How To Find The Right Beast For You
Jul 10 '01
The Bottom Line Read my 'Conclusion'
The subwoofer is one of the most important speakers in a home theater hook-up. Many people over-look them, and say that they sound all the same. Many people will go ahead and buy a cheap $200 KLH 12". Some may say that there is no difference between a 12" KLH subwoofer, and a 12" M&K for instance. Well, believe it or not, even though subwoofers don't produce vocals or any familiar sounds, they are very important speakers. Bass isn't all the same. If it were, people would be buying KLH subwoofers rather than M&K or Velodyne subwoofers for example. Well, here's my guide to buying subwoofers.
-Different Sizes-
*Subwoofers come in all different sizes. Subwoofers are measured by the size of their drivers. There are very many different sizes, but there are also the common ones. They are measured in inches. the most common sizes are 8", 10", 12", and 15". The less common sizes are 5.5", 7", and 20". The bigger the driver, the more bass that you get. Here are the sizes and some general information about them:
*5.5" - You wont typically find a powered 5.5" powered subwoofer. They are usually passive, and they come with computer speaker systems generally. For example, the Boston Acoustics BA635 speaker set comes with a 5.5" passive subwoofer. It does create some nice bass, but at loud volumes, it seems to be pushed way too hard, and it lags. If you find a passive 5.5" subwoofer and hook it up into a home theater hook-up, you'll probably get bad bass. However, for small rooms, a cheap sub of this size can give some nice bass at moderate levels.
*7" - I have only seen one 7" subwoofer. It was a Boston Acoustics model, and it was also floor firing. Boston Acoustics works wonders with small drivers. They can make tiny drivers produce deep loud clean bass. However, I don't think any other brands have come up with 7", or at least that I've seen. So, skip the 7" subwoofers.
*8" - The 8" is the smallest of the basic sizes. You really have to be careful here. For example, my grandparents used to own a 50Watt Audio Source 8" side firing subwoofer. that thing couldn't produce bass at all. That thing couldn't even get anywhere below 40hZ! I heard some cheaper 8" subwoofers, and they can't seem to get nice bass below 40hZ. Some 8" subwoofers like the Velodyne CT-80 can give some nice bass for small rooms, but for many listeners, an 8" subwoofer just won't cut it. Plus, you can probably find some 12" subwoofers from respectable brands for the same price as 8" subwoofers. I've heard some decent 8" subwoofers, from brands like Infinity, they just don't seem to hit the spot in large rooms.
*10" - 10" subwoofers seem to be less common than 12" subwoofers. 10" subwoofers are usually built around some nice amplifiers. I've heard some great 10" subwoofers like the Paradigm PS-1000, but most still don't give that deep thundering bass that most 12" subwoofers can easily handle without any problems. Many 10" subwoofers cost similar to 12". The 12" is the better of the two... Buy the 12" if you get the chance.
*12" - 12" is probably the most common and ideal subwoofer size. For example, I use 12" subwoofers in my house. I currently use the Velodyne CT-120 and Cerwin-Vega! LW12. I love both very much. Both subwoofers can easily handle bass well below 40hZ, and also can pound at less than 20hZ! However, one downside is the size of the cabinets. The cabinet is the box which holds the amplifier and subwoofer driver. Many people complain and say that subwoofers are too big, especially the 12" subwoofers. However, the Cerwin-Vega! LW12 that I own is in a very small room, and it's nicely tucked into the corner... So, rather than buying a temporary subwoofer, just go ahead and buy yourself a 12". No size is too big, that's what the volume knob is for.
*15" - 15" subwoofers are beasts... Very expensive beasts too. They can pound much more bass than 12" subwoofers. I've seen some that are built around monsterously powerful amplifiers, some that are more than 500Watts! That can easily destroy your home. These may be too big for people. Unless you have a concert hall in your house or something like that, I feel that a 15" is just wa waste of money. A 12" subwoofer is already usually too much for most people.
*20" - Even bigger than the 15". Ok, unless you're very rich and have either a real home movie theater or concert hall, you won't need a 20" subwoofer. Way too big... A 20" can easily tear down the house, give you a major headache, and maybe even kill you... But please, don't try using one at maximum power at home!
*Dual-Firing - Dual-firing subwoofers usually contain a side firing driver, and also a floor firing driver. A dual-firing subwoofer can give off smoother and cleaner bass, but they also don't come cheap at all. Dual-firing subwoofers usually are very expensive! Even a single driver is usually very expensive! So, instead of buying a dual-firing subwoofer, buy a powerful and expensive 12" or 15" instead. However, if you're serious about bass, then you should consider an M&K dual-firing THX certified subwoofer.
-Side or Floor Firing?-
*There are two different kinds of subwoofers. There is the floor firing subwoofer, and the side firing subwoofer. Both are good, but some have advantages, and some have disadvantages. For example, if you have free space in a corner of a small room, you can buy yourself a great side firing subwoofer... Or if your room is big, buy a floor. But to make it easier, I'll list each one seperately.
*Side Firing - A side firing subwoofer has a driver built into its side. Or in other words, it fires forward towards you, rather than to the ground. If you place a side firing subwoofer into the corner, you will get much louder and boomier bass. However, the bass will still sound nice and natural. There are some huge side firing subwoofers that don't need to be placed in the corner because the amplifiers are so powerful anyhow... However, a side firing subwoofer may not shake the couch if it is too far away, or may get weak bass if the room is too big. However, if the room is compact and you position it towards you, you get some sweeeeettttt bass.
*Floor Firing - A floor firing subwoofer has a driver that firs into the ground. The good thing about a floor firing subwoofer is that you get the full effect from the bass throughout the entire room if the driver is large enough to support it. However, you may not get the couch shaking effect that you would get with the side firing. however, I heard many floor firing subwoofers, and they rock... But you need hardwood floors for best effects. However, if you have carpets, I got some tweaks in store for you, so hold on.
*In conclusion, both are good. You just have to see which kind is best for your room! It's not for me to decide, it's for you to decide.
-Tweaks-
*One thing that drives people away from floor firing subwoofers is that they have carpeted floors... Because these types of subwoofers work best with hardwood floors. well, I've got a solution for all of you! Take a slab of wood, and place it under the subwoofer as a base. The slab should be more than 1" thick, and then you will get better results. I actually tried out smoother and more expensive types of wood... I don't know if it was just me... But it seemed to sound better. The ultimate thing that you can do is place a 1"+ slab of marble under the subwoofer. Now, you'll have the best sound transmission! Marble is expensive... But it makes floor firing subwoofers sound great. Or at least, that was what I was able to do.
*One inportant thing that you should have under a side firing subwoofer are spikes. Usually, you'd want to have four under. You can buy some expensive spikes, or you can make some alone at home. For example, I took cork and cut it into four equally sized slices, and placed it under my Cerwin-Vega! LW12. It made it sound better and more natural. But then, I realized it already came with four cheap spikes... But, you don't have to pay a bunch for them. Go to your local hardware store and buy little wooden cylinders, and place them under your subwoofer. You'll be getting a better bass response, a much smoother and cleaner one.
-Which Brands?-
*Just like any other speaker, there are good and bad brands. Some people have this idea that all subwoofers are the same, and that there is no difference. There is a big one. Some put poor quality parts under the hood, and some put in nice one. Some drivers are better quality than others. Here, I will give you some good brands.
*Boston Acoustics
*Velodyne
*M&K
*Acoustic Research
*Paradigm
*Mission
*Polk
*MB Quartz
Etc... etc... Do your research!
-In Conclusion-
*Well, I hope this review helped you in making a decision. Buying a subwoofer can really be difficult, but if you do your research and let your ears hear what it is, then you'll be all set! Remember, subwoofers are expensive speakers... Yet, music sounds flat and dead without them. In my opinion, there is no such thing as a temporary subwoofer. You can buy an 8" for $299, or you can buy an even better 12" for $399. Forget space, this is music, and music isn't music without bass!
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Member: Soup Enthusiast
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Reviews written: 491
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About Me:
I enjoy many of life's passions... Music, medicine, people, and life itself.
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