You will need great speakers if you intend to put your audio system together. A powered subwoofer is an essential component of any audio system. This can be your car, home, office, movies, music, or games.
You might prefer listening to quality rather than basic sounds. So we will teach you how to make your subwoofer sound louder and better in this article.
What Is a Subwoofer?
A subwoofer is a loudspeaker designed to produce low-pitched frequencies like bass or sub-bass. The frequency produced by the subwoofer is usually lower in frequency. This is generally about 20 to 200 Hz. Those produced by a woofer are 50 to 1,000 Hz.
The subwoofer is never used alone. This is because they augment the high-frequency range produced by woofers. The subwoofer has a built-in amplifier that produces a deep bass sound. This is often used to improve the low-frequency range that small audio speakers can not produce well.
These low frequencies come from instruments like the kick drum, bass guitar, and pipe organ. They can also be in movie sound effects. You can hear them during explosions or earthquake sounds.
Types of Subwoofers
There are two basic types of subwoofers, active and passive. We will go into detail about each type.
Active Subwoofer
Active subwoofers have a built-in amplifier as their power source. These are also referred to as powered subwoofers. They work best when used in a single subwoofer configuration and are simple to set up, but the placement is more crucial.
Passive Subwoofer
Passive subwoofers need an external power source. This could be an external amplifier or receiver. Home theater designers prefer passive subwoofers. This is because they are perfect for large spaces. They may need several units.
The frequency response, audio quality, and optimal performance are not affected by whether it is passive or active.
How Does a Subwoofer Work?
A subwoofer produces deeper, cleaner bass by using a larger woofer and an internal amplifier that powers the signal. Standard speakers reproduce wide frequency ranges. But the deepest bass frequencies are often absent.
Most subwoofers need their separate power supply from an outlet to power an integrated amplifier. Passive subwoofers use the amplifier in the receiver as their power source. This eliminates the need for a separate power supply.
Subwoofers connect to an audio receiver or preamplifier. The receiver sends low-frequency effects at 20 Hz to 100 Hz. This happens through electrical signals. These are also called low-frequency signals. Then the subwoofer amplifies the current and converts it to sound. It does so using a magnetic coil that causes the driver’s cone to vibrate.
Low-frequency sound waves come from vibration and propagate through the atmosphere.
Tips to Improve the Sound of Your Subwoofer
Here are a few of our tips to improve the sound of your subwoofer.
Position Your Subwoofers Properly
As discussed below, a subwoofer’s bass output depends on its position. You may need to position the woofer with the suggested position. This is so you will experience the best quality of sound possible.
For example, in most homes, the subwoofers are in a corner. The highest bass sound output happens when the subwoofer is in the room’s corner. Not everyone will hear the bass output due to other factors involving its placement.
Tune the Subwoofer
Another excellent way to create the effect of amplified bass is to tune the subwoofers. The “Boom effect” of subwoofers is well known. You must tune the woofer to get louder and clearer audio output. You might need to adjust the controls. This will ensure the woofer is tuned and there is not too much strain on the machine.
Adjust Crossover and Phase Setting
The crossover and phase settings for subwoofers are also crucial considerations. The woofer and other speakers in the sound system need to be in phase with one another.
You can adjust the settings with a single-phase switch or flat meals to get the phasing right. The dials have angles ranging from 0 to 180 degrees for adjusting the crossover.
Once you achieve the desired sound output, try adjusting the settings and phasing. Pay close attention to the crossover setting as well.
The sound will not be clear if the crossovers between the main speakers and the bass speakers are subpar. Speaker cancellation is the result of an incorrect crossover level. This leads to voice degradation and sound distortion as a result.
The size of the speakers will determine the ideal crossover frequency. While lower frequencies are best for larger speakers, higher frequencies are best for small woofers.
Use High-Quality Files
You will not get the desired sound if you play low-quality audio through a premium subwoofer. Even a good machine cannot save an audio file that is not up to par. Due to the size crunch, compressed and small-size files are often in demand.
Compression often results in the loss of high and low audio file frequencies and fine sound output quality.
While wearing headphones, you might not be able to hear the missed frequencies. The best option is to use cutting-edge music files with all the frequencies and effects ideal for a subwoofer or larger speaker. As for lossless audio file formats, experts suggest FLAC and AIFF.
Choose sophisticated apps that use the highest-quality audio files if you intend to stream music from them. Optimize the music app to provide the best streaming services.
Minimize Electrical Impedance
Subwoofers play your favorite music by converting electric energy into sound. The sound quality decreases if the connection runs into resistance.
Electrical impedance measures how resistant a subwoofer is to current flow while music is being played. High impedance reduces the sub’s effectiveness. As a result, the subwoofer produces less audio by converting less electrical energy into audio. This distorts the sound.
Higher impedance is due to the magnet and coil conditions and the control situation. Before using a subwoofer, make sure the woofer is in good shape and free from significant wear and damage. Examine the state of the coil and tooth magnet. These two components must be the ideal size and shape to function.
Check the subwoofer control units to ensure you can adjust the audio quality to reduce impedance. Call an electrician to fix the woofer if any of these components need repairing.
Include Sound Dampening Resources
The sound loses its sharpness and bass effect due to extra vibrations. The sounds will become muddy and blunt instead. For instance, if the subwoofer vibrates a lot, it will not produce the desired sound output. Instead, it will produce damp bass sounds.
The addition of dampening materials is the answer. The best materials for reducing unwanted vibrations are insulator dampening ones.
Most of the time, car subwoofers use dampeners to reduce vibrations and increase music output. The bass effects make the sounds coming from the speakers louder.
Dampeners are useful for emitting sharper frequencies with greater sound accuracy. Many people use a cubical or rectangular enclosure lined with dampeners. Internal sound reflection and parallel surfaces make the design less than ideal.
Experts agree that using acoustic foams is a great idea. With ease, this unique foam reduces vibrations and catches sound reflections. As a result, there are no sound distortions and a flatter bass output.
The sides of the subwoofer box can be lined with acoustic foam. Applying a layer of acoustic foam to each side of a larger woofer produces fantastic results.
Change the Cables
Not only the woofer but also the cables are crucial. Old and unreliable cables may not transport electricity at the desired level. This produces poor sound. Never use a subpar or worn-out cable.
Older VC valves degrade the electric signals. This may even result in audible sound distortions. The same holds for cables of low quality.
If you must use electric cables, ensure they are of the highest caliber. You should also make sure they come from reputable manufacturers. To maintain the sound output, make it a habit to switch out or replace cables every 12 months. You should replace any cables that tear or show obvious wear right away.
Place Subwoofer on a Raised Surface
Subwoofers vibrate a lot, and placing them on the floor makes them vibrate even more. Direct floor placement results in reverberations that hinder the sub’s functionality.
The sound output will be of poor quality as a result. Instead, use specialized subwoofer stands to keep a small gap of at least three inches. The subwoofer will produce clearer sound with proper air circulation.
Where Should You Place Your Subwoofer
Because of the placement sensitivity, the subwoofer can be a few feet away with greater freedom. Unlike signals at higher frequencies, those at lower frequencies are not directional.
This means that the placement of your subwoofer is key to improving the sound waves. Furthermore, your desired bass response can also be influenced by where you place the subwoofer.
Depending on the room, you can move the subwoofer around to determine the best location. You can try carrying out a few experiments with various positioning. Here are some factors that you should consider when placing your subwoofer.
The Size of Your Room
If your room is tiny, a low-frequency bass quality response might not be clear. A larger room will have more volume and a wider range. An example may be the living room or a family room.
Speaker Proximity
This is necessary because the quality of the final audio output will be affected. When two speakers are close to one another, crosstalk is created. This is destructive interference. This issue is not present when using a single speaker, but it will worsen if you use five or six speakers at once.
A Correct Position
When positioning subwoofers, avoid placing them against walls. This includes the room’s walls, floors, and ceilings. As a result, your sound may be distorted by unintentional reflections.
The ideal and correct position to place a subwoofer is a corner location. If there are no available corners in your room, put them close to the listener. This will ensure the best sound projection and bass quality.
Zero Obstacle or Obstruction
The ideal location for a single subwoofer stand is usually a clear space with few objects or obstructions. This creates air space to prevent vibrations from affecting the quality of sound.
Different Sizes of Subwoofer
A subwoofer comes in different speaker sizes. These are 8″, 12″, 15″, or 18″. This size will impact common subwoofers’ output power and low-frequency sensitivity.
For instance, larger subs tend to produce a louder sound. This is because their voice coils are bigger and can handle more current without overheating. Although their membranes will move less at lower frequencies than smaller ones.
So when crossed at higher settings above 100 Hz, the speakers will reproduce deeper lows. Larger subs will have a wider frequency range, making them more adaptable. Before making a purchase, make sure to measure your room and determine your speakers’ size.
Final Thoughts
Subwoofers are a crucial component of any home theater and audio system. This is because they enhance the lower tones often lost when watching movies or listening to music without one. Some popular brands you can check out include Sony, Yamaha, Klipsch, etc.