Car Subwoofer

As previously said, you must have a subwoofer if you want bass. It is the subwoofer’s role to play the first two octaves of the music spectrum. That is 20Hz to 80Hz. How big, how many, what type is really up to you and your goal. With that said, there are a few things to keep in mind. Here are a few tips to help you make a better choice when selecting a subwoofer for your car. Almost all modern vehicles come equipped with a subwoofer from the factory. And whether you are into Classical, Jazz, Rock, or Hip-Pop, there will be bass in the 20Hz to 80Hz region. That’s why subwoofers have become a standard. Yes, some OEM premium systems have played around with gimmicky stuff like BOSE and others, but if you want accurate bass, you have to have a sub that is 8-inch or larger!

Music Genre

Many of my friends and customers tell us that they listen to everything. But, if we look at their music library, we find out that is not the case. I think we can all agree that different types of music have different sub-bass requirements. Choosing a car subwoofer based on the kind of music you listen to means you will be delighted with your choice.

Type Subwoofer Box

Just like different types of music have different sub-bass requirements, different types of subwoofers have different attitudes as to how they play. If you are looking for accuracy, you likely want to stick with a sealed subwoofer enclosure. If you wish to have loud bass, a bass reflex (also known as vented or ported) enclosure is more adequate. If you don’t have a lot of power, a bandpass subwoofer box may be what you are seeking. Although bandpass enclosures are not as smooth as sealed or ported enclosures, they tend to be a little more efficient. The trade-off is size, and with size comes weight. Bandpass enclosures consist of two chambers; more often than not, they are twice as large as a sealed or ported enclosure.

Subwoofer Size

There are two ways of making your bass louder. The first is increasing the power. The second is increasing the number of subs. With the latter being the most practical. If you did your homework and purchased an adequate subwoofer amp, preferably one that is mono, high-current, and 1-Ohm stable, adding more BASS becomes very straightforward. Because we as humans don’t perceive bass notes very loud to start with, we recommend starting with double the power of your mids and highs. In other words, if you have 100-watts RMS for mids and highs, 200-watts RMS for bass is ideal. As to the size and how many subs, this has a lot to do with the vehicle and the type of music. It is possible to get good BASS in a small car like a Corvette or Porsche with an 8-inch subwoofer if the power differential described above exists.