A subwoofer is a device that reproduces low frequencies that its wide-band counterparts cannot pull off. That’s why it is built into the speaker system for richer sounding bass. To appreciate the benefits of a subwoofer, consider a stereo system with and without a subwoofer. A system without a subwoofer is a sound source (a player like a DVD, CD), a stereo amplifier to which this signal is fed. The output from the stereo amplifier is where the signal goes to the speakers. In this way, the signal goes through a minimally short chain, which means it gets to the speakers in its original quality. Which, by the way, is not always high.
Why Is A Separate Speaker Required?
According to the laws of physics, the lower the frequency range, the wider the vibration amplitude is required. So you need a larger speaker to reproduce low-frequency sound. But it is technically difficult to build such a driver into conventional speakers. In addition, it would lead to a significant increase in their cost. At the same time, the human ear is designed so that the listener can determine where the sound source is located only if it is not too low-frequency. Below a certain threshold, the stereo effect disappears. Consequently, there is no point in using two speakers, one is sufficient. Compact speakers provide a stereo effect or even a circular stereo panorama, and a single subwoofer sufficiently amplifies the bass without losing the stereo effect. Moreover, you can also wall mount a subwoofer.
Therefore, for sound reproduction in the 20-200 Hz range, subwoofers are designed to provide excellent quality and take the unnecessary load off conventional speakers.
By design, subwoofers come in:
- Passive
- Active
Passive subwoofer contains only the speaker in this case, this option is cheaper but requires the additional use of an amplifier. The active subwoofer is more expensive, but it already has a built-in filter and bass amplifier. The sound is of higher quality, because the signal is fed from the amplifier, and then from the output to the sound power amplifier goes the signal of medium and high frequencies. The filter cuts off the low frequencies, which then go to the built-in amplifier. The active subwoofer helps to improve the sound and remove distortion throughout the range, as the midrange begins to sound cleaner while eliminating the bass. A closed-back subwoofer cabinet reduces power somewhat, but makes the bass notes clearer and increases the presence effect. A bass inverter subwoofer makes the sound more powerful and accurate without distortion at an increased volume. For example, the Madboy BOSS-12 active subwoofer combines exceptionally high sound quality with great power.
Using a subwoofer removes unnecessary load from the power amplifier by cutting off the low-frequency sound and processing it independently. It takes the midrange speakers out of their non-frequency mode of operation. Thus, we get the desired bass sound power without the slightest distortion of sound and loss of quality of the middle and high frequencies.
That’s It!
A soundbar doesn’t need a subwoofer to sound good. Soundbars include multiple internal speakers that can sound great on their own, but a subwoofer helps produce low frequencies that many soundbars cannot.
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