A high-quality audio system should reproduce the entire range of frequencies that a person is able to perceive. This is not possible with a single speaker. Therefore, the system must contain several types of acoustics, the task of each of which is to play a phonogram in the frequency range reserved for it. To play low frequencies, a subwoofer speaker with a large diffuser area is required.
Multimedia systems also require a subwoofer in the car, since in its absence many exciting moments lose their dynamics and liveliness and become simply uninteresting.
The models on the market are divided into three groups: active subwoofers, passive subwoofers and woofers . In order to understand the differences between these groups, it is worth decomposing the audio systems that make up the path.
In any audio system, the low frequency reproduction path consists of connecting cables, a head unit, a woofer and an amplifier in acoustic design. The problem of selecting connecting cables and the head unit, as well as the choice of certain brands, is simpler, but the rest of the components should be examined in more detail.
An active subwoofer consists of an amplifier fixed outside or inside the box, and a woofer located in it. An active car subwoofer is a ready-made device, all installation tasks are reduced only to laying cables and connecting. This option is suitable for undemanding to the full accuracy of the reproduction of the compositions of listeners. At the same time, it has an important advantage: a subwoofer active, as a rule, is small.
Having decided to make an active subwoofer with your own hands, you need to understand what you need to get and choose, based on this, the type of acoustic design. It is worth deciding on the appearance of the box. On average, about 23 liters are needed on a woofer with a diameter of 10 inches, about 30 on a 12-inch one.
It is necessary to determine the optimal location of the subwoofer in the car. The simplest option is a trapezoid box, which is located directly in the middle of the trunk. One of its walls rests on the back of the rear seat. This option is convenient for its unpretentiousness, it is easy to calculate, as well as assemble a box. But such a subwoofer in actual use may interfere somewhat. For this reason, it is preferable to install an active subwoofer in the corner of the trunk, using, if possible, the internal volume of the wing. This design is called stealth due to the fact that the internal volume of the skin in some cars allows you to completely hide the subwoofer. This option is convenient both on the acoustics side and on the layout side. The subwoofer installed in the corner is active, it is able to develop greater sound pressure.
There is another interesting option for installing a subwoofer - in the floor of the car. The entire floor level rises by ten, and sometimes even more centimeters, and the volume of the spare wheel disk is used. This option is not so practical, but more original.