Subwoofers play a vital role in achieving a quality sound experience. As you set up your sound system, you could be amazed by the various choices at your disposal.
Depending on who you ask, there are roughly 6 to 10 types of subwoofers. Some are classified by their aesthetic qualities, while others focus on technical features like being downward-firing or handling specific low frequencies.
Key Takeaways on Types of Subwoofers
- Variety of Choices: Subwoofers come in 6 to 10 different types, each with unique features and purposes.
- Core Frequencies: They produce low frequencies from 20Hz to 200Hz, enhancing music with deep, rich bass.
- Size and Form Factor: Typical subwoofers range from 10” to 22” in height, with various designs, including enclosed, ported, and down-firing types.
- Efficiency and Power: Different subwoofers have varying amplifier requirements and energy efficiencies.
- Practical Installation: Some are better suited for vehicles or smaller spaces, while others are ideal for larger home setups.
Subwoofers are big, beefy speakers that produce frequencies from 20MHz to 200MHz. You’ll recognize these deep, low vibrations that enhance music’s richness and quality.
Subwoofers usually measure between 10” and 22” in height and about ⅔ of that in width. There are several types, each with their own qualities and drawbacks based on your needs.
- Enclosed
- Down Firing
- Ported
- Two Chambers-separated
- Passive Radiator
- Band Pass
There might be different names depending on who you’re dealing with, but these eight subwoofers usually cover most options you’ll find on store shelves.
Sort the wheat from the chaff and learn what different subwoofers offer. This effort’s worth it, especially if you’re building the best sound system within your budget.
Different Types of Subwoofers
Subwoofers offer quality that matches their price. Consider your options well to pick a subwoofer that complements your system without overpowering or underperforming.
Enclosed Subwoofer
This woofer is perfect for beginners since it doesn’t require much customization. The term “enclosed” means the subwoofer is already mounted in the box.
It’ll definitely improve your bass quality and your entire sound system. To power it, you’ll need an external amplifier. Enclosed woofers are usually smaller, making them a great choice if you need to save space in the room.
They’re easy to set up and come with the added benefit of optimized SQ ability. With enclosed subwoofers, air trapped behind the cone acts as a stabilizing element, reducing distortion and improving bass accuracy.
Inside a vehicle, enclosed subs are ideal due to their smaller size. The mentioned amplifier significantly reduces the sub’s efficiency because the cone is stabilized.
The amplifier compensates for lost efficiency in enclosed subwoofers, but it does consume more power. While it won’t drastically increase your electric bill, it’s similar to using a space heater.
Pros
- Great beginner subwoofer
- Tight, precision bass
- Optimized SQ
- Smaller and space-saving
Cons
- Reduction in efficiency
- Requires an amplifier
- Can affect your energy bill
Down-Firing Subwoofers
Down-firing subwoofers benefit greatly from gravity and physics. They don’t shake or move around as much as other types of subwoofers do.
It gives an anchor since the meat and bones of the speaker, including the magnet and driver, are centered. With the weight focused, it holds the speaker better than other directional firing speakers. It’s more convenient in a busy household.
In other words, the most fragile part of the speaker faces down on the floor, protecting it from dogs, kids, and other accidental damage. This might not seem relevant to the subwoofer’s features, but it’s a nice side benefit of owning one.
Unfortunately, most of the bass energy gets absorbed by the floor due to downward-firing. This not only steals some of the raw power but also causes the floor to shake if the bass is powerful enough.
Pros
- One of the more stable subwoofers
- Protected
- Easy to place
Cons
- The floor absorbs the raw power of the bass
- Floor shakes
Ported Subwoofer
A ported subwoofer is similar to an enclosed subwoofer with one key difference. It features a single hole or slit in the front for ventilation. The enclosed subwoofer traps air inside the box, stabilizing the cone.
The ventilation port lets the ported subwoofer push more energy forward, even with a basic amplifier. Meanwhile, the enclosed subwoofer needs a powerful amplifier to overcome the efficiency loss caused by trapped air.
Since the ported sub maintains efficiency, the amplifier becomes less crucial. You get a rich, intense sound with ported subs, though you sacrifice some stability with the cone. If your setup’s slightly off, it can cause rattling and shorten the cone’s lifespan.
Pros
- Increased efficiency
- Less robust amplifier required
- Louder, richer sound
- Uses less energy
Cons
- Sacrifices cone stability
- Sound can become raspy
Two Separate Chambers
This is exactly what you need: two subs for the price of one. One is enclosed while the other has a port, both separated from each other. You’ll get all the benefits of an enclosed sub, but doubled.
One port releases the radiation emitted from the other. The system syncs them. Two separate chamber subs get complex as technology advances and prices rise.
Fortunately, that price offers both sophisticated and clean, natural bass you’ll love from the first listen.
Pros
- Increased efficiency
- Less robust amplifier required
- Louder, richer sound
- Uses less energy
Cons
- Sacrifices cone stability
- Sound can become raspy
Passive Radiator Subwoofer
Passive radiator technology puts extra power into your subwoofer. You’ll often find these in smaller subs like those for computers used for gaming and movies. Even from a small speaker, you’re getting a lot of bass.
In a passive radiator sub, most of the perceived power from the large speaker actually comes from passive energy captured and reused by smaller cones inside the casing. By plugging a small amount of electricity into these smaller cones, the large cone generates its force.
This is why small Bluetooth speakers can deliver a surprising amount of bass. Larger systems need different technology due to their energy demands.
Pros
- A lot of power in a small package
- Requires less energy
- Works through passive energy
Cons
- Best for small speakers only
Bandpass Subwoofer
A band pass is a compound, enclosed subwoofer that uses pressure to produce plenty of raw bass. The driver sits between the subs and, like the “two separate chamber” version, only one side is ported.
The setup can be complex, but the design of the compound subs with a dividing driver wall and a single, ported side creates the band pass. The result is a powerful bass with very low distortion even when maxed out.
This speaker is quite large. If you want to use it as a sub for your vehicle, ensure you have ample trunk space. In your home, it will occupy a significant amount of space.
Some subwoofers don’t perform well in a bandpass enclosure. Verify the reputation of anyone building your system. If you’re doing it yourself, ensure you have the right sub for a bandpass setup.
Pros
- Deep, rich, and natural bass
- Low distortion
- One or two port versions
Cons
- Energy draining
- Takes up a lot of space