Adding Bass To Your Ride – The Easy Guide
There's no question that adding one or more subwoofers to your car is one of the best ways to bring some more "oomph" to your system. The right upgrade will bring that earth-shattering bass you expect and will definitely let your neighbors know when you're pulling into the driveway. However, subwoofers can often be one of the more complex aspects of system design.
The good news is that adding bass to your car doesn't have to be particularly hard or costly, and there's likely a good option to help you achieve your goals with minimal expense. If the wide range of subwoofer choices has you scratching your head, this simple guide will help clarify the basics so you can make the best decision for your ride.
What Do You Need?
At the most basic level, every subwoofer will require power and an adequate enclosure. While enclosures matter for any speaker, they're particularly important for subwoofers. Of course, you typically don't need to worry about your regular speaker enclosures in a car unless you're fabricating custom door panels.
Subwoofers are a little different since you're unlikely to have a stock subwoofer enclosure in your trunk. Instead, you'll need a custom enclosure in your trunk to house your subwoofer. You will also need a place to mount your amplifier since even the beefiest head units typically won't provide enough power to drive real bass.
Are There Simpler Options?
A fully custom enclosure will generally provide the best performance and cleanest sound, but it can be a daunting project. You may not want to spend the money on building a fully customized box, or you may not like losing so much space in your trunk. Fortunately, you still have plenty of options for adding bass to your system.
Pre-built enclosures are the simplest choice. You can mount these enclosures in your trunk like a custom box, but you can buy them as a single unit. A pre-built enclosure will limit your subwoofer size, and you'll need to choose one that fits in your trunk, but these downsides are relatively minor. In exchange, you can get the benefits of a custom box without the cost or time required.
Powered subs are a less traditional option. Although these units are common in home theater, they've only recently come into vogue in-car audio. A powered sub adds an integrated amplifier and acts as its enclosure, vastly simplifying installation and saving you money. While you may not get the performance a fully custom system offers, you will get to enjoy a much more straightforward installation process.
Which Option Is Right for You?
As with many car audio decisions, there's no single correct answer. If you want to maximize performance at the expense of all else, fully custom enclosures and separate amplifiers are probably the way to go. However, pre-built enclosures or integrated subwoofers have many advantages that make them more suitable for the budget-conscious or those looking to save space in their trunk.
Whatever the case, it's hard to go wrong by adding more bass to your system. A new subwoofer is a cost-effective upgrade that can take your car's audio system to the next level.