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Car Audio Subwoofer Selection Tips

When deciding to upgrade your car audio system, adding a sub-woofer can produce amazing bass. Adding volume at sub frequencies is like adding a third dimension to your favorite music. Whether you're considering desiging a new audio system, or just adding or more subwoofers to your factory system, this easy addition will give you the single, most significant sonic improvement. Simply adding just a little bass will make a huge improvement in your overall system sound.

I'll never forget my first experience listening to the heart-pumping sound of bass. You could actually feel the music. I was completely amazed that you could actually feel the impact of the woofers. From that moment on, I've been a car audio fanatic.

Some of the popular brands are:

Lanzar, JL Audio, Power Acoustik, Pioneer

What type of bass do you prefer?

There are two main groups in the audio universe: (Sound Quality, aka, SQ) or (Sound Pressure Level, aka, SPL).

Sound Quality refers to just that — a very linear response that's not boomy and is very controlled, especially when listening to complex music. An SQ System generally uses a smaller woofer and requires a smaller enclosure. A sealed enclosure would typically work best for this application.

SPL, on the other hand, is for you “Big Bass Lovers.” If you're like me, and like a lot of impact with your music (extended bass response and 3 dB more efficient gain), then you're probably looking for a vented enclosure. The smaller the enclosure, the more pressure is exerted against the cone under movement.

With a sealed enclosure of predetermined volume, we can also predict the cut-off frequency and Q* of the system.

The real advantage is that they just consume less space, not to mention they're easier to design and construct. Choosing a sealed enclosure will give you clean and accurate bass with good low-end extension.

The main drawback with a ported enclosure is that the design and construction are not very forgiving of errors. Unlike a sealed box, you must determine a number of different parameters: the box volume, tuned frequency, port area, and port length. But, the advantage is huge — you'll get more output with the same number and size of woofers.

With all of that extra output there's always a compromise. More bass obviously means more space. Generally speaking, vented enclosures will be to be 35- to 45-percent bigger than a sealed enclosure.

You're probably wondering, can a ported enclosure sound as good a sealed enclosure? The answer is, yes, but it's different in that it will have a slight rise around the tuning frequency (35 Hz) and roll off very quickly. Both types of boxes have true supporters. What you decide to use really comes down to your setup and how they will perform in your ride.

If you want more suggestions, you can visit Car Audio Tips and learn how to get Tight Bass.