If you’re serious about music and don’t want to miss any detail, you probably know the subwoofer is an essential part of this gear. But what is a subwoofer, and why is it essential to any good music setup?
You know, those deep, booming bass notes that make your heart thump and your feet tap? That’s the stuff a subwoofer is made for. It lets you feel the music flowing through your veins and reach your bones.
Continue reading as we describe what a subwoofer is, its types, and how it differs from a speaker.
A subwoofer is a specialized speaker designed to handle low-frequency sounds, such as bass notes, in your music. So, what does a subwoofer do? It can reproduce those booming bass notes to ensure you don’t miss a single detail and add depth and richness to your music, movies, and games.
One of the most important uses of subwoofers is that they can take the strain off your other speakers. You will likely run into distortion and other issues if you’re trying to crank up the bass on a regular speaker. But with a subwoofer handling all that low-end goodness, you can turn up the volume without worrying about damaging your other speakers.
But why do you need a subwoofer for the bass? Why can’t you make do with speakers? For starters, the similarities between the two begin and end at one point — both speakers and subwoofers produce audio.
Your regular speakers can’t handle bass — they are made for mid and high-range frequencies — which is all you need if you’re watching a movie. But if you’re listening to music, you might feel the groove (and bass) is missing without subwoofers.
Active Subwoofer: Also known as powered subwoofers — they come with a built-in amplifier, so you don’t need an external amp to power it. It’s a simple and easy-to-use gadget, perfect for any room size but ideal for smaller rooms.
Passive Subwoofer: It needs an external amp to power it. Typically, they are used in complex audio setups and are audiophiles’ go-to choice. You can use a passive subwoofer in any room size, but it’s best suited for larger rooms where you want a more powerful bass sound.
Ported Subwoofer: It is called so because it uses a port to allow air movement, which creates a louder and deeper bass. These subwoofers are perfect for music lovers wanting to experience music rather than just listen to it. These work well in medium- to large-sized rooms.
Sealed Cabinet Subwoofer: Sealed cabinet subwoofers are perfect if you’d rather have a more precise bass sound rather than have the air movement in and out via a port. These are a good choice for a more accurate and controlled bass sound. They work well in smaller to medium-sized rooms.
Passive Radiator Subwoofer: Instead of using traditional voice coils or magnets, these subwoofers use passive radiators, which create a powerful bass. Voice coils move back and forth in a speaker to create the sound we hear. These subwoofers create a more accurate and natural bass without distortion.
Front and Down Firing Types of Subwoofers: These subwoofers refer to the speaker's direction. A front-firing subwoofer faces forward, while a down-firing subwoofer faces downwards. Front-firing subwoofers are great for music lovers, while down-firing subwoofers are better for home theatre setups. The type of room and intended use will determine which direction you choose.
Bandpass Subwoofer: These subwoofers use an enclosure to create a more powerful and booming bass. It’s the perfect sound woofer for your car, but you can also use these for home theatre setups.
Horn Loaded Subwoofer: These subwoofers come loaded with horns that create incredibly powerful, room-filling sounds. If you’re an audiophile, use this subwoofer to create a cinematic sound experience.
Both the woofer and subwoofer are designed to reproduce low-frequency sounds. However, the main difference between the two is the range of frequencies they reproduce.
Woofers are designed for frequencies of 40 Hz to 2 kHz, whereas subwoofers range from 20 Hz to 200 Hz. This means subwoofers reproduce the very lowest frequencies in a sound system.
Plus, woofers are smaller than subwoofers. The larger subwoofers allow more air movement and produce stronger bass.
So if you’re serious about your music and want to hear every detail and understand uses of subwoofers, Fort S440, Fort S300, Fort S200, Fort S36, Fort S48 with Dedicated Subwoofer, Mivi’s Fort S100 with two in-built subwoofers is an essential piece of gear. Just ensure you get one properly matched to your other speakers and your listening environment.
The best part is, Mivi’s gadgets are made in India. Mivi’s commitment to producing locally not only supports our economy but also showcases our people's incredible talent and ingenuity.