Application area
— Automotive. Subwoofers designed for use in the car; usually they do not have protection from adverse external conditions (splash, salt, etc.), this is their main difference from "seaworthy" models. Other features and functions may vary significantly from model to model.
—
Navigation. Subwoofers for which the possibility of installation on a water vehicle (boat or yacht) is provided, including and in an open cabin. They differ from conventional automotive counterparts primarily in their impenetrable body, protected from splashes and salt. If desired, such a subwoofer can also be installed in a car, but usually it justifies itself only on specialized SUVs that regularly stay in extreme conditions.
Size
The size (diameter) of the main subwoofer speaker. In all types of subwoofers, this parameter primarily affects the power and depth of sound: the larger the speaker, the louder it is and the deeper the bass it can provide (ceteris paribus). However with an increase in the size and dimensions, they increase accordingly, which determines the installation possibilities. The latter is especially true in Free Air subwoofers (see "Execution"): some cars are initially equipped with "seats" for a certain size, and it is difficult to install models with other dimensions there.
Now on the market there are subwoofers with such popular sizes:
5" (13 cm),
6" (15.25 cm),
6.3" (16 cm),
6.5" (16.5 cm),
6.75" (17 cm),
8" (20 cm ),
8.25"(21cm) , 9" (23cm
), 10" (25cm
),
11" (27cm),
12"(30cm) ,
13" (33cm),
15"(38cm) ,
16 " (40 cm),
18" (46 cm).
Rated power
The average (root mean square — RMS) power of the input signal, at which the subwoofer is able to work continuously without negative consequences (damage, failure) for at least an hour. The rated power of the subwoofer must be greater than the power of the amplifier connected to it — in order to avoid overloads.
Max. power
The maximum signal power that the subwoofer is able to withstand for a short time (up to several seconds) without any negative consequences. When selecting an amplifier-subwoofer pair, it is recommended to take a subwoofer with a maximum power of at least twice the maximum power of the amplifier. In general, the higher the maximum power, the more resistant the subwoofer is to overloads.
Frequency range
The range of audio frequencies reproduced by the subwoofer. It is believed that the human ear is capable of perceiving a frequency range of the order of 16 – 20,000 Hz, but in this case note that the subwoofer is designed to reproduce the lower frequency band (up to 200 Hz). Accordingly, in the case of the lower limit of the range, everything is simple: “the lower, the better”; the upper one should not be lower than the lower limit of the main car audio — otherwise there will be "gaps" in the frequencies, which will affect the sound quality.
Sensitivity
Sensitivity determines the loudness of the subwoofer when a signal of a certain power is connected to it: with equal signal power and impedance (see below), the subwoofer with the higher sensitivity will sound louder.
Dual voice coil
A dual voice coil is actually two separate voice coils on the same speaker. This allows you to connect two amplifiers to the subwoofer at once, thus providing high sound power.
Resonant frequency
The natural frequency of the cone in the subwoofer speaker, namely the frequency with which the cone will oscillate if the speaker is suspended freely in the air and a single impulse is transmitted to the cone (for example, by clicking on it with your finger). In subwoofers, this parameter determines, in particular, the lower limit of the frequency range (see above): at frequencies below the resonant sound power drops sharply. Accordingly, for deep rich bass, the resonant frequency should be as low as possible. This parameter is also used to calculate the size of the enclosure for the subwoofer.
Protective grille
The presence
of protective devices in front of the main speaker of the subwoofer — this can be the grill itself, metal rods, plastic elements, etc. Such devices protect the device from foreign objects to a certain extent, and they can also play an aesthetic role.
