Which Subwoofer for Which Use?

We have chosen to talk to you about an essential link in a home cinema, hi-fi or audio system installation: the subwoofer, also called a sub. There are several types of subwoofers, each with a specific role depending on the intended use. If you mainly listen to music, you will not have the same needs as a movie buff looking for total sound immersion. Similarly, the size of your room and the configuration of your audio system can influence your choice.

There are two main families of subwoofers: active ones, which are equipped with a built-in amplifier, and passive ones, which require an external amplifier. Active subwoofers come in two main types: sealed enclosures and bass-reflex enclosures, each with its advantages and disadvantages.

As for the sealed enclosure, it offers a more precise frequency response and higher efficiency than the bass-reflex enclosure, but it is often less powerful. The bass-reflex enclosure, on the other hand, has a more extended frequency response and a better ability to produce deep bass.

Bass-reflex subwoofers

Bass-reflex subwoofers are a popular choice for Hi-Fi and home theater enthusiasts. These subwoofers are equipped with a speaker as well as a vent, called a resonator, which is sized according to the internal volume of the enclosure. Although their installation can be complex, they offer many advantages in terms of efficiency and sound quality.

Bass-reflex subwoofers have the ability to produce deeper bass frequencies than other types of subwoofers, thanks to the use of the vent which increases the acoustic pressure inside the enclosure. This results in a more dynamic sound and more striking impacts, which is particularly appreciated when playing movies in a home theater.

Although their tuning can be more difficult than sealed enclosures, Bass-reflex subwoofers offer exceptional audio performance and total immersion in the sound experience. So if you’re looking to improve the sound quality of your home theater setup, Bass-reflex subwoofers are definitely worth considering.

Sealed enclosure subwoofers

Sealed enclosures are a popular alternative to Bass-reflex subwoofers for music lovers. Although they cannot reproduce bass frequencies as deeply as Bass-reflex subwoofers, they have other advantages that make them more versatile.

Sealed enclosure subwoofers are relatively easy to use and offer very fast and dynamic bass. Indeed, sealed enclosures have punchy bass and increased dynamic precision, which can make them more suitable for hi-fi.

Sealed enclosure subwoofers can also be easier to integrate into a room due to their size and design. They are also less sensitive to acoustic interference than Bass-reflex subwoofers, generally more suitable for small rooms or installations where sound accuracy is crucial.

Hybrid subwoofers: active + passive speakers

Passive radiator subwoofers are a variant of Bass-Reflex subwoofers. Instead of using a vent as a resonator, they use a passive speaker that vibrates in response to the internal air pressure generated by the active speaker.

The passive speaker is not powered, but it contributes to improving the frequency response of the subwoofer by allowing greater air movement. This can enhance overall sound quality by reducing distortion and enabling a deeper, more accurate low-frequency response.

Although passive radiator subwoofers can offer sonic advantages over traditional bass-reflex subwoofers, their design can be more complex and their cost may be higher. However, for audiophiles concerned with sound quality, these subwoofers can provide a high-performance solution for their audio system.

Amplification and its settings

Each active subwoofer is equipped with an electronic module that powers the speaker and allows adjustment of its operating range. For subwoofer settings, there are several parameters to consider. The main ones are:

• Volume level: This is the output level of the subwoofer. It should be adjusted according to the overall sound level of the system and the room in which it is used.
• Crossover frequency: This is the frequency at which the main speakers stop reproducing low frequencies and the subwoofer takes over. This frequency should be set according to the characteristics of the main speakers and the subwoofer.
• Phase adjustment: This is the phase shift between the audio signal sent to the main speakers and the one sent to the subwoofer. This adjustment must be made to avoid any sound coherence issues between the speakers and the subwoofer.
• Gain adjustment: This is the level of amplification applied to the audio signal sent to the subwoofer. This adjustment should be made according to the overall volume level of the system and the room in which it is used.

However, some high-end models offer a more advanced solution for fine-tuning the subwoofer. These models can be controlled via a dedicated smartphone app, providing a more user-friendly and intuitive experience. Moreover, these apps can include advanced features such as room acoustic calibration using technologies like Dirac or Arc.

By fine-tuning your subwoofer using these tools, you can optimize the performance of your audio system to achieve more accurate and balanced sound. This can help enhance the overall listening experience and fully enjoy your favorite music, movies, and games.

The wattage of a subwoofer is also an important factor to consider when purchasing a home theater system.

In simple terms, the watts of a subwoofer measure the power of the subwoofer’s amplifier, which drives the speaker to produce sound. The higher the power, the more capable the subwoofer will be in producing low frequencies.

However, it’s important to note that wattage should not be considered in isolation. The efficiency and sensitivity of the subwoofer’s speaker, as well as the quality of the subwoofer’s construction, have a significant impact on the overall sound quality.

It is therefore important to consider watts in combination with other characteristics, such as frequency response, sensitivity, and total harmonic distortion (THD), to choose the subwoofer that best suits your needs.

Placing the subwoofer in a room (1 or more)

When installing your subwoofer, the positioning of your sub is crucial to achieve quality sound reproduction. We recommend placing the subwoofer at the front of the soundstage and in a corner of the room to increase its bass level thanks to the walls acting as a horn.

However, if the subwoofer is placed too far from the walls or flush against a wall, the sub frequencies can randomly excite the resonances of the listening room, resulting in a non-linear frequency response, a lack of depth, a “barrel sound” effect, poorly controlled or flabby bass, as well as difficulty or even impossibility of crossover with the other home theater speakers used.

To avoid these problems, it is important to find the best location for your sub to achieve balanced and quality sound reproduction. We are here to help you find the ideal location for your subwoofer, taking into account the characteristics of your room and the specifications of your audio system.

Speaker diameter based on room volume

Selecting the right speaker is a crucial step for any music or home theater enthusiast. Indeed, the size of the speaker has a direct impact on the quality of the sound produced and the ability to fill the room with sound. It is therefore essential to take into account the size of the room as well as the associated speakers to make the most suitable choice.

When choosing a speaker, the diameter is one of the most important elements to consider. The larger the diameter of the speaker, the more effectively it will be able to fill a large room with sound. This means that a 20 cm speaker may not be optimal for a large room with large floorstanding speakers.

It is also important to ensure that the lowest frequency of the speaker is lower than that of your acoustic speakers to avoid any sound imbalance. Indeed, a speaker that cannot produce sufficient low frequencies to match the capabilities of your acoustic speakers could result in sound distortion.

In sum, taking the time to select the right speaker based on the size of your room and the associated speakers can make a huge difference in terms of sound quality and overall listening experience.

There will always be some models that are exceptions

Choosing the ideal size of your subwoofer is essential to achieve an optimal listening experience. We recommend taking into account the size of your room to make the most suitable choice.

• For a space up to 20m2, we recommend a sub with a speaker whose diameter is between 20 cm and 25 cm.

• For a space up to 30m2, a sub with a speaker whose diameter is between 25 cm and 30 cm will be more suitable.

• For a space up to 40m2, the diameter of the speaker should range between 30 and 38 cm to obtain quality sound reproduction.

• For rooms larger than 50m2, a 38 cm speaker is the minimum required to achieve an optimal listening experience.