| Subwoofers. The bass. The loudness. The | | | | design is difficult.OK, so now you know |
| glory. The most obnoxious component in your | | | | everything about SUBZ, but here are the specs |
| system, and also, one of the most | | | | that you'll need to know to choose your |
| necessary.If you've read my article about | | | | subwoofer:Power Handling: Subs are speakers, |
| speakers, you're up to speed. If you haven't | | | | and as such can only handle so much power (or |
| (and don't know anything about speakers or | | | | distortion) before they blow! Power handling |
| subwoofers), read it here.Subwoofers | | | | is measured in watts, and is often given in |
| reproduce the lowest frequencies of the audio | | | | two specifications: RMS and Max (or peak). |
| spectrum, AKA bass. They are essential to | | | | The RMS rating is the most important. If a |
| both SQ and SPL systems, but for different | | | | sub says it can handle 200 watts RMS and 400 |
| reasons. Let's take a look now...For SQ | | | | watts Max, be sure the amp will provide 200 |
| systems: Effectively reproduce the lowest | | | | watts RMS as well. Not 400 watts RMS. While |
| frequencies making the music sound full and | | | | it's true that the sub can handle 400 watts, |
| powerful. Instruments that play lower | | | | it can only handle that kind of power for a |
| frequencies such as organs, drums and | | | | short time. If you hook that sub up to an amp |
| synthesizers will sound more realistic and | | | | that puts out 400 watts RMS, you will ruin |
| powerful with a subwoofer installed.For SPL | | | | that speaker pretty quickly--because it is |
| systems: Because subwoofers are loud, they | | | | constantly being exposed to 400 watts, not |
| are the preferred speaker to make a whole | | | | short bursts of 400 watts. You dig? |
| lotta noise.Also, because our ears are less | | | | Good.Sensitivity: This term means exactly |
| sensitive to lower frequencies we need the | | | | what you think it means. In short, a |
| extra bass for the system to sound | | | | subwoofer with higher sensitivty will be |
| balanced.So, what do I have to look for to | | | | louder than a subwoofer with lower sensitivty |
| find a great woofer? I'll tell you!Power | | | | when they are hooked up to the same amp. The |
| Handling:Just like with every other part in a | | | | spec is measured in db.Frequency response: |
| stereo system, power handling is important | | | | You obviously want a subwoofer than can |
| for subwoofers as well. Earlier, in my | | | | handle a wide range of frequencies. However, |
| article about speakers, I talked about how | | | | the subwoofer does the most work under 100hz. |
| you can send more power to them to increase | | | | If the subwoofer plays all the way down to |
| their volume, but decrease the distortion. | | | | 20hz, you know you've got a great sub. The |
| The same is true of subwoofers, but be | | | | good news is that even if it doesn't go that |
| careful! Since lower frequency distortion is | | | | low, most music doesn't either. Sooooo, |
| harder to perceive, it's easy to overdo it, | | | | you'll still be fine. I would say the it's |
| and blow your subwoofers. Anyway, with that | | | | more important to have a low-playing sub in |
| said, it is smart to buy an amp that can put | | | | systems with DVD players and 5.1 sound. Also, |
| out exactly what your subwoofers are designed | | | | frequency response varies depending on the |
| to take, but take it easy!Size:Subwoofers | | | | box that the subwoofer is installed in. |
| come in many sizes, but the most common are | | | | Ummmm, so with this in mind, just pick a |
| 8", 10", 12", and 15". This is probably also | | | | subwoofer that will handle the power, and |
| noted in metric for the european brands. As | | | | sound how you want it to.Cone Material: When |
| you can imagine, the bigger woofers are the | | | | it comes to subwoofers, this is actually a |
| ones that will play louder and play lower. Of | | | | pretty important thing to pay attention to. |
| course, the smaller ones are more musical, | | | | Because subwoofers are big and powerful, you |
| more precise, and sound "tighter". What size | | | | need a cone material that can withstand lots |
| you decide on usually has to do with your own | | | | and lots of abuse. I personally am a big fan |
| preferences, as well as installation | | | | of metals such as alluminum. This is because |
| considerations. Remember! 18" subwoofers | | | | aluminum is light and stiff, and likewise, |
| don't just fit anywhere!Voice coil info:SVC: | | | | produces very tight and musical sounding |
| Single voice coilThis means that the speaker | | | | bass. I know that many subwoofer |
| has only one voice coil. In other words, only | | | | manufacturers use exotic sounding materials |
| one input.DVC: Dual voice coilThis means that | | | | for their subwoofers, which makes it |
| the speaker has two voice coils, or two | | | | difficult to determine which material is the |
| inputs.Ummmmmmm, ok. Why does it matter?I | | | | best.Surround material: Here's my advice: |
| could go into details here, but I know you | | | | Always get a subwoofer with a rubber |
| don't really care. Basically, it boils down | | | | surround. Rubber holds up the best in the |
| to this: With a DVC subwoofer, there are more | | | | auto environment.Impedence: Measured in Ohms, |
| installation options. Look at it this way, a | | | | this spec tells you how much resistance the |
| DVC "looks" like two subwoofers to your | | | | speaker presents to your amp. Too much, and |
| amplifier. With some nifty wiring tricks | | | | you get no volume, too little, and your |
| (called series and parallel), you can hook up | | | | subwoofer will fry your amp! This spec will |
| many subwoofers to a single amp--even if the | | | | help you decide which amp to hook up to your |
| amp is a "mono" or a two channel amp. In | | | | subwoofer, whether you want to bridge your |
| addition, you can manipulate how many ohms | | | | amp, and whether you want to wire multiple |
| the amp has to push. If you have an amp that | | | | subs into parallel or series. Also, |
| is stable to a half ohm (like some old school | | | | subwoofers sometimes have more than one voice |
| Orion HCCA amps), you could potentially hook | | | | coil (aka DVC). This means that the subwoofer |
| up 4-8 woofers to a single channel! Imagine | | | | will have two inputs, each with the same |
| the noise you could make!Some words about | | | | impedence. Subwoofers with dual voice coils |
| boxes:Boxes are essential to most subwoofers. | | | | are more versatile to install, especially in |
| In other words, consider a subwoofer's box | | | | multiple woofer systems.A basic subwoofer |
| just as important as the subwoofer itself. | | | | install is fairly easy. If you buy a pre-fab |
| Why? Because most subwoofers need a box to | | | | sub box, mount the subs and power them, |
| operate properly, sound good, and not damage | | | | you're going to get good bass. To install |
| themselves. Subwoofers that don't need a box | | | | professionally, and achieve the best sound, |
| are called "free air" or "infinite baffle" | | | | much planning and work must go into the whole |
| subwoofers.Like I said, most subwoofers need | | | | process. This is a situation where if you |
| a box. So, let's talk about boxes!First, what | | | | don't feel confident in your ability to build |
| types of boxes are there?Sealed: The simplest | | | | a box, tune it, and hook it up, you should |
| kind. Essentially, a sealed box is a box | | | | visit a car audio shop, and have them do it |
| where the inside and outside are not linked. | | | | for you. This can be relatively cheap, or |
| There are no holes, and care is taken to | | | | quite expensive.If you are planning on doing |
| ensure that the box is completely | | | | the install yourself, but lack the box |
| sealed.Ported: A ported box is a subwoofer | | | | building skills, you can buy a pre-fab box. I |
| box with at least one hole, or "port" in it. | | | | would also strongly recommend an EQ device to |
| The goal of the ported box is to emphasize a | | | | fine tune the bass. This will help you |
| certain frequency. These boxes are used | | | | overcome road noise (which ruins bass), and |
| because they are often louder than sealed | | | | also cut back on "boominess" and "muddiness". |
| boxes.Bandpass: A bandpass box is similar to | | | | In the end, this route is the best compromise |
| a ported box because it has ports; however, | | | | between a custom box and a pre-fab box. |
| the bandpass box tries to de-emphasize | | | | You'll get great sound, and save money!Now go |
| certain frequencies, while emphasizing | | | | easy on those ears!-Honest AEBAlan Bayer is |
| others. In other words, it works like a | | | | an entrepreneur and car audio enthusiast. He |
| bandpass crossover. The bandpass box | | | | runs an eBay store selling car stereo install |
| emphasizes a frequency band while | | | | supplies: also has a GREAT website with car |
| de-emphasizing frequencies lower than and | | | | audio articles (such as the one from above). |
| higher than the band.Isobarik: These boxes | | | | Also on the website, learn about car audio |
| aim to fit more than one subwoofer into a | | | | equipment, how to find the best equipment, |
| small box. The subwoofers are set up to work | | | | how to install it, and save big bucks in the |
| in tandem. Sometimes both subs move in the | | | | process!Subscribe to Honest AEB's Car Audio |
| same direction at the same time, sometimes | | | | Magazine (Free!) |
| one sub pulls while the other pushes. There | | | | |
| are advantages to this type of setup, but box | | | | AEB'S Car Audio deals! |