Which subwoofer enclosure is best for a sedan. Choosing a subwoofer - briefly about the main thing
Not every car enthusiast has a subwoofer, but probably everyone can imagine what it looks like: a hefty speaker that takes up half (at best) of the trunk. Why does the subwoofer have to be big? Strictly speaking, a large diffuser size is not needed for high-quality transmission of low frequencies - any good headphones are capable of transmitting the “low frequencies” in all their richness, despite the size of the diffuser being tens of times smaller than that of a subwoofer. The problem is the sound pressure created by the speakers. It is not difficult to create sound pressure in a small volume between the ear and the headphones; it is another matter when we are talking about at least the volume of air inside the car. And here, the lower the frequency, the slower the diffuser moves and the more difficult it is to create the necessary sound pressure. A diffuser with a small diameter must have a very large stroke so that as the volume increases, the sound pressure at lower frequencies remains the same as at high frequencies - so that the “lows do not sag.” And if you want to listen to music very loudly, and even with enhanced bass, then no standard speaker will cope - you need to increase the size of the diffuser.
Another feature of the subwoofer - both in stereo systems and in surround sound systems - is that there is always one (this is also known to many, although not everyone knows why this is so). The fact is that a person has difficulty determining the direction of a low-frequency sound source. Because the sound wavelength is comparable to the distance between the ears, both of our methods for determining the direction of the sound source do not work. The attenuation of the sound is indistinguishable (the wave simply bends around the head and sounds in both ears with the same intensity), and it is also impossible to determine the direction by the phase shift (the peak of the signal arrives in both ears at the same time). Therefore, one subwoofer is quite enough - if there is no high-frequency signal going to it, it will not be possible to determine where it is installed.
Why do many small subwoofers cost more than larger ones? What is the difference between expensive and cheap models, besides power? Firstly, in a combination of power (preferably more), sound pressure (also more) and size (smaller). The requirements are mutually exclusive, therefore, the closer a manufacturer manages to bring its product to an unattainable ideal, the more expensive materials and engineering solutions are used in it. Secondly, in terms of sound quality: in the pursuit of power, many manufacturers leave the issue of quality “behind the scenes” - after all, it requires the use of high-quality (and therefore expensive) materials for the diffuser and subwoofer housing.
Characteristics of subwoofers.
View. There are active and passive. Everything is simple here - the active one already contains an amplifier and can be directly connected to the audio system. The undoubted advantage of an active one is that the manufacturer has already selected an amplifier suitable for it in all respects, and you don’t have to rack your brains about it. The downside is that, as a rule, this is a single-channel amplifier, and if you want not just to add a subwoofer to a standard audio system, but to build a high-quality speaker system from scratch, you will have to buy another amplifier. But the most significant disadvantage of active subwoofers is that the amplifier in them is a “pig in a poke” and manufacturers often skimp on it. If you need not only loud, but also high-quality sound, then when buying an active subwoofer you should not rely on cheap products from little-known manufacturers. And for expensive models, it is advisable to find out the frequency characteristics of the amplifier: amplitude-frequency response, distortion coefficients, signal-to-noise ratio, etc. If this information is not in the instruction manual, then most likely the manufacturer saved on the amplifier, and the quality of its output signal far from ideal. In addition, active subwoofers (other things being equal) are larger in size than passive ones (an amplifier is also located in the same housing, sometimes a rather large one) and it will be more difficult to find a place for it in the car.
The passive subwoofer does not have an amplifier; you will need one before connecting it. And in general, all its pros and cons are the pros and cons of active ones.
For assembling a high-quality audio system, a passive subwoofer is clearly preferable. You might even be better off choosing among subwoofer speakers.
For an existing speaker, installing an active one is much faster and easier.
Power. Separate rated power And maximum. No matter how many watts are drawn on the box or enclosure of the subwoofer, you should definitely find out what its rated power is - the one at which it can operate for an hour without the risk of damage. It is this power that should be used when selecting a subwoofer, since there is no standard procedure for measuring maximum power.
Maximum power is the power of a short-term (up to 2 seconds) signal that the subwoofer can withstand without damage. If the maximum power of the amplifier is higher than the maximum power of the subwoofer, you should refrain from listening to music at close to maximum volume - especially music with sudden and prolonged changes in volume.
What should the power of the subwoofer be relative to the power of the amplifier? There is no consensus here; all options have their ardent supporters and opponents.
For sound purity, it is better if the power of the amplifier is greater than the power of the subwoofer. Only with such a combination should you remember that maximum power cannot be given to the subwoofer.
A combination in which the amplifier is weaker than the subwoofer, if the system is properly configured, is considered safer - but only if properly configured. This combination is dangerous because the amplifier, under extreme loads, enters clipping mode and begins to output a high-frequency signal of high power, which is very dangerous for speakers. The first sign of amplifier “clipping” is wheezing, crackling and clicking that appears in the sound of the subwoofer. But, unfortunately, due to the volume of the sound, the owner of the audio system often does not notice these signs until it is too late. Properly functioning amplifier overload protection, adjusting its sensitivity and filters, the presence of a filter or external crossover between the amplifier and the subwoofer - they can protect the speaker from the effects of the “clip”, but this requires the correct selection of components and their settings.
Impedance or subwoofer input impedance. Must be exactly supported by the amplifier. If you connect a subwoofer with an impedance of 2 Ohms to an output designed for at least 4 Ohms, then the output stage of the amplifier may burn out, unable to withstand twice the current. If, on the contrary, you connect an 8 ohm subwoofer to an output designed for a maximum of 4, then the sound of the speaker will be much quieter than if the connection were made correctly.
If the subwoofer supports connecting two speakers with a minimum impedance of 2 ohms, then when connected “in a bridge” (if the amplifier allows such a connection), the minimum impedance of the connected subwoofer doubles - less than 4 ohms cannot be connected.
Sometimes, to increase the sound pressure, two subwoofers are connected to the amplifier at once. Then their total impedance is calculated using a formula corresponding to the type of connection.
Speaker diameter. There is an opinion that the more the better. Not necessary. Speaker diameter should only be considered in conjunction with power and sensitivity. If two subwoofers of the same power and sensitivity have different diameters, it is better to take the one that is smaller. Another thing is that speakers with high power and sensitivity usually have a larger diameter. But the volume of the machine is not so large and an 8-10 inch speaker may be quite enough to create good sound pressure. But what if you plan to use your car audio system as a mobile audio system for outdoor audio? Once you open the trunk, the requirements for sound pressure will increase significantly. This is where diffusers of 12-15 inches or larger come in handy. With the appropriate power, of course.
Case material– another topic for heated debate among adherents of certain materials. Some argue that nothing can be better than pure wood; others prefer plywood covered with felt or carpet. However, most mass-produced models are made of MDF and plastic.
In general, the main purpose of the housing in any of the designs is to absorb “unnecessary” sound, so the higher the sound-absorbing characteristics of the material, the better it is suitable for the subwoofer housing.
The rigidity of the material is also important, especially in “closed box” type structures.
MDF and chipboard, due to their high density and weak resonant qualities, are well suited for any type of subwoofer; dense plywood 10-12 mm and wood are a little worse. Metal and aluminum dampen sound the worst, so it is highly desirable that such enclosures be covered with felt or other sound-absorbing material (preferably on both sides). Another reason why metal is not the best choice for a subwoofer enclosure: it can begin to resonate on its own, then you can forget about the purity of the sound. Some manufacturers (for example, Bell-Audio) use special multilayer plastic in their cases, but cases made of ordinary plastic with not the best performance are much more common, so it is better to refrain from buying a subwoofer (especially a powerful one) in a plastic case.
Sensitivity– for a subwoofer – a synonym for sound pressure. Shows how loud (in dB) a 1 W signal applied to the input will sound at a distance of 1 m from the speaker. For devices of comparable power, the higher the sensitivity, the louder the sound.
Type of shell. All types of enclosures essentially solve one problem: what to do with the sound generated behind the diffuser. This sound is generated in antiphase to the main one, and, adding to the main one, dampens it due to the ability of long sound waves to bend around obstacles (if there is no body).
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Sealed (closed box) is the simplest type of enclosure. It simply dampens the sound behind the diffuser, for which purpose the insides of the sealed box are often lined with sound-absorbing material. In addition, due to the tightness of the housing, an air cushion is created behind the diffuser, smoothing out sudden movements of the diffuser and allowing it to withstand greater power. The advantages are simplicity, low cost and greater resistance to peak loads. The downside is that a considerable part of the power is wasted: the sound behind the diffuser is simply muffled, so with the same power, subwoofers in such enclosures sound quieter.
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There is a hole in the bass reflex housing, the distance from which to the speaker is selected in such a way that the sound wave from the rear side of the diffuser reaches the hole in the same phase as from the front side. The sound is not muffled, power is spent more efficiently. The downside is that the wavelength depends on the frequency, and if the wavelength deviates from the calculated one, the sound will be distorted. In addition, speakers in such enclosures are more susceptible to damage under heavy loads - this is especially true if the amplifier does not have an ultra-low-pass filter (subsonic).
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Band-pass housing combines bass reflex and sealed. Unlike previous enclosures, this enclosure works as a bandpass filter - the best sound will be received by those frequencies whose wavelengths are close to the distance from the speaker to the hole. This solution can be used to increase the bass depth of a speaker with low sensitivity. At the same time, such a case is much larger than a sealed or bass reflex case.
Minimum and maximum frequency reproduced by the subwoofer. The frequencies at which the sound pressure drops critically for mid-range speakers are below 100 Hz. That's why maximum frequency subwoofer must not be lower than this threshold. More often it is much higher; You can adjust the cutoff level yourself using a low-pass filter, which should be on any active subwoofer or subwoofer amplifier. What frequency to set depends on the capabilities of the audio system and everyone's personal preferences, but the general principle is simple - give the subwoofer only what the rest of the audio system does not pull out.
A subwoofer or sub, as motorists also call it, is an acoustic system that operates at low frequencies (from 5 to 200 Hz). It is necessary to provide more powerful bass, without which it is impossible to listen to modern hits. There are several nuances in how to choose a subwoofer for a car, because the material from which the interior parts are made can degrade the sound quality, and the reproduction of different frequencies will be uneven due to the displacement of the driver's seat relative to the center of the car.
Only a competent approach to selection will allow you to determine which subwoofer is best for your car. More details about the features of choosing a subwoofer for a car will be discussed in this article.
Modern automotive magazines often talk about well-known subwoofer manufacturers, assigning them various ratings. But it's worth asking whether the best subs are for the average driver who just wants to improve the sound of his car a little. This question cannot be called easy, because all people are different and their preferences will be different.
Only the most popular brands are heard of, for example, Sony, Kenwood, Pioneer and so on. All of them are produced at a high level, so there are no serious differences between them. For the average person who does not study in musical institutions, identifying the features of the sound of low frequencies is very difficult, and sometimes impossible. Moreover, if the tuned car then does not participate in various sound competitions, then what is the point of investing a lot of money in branded acoustics?
Not the last place when choosing a subwoofer is the design of the car and its technical characteristics. Agree, it will look ridiculous if you install very expensive and powerful acoustics on an old VAZ 2108, which will only complement the creaks and groans of the V8 body.
On a note! According to a special calculation system, the cost of musical accompaniment should not exceed 20% of the cost of the car itself. This calculation helps many drivers choose the right solution.
Types of car subwoofers
Depending on whether the subwoofer is equipped with a special amplifier or not, they can be divided into active and passive. Let's consider each of these types separately.
Active
The active subwoofer includes a low-frequency speaker, a sound power amplifier and a crossover. This type is best suited for daily use due to its ease of use - you just need to connect it to the radio. If your priority is not surround low-frequency sound and you do not have the desire or time to spend a long time adjusting the sound, then you are better off opting for an active subwoofer.
What active subwoofers are there for cars? Advantages and disadvantages
The main advantages of active types of subwoofers include:
- ease of operation;
- compact design;
- low cost;
- Such a sub can be installed on almost any model.
They also have their disadvantages, including:
- Low quality speakers included;
- the built-in amplifier is not very powerful (no more than 150 watts);
- There are problems with the reproduction of low frequencies (they only lose from 45 Hz, but not lower).
Here are the data for average subwoofers. Of course, you can also find devices that will reproduce lower frequencies, but their cost will be much higher, and the sound quality will be a little lame.
Passive
The amplifier is not included in the design of this type of subwoofer, which is why you will need to purchase this product separately. To achieve the highest quality sound, you need the right combination of subwoofer and amplifier. In most cases, manufacturers indicate in the instructions for the subwoofer how much amplifier power is needed. Otherwise, you need to ask the seller of a specialized store, providing him with a model of the subwoofer.
Types of passive subwoofers The amplifier is not the only product that needs to be purchased separately. Speaker cables are also required. If you have any doubts about whether you can correctly and efficiently install a subwoofer in a car, then it is better to seek help from professionals.
Advantages and disadvantages
Now let's look at all the positive and negative qualities of passive subs. The advantages include:
- advantages of passive subwoofers:
- the ability to manually adjust the sound;
- selection of a combination of subwoofer and amplifier;
- high quality sound.
Oddly enough, this type of subs also has several disadvantages, including:
- difficulties in setting up the product;
- the need to purchase an amplifier separately;
- relatively large dimensions;
- high price compared to active subwoofers.
Despite the high cost, many motorists prefer passive subwoofers, because they are installed on a car for only one purpose - high-quality sound of their favorite tracks on the road. This is why you need an amplifier with manual sound settings.
Classification by design features
Depending on their design features, subwoofers installed in cars are divided into 3 types: open, closed (cased) and compact. Let's consider each of them separately.
Open
This is an ordinary speaker without the usual wooden box, which is mounted in a car panel. It is often installed on the back of the car. Open devices are considered the most affordable, but you have to pay for the low cost of a subwoofer with poor sound quality. When the subwoofer is operating, vibration damping does not occur, which is why the finishing materials resonate.
One of the simplest types of subwoofers is open Case (closed)
Such products are produced in a special box, which has a positive effect on the quality of the music produced. Manufacturers were able to avoid the return sound wave by positioning the speaker ideally relative to the sides of the housing. In this case, the box does not vibrate, which adds its own notes of sound to the music.
Closed-type car subwoofer On a note! If desired, the device can be made manually, taking into account the individual characteristics of your car model. As a rule, ardent fans of high-quality music resort to this option.
The peculiarity of this device is that it is installed under the driver’s seat, which is why it takes up virtually no space. The best manufacturers of compact subs include Mystery, Vibe and Hertz. The compact size does not prevent the subwoofer from delivering clear and powerful bass, and it does not have to be installed under the seat. Many motorists prefer to place the device in the trunk or in any other suitable place.
This is what a compact subwoofer looks like Types of cabinet subwoofers
Cabinetd or closed types of subwoofers differ from their analogues in the complexity of their design. During manufacturing, all housing dimensions are automatically calculated in such a way as to ultimately obtain the highest quality sound. All cabinet subs can be divided into several types, differing from each other in structural properties.
Table. Types of cabinet subwoofers.
| Title, photo | Description |
|---|---|
 BandPass | This subwoofer differs in the location of the low-frequency speaker (woofer), which is located inside the housing. The bass reflex outputs the sound outside. A crossover is not required to connect a subwoofer, but because of this the product cannot be called cheap. |
 Compact-Sub | Based on the name, it’s easy to guess that the main advantage of this subwoofer is its compactness and ease of installation. It is often installed near the back seat. |
 RadPass | This sub consists of two woofers, each of which operates at its own frequency. The job of the additional speaker is to lower the resonant frequency of the sound. Due to the high cost, this type of subwoofer is usually installed exclusively on expensive cars. They are also installed by motorists participating in car audio tournaments. |
 Vented | Drivers also call it a box with a bass reflex. The product is made in the form of a small pipe with a hole inside. The sub produces loud and deep bass. It is often installed in the trunk of a car, but its shape does not always allow this. |
 Closed | It is a closed subwoofer without any holes. It is considered one of the most common types of subs due to the good combination of the quality of the sound produced and the cost of the product. Many motorists know it as a closed box. |
When choosing a sub, you need to focus solely on your preferences and financial capabilities. But you also need to take into account that it is almost impossible to install some types of subwoofers yourself. This should be done by specialists to avoid problems with setting up or installing the device. First of all, we are talking about a bandpass loudspeaker.
Does car body type matter?
Depending on the car interior, the type of subwoofer selected may differ. When tuning a particular body type, the position and volume of the subwoofer may be different.
There are many car body designs, but the most popular include:
- station wagon (Lada Vesta Cross, VAZ 2104, Chevrolet Cruze SW and so on);
- sedan (VAZ 21099, VAZ 2105, Volga 3110, Chevrolet Lacetti, Mazda 6);
- hatchback (Moskvich, 2141, Peugeot 107, VAZ 2108, VAZ 2109 and other models).
When installing a subwoofer in a sedan, you need to make sure that the speaker and port are directed towards the rear seat. It is also recommended to leave a small gap between the seat and the subwoofer (6-8 cm). In some models, an armrest is installed in the rear seat (VAZ 2106, 07). In such cases, it would be better to place the device there. This will eliminate booming and muffled sound.
In hatchback interiors, everything is much simpler - direct the sound direction upward or towards the luggage compartment. This arrangement allows you to get good sound reflection, because the sound will come through the upper parcel shelf, and not through the back of the rear seat.
Manufacturer selection
In order not to waste money, it is advisable to buy a product from a reputable manufacturer. I would like to immediately note that it is not recommended to buy subwoofers from Callcell, Mystery and Supra. This is due to the poor quality of the products. Attention should be paid to Prology, Pioneer, Morel, SONY, KENWOOD, BOSS, Alpine and JBL. After purchasing subs from these manufacturers, you will never regret your decision.
Experience all the benefits of the new sound Leading brands are developing new solutions to attract customers. For example, Pioneer recently announced its new creation. We are talking about a special form of subwoofer that easily fits into the spare tire.
Price issue
When choosing even the simplest subwoofer models, you will have to pay from 2000 rubles, but in this case you should not count on particularly high-quality sound. Budget models are only suitable as a first attempt at tuning your car. Over time, you still need to switch to higher quality subs, the cost of which ranges from 6,000 to 22,000 rubles. Devices with a large price tag indicated can be safely classified as professional devices. As a rule, expensive equipment is used more in car sound competitions than on a daily basis.
If you are not an ardent fan of deep bass, then you can safely install an active subwoofer. Even mid-range devices can produce decent sound quality. Otherwise, when the interior of your car does not allow the installation of serious equipment, then in this case you should give preference to passive subwoofers.
Video - What to consider when choosing a subwoofer
In car audio, there are many options for acoustic design of boxes. Therefore, many beginners do not know what is the best choice. The most popular types of subwoofer boxes are a closed box and a bass reflex box.
There are also designs such as bandpass, quarter-wave resonator, freeair and others, but when building systems they are used extremely rarely for various reasons. The speaker owner must decide which subwoofer box to choose based on sound requirements and experience.
Closed box
This type of design is the simplest. A closed box for a subwoofer is easy to calculate and assemble. Its design is a box of several walls, most often 6.
Advantages of ZY:
- Simple calculation;
- Easy assembly;
- Small displacement of the finished box, and therefore compact;
- Good impulsive characteristics;
- Fast and clear bass. Plays club tracks well.
A closed box has only one drawback, but sometimes it is decisive. This type of design has a very low level of efficiency compared to other boxes. A closed box is not suitable for those who want high sound pressure.
However, it is suitable for fans of rock, club music, jazz and the like. If a person wants bass, but needs space in the trunk, then a closed box is an ideal option. A closed box will not play well if the wrong volume is selected. What volume of box is needed for this type of design was long ago decided by experienced people in car audio through calculations and experiments. The choice of volume will depend on the size of the subwoofer speaker.
The most common speaker sizes are: 6, 8, 10, 12, 15, 18 inches. But you can also find speakers of other sizes; as a rule, they are used very rarely in installations. Subwoofers with a diameter of 6 inches are produced by several companies and are also rarely found in installations. Mostly people choose speakers with a diameter of 8-18 inches. Some people indicate the diameter of the subwoofer speaker in centimeters, which is not entirely correct. In professional car audio, it is customary to express dimensions in inches.
- an 8-inch subwoofer (20 cm) requires 8-12 liters of net volume,
- for 10-inch (25 cm) 13-23 liters of net volume,
- for 12-inch (30 cm) 24-37 liters of net volume,
- for 15-inch (38 cm) 38-57 liters net volume
- and for 18 inches (46 cm) you will need 58-80 liters.
The volume is given approximately, since for each speaker you need to select a certain volume based on its characteristics. The setting of a closed box will depend on its volume. The larger the volume of the box, the lower the tuning frequency of the box will be, the bass will be softer. The smaller the volume of the box, the higher the frequency of the box, and the bass will be clearer and faster. You should not increase or decrease the volume too much, as this is fraught with consequences. When calculating the box, adhere to the volume that was indicated above. If there is too much volume, the bass will turn out vague and indistinct. If the volume is not enough, then the bass will be very fast and “pound” the ears in the worst sense of the word.
A lot depends on the settings of the box, but an equally important point is “”.
Bass reflex
This type of design is quite more difficult to calculate and build. Its design is significantly different from a closed box. However, it has advantages, namely:
- High level of efficiency. A bass reflex will produce low frequencies much louder than a closed box;
- Simple calculation of the body;
- Reconfiguration if necessary. This is especially important for beginners;
- Good speaker cooling.
The bass reflex also has disadvantages, the number of which is greater than that of the ZYa. So, the cons:
- FI is louder than ZY, but the bass here is not so clear and fast;
- The dimensions of the FI box are much larger compared to the ZY;
- Large displacement. Because of this, the finished box will take up more space in the trunk.
Based on the advantages and disadvantages, you can understand where FI boxes are used. Most often they are used in installations where loud and pronounced bass is needed. The bass reflex is suitable for listeners of any rap, electronic and club music. It is also suitable for those who do not need free space in the trunk, since the box will occupy almost all the space.
The FI box will help you get more bass than from a small-diameter speaker. However, this will require much more space.
What volume of box is required for a bass reflex?
- for a subwoofer with a diameter of 8 inches (20 cm) you will need 20-33 liters of net volume;
- for a 10-inch speaker (25 cm) – 34-46 liters,
- for 12-inch (30 cm) – 47-78 liters,
- for 15-inch (38 cm) – 79-120 liters
- and for an 18-inch subwoofer (46 cm) you need 120-170 liters.
As with ZY, the numbers given here are imprecise. However, in a FI case you can “play” with the volume and take a value less than recommended, finding out at what volume the subwoofer plays better. But do not increase or decrease the volume too much, this can lead to loss of power and failure of the speaker. It is best to rely on the recommendations of the subwoofer manufacturer.
What does the FI box setting depend on?
The larger the volume of the box, the lower the tuning frequency, the bass speed decreases. If you need a higher frequency, then the volume must be reduced. If your amplifier's rated power exceeds the speaker's rating, then it is recommended to make the volume smaller. This is necessary in order to distribute the load on the speaker and prevent it from exceeding the stroke. If the amplifier is weaker than the speaker, then we recommend making the volume of the box a little larger. This compensates for the volume due to the lack of power.
The port area should also depend on the volume. The average speaker port area values are as follows:
for an 8-inch subwoofer you will need 60-115 sq.cm,
for 10-inch – 100-160 sq.cm,
for 12-inch – 140-270 sq.cm,
for 15-inch – 240-420 sq.cm,
for 18-inch - 360-580 sq.cm.
The length of the port also affects the tuning frequency of the subwoofer box; the longer the port, the lower the box tuning; the shorter the port, the higher the tuning frequency. When calculating a box for a subwoofer, first of all, you need to familiarize yourself with the characteristics of the speaker and the recommended parameters of the housing. In some cases, the manufacturer recommends completely different box parameters than those given in the article. The speaker may have non-standard characteristics, causing it to require a specific box. Such subwoofers are most often found from manufacturing companies Kicker and DD. However, other manufacturers also have such speakers, but in much smaller quantities.
The volumes are approximate, from start to finish. It will differ depending on the speaker, but as a rule they will be in the same plug... For example, for a 12-inch subwoofer it is 47-78 liters and the port will be from 140 to 270 sq. cm, but how to calculate the volume in more detail, we will learn all this in subsequent articles. We hope that this article answered your question, if you have comments or suggestions, you can leave your comment below.
The information you learned is perfect for those.
The original bass has no directionality. Therefore, it is difficult to determine its source. Let's look at how to properly install a subwoofer in a car to achieve high-quality sound.
Selecting a location
Front center (1)Good position. Good connection with the front speakers helps to expand the transient frequency. Although in cars with limited space in front, such an installation is not possible. This method is suitable for minibuses. Since there is not much space there, a small closed enclosure has to be used for the subwoofer.
Luggage compartment, forward facing (2)
This method is very popular. However, if there is not enough space between the subwoofer and the opposite wall of the luggage compartment, the sound wave emitted by the subwoofer will be subject to pressure and the bass quality will suffer. As for sedan or coupe cars, the damped sound wave of the front speakers, reaching the trunk, changes phase to the opposite one. And if you open the trunk, the sound becomes unexpectedly loud. Usually the reason for this is the internal layout.
Luggage compartment, rear facing (3)
This is a good way. But in cars such as a sedan or coupe, the behavior of the sound wave will be the same as in the previous case. To correct this effect, you should use a sufficiently large acoustic screen, remove obstacles in the path of the sound wave, or reduce the size of the housing. Hatchback cars or vans do not have this problem.
Flush with floor (4)
The flush-to-floor method is applicable to the trunk where the tires are stored. The trunk floor successfully serves as an acoustic screen; the bass acquires good spaciousness and energy. This method can be used in different types of cars - sedan, coupe, station wagon, except for models that do not have space for spare tires. Moreover, installing a large-diameter subwoofer can cause problems, since there is not much space there.
Rear shelf (5)
This is a good position for the sedan and coupe. The placement of the subwoofer there must be very strong enough to withstand the pressure of the sound waves and its weight.
Important points when installing a subwoofer
Case weightBass energy causes surrounding objects to resonate. Each of them begins to produce sound at its own frequencies, which leads to degradation of the musical bass. To produce the cleanest, most uncontaminated bass possible, the subwoofer cabinet should be as heavy as possible so as not to resonate itself and spread the resonance. If the car is not excessively heavy, then the more weight the body has, the better the bass.
A good vibration dampening effect is achieved by using insulating material inside the housing, which is used in home speaker systems.
Material selection
For the speaker housing, you should choose a material that has the least resonance and does not drown out the sound. The most suitable material for car acoustics is wood. Fiberboard (fibreboard) is a very good material: cheap, heavy, difficult to resonate and easy to process. Birch and oak are also good: heavy and difficult to resonate, although the roads are difficult to process. It is best to use slabs thicker than 18 cm.
Sound-absorbing material is necessary, but not in too large quantities.
Sound-absorbing material is needed to reduce the effect of standing waves inside the housing. But if you use too much of this material, the sound becomes compressed and the speaker's output decreases. Adhere sound-absorbing material to at least the back wall inside the case, or at most to the back, top, and bottom walls inside the case. It is better to use sponge material, because... it has better sound-absorbing properties.
Differences in sound depending on shape
Rectangular. Such a body is easy to manufacture, but is prone to the formation of peaks above F3 and dips after F3. Leveling the characteristics is achieved by such methods as installing a reflective plate inside, reducing the parallel phase, and using sound-absorbing material.
Trapezoidal 1. Although the hump on the energy characteristic curve smooths out a little, the dip after the peak still remains. Moderate use of sound-absorbing material is advisable.
Trapezoidal 2. The characteristic is smoother than in the two previous cases. If the corners of the case are rounded, the characteristics will become even smoother.
Trapezoidal 3. Another trapezoidal shape is superimposed on the front part of the trapezoidal body 2. The curve takes on a smooth, sloping shape and the sound becomes more energetic.
Installing a subwoofer in the compartment where the spare tire is stored is called flush mounting. The floor of the luggage compartment forms an acoustic shield, convenient for the propagation of low frequencies. And if we can lower the transition frequency at the junction with the front speakers, this will be the best place to install a subwoofer.