Comparison Yamaha VXS3S vs Yamaha HS8S

— Outdoor. The simplest type of installation: it does not require the preparation of niches, hanging on the wall, etc., just enough space on the floor. In addition, such a subwoofer is very easy to move from place to place, choosing the optimal location in terms of acoustics. Note that it is highly undesirable to put floor-standing subwoofers on shelves, since such models are designed based on the presence of a thick massive surface under the speaker; Otherwise, the sound will not be complete.

— Embedded. Subwoofers designed to be recessed into a wall or ceiling. Such models are convenient because they do not take up space in the room, easily fit into the interior, and with some tricks they can be completely hidden. On the other hand, installing a built-in subwoofer is a very troublesome business. There are not many such models on the market, they belong mainly to the premium class and are intended primarily for home cinemas and other similar places.

— Wall mounted. Subwoofers designed to be hung on the wall. Usually, they have a small thickness and a rather attractive design (since they are most often located in plain sight). Installing such a speaker is more difficult than in the case of a floor-standing speaker, but it does not take up space on the floor, which can be useful in cramped conditions and in some other cases. However, there are not so many such cases, therefore, wall-mounted subwoofers have not received much distribution.

— Linear array. Subwoofers designed to be used as a line array element. Such an array consists of several columns for different purposes, located one above the other (sometimes with a slight curvature along the edges); this is one of the most convenient ways to combine multiple speakers to achieve high sound output. To work effectively in an array, subwoofers of this type have the appropriate features both in terms of acoustic properties and mounting options. According to their intended purpose (see below), they all refer exclusively to concerts — other options for using such acoustics are simply not justified.

— Active. Subwoofer with its own built-in amplifier. This allows you to connect the device to the signal source directly, without any additional external amplifiers. If the connection is made through a common speaker amplifier, the active subwoofer reduces the load on it, which has a positive effect on the volume and sound quality of the entire speaker. The built-in subwoofer amplifier itself is selected in such a way as to optimally match the characteristics of the speakers used. In addition, active subwoofers often come with their own fine-tuning tools that allow you to achieve optimal sound in your room without moving the subwoofer itself. The disadvantages of an active subwoofer are the need for a separate power connection and the high price.

— Passive. Subwoofer without its own built-in amplifier. Such a device requires connection to the signal source through an external amplifier, the characteristics of which should optimally match the characteristics of the subwoofer (see Power, Impedance). The advantage of passive subwoofers is their low cost.

— Closed type. The simplest type of construction: a closed (sometimes hermetically sealed) case with a speaker placed on the front panel. It is believed that such subwoofers have low sensitivity, which, however, is offset by high sound transmission accuracy and low distortion.

— Phase inverter type. In the cases of such subwoofers, a tube is installed that has an outlet to the surrounding space. The length of the tube is chosen so that a signal comes out of it, inverted in phase relative to the signal from the front of the cone (in other words, from the main speaker). This improves the sound of the subwoofer and enhances the sound pressure. The disadvantage of a phase inverter is the additional noise from the sound stream in the tube.

— With a passive radiator. A design similar to a phase inverter (see above) in terms of purpose and principle of operation, however, instead of a tube, such subwoofers use the so-called passive emitter. In fact, it is an ordinary speaker, devoid of a coil and a magnet and playing the same role as the phase inverter tube. The use of a passive radiator allows you to get rid of the noise of the air flow, characteristic of phase inverters.

— Behind. It is recommended to install subwoofers with a rear bass reflex so that the back of the case, where the bass reflex is located, is away from the wall. If you put such a subwoofer right next to the wall, then the sound quality will be noticeably reduced. Bass reflex subwoofers on the back of the cabinet are usually placed in the centre of the room. If it is not possible to put acoustics in the centre, then they try to place this type of subwoofers away from the wall that the bass reflex is looking at.

— Front. Front-facing bass reflex subwoofers are good if the acoustics need to deeply reveal the image of low-frequency sound. Acoustics of this type are recommended for music in which there is a lot of bass. The front location of the phase inverter allows you to put the subwoofer almost close to the wall.

— From below. Bass reflex subwoofers are designed to be hung at a height. In this case, there will be no interference in the path of low-frequency sound, that is, the bass will be revealed as fully as possible. If it is not possible to hang such a subwoofer, then it is permissible to put the acoustics on a high stand. But the stand should not overlap the phase inverter.

— Sideways. Subwoofers with a side bass reflex can be placed close to the wall and in the corner, but if the corner wall does...not block the bass reflex. The lateral location of the phase inverter allows acoustics to focus on mid-frequency and high-frequency sound. The low frequency sound will become moderate. This is the optimal acoustic scheme for watching movies.

— Home. General purpose subwoofers not covered by any other specialty (see below). The name “home” quite accurately describes their main purpose, but, of course, the matter is not limited to home acoustic systems: such “subs” can be used in cafes and bars, on skating rinks and rollerdromes and other public places.

— Concert. Subwoofers designed for use at concerts and other mass events are distinguished primarily by high power — hundreds or even thousands of watts. This allows you to cover large areas with powerful rich sound.

— Studio. Subwoofers designed for professional audio applications, primarily in recording studios. They are also called "monitors" (however, this is the common name for all studio speakers). Differ in extremely high fidelity of a sound transmission.

— Landscape. Models designed for outdoor installation — for example, in the courtyard of a private house, on the territory of an entertainment complex, etc. The most noticeable difference between such models and classic home ones is their appearance: landscape subwoofers must fit into the design of the area, so they are often “disguised” as a stone, flower pot, ground lamp, etc. In addition, the cases of such speakers are well protected from moisture, dust and other adverse factors associated with being outdoors. And the placement method m...ay involve not only simple installation on the ground, but also digging into the ground, depending on the model.

Note that the use of a subwoofer for other than its “native” purpose is technically possible, however, usually, it is not justified: a concert model in the house will be redundant, an ordinary home “sub” can be put outside only until the first rain, etc.

Rated power of the subwoofer. Technically, this is the highest average (rms) sound power at which the device can work normally (without sound distortion and damage to components) for an unlimited time. Simply put, the more powerful the subwoofer, the louder it is. The choice for this parameter depends primarily on the size of the space / room that is planned to be covered; detailed recommendations for different situations can be found in special sources.

Also, the power is directly related to the characteristics of the amplifier used with the subwoofer. For active subwoofers (see "Type"), this item actually indicates the nominal power of the built-in amplifier; the speaker itself can be more powerful, but it doesn't matter anymore. For passive models, the power rating corresponds to the highest amplifier power that can be connected to the speaker without the risk of damaging it at high volume.

The sensitivity value determines the volume of the subwoofer when an external signal of a certain power is connected to it. The higher the sensitivity, the louder the sound will be, with equal signal power and impedance.

The highest sound pressure level that a subwoofer can create, in other words, the volume that it produces at its maximum power level. This parameter is measured in the same way as any noise level - in decibels; since the decibel is a non-linear quantity, it is easiest to evaluate loudness using comparative tables. So, the most modest modern subwoofers are capable of delivering up to 95 – 100 dB, this is comparable to the volume of a subway car or a chainsaw. In the most powerful ones, it can exceed 130 dB - this is louder than an airplane on takeoff, a long stay near a subwoofer operating at full power can lead to hearing damage.

Note that sound pressure and sensitivity (see above) are fundamentally different characteristics, although they are measured by the same units.

Subwoofer AC impedance. This parameter matters primarily when connected to an external amplifier: if the impedance is lower than that of the amplifier, sound distortion is possible, if the impedance is higher, the subwoofer may sound quieter than we would like.