Subwoofer Definition:
A loudspeaker created to reproduce bass frequencies.
Subwoofer Selection Tips
When choosing to upgrade your audio system, adding a subwoofer can improve performance. Adding volume at sub frequencies is like adding a third dimension to your music. Whether you’re considering building a new audio system, or just adding one (or more) subwoofers to your factory system, this addition will give you the single, greatest sonic improvement. Simply adding even a little bass will make a HUGE improvement.
I’ll never forget my first experience listening to the heart-pumping sound of bass. I was listening to my friend’s newly-installed system (he had a couple of 12’s with a decent size amps), and it was literally shocking how R-E-A-L it sounded, how you could actually feel the music. I was completely amazed that you could actually feel the impact of the woofers. From that moment on, I’ve been a car audio fanatic.
Selecting a subwoofer can be hard. There are a few questions that you should ask yourself before actually running out and buying woofers.
What quality of sound are you looking for?
There are two main camps in the sound world: Sound Quality (SQ) or Sound Pressure Level (SPL).
Sound Quality refers to just that.. An SQ System generally uses a smaller woofer and requires a smaller enclosure. A sealed enclosure would typically work well for this application.
SPL, on the other hand, is for you “Big Bass Lovers.”
Sealed enclosures are also referred to as “Acoustic Suspension” enclosures. When a speaker is placed in a sealed enclosure, the pressure becomes trapped in the box and restricts the cone movement, so the air inside the enclosure acts as a spring. The tinier the enclosure, the greater the pressure is exerted against the cone under movement. With a sealed enclosure of predetermined volume, we can also predict the cut-off frequency and Q* of the system.
Sealed enclosures will also forgive minor mistakes in design (up to 10 percent), without major effects on sonic performance.
The real advantage is that they just consume less space, not to mention they’re easier to design and construct.
Ported enclosures are very close to a sealed enclosure in construction, but feature an additional opening for an attached port. This allows the rear-radiated energy to be phase inverted (matched in time) and to become in phase with the energy from the front of the speaker cone, essentially doubling the effective cone area.
The main negative with a ported enclosure is that the design and construction are not very forgiving of errors. Unlike a sealed box, you must determine a number of parameters: the box volume, tuned frequency, port area, and port length. But, the advantage is great — you’ll get more output with the same number and size of woofers.
However, with all of that additional output there’s always a trade off. More bass naturally means more space.
You’re probably thinking, can a ported enclosure sound as good a sealed enclosure? The answer is, yes, but it’s different in that it will have a slight peak around the tuning frequency (35 Hz) and roll off very quickly. Both types of enclosures have true supporters. What you use really boils down to your application and how they load in your vehicle.
How much space are you willing to give up?
Now, that you’ve determined your music tastes, you’ll need to decide which one of the enclosures will fit your needs and your vehicle.
Before you make your purchase, it’s also a key to find out how much air space and what type of enclosure is required for your dream woofers. Most manufacturers will have both specifications for sealed and ported applications. It is possible to find this information on the Internet or through your local dealer.
How much money should you spend?
This can be somewhat subjective. Many believe that the greater amount you spend, the greater the bass you’ll get. There definitely is some truth to that, but I found that a lot of people get hung up on specs that really don’t matter. For example, I wouldn’t buy a woofer strictly based on its peak power handling capability, or by trying to match an amplifier’s output power to a speaker input power.
Here are three important subwoofer specifications to look for:
Fs: The frequency at which the woofer naturally likes to
resonate (like a tuning fork). The lower the Fs, the lower the driver will feel natural.
X-MAX: The amount of voice coil windings that overhang the top plate of the magnet assembly. This shouldn’t be confused with excursion — they’re two different measurements that go hand-in-hand. In most applications, the larger the number the better. Think of it this way: Woofers behave like giant air pistons; the more the pistons move, the more SPL you’ll generate.
BL: The “BL” product is a measurement of the force (power) generated by the speakers’ motor. The greater the “BL” product, the more control the woofer will have over the cone.
Does the installation matter?
Absolutely. In a home system installation, where the installation is essentially plug-and-play, installation accounts for a very tiny percentage of the sound quality and is pretty hard to screw it up. Most home receivers have everything built into a single unit and the engineers have taken most of the guesswork out. There’s no level matching between components and definitely no subwoofer enclosure building. In a vehicle, it’s much more different — the installation takes a lot more finesse and accounts for about 80 percent of the success of how the system will sound. This is why it’s so important to spend the time and money on how it’s put together.
In fact, the installation is more import than the product itself. Think of it this way: If you build a house with a poor foundation, the house will always have a poor foundation and will never be able to support the house.
Should you be concerned about safety?
Safety is key and often overlooked. Make sure to fasten your woofers so they don’t fly off in an accident. Sadly some people have been tragically killed this way.
If you follow these tips, you too can reap the rewards of Great Bass.

About the Author:
Professor Apex is an Expert In Car Audio and Mobile Video. He has more than 10 years of experience. You can find him here: Wholesale'>www.apex-audio.com">Wholesale Car Audio.

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