Choosing the right subwoofer for your home entertainment system can make or break the entire music or cinematic experience. Some users choose to opt out of purchasing or installing a subwoofer, but for an audiophile of discerning taste there is no substitute. The right subwoofer can add dimensions to your music and movie soundtracks, which is difficult (if at all possible) for standalone speakers to achieve. Here's choose the right subwoofer for your home theater system.
Instructions
1. Decide if you need a subwoofer. There are rooms (usually with very small cubic footage) that do not require a subwoofer to achieve suitable audio quality if the existing speakers are high-grade, such as Kappa or Kenwood.
2. Figure out how much power you need. Depending on the size of the room where you have your home entertainment system and how much "thump" you are looking for will help you decide how much power you need. If you have a large room or want some serious bass, you will want a sub with a lot of wattage in the amp. A subwoofer with a larger woofer cone (12 or 15 inches) will also give you major bass.
3. Decide if you want a down-firing or front-firing subwoofer. The woofer cone can either be mounted in the bottom of the cabinet (down-firing) or in one of the sides (front-firing). There is no difference in the quality of the sound. It's just a matter of personal preference.
4. Choose the right enclosure for your subwoofer. There are two major types of enclosures that will change the performance of a subwoofer. Acoustic suspension enclosures provide tight, accurate bass but require more amplifier power. Bass reflex enclosures are more energy efficient but give up some accuracy for a bigger boom.
5. Decide on a budget. You can spend less than 100 dollars on a subwoofer or you can opt for subs that are integrated into a custom home theater system that costing thousands.
6. Test your subwoofer. Play a few kinds of music and at least one DVD at a variety of different volumes until you have it set just right. If the subwoofer is not what you expected, return it in its original box and get a different model.
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