Subwoofer Speakers

Subwoofer 101

Subwoofers present a unique chance to design arrays outside the ruleset for full-range speakers. Subwoofer arrays have two unique features that open the door of opportunity. The first is that subwoofers are in separate enclosures that cover only a three-octave range (approximate). The second is that large wavelengths within the subwoofer range can diffract around neighboring objects, most notably other subwoofers. It is usually not the case to place a full-range speaker facing directly into the back of another speaker (DJ excepted). With subwoofers, this is a beneficial and practical option.

Omnidirectional and Cardioid Subwoofers

Individual subwoofers come in two different flavors: omnidirectional and cardioid. Like its microphone counterpart, the omnidirectional version is not genuinely omnidirectional, especially as frequencies rise. The cardioid version consists of front and backfiring drivers that use phase offset to create coupling zone summation at the front and canceling zone summation at the back. These engineered products produce substantial rear rejection over a wide frequency range. The advantages of cardioid steering are self-evident.

History of Subwoofers

The first subwoofers were developed in the 1960s to add bass response to home stereo systems. Subwoofers entered popular consciousness in the 1970s by introducing Sensurround in movies such as Earthquake, which produced loud, low-frequency sounds through large subwoofers. With the advent of the compact cassette and the compact disc in the 1980s, the easy reproduction of deep and loud bass was no longer limited by the ability of a phonograph record stylus to track a groove. Therefore, producers could add more low-frequency content to recordings.

Furthermore, during the 1990s, DVDs were increasingly recorded with "surround sound" processes that included a low-frequency effects (LFE) channel, which could be heard using the subwoofer in home theater systems. During the 1990s, subwoofers became increasingly popular in home stereo systems, custom car audio installations, and PA systems. By the 2000s, subwoofers became almost universal in sound reinforcement systems in nightclubs and concert venues.

Quality Sound System

In order to achieve a quality sound system, especially for bands, singers, and DJs, it is necessary to have a setup that features speakers and subwoofers, as well as tweeters, mid-ranges, and woofers. This is because they each handle a different range of notes and sounds to cover the entire sound range. As for a subwoofer's structure, it is usually a wooden or plastic loudspeaker enclosure that is fitted with one or more woofers. The manner of the placement of the woofer creates room for the birth of several subwoofer variants. Subwoofer variants vary depending on the efficiency, size, cost, power handling, and distortion characteristics that they display. The designs created thus include bass reflex, horn-loaded, bandpass, and infinite baffle subwoofers.

Frequency Range

The frequency range that a subwoofer delivers depends on its use. So, a subwoofer for home use would typically have a frequency ranging from 20-200Hz, while that used for professional sound would be below 100Hz. There are subwoofers with a frequency below 80Hz as well.

Active and Passive Subwoofers

To buy a subwoofer, you must choose between active and passive options. The former boasts a built-in amplifier, while the latter requires an external amplifier and comprises just the subwoofer driver and enclosure.