ve ever listened to a car stereo, you probably already know that some cars come with factory-installed subwoofers. In fact, many high-end vehicles even have multiple subwoofers. You might assume that every vehicle sold today includes a subwoofer, but that’s not necessarily true.
Many inexpensive vehicles don’t have subwoofers because manufacturers don’t see the value in adding such a small component to a relatively expensive product.
The best way to determine whether you need a subwoofer is to listen to your existing speakers. If you notice that the sound coming from the front speakers isn’t quite loud enough, you might want to consider buying a subwoofer.
On the other hand, if you find that the sound coming from your front speakers is too loud, you may want to keep your current setup.
Key Differences Between Speakers and Subwoofers
Speakers and subwoofers both produce sound waves, but there are some key differences between the two. While speakers are designed to reproduce the mids and high frequencies, subwoofers are built to reproduce low frequencies. If you want to hear what your music sounds like, it helps to know how each component works.
Wired vs Wireless Subwoofers
Wireless subwoofers are becoming increasingly popular because they’re easy to use and install. However, there are some drawbacks to consider before buying one.
Most subwoofers require both a power source and an audio cable to operate. This makes it difficult to move the sub around without having to disconnect it from the amp.
In addition, most subwoofers come with preinstalled cables that make wiring a lot simpler. If you want to change the length of the wire, you must cut off the old portion and splice in the new one.
The biggest drawback to wireless subs is the lack of volume. They typically produce less sound than wired subs. For example, a typical 10-watt speaker produces about 80 watts of peak power. With a wireless system, you might end up with 5-10 watts of peak power depending on how far away the receiver is from the speaker.
Another issue with wireless systems is interference. Some wireless receivers pick up radio signals from nearby devices such as cordless phones and baby monitors. You can avoid this problem by purchasing a dedicated wireless subwoofer.
If you plan to place multiple speakers throughout your home, a wired subwoofer is a better option. You can easily connect several speakers together to form a single system.
Final Thought
Technically speaking, a subwoofer is a speaker designed specifically to produce low-frequency sounds. This means that a subwoofer produces sound waves that range from 20 Hz to 200 Hz. These lower frequencies make up the “bass” part of the music. When combined with the upper frequencies produced by the front left and right speakers, you end up with full-range sound.
