What's The Best HZ For Bass - How To Get The Most Out Of Your Subwoofer

When setting up audio devices such as subwoofers and mid-range speakers, you have many options to choose from the position to how low or high you can make the frequency. 

Sometimes, it can feel like you're doing rocket science and not setting up your speakers.

Setting up the right frequency for your sub is essential if you want your listening experience to have depth and that extra oomph. The best HZ setting for a bass speaker is around 60 to 250 HZ. 

The exact frequency setting depends on what equipment you’re using, and your personal preferences. Regarding subwoofers, it's best to keep the frequency settings in the 20-60 HZ range.

In this article, I'll cover what HZ means, the best HZ setting for your sub, and how to set up a bass device.

What Is Speaker HZ, And How Does It Work?

So, what does HZ even mean? 

HZ is the abbreviation for 'hertz,' which is a part of the international metric system and is used to measure frequency. In the context of speakers, Hz stands for the range of frequencies a specific speaker can reproduce. 

Hz is directly tied with the speed and the wavelength of the soundwaves.

For example, a lower HZ level means the sound travels in longer and slower waves. This means it will sound deep and thumpy. 

The higher the frequency, the faster and shorter the wave, which results in a high sound.

Please note that Hz is used to measure all types of waves. But for this article, I'll use Hz to describe the frequency of the soundwaves coming out of your speakers.

With a basic understanding of how sound frequencies work, you can configure your audio setup so you get a balanced listening experience. For example, specific drivers and sound ranges are tied to particular frequencies, such as: 

• General Speaker - 200 Hz - 2/4 kHz
  
  
•  Bass Speaker - 60 Hz - 250 Hz
  
  
•  Midrange speaker - 500 Hz - 2 kHz
  
  
•  Highrange speaker - 4 kHz - 6 kHz

What Is The Best Hz For My Bass Speaker?

As I've mentioned in the intro, the best Hz for bass is between 60 and 250 hertz. Frequencies in this range protect your speakers from damage and ensure optimal safety and listening experience. If you set up the bass to produce frequencies outside this range, you risk damaging the speaker and your hearing.

These Hz ranges work at the optimum for most bass/subwoofers on the market, making it a great guide to getting your audio set up going.

Of course, you can also check the back of your subwoofer (or the owner's manual) and see what Hz range it covers. 

Getting the correct low-end frequency ranges on your bass would be best because incorrect settings can cause distorted audio output. For example, if you were listening to a female singer with the bass cranked all the way, she would sound more like a man.

This distortion is caused due to the original higher frequencies being forced to go out of the low-end of the audio setup. Straying away from recommended frequency settings will significantly impact the sound output quality.

Are There Any Dangers To Listening to Ultra-Low Bass?

You've probably seen a few viral videos where a guy blows the windows on his car because the bass and treble have been cranked up. If sound waves can do that to the glass, what can they do to your squishy bits?

As with an audio device, bass' and subwoofers come with a warning they can cause hearing loss. In a healthy person, bass lets us feel the music because it's vibrating our entire body. However, if the frequencies are too low, they can negatively impact your hearing and other bodily systems.

While the loud treble is extremely dangerous and can cause serious hearing loss, the bass isn't too good for you either. Being too close to a loud bass speaker can cause nausea, dizziness, disorientation, permanent hearing loss, and vomiting.

Because of implied health risks, you must test whether adding more bass to your sound setup is worth it. 

If you add more bass, ensure it operates in the recommended frequency range.

Can I Use A Subwoofer For Bass?

Of course, you can use a subwoofer to add more bass to your listening experience. 

While a woofer can output a little bit of bass, a subwoofer is made for deep bass. These speakers usually operate in frequencies between 20 and 200 Hz.

The lower the frequency is, the more powerful the bass. Hip-hop, trap, metal, and grunge all sound phenomenal if you can hear (and feel) the low frequencies.

However, not everyone is a fan of deep bass. This is why you can set up the sub to produce frequencies from 60 to 200 Hz.

Some subwoofers can even produce infrasound, which is a fancy way of saying they can pump out frequencies below 20 Hz. You're not able to hear this kind of bass, but you can certainly feel it, which is why these frequencies are often used in horror movies.

How To Set Up A Bass Speaker

Now that you understand the physics of bass, it's time to learn how you can set up a bass speaker. Here are the three steps you need to take:

1. Connect the speakers. First, connect your subwoofer to your amplifier while making sure you're following the manufacturer's instructions.
   
   
2. Test the speakers. Once you have everything plugged in, it's time to test it. Test if the sound output is satisfactory and the acoustics are good.
   
   
3. Play around with audio settings. Once you have everything up and running, you can play around with various audio settings on your audio receiver to get the sound output you're looking for.

Conclusion

When it's all said and done, the best Hz for bass is between 60 and 250 Hz. 

If you want deep bass, you can use a subwoofer. But, in most cases adhering to the recommended frequency range guarantees an enjoyable listening experience.