Listen Up!: This Is How to Buy the Right Car Subwoofer
Want to know how to choose a subwoofer?
You want to buy a new car subwoofer for your car, but you don’t know where to start.
If you’re like most people, you already have a sound system in your vehicle and it sounds great! But there’s always room for improvement. Maybe the bass is lacking or maybe the subs are not loud enough.
Or maybe the whole setup just doesn’t seem up-to-date anymore. Whatever the case may be, getting an upgrade can make all of those problems go away and more importantly improve your driving experience immensely.
Keep reading to find out the best way to find out what kind of subwoofer will fit into your car is by knowing what size box you have (or plan on building).
This helps narrow down which type of woofers will work for you; whether it be coaxial subs or component speakers that require separate enclosures.
1. Find Out if Your Car Has a Pre-existing Factory Subwoofer Installed
You should start by looking for a box or protective mesh underneath the seat that’s hiding an amplifier and power cables. If you have this, then you’ve already found your factory subwoofer system!
Unfortunately, it may not be enough to give you the bass experience that you’re after. So what do you do? Well, look for a new car subwoofer that can replace your factory-installed model.
2. Check If Your Car Has the Right Type of Amplifier for a New Subwoofer
Before looking into car subwoofers, determine if your vehicle has the right type of amplifier installed in it to support an additional low-frequency speaker. The reason for this is because some vehicles will only be able to support models like the Kicker Hideaway and Pioneer TS-SWX251 10″ Shallow Single 4 Ohm Subwoofer, while others might be able to accommodate larger ones such as the Infinity Reference 1062W 10″ DVC 2 Ohm Subwoofer.
3. What Size Do You Want?
To kick off your search for the right car subwoofer, you first need to determine what size you want. This will depend on a few factors such as the type of music you listen to, the size of your car, and how much space you want it to take up.
You’ll also need to think about your budget and whether or not you want a powered or passive model.
4. Decide If You Want a Single or Dual Subwoofer
Once you know the size you’re looking for, it’s time to decide if you want a single or dual subwoofer. A dual subwoofer setup can give you more power and bass than a single one, but it will also take up more space in your vehicle.
5. Consider How Much Power You Need
The next thing you need to think about is how much power you’ll need from your new car subwoofer. This will depend on the size of the subwoofer, the impedance, and the type of music you listen to.
If you’re not sure, it’s always best to go with a model that has more power than you think you’ll need.
6. Find Out the Impedance of the Subwoofer
The impedance of a car subwoofer is how much resistance it has to an electrical current. This is measured in ohms and will be either 2 or 4 ohms. If your vehicle’s amplifier is only compatible with 2-ohm, then make sure to find one that has a 2-ohm impedance.
7. What Type of Speaker Do You Want?
There are two types of speakers you can choose from: compression and dynamic. A compression speaker has its own power amplifier, while a dynamic one doesn’t. This means that the latter will require an external amp to produce sound, which makes it more difficult to install in your car.
Dynamic speakers also tend to be better than compression speakers for reproducing low bass frequencies.
8. Think About Where You’ll Install the Subwoofer Box
The next thing you need to think about is where you’ll want to install the subwoofer box in your vehicle. The ideal location should give space for wires and cables so they don’t stand out and look messy.
It should also be away from heat sources and in an area where it won’t get wet.
9. What Type of Enclosure Do You Want?
Enclosures are the boxes that house car subwoofers and come in either sealed or ported designs. A sealed enclosure is better for smaller subwoofers and gives a tighter, more accurate sound.
A ported enclosure is better for larger ones as it allows them to produce more bass.
10. Match the Subwoofer Size to the Box Size
It’s important that you don’t mismatch the size of the subwoofer with the size of the box. This will result in reduced sound quality and could damage the speaker. The box should always be larger than the subwoofer for the best results.
11. Consider How Much Weight the Enclosure Can Hold
The weight of the enclosure is also an important factor to consider. If it’s too heavy, it might not be able to be installed in your car. The ideal weight should be around 10-15 pounds.
12. What Material Will the Box Be Made From?
You’ll also need to think about what material the box will be made from. The most common materials are plastic, MDF, and fiberglass, but each has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Plastic is cheap and easy to work with, but it doesn’t sound very good. MDF is more expensive but sounds better than plastic, while fiberglass is the best option but is also the most expensive.
Want More Help Buying a Car Subwoofer?
This blog post has been a great resource for you to learn how to buy the best car subwoofer, like American Bass. We hope that this information will help you in your next purchase and we encourage you to share our blog with anyone who may be looking into purchasing a new or replacement speaker system, as well as any friends who want more information about what makes an excellent quality sound system.
If you want to learn more about how to get a subwoofer for your car, and get subwoofer buying tips to check out our blog!
