What is the difference between subwoofers and bass

For a subwoofer to sound best , it needs to be connected to a dedicated sub output from the amplifier. Their inbuilt amplifier is able to boost the strength of the input signal from the head unit for it to drive the sub. Active subwoofers need a connection to the head unit and another connection to a power source. Thus, active subwoofers are more demanding to set up than woofers.

Active subs also come with an inbuilt crossover. The role of the crossover is to filter out high frequencies and only allow low frequencies to get to the subwoofer driver. This way, a subwoofer is able to reproduce cleaner bass. Basically, a woofer demands less power than a subwoofer. Subwoofers consume more power since they hit the lowest frequencies. Hitting the lowest frequencies takes a lot of power from the amplifier. For instance, as a car subwoofer hits the lowest bass notes, it can actually make the lights dim due to the extent of power it draws from the car amp, something that rarely happens with woofers.

Thus, you would need to add a capacitor to your car when using a powerful subwoofer. The capacitor works by storing temporary electrical charge to feed the amplifier with instantaneous power needs. Woofers and subwoofers also differ with respect to the number of drivers they have. Basically, most woofers, especially for cars, come as a 2-way or 3-way driver system. In a 2-way setup, the speaker comprises of two drivers namely a woofer and a tweeter. In a 3-way setup, the speaker system comprises of a woofer, midrange driver , and a tweeter.

Some other woofer setups come as a 4-way driver system. A 4-way driver system is similar to a 3-way set up but with a fourth driver known as a super-tweeter. On the other hand, subwoofers are purely a single driver system. A subwoofer only has a single driver in the speaker basket. Subwoofers or subs and speakers both produce audio, but this is where the similarities end.

Speakers focus on the mid and high-range frequencies which is why you find them in computers and televisions. The components are ideal for voices, but you will notice something missing if you listen to music. A subwoofer is designed to only produce the deep bass that is present in most music genres for a more balanced sound more on the different types of subwoofers in our tutorial.

A subwoofer is designed for one job, to produce lower frequencies and the frequency range of the sub often depends on the price. Professional subwoofers do come with a higher price tag, but also have a frequency range of Hz and lower. Less expensive subs typically range from 20Hz to Hz, which is enough for most types of music. Most subwoofers are in a wood casing that protects the sensitive component, with a port or vent for the audio.

There are also two types of subs: passive and active. The difference between the two is active subwoofers come with a built-in amplifier. There are other differences too, which you can more about in our guide. Even though subwoofers do improve sound quality, the components can still come with a few issues.

If you have a TV, computer, or even a smartphone, it has at least one speaker. Like subwoofers, there are two types of speakers: active and passive.

The inclusion of an amplifier also means the speaker or subwoofer needs to be connected to an external power source. A large subwoofer like the SPL can take any home-theater setup to the next level. However, as your system grows, adding a second sub can help ensure the bass is evenly distributed throughout the whole room. Two SPLs increase your output capability by close to 6 dB, meaning everyone in the room can feel those powerful, low tones while watching action and sci-fi movies.

A pair of subwoofers can also minimize the seat-to-seat variance of bass response, offering an even coverage pattern of low frequencies throughout the room. Depending on room size and placement, one sub alone makes it challenging to deliver accurate bass response at multiple listening positions. This is because the frequency response of an individual subwoofer tends to have peaks and nulls.

A peak is an exaggeration of a bass note, while a null is the absence of bass. When paired together, two subwoofers smooth out those peaks and nulls, offering a more accurate frequency response at more locations in the room.

All in all, a subwoofer is an essential part of your system. As your system grows, think about adding a second low-toned beast to your setup. The results? Improved bass performance. Are you looking to dive deeper? Read our other subwoofer post that touches on construction, wattage, and wired vs.