Not every car owner is a music lover, not every music lover is a car owner, but there are plenty of car owners who love quality sound. Have you ever noticed that music sounds better in some cars? More powerful? Such really smashing sound is possible thanks to installation of a subwoofer.
It is true that you don’t need a subwoofer to run your car audio system, but its presence will give many advantages, and it is definitely worth it. If your favorite music genres are, for example, Hard Rock or EDM, having a subwoofer will please you with improved bass reproduction. For a regular speaker, sound reproduction at low frequencies can be difficult, and the sound output can be distorted. But with a subwoofer, you’ll hear high-quality sound and powerful bass.
In addition, your regular speakers won’t need to carry the extra load to reproduce those bass frequencies, making them more durable.
A subwoofer or sub, as it comes across in conversation, is a speaker capable of reproducing low frequencies without any chain correcting the amplitude-frequency response of the sound. The output frequencies are so low that the cone forms a sound wave in a very wide range: from 10 to 150 Hz, whereas the lower threshold, distinguishable by the human ear, is only 20 Hz. Recall that the male voice ranges from 120 Hz to 200 Hz, the female voice from 200 Hz to 500 Hz, and street noise from 20 Hz to 300 Hz. The buffer is designed with an enlarged cone, specially designed and tuned to reproduce the bass line.
Today, the segment of car subwoofers is quite wide. The main division of the model range is the presence or absence of an amplifier. In general, the design of this kind of devices remains unchanged for almost 100 years, so significant changes in the quality of the output track should be expected only with the use of additional components. Thus, an active subwoofer has a built-in amplifier, while an enclosed one does not. Do you always need a subwoofer or can you get by with other audio and stereo systems? Is it realistic to install a subwoofer in any car? Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of buying a subwoofer.
Why Use a Subwoofer?
The subwoofer is an addition to the car’s sound system. On the one hand, someone can say that it is a wave of youth culture, a desire to stand out from the crowd, but in fact it significantly affects the quality of music reproduction. Subwoofer is a low-frequency speaker, the acoustic equipment, which reproduces music in low frequencies, namely bass. Why do so many people love the bass line specifically? It is scientifically proven that the bass line is easier and faster perceived by humans, the brain reads low bass faster than other components of the song. That means it’s the bass line that catches a person’s ear first when listening to a tune. That’s why many musicians emphasize the bass rhythm, and we try to make it sound bright, powerful and enveloping.
Modern music is no longer imaginable without a prominent bass in the foreground. It defines the style of the composition, its character, creates the basis and depth of the development of the musical theme. Subwoofer makes a melody sound incredibly powerful. Many car owners do not think about the necessity of subwoofer installation and are satisfied with wide-band speakers. They may even insist that their sound is in no way inferior to a subwoofer. Physically speaking, low frequencies start at 20 Hz, while wide-band equipment reproduces frequencies from 40 Hz and above, i.e. covers the lower frequencies.
The technical design of car acoustics does not allow to emphasize the bass, so it is simply absorbed by outside noises, such as mechanical vibrations, engine or wheel noise. This is why true connoisseurs and lovers of bass music should think about placing a subwoofer.
What are the Benefits and Advantages of a Subwoofer?
In combination with a head unit and a good amplifier, a high-quality subwoofer will provide the following advantages for your in-car sound system:
Improved Low Frequency Response
A subwoofer expands the range of bass frequencies, revealing music sounds that only the speakers can’t reproduce. Most in-car stereo speakers begin to fade out at about 50 Hz. But a quality subwoofer will play low frequencies down to 20 Hz or lower.
As a result, you’ll get full bass depth and definition, so you’ll never miss the lowest notes and can enjoy a deeper listening experience in your car stereo.
More Clarity Throughout Your Sound
Good quality subs have enough speed and response to reproduce the bass clearly, making even the fastest bass lines sound crisp and accurate.
Subwoofers of lower quality may fail to cope with the quick start and stop of vocals and instrumental parts found across numerous music genres. As a consequence, these subwoofers will have a fuzzy acoustic sound.
Reduced Distortion
Subwoofers reduce distortion by reducing acoustic loads on other speakers. A large speaker cone and diaphragm can create distortion when a full-range speaker reproduces low-frequency bass.
Also, when you listen to music at high volume, the bass drivers in your speakers may not be able to keep up with the tweeter and midrange speakers. But high-quality subwoofers let you play your music loud and distortion-free, even if your music is demanding and full of bass.
Taking the Load off Small Speakers
A subwoofer relieves small speakers from the need to play extreme low frequencies. The result is that small speakers can play sound at a more comfortable range of frequencies.
The subwoofer essentially eases the burden on the full-range speakers, improving their overall performance so they can play quality sound with no distortion.
Summary
If you love quality sound and cannot afford first-class acoustics, then you can get a powerful, literally piercing sound with the help of a subwoofer. Do not rashly buy the first available model, no matter how advantageous the offer may seem. Choose the subwoofer carefully, focusing on the power of the sound system of your car. And it is recommended to use the already purchased equipment, strictly following the manufacturer’s instructions. Do not chase the maximum power. Good sound is possible without the “hammering”, which annoys the neighbors and nearby car owners so much. Consider low-frequency acoustics with 150-250 watts of power.
Subwoofers add depth and clarity to your sound that you wouldn’t be able to hear with speakers alone, enhancing your music listening experience.
