No matter what kind of music you like, or how softly or loudly you like to listen, subwoofers are a crucial part of your overall listening experience. Subwoofers are used to give your system depth and deliver complete sound. Subwoofers are designed to reproduce only the lowest frequencies in the music or movie sound track. The intention in a system with a subwoofer is often to use small satellite speakers (two for stereo and five or more for surround sound or movie tracks) and to locate it in a hidden location. Typically, subwoofers for a car installation are installed in the trunk or back seat space.
Types of Subwoofers
The two types of subwoofers are passive subwoofers and active subwoofers. The easiest way to visually distinguish a Passive Subwoofer from a Powered Subwoofer is to remember that only a Powered Subwoofer plugs into a wall. Subwoofers are available in several formats, including bass reflex, acoustic suspension, infinite baffle, and bandpass types. Subwoofers use drivers (woofers) typically between 8" and 15" in diameter, but some have been as large as 60". Subwoofers can be purchased in their basic form, which is unmounted and not yet ready to be used, or can be purchased already installed in a box. Therefore, subwoofers are useful for supplementing main loudspeakers by providing playback of low bass frequencies at high levels.
Complete Audio System
A subwoofer can make the difference between a good-sounding and a great-sounding system. Once you've got an idea of what type of subwoofer or system you'd like to buy, comparing specs can be helpful in making your decision. Particularly among low cost systems, however, inclusion of a subwoofer may be little more than a marketing device. If mini-speakers are used as surrounds in Dolby Digital or DTS systems, an inexpensive passive or powered subwoofer can be added to the rear for maximum performance. A passive sub can add bass to any system and can be connected to any stereo or surround sound system.
Powered Subs
A powered sub combines an amplifier and woofer in an enclosure. Like the passive subs, they may not be the best choice if you're looking for really big bass, but they'll more than suffice for most listening needs without taking up a lot of interior space. Make sure you match the sub's power handling to your amp's power output. A powered subwoofer's best placement is in the front of the listening area in one corner of the room. Powered subwoofers are recommended in Dolby Digital/DTS systems if you wish to hear the full effects of Dolby Digital and DTS. Most importantly, true, deep powerful bass is critical to realistic home cinema sound.
If you're starting from the ground up in designing your custom system, choosing the subwoofer is a great place to start. A subwoofer is a speaker that is designed to reproduce very low bass frequencies (usually those between 20 Hz and 125 Hz). Even normal consumer-grade subwoofers are often capable of generating exceptionally high levels in home theaters or cars. There are many models to choose from and many price ranges to fit any budget.
