Which sub to choose

As you know, the debate about which subwoofer is better active or passive still does not fade away. Some dispute the benefits of an active subwoofer, while others vehemently defend this speaker, arguing that it is much easier to install and connect.
We learn from our article which is better active or passive subwoofer?

What is the difference between these speakers

Subwoofers tend to reproduce bass. But active and passive speakers are known. Do we know why they are called that?

passive sub

This:

• The ultimate simplicity of design distinguishes a passive subwoofer.
• Such speakers consist of a case and one or more low-frequency heads connected to an external amplifier (see).

Note. Passive subs can have two types of connections. The first method involves transmitting the stereo amplifier signal not only to the sub, but also to the rest of the speakers. The second method involves connecting with a crossover filter that qualitatively separates the bass and signal.

active sub

So:

• The composition of the active subwoofer includes a crossover filter and a power amplifier. This is a very mobile combination of several devices that meet separately.

• The active subwoofer has line inputs and outputs, as well as a special function for adjusting the signal level and crossover frequency.
• A high-quality active sub is able to significantly expand the dynamic range, which naturally has a beneficial effect on the quality of music.

Comparison

So:

• Active sub first better fit for dance and rhythmic music. This speaker, with all its standard settings, has more flexible options and adjustments.
• Secondly, active speakers, having their own amplifiers, are no match for passive ones. If they are of high quality, they are much better than passive ones, because they do not have their own amplifier.

Note. It is not uncommon to tune a passive subwoofer so that that speaker sounds even better than an active speaker, but this is considered to be a very delicate and painstaking process.

• Thirdly, an active subwoofer is easier to install (see), because it is much faster and easier to set up.

Difference

To be more precise, the difference between these two speakers will look like this:

• An active subwoofer is better than a passive one, because it has a built-in amplifier. And to connect a passive subwoofer, you will need to look for external sound amplifiers.
• It is much easier and faster to set up speakers with an active subwoofer than with a passive one.

• A speaker with a passive subwoofer, if tuned accurately and efficiently, sparing no time and effort, will give more surround sound than a system with an active subwoofer.

Note. It can also be said that the active subwoofer is chosen by beginners and those who are not so interested in the depth of sound. On the contrary, those who are looking for more than just loud sound or ease of installation will be happy with a passive subwoofer.

Important information

So:

• It will be interesting to know that an active subwoofer is the same passive one, but it is equipped with an additional bass amplifier.
• Today, active subwoofers are more popular than passive ones, and this determines their cost. It is the popularity of the active subwoofer that makes many people think that it is a priori better than the passive one.

• If you have a separate amplifier, then there is nothing better than purchasing passive subwoofer.
• In no case should you go on about bright advertising. Today, every manufacturer can shamelessly lie, if only his products were purchased from him.
  It is recommended not to believe the words, but to refer to the reputation of the company and judge, as they say by deeds. By following exactly this advice, you can find exactly the subwoofer that suits you.

How to choose the right subwoofer for your speaker system

So, the difference between an active and passive subwoofer is known. Now we will learn how to correctly choose a sub for your speaker system.

Analysis of the existing acoustic system

First of all, you need to analyze what is available. If simple speakers and an amplifier are available, then it does not make sense to buy an expensive and powerful subwoofer, since it will not sound good anyway.

Note. According to professionals, before buying a subwoofer, you need to set up the speakers in such a way that it gives out bass of relatively good quality.
Such a bass, of course, is not the main one and is also called "acoustic". By installing a subwoofer, you can get high-quality lower bass, which, in addition to the sounds of the speakers, will give excellent sound.
Allegedly, the fact that an expensive and good subwoofer is able to give both lower and upper bass is not justified by practice.

Sub choice

The second stage involves deciding whether an active or passive sub will be selected. As mentioned above, the first option is easy to install in a car, because it will just need to be connected to the speakers. But, oddly enough, an active sub has its drawbacks.
Disadvantages of an active sub:

• Such an active speaker gives a worse sound than a thoroughly tuned passive one.
• Often, in the manufacture of active subs, cheap components are used that make the sound rough.
• As a rule, an active subwoofer is cheaper than a passive one, precisely because of the low-quality materials used in its production.

Users who are thinking about purchasing a subwoofer have a variety of goals. Someone wants to improve the sound of an existing speaker system. Someone wants to get in the car a unique feeling of body vibrations from a juicy, powerful bass. Another part of consumers wants to create a crystal clear, completely authentic sound environment of a concert hall. Active or passive subwoofer have certain advantages and disadvantages, can solve certain problems.

To better understand how an active subwoofer differs from a passive one, you should start by getting to know the device of a simpler product. The case in which the large diameter speaker is placed, the frequency filters are a classic design. This is how you can describe a passive subwoofer.

There are several options for this type of equipment. The most common design is a sealed enclosure with a speaker. This is called a closed passive subwoofer.

Another type of device is a housing with a route for air circulation, called a phase inverter. Such subs have a stable increase in volume from the supplied power, which closed systems cannot boast of.

There is one design option in which a passive subwoofer can differ sharply from an active one. The latter is rarely used. The bandpass system is a two-zone emitter. The sealed segment of the case, in which the speaker is located, is connected to the region of the channels for the passage of air.

As a result of the work of such a tandem, the sub sounds very good, especially in large rooms. It forms a juicy, rich bass due to intense air vibrations.

For a passive subwoofer to work, a good external amplifier is required. The more signal parameter adjustments it provides, the best quality sound picture can be achieved.

An active subwoofer is self-sufficient. It is a case where not only the speaker is located, every inch of which provides high-quality bass, but also its own power amplifier. Such a scheme is convenient, compact, and generally rated by users as quite practical.

Features, pros and cons of active subwoofers

An active home subwoofer is an almost perfect device. He has everything he needs on board. Here is an amplifier, an adjustable filter to adjust the cutoff frequency. In expensive models, it is possible to change the phase shift of the signal. Individual products may have a difference in the proposed sets of inputs and outputs, signal formats.

An active sub has the following advantages:

• just connects;
• does not require an external amplifier;
• features a compact design;
• if there are outputs, speakers can be connected to the device, creating a compact speaker system;
• you can buy a top model with many adjustments and high power.

active sub has good rating at consumers. Mainly due to the affordable cost and the widest range of applications. An active subwoofer will perfectly complement the sound of an existing speaker system. It is easy to put it in the house due to its compact size.

The disadvantages of an active system are as follows:

• due to the heat generated by the amplifier, the air inside the speaker chamber heats up, which can affect its electrical characteristics and degrade the sound;
• operation at critical volume levels is fraught with the failure of the amplifier due to an increase in temperature in the case.

You need to choose an active subwoofer carefully, focusing on the power of the sound system that it will complement. It is also recommended to strictly follow the manufacturer's instructions regarding placement, cooling conditions.

Features, pros and cons of passive subwoofers

A passive subwoofer is an extremely simple design. This may mean that it is not difficult to make it yourself to install in the car. The passive system has a number of advantages:

• design space;
• bandpass class solutions, which are rarely found in active systems;
• even a homemade passive sub sounds juicy, delivering clear and rich bass;
• no overheating of the speaker and air inside the case during system operation;
• you can easily modify the characteristics of the subwoofer by adding self-made or purchased frequency filters.

But the main thing that distinguishes the product of this type, is a small price. And this attracts not only fans of experiments, but also music lovers who want to improve the sound of an existing speaker system. But the passive subwoofer also has disadvantages.

1. The main disadvantage is that a passive subwoofer needs an external amplifier to work. Its power should be at least one and a half times higher than the maximum performance of the sound emitter. Such a product, firstly, is expensive. Secondly, installing a passive subwoofer to improve the sound of existing acoustics may require a complete replacement of amplifying equipment, since the existing one will not be able to pump the low-frequency speaker without distortion.
2. The disadvantage associated with the formation of an external signal: conventional amplifiers are not suitable for a passive type subwoofer. You need to buy a device that works only in the low frequency band.
3. All sound adjustments are purely external. The playback quality is controlled by the amplifier. The number of its adjustments is directly responsible for the richness of the bass, the cutoff frequency, and other subwoofer parameters.
4. In closed subwoofers, the required increase in power supplied to the device, depending on the volume, increases exponentially. This is due to air resistance in the sealed enclosure.

However, these shortcomings do not detract from the excellent sound of a passive subwoofer. According to the average estimate, it will always show stable results, unlike the active one, where there is overheating and the effect of vibrations on electronic circuits.

What is better to choose

It is not difficult to give an exact answer whether an active or passive subwoofer is worth buying, if you focus on the needs of the average user (except for motorists). An active sub wins by all criteria. This is a self-sufficient device with its own amplifier, the power of which is carefully selected for the good performance of the installed speaker.

Today you can buy an active subwoofer with a variety of functional equipment. Units can offer cutoff frequency, phase shift adjustment to perfectly complement the sound of a multipoint speaker system.

With increasing power active amplifiers start to cost significantly more. However, if you don’t want to bother with installing additional filters, looking for a suitable amplifier, the additional investment is justified, and the cost of a subwoofer with built-in electronics fades into the background.

For motorists - their own rules. Only passive subwoofers are installed in the car. The reason is that the devices are mounted in a limited space where there is little or no air circulation. Therefore, the active sub elementary overheats and fails.

But the amplifier for a passive subwoofer can be placed in an area where it is convenient to provide the necessary temperature regime including forced ventilation.

A subwoofer is a special additional speaker that reproduces low frequencies. Normal speakers contain speakers responsible for mids and . Even if your speakers are hung on the walls or standing on a table, it is still better to put the subwoofer on the floor, this will improve the sound of low frequencies. But when buying a powerful subwoofer, it is important to make sure that your love of beauty is shared by the neighbors below.

A passive subwoofer is quite simple. Its housing contains one or more low-frequency "heads" that are connected to an external amplifier. Passive subwoofers come in two types. The device of the first type differs in that the signal is fed to the stereo amplifier simultaneously for the loudspeakers of all frequencies. Thus, the speakers must reproduce all frequencies, including those unusual for them, and the sound is unclear. The second type of passive subwoofer is equipped with an additional electronic crossover filter that sorts the frequencies so that only the appropriate signal is sent to each speaker.

An active subwoofer contains everything at once: there is a crossover filter and its own amplifier. On the device, you can find various line inputs and outputs, as well as crossover frequency controls and signal level settings for various frequencies. An active subwoofer is often the preferred option as it gives good sound due to the expansion dynamic range acoustic system.

Which subwoofer to choose

If you want to connect everything, and for the audio system to work well right away, without additional settings or other actions, then choose an active subwoofer. Standard settings such a device in the vast majority of cases satisfy the sound of heavy or dance music, bass frequencies are deeply transmitted. In addition, the active subwoofer already has an amplifier, and you do not need to take care of it.

But if you're able to get really good at setting up your audio system (and are willing to figure it out), then a passive subwoofer might well be your choice. An expensive and high-quality audio system with a professional passive subwoofer allows you to adjust the sound much more fully than with an active subwoofer. Although it can be quite painstaking and difficult, and you need to feel the sound of music to cope, nevertheless, true lovers good sound often choose this option.

To summarize, we can say that the precise and very high-quality setting of a passive subwoofer allows you to get a much more spacious and dense sound than a speaker system with an active subwoofer. But the latter option sounds good right from the start and is noticeably better than a cheap passive subwoofer.

Nowadays, more and more people pay attention to the acoustics of the car. Various types of subwoofers. However, not everyone can afford such a luxury. The way out of this situation is to independently manufacture a passive subwoofer.

Instruction

First you need to think about making a box for your future subwoofer. To do this, you need to select a form. Please note that making a cylindrical box is much more difficult than a square one. Chipboard is suitable for work. It is best to fasten this material together with self-tapping screws. After that, using a jigsaw, make a round hole in front of the box. It will need to install a speaker. Also make a hole on the back side. It is necessary for the output of wires.

Next, finish the case from the inside. To do this, lay soundproofing sheets in several layers. The box should not make extraneous sounds during vibration. Interior decoration must be taken very seriously.

After the box is ready, you can proceed to its internal filling. The speaker must be correctly positioned, otherwise you will not get the expected effect. It is recommended to lay a good seal around the edges of the round hole. The fact is that the speaker will constantly vibrate. It is unlikely that you want to hear creaking and knocking when music is playing. Place the speaker in the case and screw it tightly onto the screws.

Next, put cotton wool in the body. She must fill it out completely. Vata promotes good sound. Now it remains to finish the body outside. For this you can use the most different materials. Carpet is very popular. Paste the subwoofer with this material. Use regular Moment glue. Connect the wires to the amplifier and check the performance of your self-made subwoofer.

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Tip 3: What is the difference between active and passive pickups

Every guitarist knows what a pickup is, but not everyone is aware that there are two types: active and passive. What is the difference?

The sound pickup is so called according to the principle of its operation. It picks up the sound from the strings and sends it to the amplifier, much like a microphone. However, the microphone can amplify other, completely unnecessary sounds, while the pickup is aimed only at the strings. After all, without pickups, we would never have heard our fans at a rock concert.

Passive Pickup

This type of pickup is commonly seen on electric and bass guitars. It converts the vibrations of the strings into an electrical signal and sends it to the amplifier. The fact is that such pickups send a weak, unprocessed, "raw" signal to the output. The shorter the cable there is a sound, the more legible and louder it will be. However, there are pluses: I connected the cable and you can immediately play.

active pickup

The principle of operation of such a pickup is similar to the first one. The only difference is that it amplifies the signal in the case itself, sending an already strong, processed sound to the output. And nothing depends on the length of the cable. In such pickups, it is required to install a battery, from which the current will go to the preamplifier.

Subwoofers are designed for high-quality bass reproduction. However, few people know how these speakers differ and which ones are better.

Passive type devices are characterized by extreme simplicity and reliability of design. They consist of a one-piece body and several heads (most often one) that are connected to an external amplifier. The equipment may have two different types connections. The first option is that the stereo amplifier signal is transmitted not only to the speaker, but also to other speakers. The second method involves connecting using a crossover filter. This element designed to effectively and efficiently separate the signal from the bass.

Active subwoofers have a power amplifier and the aforementioned separator filter. As a result, the equipment is a combination of several devices that can be purchased separately. It is equipped with line outputs and inputs, as well as additional option, which allows you to adjust the crossover frequency and signal level. A high-quality device is able to expand the range of the entire speaker system, which will ultimately have a positive effect on the purity of the sound of a piece of music.

What kind of subwoofer is best?

It is easier and more practical to purchase an active type device. It is suitable for rhythmic and dance music. wide functionality consist in various settings and adjustments of frequency and volume. These speakers boast their own amplifiers, which are not found in any passive models.

Active subwoofers are easier to connect and set up. Despite this, many music lovers prefer to purchase other types of devices. Although they require external audio amplifiers, they can be adjusted manually. This is a painstaking and delicate process, but the result can be higher than with active speakers. The cost of passive devices is usually lower.

If you are a beginner and poorly versed in audio technology, we recommend buying active subwoofers. If you are a music lover with extensive experience, take a look good speakers passive type and customize them to your own taste and preference. Then you will be guaranteed a real surround sound.

Active or passive subwoofer? - one of the questions that often interests car owners interested in supplementing their speaker system with a subwoofer. This question is both complex and easy, but in order to answer it, it is worth understanding what an active subwoofer is and what a passive subwoofer is, and what are the pros and cons of each of them. Only after that, every car owner who asks a similar question will be able to answer it. In this article we will try to help deal with this issue.

The main difference between active and passive subwoofer:

Passive subwoofer– subwoofer speaker + speaker enclosure

Active subwoofer– subwoofer speaker + speaker cabinet + amplifier

Comparative Features

That is, an active subwoofer is a passive subwoofer with a power amplifier, which is located inside or outside the case. And if in the case of an active subwoofer the developer has already taken care of us, then the amplifier will have to be bought separately for a passive subwoofer. At the same time, sometimes on sale there are also sets consisting of a passive subwoofer, a separate power amplifier selected by the manufacturer, as well as a set of wires for connection.

For both active and passive subwoofers (a separate subwoofer speaker can also be called a passive subwoofer, unless it comes without a case), case designs are used - a closed box (a completely sealed volume for the speaker) and a bass-reflex box (the box has an outlet port or slot). Also, passive subwoofers often use the Bandpass box design (the box is divided into two volumes and a more complex configuration of tap-off ports is provided), which is very rarely used in active subwoofers. At the same time, active subwoofers often have compact designs (the smallest volume of the structure is achieved), which, of course, are not used in passive subwoofers.

The installation of both passive and active subwoofers (not taking into account the compact version) is carried out in the trunk of a car, regardless of the body. Compact active subwoofers are usually mounted on the back of the rear seats or under the car seat.

And now about the most important thing - about the advantages and disadvantages of active and passive subwoofers. Let's consider three main arguments that are of more interest to car owners - cost, compactness of the installation and the possible end result.

Active or passive / Comparison of cost of equipment and installation

As a rule, the cost of active subwoofers is slightly higher than passive ones, due to the presence of a built-in power amplifier. But due to the fact that for a passive subwoofer it is necessary to purchase a separate power amplifier, as well as install it, the cost of equipment and installation of a passive subwoofer is higher than that of an active subwoofer.

Active or passive / Installation compactness comparison

Manufacturers are trying to make the case for an active subwoofer as compact as possible, even taking into account the space for an amplifier. This is not to mention active subwoofers in a compact design, which generally do not occupy at least some significant volume. free space. That is, passive subwoofers take up more free space (although not always), especially since some space is also required for installing a power amplifier.

Active or passive / End result comparison

For the most part, an active subwoofer is used as an addition to the main sound stage. That is, it introduces some low-frequency component, but there is no tangible accentuation on it. At the same time, the passive system allows you to achieve the necessary characteristics from the sound of the subwoofer - quality, power, bass depth. And although there are very good active systems, but they are all very expensive, which crosses out the above advantages of such subwoofers.

Our subwoofer installation examples

Naturally, talking about some average situation, which occurs in most cases. After all, if you wish, you can always turn the entire argument in the opposite direction: consider the most expensive active subwoofer relative to the cheapest passive subwoofer and amplifier for it; take as an example the most bulky active subwoofer versus the most compact passive; evaluate the sound quality of the smallest passive subwoofer and the most powerful active subwoofer, etc.

Final Choice

Here, as elsewhere, a motorist needs to decide what he needs and what he is willing to sacrifice, since there is no ideal option. If it is necessary as cheaply as possible, then there is a case active subwoofer, if maximum compactness of the installation is required - a compact active subwoofer, if quality and power are required - a passive subwoofer.

But still, it is worth paying attention to this - the subwoofer is, first of all, the low-frequency component of the speaker system. And a high-quality component cannot be cheap and compact, so if you want to achieve high-quality sound in a car, it is better to consider the option of buying and installing a passive subwoofer.