Adding a Subwoofer for Your Car Sound System
Setting up a new audio system in your car takes some research and planning to get all the parts right. Subwoofers play an important role in achieving quality sound, so you should understand what to look for when choosing one.
Why is a Subwoofer Important?
Before looking at how to choose the right kind of subwoofer, you should understand why you need one in the first place.
- They play low frequency notes: Tweeters and mid-range speakers are unable to play low notes. A subwoofer is able to play all low frequencies, including sounds from bass guitars and drums.
- Reveals all sounds that your speakers can't: Without a subwoofer, your music can sound empty without the clarity and depth of bass tones.
- Gives you the ability to play music loud: All music types can play loudly without distortion when you have a good subwoofer in your setup, whereas woofers don't necessarily offer this same benefit.
What Should I Consider When Choosing a Subwoofer?
There are various specifications and features to look for. These are a few of the things you need to bear in mind.
- Size: The size subwoofer that you need is based on the amount of space that you have available and how loud and how low you want your music to go. You'll find better bass in a bigger subwoofer, but you need to make sure that you are able to install it sufficiently. Pyramid has 12-inch subwoofers that are often popular for auto sound setups.
- Enclosure: The type of enclosure that you have also makes an impact on the kind of sound you can get from your speaker. A sealed enclosure is ideal for you if you want exceptionally deep bass. If you would prefer louder sound over deeper bass, then a ported or bandpass enclosure will be better for you. You also have the option of an enclosure-less subwoofer, which usually mounts onto a board and sits inside your trunk.
- Power: When looking at specifications, look at the RMS rating over the power peak rating. the RMS rating is a more realistic measure than peak power as it measures continuous power output. The subwoofer's power handling should match correctly to your amp's power output.
- Number of coils: Many subs have single voice coils, but dual voice coils are good if you more flexibility in wiring your system.
- Impedance: You'll find most subwoofers with an impedance of 4 Ohms, but also 2 Ohms and 8 Ohms are becoming popular. Amplifiers should match your Pyramid subwoofer in impedance and power rating for getting the most out of your system without any issues.
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