Subwoofers – The Best Upgrade for a Home Theater

Subwoofers – The Best Upgrade for a Home Theater

When upgrading your home theater system, there are several upgrades are available. Among these, subwoofers stand out as the crucial addition that will significantly enrich the sonic and physical aspects of your audio setup.

This piece of audio equipment delves into low frequencies that simply can’t be reached by standard speakers. Subwoofers ensure that every rumble, every thump, and every explosion is not just heard, but felt, creating an environment that can rival even the most equipped movie theaters.

Basically, a subwoofer is the best upgrade for a home theater and it’s not even close.

Understanding Subwoofers

A subwoofer is specifically designed to reproduce low-frequency sounds, typically below 120 Hz. Most home subwoofers are powered, meaning they come equipped with an internal amplifier. This built-in amplifier drives the motor and the driver, creating deep bass and low-frequency effects (LFEs).

These subwoofers receive audio signals directly from an AV receiver, powered speaker, integrated amplifier, or preamplifier via connections like RCA, speaker, or XLR cables.

Subwoofers Are The Ultimate Upgrade for Home Theaters

Subwoofers dramatically enhance home theater systems for several reasons:

• Filling Frequency Gaps: Subwoofers produce the deep frequencies, adding depth and impact that regular speakers cannot.
• Enhancing Dynamic Output: By handling the low frequencies, subwoofers relieve the other speakers from the strain of producing bass. This improves the overall dynamic output of the system.
• Optimizing Power Use: As powered units, subwoofers alleviate the power load from the AV receiver, allowing it to drive other speakers more effectively.
• Improving Volume Control: Separate volume controls for subwoofers enable fine-tuning of bass levels, enhancing sound quality and reducing the risk of distortion at high volumes.
• Adding Physical Sensation to Sound: Subwoofers allow listeners to not only hear the sound but feel it—adding a visceral dimension to your movies.

Key Benefits of Adding a Subwoofer

• Deep Bass Production: Subwoofers handle the reproduction of low frequencies that add realism and depth to movies and music. This is especially evident in explosive scenes or rhythmic music.
• Strain Reduction on Speakers: Subwoofers take over the bass output, allowing bookshelf speakers and tower speakers to focus on mid and high frequencies. This improves the overall clarity and performance of your audio set up.
• Power Efficiency: With their own amplifiers, subwoofers reduce the energy demand on the main AV system. This ensures a more efficient and dynamic performance to your entire setup.

Installation Tips and Best Practices

Finding the right spot for your subwoofer can make a huge difference in sound quality no matter how good or bad your subwoofer is.

Ideally, place your subwoofer along the front wall of your home theater, either in the middle or between the front right and left speakers. This placement helps blend the bass with your main speakers, creating a seamless audio transition.

Avoid tucking your subwoofer into a corner unless you’re looking to amplify its output—corners can increase the bass but often at the cost of sound clarity and balance.

Common Setup Mistakes to Avoid:

1. Hiding the subwoofer in enclosed spaces: While it might be tempting to keep the subwoofer out of sight, enclosed spaces can muffle and distort the sound. Keep it in an open space to allow the sound waves to travel freely.
2. Ignoring the phase and crossover settings: Crossover settings adjust how the subwoofer blends with your speakers. If not right, it can lead to bass that either overwhelms or falls behind the rest of the audio.
3. Forgetting about sound reflection: Hard surfaces like windows and concrete walls can cause sound to bounce around, which might create echo effects. Consider the acoustics of your room or think about adding some soft furnishings to absorb excess sound.

To ensure your subwoofer works harmoniously with your home theater system, use a sound meter and calibration tools often provided with home theater receivers.

Set the subwoofer volume level to blend smoothly with your speakers, ensuring it’s not overpowering. Adjust the crossover frequency so the subwoofer handles frequencies typically below 80 Hz, which are hard for regular speakers to reproduce.

Subwoofer vs. Full-Range Speakers

Subwoofers and full-range speakers serve different functions in a sound system. Full-range speakers are designed to cover a wide spectrum of sounds, from high to low frequencies. But their ability to reproduce the lowest frequencies varies significantly based on their design and size.

Subwoofers, on the other hand, specialize in producing very low frequencies—those under 120 Hz, providing the depth and power that full-range speakers often lack.

Addressing Misconceptions:

• Bass Clarity: One common misconception is that full-range speakers sufficiently cover all bass needs. While larger full-range speakers can handle moderate bass frequencies, they cannot match the clarity and depth of a dedicated subwoofer in reproducing low-frequency sounds.
• Sound Overlap: Another misconception is that adding a subwoofer might lead to an overlap of sounds, causing muddiness. In reality, when properly calibrated, subwoofers complement full-range speakers by taking over the most challenging frequencies to reproduce, allowing the speakers to handle higher frequencies more efficiently and clearly.

Best Subwoofer Brands for Your Home Theater

When it comes to choosing a subwoofer that can deliver profound bass and dramatically upgrade your home theater, the brand matters. Here are five top subwoofer brands that you should consider:

1. SVS subwoofers are renowned for their high-performance subwoofers that bring cinematic sound quality to your home theater. They’re known for precise bass, wide dynamic range, and room-shaking power without distortion. Whether it’s the compact SB-1000 for smaller spaces or the powerful SVS PB16 for larger rooms, SVS offers a range of options to suit any audio enthusiast’s needs.
2. Bose is a household name throughout the world and their subwoofers are no exception. Known for sleek design and exceptional sound clarity, Bose subwoofers like the Acoustimass module deliver deep bass with a footprint small enough to blend seamlessly into any home theater setup.
3. Klipsch subwoofers are known for delivering intense sound experiences. They utilize patented technologies to ensure high-output drivers and deep resonance without compromising on clarity. The Klipsch R-120SW, for example, is celebrated for its ability to produce bass that you can feel, making it a best seller.
4. REL Acoustics is known for exceptional build quality and the unique High-Level Connection feature, which makes their subwoofers easy to integrate with any home theater. REL’s subwoofers, such as those from the Serie T/i, provide deep, impactful bass and are very reliable, making them a preferred choice among audiophiles.
5. Yamaha subwoofers are well-regarded for their engineering and sound precision. Models like the Yamaha NS-SW300 produce clear and tight bass by using innovative technologies such as the Twisted Flare Port, which reduces air turbulence and promotes a clearer, more accurate low-frequency response.