Everything you need to know about subwoofers

The job of a subwoofer is often misunderstood. Most people know subwoofers produce low notes and sounds, but are still unsure why they are needed. For many, a first introduction to a subwoofer is hearing a one-note behemoth – which is fun for a movie when the scene calls for the room to shake but can be quite distracting when listening to something more subtle and you are overwhelmed with bloated bass. 

A subwoofer is simply a speaker that reproduces the very lowest audio frequencies. A properly integrated subwoofer can bring the thrill and action of a film alive in even the most modest audio system. The problem with subwoofers is they are often all you can hear and you can quickly get used to over-bearing bass which means, in comparison, a properly integrated subwoofer may not sound right at first. 

If you are a film lover, adding a subwoofer to your system will enrich the experience immeasurably, but even for music a subwoofer can be very helpful, especially for a system with smaller speakers. A good quality subwoofer that produces more than just loud, one-note bass can add depth and highlight detail in your music.

Subwoofer placement is often the biggest challenge when building your audio system. There is often a compromise between where a subwoofer sounds best and where it looks best, with aesthetics often taking priority over acoustics. Low notes are affected by walls, corners, and furnishings in a room in ways that can seriously diminish sound quality. KEF subwoofers use an ingenious equaliser that compensates for room placement issues by adjusting the low-frequency output based on placement near a wall, in a corner, or even in a cabinet. KEF subwoofers can even be adjusted for apartment living, allowing you to have great bass response without upsetting your neighbours! Thanks to these innovative features, the compromise between acoustics and aesthetics is no longer an issue.

With KEF’s Wireless Subwoofer Adapter Kit, placement of your subwoofer is no longer limited. The KW1 Wireless Subwoofer Adapter Kit eliminates the need for a bulky cable connection from your amplifier to the subwoofer. Simply connect the KW1Transmitter to the output of your amplifier and then connect the KW1 Receiver to your subwoofer. You can then place your subwoofer anywhere in your room, without compromising performance at all.

Most people think all that really matters is the size of the subwoofer – the bigger the better.  However, that isn’t necessarily true and size shouldn’t always be your main consideration when choosing a subwoofer - the quality of the design and manufacture are equally important. Deep and powerful bass is no longer solely the domain of big-shouldered, massive subwoofers. 

Subwoofers produce bass by moving air – just like any other speaker – so design and driver performance are critical to a great experience. Before you buy, it’s best to know exactly what you need for your space: a 10” or 12” driver can fill an average room with deep bass but you will also need to consider how well the sub will integrate with the rest of your speakers. However, a properly designed subwoofer featuring a driver as small as 6.5”, such as the football-sized KEF KC62 sub, can do a fantastic job producing the low notes every movie and music fan wants to hear. 

A high-quality subwoofer should add much more than just volume and boom. Whether choosing a subwoofer for music or movies, a room-friendly design packed full of innovative technology can uncover details and add depth and texture to the sound. 

Subwoofers can majorly enhance any music or movie system, and with a high performance, high quality model, set-up can be relatively easy by following a few simple steps.

Looking for some tips and practical advice on connecting your sub?  Read our guide in our blog post here.