Under seat subwoofer: Small, but Significant Advantage for Stereo Systems

Subwoofers are audio speakers used to reproduce low frequency audio known as bass. Bass and treble is the usual audio frequency referred most of the time. Frequency range for sub woofer in professional speakers in less than 100 Hz whereas for home audio systems it can be from 20 Hz to 200 Hz. Subwoofers are usually enclosed in wooden casing to withstand high pressure. They also have their own amplifiers to amplify the frequencies. Equalization and phase control is also provided so that the user can fine the audio sound to suit the surrounding and match to woofers for corrective actions. Servo sub woofers are another type wherein a servo feedback is taken into consideration in the subwoofer. The feedback is of the input to amplifiers and cone movement.

Let’s take a look at some of under seat subwoofer available on the marked today. Make sure to check out our Amps comparison if you like under seat subwoofer with out amp. If you are no amateur to car audio and a fan of bigger subs then you should take a look 15 inch subwoofers aswell.

Let’s Take a Look At Some of the Best Powered Subwoofers and Underseat Subwoofers

Product	Name	Overall Score
Best seller	Rockford Fosgate P300-10 Powered Subwoofer All-inclusive solution for boosting sound quality Do you crave to incorporate some bass in your automobile to bring ... RMS power: 300 Watts Max power: 600 Watts	9.5 Read review	$229.99 Check Price
Editor choice 2	Kicker Hideaway Compact Powered Sub Bass that'll fit almost anywhere If someone told you that you could get high quality bass sound with a tiny compact ... RMS power: 150 Watts Max power: 300 Watts	9 Read review	$249.49 Read Reviews
3	Kenwood KSC-SW11 Powered Subwoofer Powerful bass in a miniature package Kenwood's KSC-SW11 fueled subwoofer looks undersized, but it proves that size has ... RMS power: 75 Watts Max power: 150 Watts	8 Read review	$145.48 Read Reviews
Best price 4	PIONEER TS-SWX2502 10-Inch Shallow-Mount Subwoofer Tight on space? Are you looking for hard-hitting bass from a tiny enclosure? You may try Pioneer’s TS-SWX2502. The ... RMS power: 300 Watts Max power: 1200 Watts	7.5 Read review	$99.99 Read Reviews
5	Kicker TCompS 40TCWS104 High-performance CompSTM Loaded Enclosures are factory-tuned and vented for loud, great-sounding bass ready to install ... RMS power: 300 Watts Max power: 600 Watts	6.5 Read review	Read Reviews

What’s the difference between those subwoofers?

Types of subwoofers

They are basically of two types’ plain subwoofers and powered subwoofers

Plain subwoofers

When you have an audio system with amplifier inbuilt and you only need subwoofers to fine tune the bass frequency, then you go for plain subwoofers. The amplification which is to be done is done by the amplifier on the audio system and subwoofers just send out the bass frequency. These are cheaper since, the circuitry for amplifier is not needed.

Powered subwoofers

It has an inbuilt amplifier which power itself and sends out the frequency tuned to. The quality of sound from these types of subwoofers is superior than the plain subwoofers. The bass is very good and these are easy to install. You don’t have to know its working and only bring it, install it and it’s ready to use. They are little costlier, but they are worth the sound they give out.

Learn more about how to find best subwoofer for you.

Subwoofer enclosure

It is essential to have an enclosure for all the under seat sun woofers to prevent them from any kind of damage. There is dust present, while cleaning water may seep in, or they can be damaged by any mechanical shock that the car gets or simply if anyone sitting doesn’t know about the subwoofers and kicks in while adjusting seats or randomly. Hence, it is always advisable to have subwoofer enclosures. Subwoofer enclosures also have a part to play in the performance of the subwoofers, whether it is powered suubwoofer or plain subwoofer.

Subwoofer enclosures come in various shape and size, different material, etc.

Sealed shallow mount subwoofer boxes

These are basic type of boxes for subwoofers. They are airtight, no air passes out or inside. They give a clear and good quality bass sound. But the main drawback is that they have less efficiency of all the enclosures. You can get your hands on almost all subwoofer sizes available ready to install your new subwoofer, the most to choose from being 8 inches, 10 inches, 12 inches and 15 inches.

8-inch Subwoofer Box Sycho Sound 8″ Black	10-inch Subwoofer Box Scosche Se 10-Inch Sealed
12-inch Subwoofer Box Sycho Sound Black 8″	15-inch Subwoofer Box Atrend E15S B Box 15″

Heck you can even get dual sealed subwoofer boxes in all these sizes, take a look: Dual 8 inch Subwoofer Enclosure, Dual 10 Inch Sealed Subwoofer Box, 12 Inch Dual Sealed Subwoofer Enclosure  and of course 15 inch Subwoofer Enclosure. What a time to be alive! If you were to make such subwoofer box yourself not only wood you spend more money and of course quite a lot of time making it, there’s always a possibility that it would turn out bad, even for those who done it before.

Dual 8 inch Subwoofer Box Dual 8-inch Black	Dual 10 inch Subwoofer Box Dual 10-Inch Black
Dual 12 inch Subwoofer Box Dual 12-Inch	Dual 15 inch Subwoofer Box Dual 15-Inch

Ported Subwoofer boxes

They are known as vented enclosures. As the name suggests the box has a small vent. Due to this vent small amount of air passes in and out of the system. Due to the vent, small amount of frequency passes out and this is not reinforced in the system. Due to this, a small amount of distortion is added to the sound. But due to its high efficiency to give out loud bass they are preferred. But compared to sealed boxes they have distortion present in the output. There is a lot to choose from if you go for the most popular sizes. Click to see 8 inches, 10 inches, 12 inches and 15 inches ported subwoofer boxes!

8-Inch Ported Subwoofer Box Atrend 8-Inch Single Vented	10-Inch Vented Subwoofer Box Atrend E10Sv B 10-Inch Single Ported
12-Inch Ported Subwoofer Enclosure Bbox E12SV Single Vented	15-Inch Vented Subwoofer Enclosure Atrend E15Sv B Single Ported

In the market for Dual Ported Subwoofer Box?

Dual 8-Inch Ported Subwoofer Box ASC Dual 8″	Dual 10-Inch Vented Subwoofer Box Sycho Sound Dual 10-Inch
Dual 12-Inch Ported Subwoofer Enclosure ASC Dual 12″	Dual 15-Inch Vented Subwoofer Box QPower 15″

Bandpass boxes

Bandpass boxes are the best enclosure that anyone can have for their under seat subwoofers. Bandpass subwoofers have the main principle that when the sound will be re-imposed a bigger and better sound is produced. Hence, the Bandpass boxes have two chambers inside and a small vent like ported box outside. When the bass frequencies are emitted by the subwoofers, the sound waves reflect back from the small chambers are superimpose each other. This gives a much better superior quality bass. These type of subwoofers also have high efficiency compared to other two enclosures for under seat subwoofers.

Coupled Cavity

These are said to be a combination of ported and Bandpass enclosures. This takes the superimposition principle of waves to the next level. A number of enclosures are made within the box and are interlinked by vents. Thus when the sound waves are emitted they superimpose again and again and create a more complex output. But the quality of this bass output cannot be compared to any other enclosure. It is far more reaching and gives the best of quality. But the effort needed to make this kind of enclosure is very difficult.

More on subwoofer working

Since the subwoofers are made to reproduce the bass frequency they have a specific cone suspension in them, so that motions in them align with the lower frequencies. This motion is called XMAX. Lower frequency means greater wavelength. This implies that the motion of the cone in the subwoofers should be as elongated as possible to have a greater effect of bass and the sound waves travel more freely and easily without being distorted. The cone materials used along with today’s manufacturing technology are those materials which can handle a lot of stress and are light weight to give the best effect. Since, there is a lot of movement; the power which will be needed to drive the woofers is also very large. Hence, subwoofers work best in sync with amplifiers. The electrical power needed for the constant motion of the cones is drawn from these amplifiers.

While making a subwoofer it is also essential to undertake the working of the voice coil in consideration.

A debate may also evolve as to whether the powered subwoofers are needed to be placed under seat or in the trunk. Though both the options are feasible, they have their own advantages and drawbacks. When the best powered subwoofers are placed in the trunk they take up a lot of space. But there position gives advantage to the passengers sitting in the rear. Since, they have close proximity to subwoofers, they are also able to listen to the music, since the speakers are far away from them and do not give them enough of the audio. Coming to placing them under seat, powered subwoofers are at the best of their performance. There is less distortion and installing them under seat is also easier. But for smaller cars placing them under seat will not be a convenient option.