Car Subwoofer System
Basics
Adding a subwoofer to your car’s audio system can well be the best upgrade you can do to improve the overall sound of the system. Greetings and welcome to Car Audio Buff. In this article we shall go back to basics and discuss one of the most common car audio add-ons people do.
What is a subwoofer?
A subwoofer is a bass speaker—a speaker meant to play low notes like those of the bass guitar, bass drum, baritones, etc. It does not sound good on its own, just like most individual speakers that are part of component systems. Most cars that come out of the factory do not come with pre-installed subwoofers. This is a simple fact because such speakers are larger than normal, and need creative but intrusive installation spaces. In a typical sedan subwoofer install, the woofer is usually placed in the trunk.
A typical subwoofer measures anywhere between 8 inches to 15 inches. The size is totally dependent on user preference, and in this scenario—bigger is louder. The bigger the sub—the more air it can push—the louder it can be. However, bass-loud systems are a totally different thing. In the realm of car audio, bass is a thing. Bass competitions are stalwarts, and cars made just to play bass notes and bass musics, common. However, for the sake of simplicity, in this article we shall stick to audible or “just right” bass—the kind that will actually make listening more pleasurable and enjoyable.
Installing a subwoofer system
First things first, simply adding a subwoofer to a current factory audio setup might not always improve sound quality. Modern factory systems are already full-range, meaning they cover the entire sound spectrum already—adding a sub in this case might just end up with bass overkill. In such cases, you might also want to look further into adding aftermarket speaker components or sets. Component sets are usually in the form of separates—a separate tweeter and a midbass or midrange driver.
Click here to see some basic car audio component systems.
Now let’s move on to assuming the above part is said and done. A subwoofer, unlike most car speakers, needs an enclosure to operate correctly. Do note that there are these free-air subs that negate that, but let’s concentrate on the basic sub—those that need enclosures. An enclosure is basically a wooden house for the subwoofer. The sub can be inside it, flushed in it (the front is exposed), and it can even be pumping air into it (back magnet is exposed). An enclosure can also have slots or totally sealed. The size of the enclosure will depend on the subwoofer, and most manufacturers have basic recommended enclosure measurements.
A wooden enclosure can be a simple square box that can be made by any semi-experienced handyman. It is usually made from medium density fiberboard or MDF. For those with advanced handyman skills, such can also be made from odd-shaped fiberglass that can be placed in space-saving places like spare tire wells and trunk sidewalls.
Now that we have a sub and an enclosure, there are two basics left to discuss: an amplifier and a headunit (radio) that can be connected to an amplifier. There are literally thousands of amplifiers to choose from in the market. To know if it will work with your sub and headunit, simply look for the power rating of your sub. Rating is usually specified in watts. For beginners, simply choose an amplifier that has a lower rating than your sub—for example, a 200-watt amplifier for a 300-watt sub. Your options here are endless considering amplifier brand, power rating, etc.
Click here to see some basic car audio amplifiers.
Basically, a headunit needs pre-outs or rca outs to be connected to amplifiers. However, speaker outs can also be connected using line converters. Modern car radios have subwoofer outs. Although not needed, this makes the install more simple because it only gives out low frequencies, plus, the bass can be controlled independently from the radio.
This is getting way too long
Damn, I did not think such a basic article would take this long. Anyway, to prevent you from further boredom, I shall discuss more advanced concepts in a second part. But I do think I have covered the basics well enough in the above post. Do hit the comments for questions and clarifications.
Some photos of car subwoofer system installs
Just some random stuff to inspire you.
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- The Right Amplifier For Your System
- Focal 165 KRX2 Review
- How To Pick The Right Amplifier For Your System