Are Subwoofers Worth It - Benefits Of Having A Subwoofer

If you’re looking to build a home theater setup, chances are you’ve noticed many of them have at least one subwoofer. If you’re looking to improve your music listening experience, many speakers also come with a subwoofer.

But the question is: Are subwoofers worth it?

The short answer is yes - subwoofers are definitely worth it, as they serve the purpose of enhancing your music-listening experience or movie-watching experience. In this article, we’ll cover the primary uses of subwoofers and explain why they are so good to have.

So without further ado, let's jump right in.

What Are Subwoofers?

Before we even start, we have to explain what exactly subwoofers are. Subwoofers are loudspeakers whose primary purpose is to produce low-pitched frequencies, commonly known as bass and sub-bass. 

High-end subwoofers are made from tough materials capable of handling higher air pressure. Much of the bass is lost to the air, so good build quality is crucial, so usually wood will do.

Certain subwoofers come with their own amplifier, making it the perfect subwoofer/amp combination. These subwoofers are also known as active subwoofers.

On the other hand, passive subwoofers don’t come with an amplifier, meaning you’ll have to match the power requirements of the subwoofer with the proper amplifier.

Subwoofers usually require a huge amount of power since they have to move a lot of air to produce low frequencies. Also, you’ll notice that subwoofers are bigger than your typical speakers.

Now that you know what subwoofers are, let’s cover their uses.

Subwoofers Improve Home Theaters

Subwoofers are crucial components for any home theater because they produce frequencies that your ordinary speakers just aren’t able to.

Subwoofers add to the immersiveness of the movie-watching experience as they give an authentic cinema vibe.

Based on the size of your home theater, you may need more than one subwoofer. However, for most rooms, one should be more than enough. Keep in mind, though, that more than one subwoofer can produce better bass quality.

Without a subwoofer, your home cinema is left with horrible bass quality that can sound washed out and distorted.

In addition, home cinemas can use both active subwoofer and passive subwoofer setups. Single subwoofer setups usually are usually the best with an active subwoofer, whereas multiple subwoofer setups work best with a passive subwoofer setup.

Keep in mind that the most important element of the subwoofer for home cinemas is the placement - poor subwoofer placement can make or break the quality of your movie-watching experience.

Subwoofers Are Fantastic For Music

Based on the music type you listen to, the use of a subwoofer can be justified since it can improve the music’s quality of sound quality substantially. For instance, if you listen to hip-hop and music that uses a lot of basses, subwoofers will make it more impactful.

Without subwoofers, the bass can sound distorted at higher volumes, leading to the music sounding worse. This is because subwoofers produce notes in the low-frequency spectrum almost ideally.

Subwoofers are meant to complement your main speakers and work together perfectly. Remember that your subwoofer should never overpower your main speakers.

Cars Use Subwoofers Too

If you wish to increase your car’s audio setup, a subwoofer will give you that hard-hitting bass that many audiophiles can appreciate.

The bigger the subwoofer, the harder the bass will hit. However, for cars, you want to find the sweet spot when it comes to the subwoofer’s size. Most cars do well with a 12-inch subwoofer as they create the perfect balance between clarity and bass.

Before setting up a subwoofer in your vehicle, you will need to assess your current audio setup and make sure you have the proper amplifier for your car.

Subwoofer positioning is the most crucial factor for the best music listening experience in your car. Usually, the subwoofer will work the trunk of the car. As for which direction it faces, it’s entirely up to you.

If you want the best bass out of your car’s subwoofer, you will need to pair it with the correct amplifier. You can do this by matching your subwoofer’s power specifications with the right amplifier. 

Additionally, you will want to use a passive subwoofer for your car. This is because of their smaller size, which should create the perfect amount of bass for such a small space.

Final Thoughts

So, are subwoofers worth it? Yes, subwoofers are definitely worth having - they’re required in audio setups such as home theaters, car audio setups, and home music systems.

Using a subwoofer is very important for home cinemas since it can ideally replicate low-frequency sounds, providing that extra level of realism when watching movies.

For music listening, the subwoofer can make the song hit harder, making it sound fantastic - subwoofers work well with music that plays a lot of basses, such as hip hop or rap.

Cars can benefit from subwoofers, too, as they can greatly improve the listening experience on the move. Subwoofers in vehicles can create hard-hitting bass with the correct amplifier and audio system.