Selecting Subwoofers
Want to pump out that bass in your car? But your stereo is not quite good enough to handle the low frequency of bass? You don’t have to invest in a better equipped stereo – all you need is a Subwoofer. A subwoofer acts as a secondary speaker that can cope with the lower frequencies of bass, which normal speakers cannot handle. Shopping for a subwoofer, however, is no easy task! With a number of different sizes and shapes on the market, it can difficult knowing which one to choose.
Before you even think about looking at a subwoofer, consider a few points.
Music: What type of music do you listen to? Is it heavy on the bass or not? How bass heavy your music is will determine the quality and size of your purchase. The heavier the bass, the bigger the subwoofers should be.
How many: Depending on what music you listen to, you might only need one subwoofer. It is recommended that if you listen to country, rock, pop abercrombie uk , metal and classical that you invest in one only. Yet, if you listen to R’n’b, dance music, techno or drum’n’bass, you should definitely go for two. Music can’t always be placed in one category or another, so if you have music that fits more than one, or simply have a broad taste in music, it might be best to invest in two subwoofers.
Space: When purchasing subwoofers, space in your car must be considered, as you will need to set aside enough space, either in the boot or near the back seats, for the subwoofers. Subwoofers can get quite big and space demanding at the maximum measurements of 18”-24” inches, so it’s important that you buy a subwoofer and subwoofer enclosure that fits.
Positioning: After considering space issues in the car, decide where exactly it is best placed for optimum performance and sound quality. You don’t want it to be hidden behind anything after all.
Shape: A square shaped subwoofer will offer increased volume compared to a rounded one, yet, many car enthusiasts have asserted that rounded subwoofers are the best for overall superior sound quality.
Enclosures: Consider what enclosure you want to put your subwoofers in. An enclosure can have a great effect on the quality of output from the subwoofer, for instance, fully enclosed enclosures are often better than half-enclosed ones. These can be bought separately from the subwoofers.
Power & Sensitivity: The more sensitive a subwoofer is, the better the output. Those with increased sensitivity consume as much power as they output (in sound), meaning very little power is lost.
In considering power, you will need to buy an amplifier, which can handle the power consumed (in watts) by the subwoofer. Generally, the rule is that the greater the power consumption, the better the sound quality.
Price: Establish your price boundaries: what is the minimum amount you want to pay and the maximum. The finest subwoofers on the market are quite expensive (at around £700); whilst at the cheaper end of the market subwoofers cost about £100. Obviously, the bigger the subwoofer is and the higher quality it is the higher the price is. Set aside in your budget, enough money for a subwoofer enclosure, as these will mount your subwoofers, and an amplifier to power it.
When buying a subwoofer, it’s important that you consider the basics first of all, and prioritise these. Setting aside a few hundred will get you a decent enough subwoofer plus accessories, but if you’re looking for a top of the range subwoofer, you may need about a £1000 in total.
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