A subwoofer is what you go for when you want to take your car stereo system quality to the next level! But there are numerous brands of subs on the market, and the best fit for your car will depend on a couple of factors.
In this post, we tell you how to choose the right subwoofer for your car!
Be sure to consider the following features when searching for the ideal car subwoofer:
Size of the Subwoofer
The size of the sub is one of the first things you want to look at when shopping for a unit to fit inside your vehicle. As a general thumb rule; the bigger the subwoofer, the better the bass. So, if you are looking for a booming sound that will turn heads around, size should be at the top of your priorities.
Nevertheless, don’t underestimate the power of smaller subs. When properly powered and in the right type of enclosure, even a smaller subwoofer can surprise you with punchy bass it can put out. The subwoofer size you go for will also be influenced by the amount of space you have available.
There should be enough room inside your car to set up the sub. As such, you want to take the measurements before you go shopping. This will save you any glitches that may come up during installation.
Type of Enclosure
The enclosure or box that a subwoofer comes mounted on has a huge effect on the kind of sound it can produce. Generally, there are three types of enclosures to choose from. These include sealed, ported, and bandpass enclosures.
If you’re looking for exceptionally deep bass that won’t sound like your sub is “farting”, then a sealed enclosure is the best option for you. In some cases, you can come across a smaller rockford’s fosgate subwoofer in a nicely built sealed enclosure that will deliver a deeper bass compared to a much bigger unit in an open enclosure.
This will be a nice choice if you’ll be setting up the speaker in a tight space. On the other hand, ported and bandpass subwoofers enclosures give out a relatively louder bass, although not very deep. If you like music genres that sound well with notably loud bass and you can cope with a slight degree of inaccuracy in the lower-end frequencies, then go with either of the two enclosures.
Power
The amount of power a subwoofer system can handle determines the type of sound it produces. As a rule of thumb, more power gives you a louder sound. Therefore, you want to pay close attention to the RMS power rating when shopping for a unit (don’t confuse this with peak power).
The RMS rating shows the highest amount of power the speaker can handle continuously and is a more realistic measure compared to the peak power. Another thing you want to make sure of is that the sub you choose can handle the output power of the amp you pair it with.
Frequency Range
The frequency range of the sub will tell you how low it can go. This is usually detailed on the specs of the subwoofer. However, you need to keep in mind that the actual performance of the speaker may depend on variables such as the type of enclosure (more on this on healthycar.org.
Sensitivity
Sensitivity is an aspect that goes hand in hand with the power to deliver high sound output. For instance, a subwoofer that is highly sensitive doesn’t require as much power to give out the same level of sound as a speaker with a lower sensitivity rating.
Impedance
Most of the subwoofers on the market are usually rated at 4 Ohms of impedance, although you can find 2 and 8-ohm models, as well as dual voice coil subwoofers. Once you’ve chosen a unit for your car, be sure to find an amp that matches the sub as far as power rating and impedance are concerned.
Luckily, there are numerous varieties of amps available, so it shouldn’t be a problem finding one that brings the best out of your chosen subwoofer.
Number of Coils
Generally, car audio enthusiasts tend to prefer dual voice coil subwoofers because of the flexibility offered in terms of wiring. Unlike traditional subs, which come with a single voice coil, dual voice coil units feature two separate coils mounted on one cylinder and connected to the same cone. These also have their own connections.
