What Is A Subwoofer? Size, Material, And Surround (Foam? Rubber? Polypropylene?) - What To Look For

Introduction

Human hearing is capable of hearing 20-20000 Hz sound frequencies on a regular basis. This includes low frequency sounds such as drums and bass instruments, medium frequency sounds such as speech and guitar-type instruments, and high frequency sounds such as birds chirping and cymbals.

Typical factory audio systems consist of course the AM/FM/CD player with four speakers. Unfortunately, these speakers generally do not pick up the lower 10-500 Hz sound frequencies very well. As a result, you will not experience a true reproduction of drum or bass sounds, but rather a hollow or tin-can sounding reproduction. This is because your factory speakers will try to reproduce a low frequency sound when it is physically impossible to do so on its own.

A subwoofer is a specialized low-frequency producing speaker. Let your midrange speakers do their job of producing those medium range frequencies, but don't count on them to produce the punching bass that subwoofers should do.

Just like any other kind of audio components, the more features you have in a unit, the pricier it is. Be sure to compare and contrast the features of each subwoofer before you hastily buy them. I will discuss briefly the size and material of subwoofers, two features that will start you off on your search.

Size

The typical sizes for subwoofers are 8", 10", 12", and 15". There are also more rare 6.5" and 18" subwoofers available at some stores. The million-dollar question you're dying to have answered is: "What size subwoofer should I get?"

The answer is as simple as determining what kind of music do you listen to the most. Think about all of your favorite songs-do they have a lot of bass in them? If they do have a lot of bass, do the bass frequencies occur often in the songs? Determining the answer to these questions will help choose the right size because bigger size subwoofers will reproduce lower frequency sounds. Bigger does not necessarily mean better because it really depends on the type of music it plays.

Material

You cannot judge a book by its cover, and in the same way, you definitely cannot judge a subwoofer by the cone material. If you are looking for durability and longevity of your subwoofer, then you should look for denser material; but you cannot really judge the way your subwoofer sounds with just the cone composition.

Though they do effect the way your subwoofer sound, so much must be taken into consideration such as the source unit, the power supply, and the overall design of the subwoofer. I will tell you of some of the differences that the various types of material. The three most common materials are polypropylene, paper, and woven fiber cone woofers.

Polypropylene

The most common today for subwoofer cone woofer material is polypropylene plastic. This type of material allows for a much smoother and typically consistent frequency response. Polypropylene does not react much to the surrounding environment and would therefore maintain its own properties consistently. They're usually the median priced subwoofers and companies like Pioneer, Orion, and JL Audio make great polypropylene cone subwoofers.

Paper

There are also paper cone subwoofers. These are not as heavy duty as they claim to be, but within a well designed subwoofer, paper cones could deliver some of the best bass responses the market has to offer. Paper cones were the original cone material designers used, and for awhile many have thought that more advanced technology would replace the aging design. Paper cones tend to need a consistent ambient environment in order to have consistent performance. Paper has natural properties that are affected by changes in humidity. Nonetheless, brands like MA Audio, Memphis, and Rockford Fosgate have developed, in recent years, lines of subwoofers with paper cone construction-producing some of the best low-frequency sounds available.

Woven Fiber

This type is the most rigid and stiff material available today. They could be considered the most high-tech cone design today. They're tough and because of that characteristic, woven fiber cones react great to low-frequency bass. Woven fiber cones composition could also include carbon, Kevlar, and fiber-glass, all of them unchanged in the harshest environment. They tend to be very consistent but incredibly expensive on average in comparison to the other two discussed above. Brands that manufactured these like JVC (Arsenal Subwoofer Series), Hifonics, and Beyma showcase the high-tech cones in their design.

Surround

Foam

If you're going to use your car subwoofer a lot, especially with high power outputs, you want to make sure that your surround material is tough, yet able to stretch. Though foam is generally more affordable, they tend to crack and crumble under extreme temperature changes like that you would experience in the summer or winter in the interior of the car. If you live in more constant weather regions, maybe foam isn't such a bad idea.

Rubber

Elastic natural properties allow rubber surround to stretch more so than foam. In addition, rubber is much more resistant to the environment, allowing it to have its own unique-but-stretchy characteristic that is unmatched compared to foam. There is also synthetic rubber surround material with Butyl rubber being the second best in toughness and stretching properties, and Santoprene being the best rubber surround available at this point.

Conclusion

These three major features should start you off on your search for the right subwoofer. Remember that each subwoofer will feature different things and you should really check on other features because the discussed three elements above would not be adequate in deciding on which subwoofer to get. Ultimately, you also have to take the time to check your power source, your audio source, and even your wiring in order to have the best sounding subwoofer.

What Is A Subwoofer? Size, Material, And Surround (Foam? Rubber? Polypropylene?) - What To Look For

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Kicker Speaker

Kicker S12L7, S8L7, S15L7, S10L7 Subwoofer Review 2006-2008 Model-High Performance, Quality, Power

Kicker's ingenuity is the reason why they're one of the top contenders for the best car audio components. The result of that ingenuity is the production of Kicker's Solo-Baric L7 Series subwoofers. We will review in this article particularly the S12L74; a 12 "dual 4 ohm L7 subwoofer.

Kicker S12L7, S8L7, S15L7, S10L7 Subwoofer Review 2006-2008 Model-High Performance, Quality, Power

Kicker S12L7, S8L7, S15L7, S10L7 Subwoofer Review 2006-2008 Model-High Performance, Quality, Power

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Kicker S12L7, S8L7, S15L7, S10L7 Subwoofer Review 2006-2008 Model-High Performance, Quality, Power

Kicker S12L7, S8L7, S15L7, S10L7 Subwoofer Review 2006-2008 Model-High Performance, Quality, Power

Pros

Power handling, that is all I have to say. But really, this mighty subwoofer could handle monstrous 1500 watts max with 750 watts RMS. Unlike other cheaper companies, when Kicker say they feature a 750 watts RMS, they really do mean 750 watts RMS. This means you can put out consistently loud (if supplied with proper power) bass on any given day and is capable of peaking at 1500 watts.

The cone is surprisingly not made of any unusualmaterial but uses injection molded polypropylene. However, it is a one piece construction in a patented design Kicker dubbed as "SoloKon". And of course with Solo-Baric construction, it is a square design, allowing for more surface area and more bass production. To top it all off, the surround is Santoprene rubber that is stitched to the cone, providing a highly durable construction that will sure to prevent tearing during high power usage.

Cons

The subwoofer is pricey but you get what you pay for and this subwoofer will definitely impress you with its quality and SPL. With all these great punching features, the subwoofer does have one more drawback other than the price, and that is its break-in period.

The design requires theconsumer to use the subwoofer at low levels for at least 20 hours or about two weeks. This will allow for the suspension structure to move around a bit before it is pushed to its optimum capability. It's a lot like how stiff baseball gloves are when you buy them brand new from the store, and they require a bit of breaking in and wear before it could be usable at all on the field. Unfortunately users will run a huge risk of blowing out the Speakers if they do not properly follow Kicker's recomMendation.

Newer Model Changes Notes

The 2008 and newer models will feature a modified SoloKon design with full back bracing to allow more efficient Air moveMent, giving the new L7 subs the ability to punch much more powerful bass. Unlike the 2006 model, thenew 2008 models have periMeter venting. It looks a lot like a hand holding a square bowl; where as the older models have virtually no openings for venting. As a result, there is no need for extra mounting space for venting-giving you the same powerful subwoofer with a much shallower mounting depth. The cone design has changed a bit as well, giving the 2008 models a fresh but stylish new look; and don't worry about handling power because power ratings are rated at the same as the older models. Binding posts have also been repositioned to the corners of the subs. This will allow for a more convenient installation for multiple-subwoofer setups.

Note: This review covers S8L72, S8L74, S10L72, S10L74, S12L72, S12L74, S15L74, S15L72. 2 or 4 at the end of every model refersdual 2 ohms or to dual 4 ohms. Features are generally the same except for power handling and SPL.

Overall

The Kicker is a magnificent 08S12L74 subwoofer and will perform admirably at incredible power handling levels. The subwoofer features a lot of high performance parts and construction, and the subwoofer will do just what you expect it to do. If you have the extra cash and if you're willing to go through the break-in process, you may be rewarded by this great Kicker subwoofer.

Kicker S12L7, S8L7, S15L7, S10L7 Subwoofer Review 2006-2008 Model-High Performance, Quality, Power

Building the Best Subwoofer Speaker Box Enclosure For Your Car Or SUV

Box Building

Building the Best Subwoofer Speaker Box Enclosure For Your Car Or SUV

Building the Best Subwoofer Speaker Box Enclosure For Your Car Or SUV

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Building the Best Subwoofer Speaker Box Enclosure For Your Car Or SUV

Building the Best Subwoofer Speaker Box Enclosure For Your Car Or SUV

Each type of sub requires it's own type of box. If a sub is installed in a box larger or smaller than what is supposed to, it will sound distorted/bad and could be destroyed. Boxes can be built in many shapes, but it is important that the box volume is calculated accurately to achieve maximum performance.

Materials

A box MUST be very sturdy. Most common building materials are 5/8 "or thicker particle board or medium density fiberboard. If building a box with Plexiglas, do not use anything less that 1/2 inch thick. A common material used to mold complex shaped boxes is fiberglass, but it is very hard to work with, and require several layers for a smooth finish.

Gluing, Sealing

Glue should be used at all joints to fillany spaces. Any spaces will degrade the performance of your subs, not to Mention the annoying noise Air makes when being pushed out of a small hole. On applying the glue, let it cure for at least 24 hours before mounting the subs. This is a measure to protect the measures rubbers used to make the subs from the fumes that some manufacturers glue products have.

Holding Joints Together

In connecting box joints, it is best to screw the joints every four inches or so using 2 "-2-1/2" screws. Pre-drill about 3/4 "deep, so that screws do not split the wood at the edges, especially when working with particle/dashboard.

Should I have a Box for Each Sub?

It is advised to have a separate chamber for each sub. Even though not necessary, here are tworeasons why such a directive should be taken: First, if one of the subs blows, then the volume of the box will be "twice" as big for the one remaining working sub. This could cause problems and even damage the other divers. The second reason is bracing. Building a box with a divider in the middle will make the box more rigid.

Ports

Ports must be built into your box design to channel out the Air made by the sub's vibrations. If a pre-made port is not available, the most common material is PVC. PVC is very rigid, comes in different diaMeters. Cut the tubing at the desired length. Consider the volume the port takes up when calculating the volume box. Cut a hole in the box. Make sure the hole is as perfect as possible to minimize gaps between the box and the tube. A couplewood braces can be added for screwing the top the box port. Seal the gaps using a proper sealant (Evo Stick or even silicone can be used).

Bracing

Boxes that are more than a foot in width or length or height, should be braced so that the box becomes more sturdy. This can be accomplished with a piece of wood, maybe 3 or 4 inches wide across the box). It is a good idea to put wood blocks on the corners for reinforceMent. Always consider that blocks, braces, neon lights, etc. inside a box take up space and should be accounted for when calculating internal volume.

Damping/Filling

Damping increases efficiency by subwoofer dissipating some energy that affects the sub, particularly the voice coil. It is advisable to put damping material inside a box.Polyfill Pillow and fiberglass insulation are common, though polyfill is a lot easier on your skin. Polyfill also "tricks" to sub into thinking it is in a bigger box. Play around with different amounts of polyfill until you get the desired results.

Making it look professional

Building the Best Subwoofer Speaker Box Enclosure For Your Car Or SUV