There’s no doubt selecting the right subwoofer to best suit your musical taste is not an easy task. Even the most knowledgeable audiophile struggles with this because there are so many options in the market. And to top it off, there are so many misconceptions of how your subwoofer size and type will affect the overall sound quality of your system. This combined scenario creates an audio matching disaster and Sonic is here to help. By now, most of you already know how to select the best subwoofers for your car; it’s based on space available and your budget. But how many of you actually consider the music you will be playing through your system?

Whether you listen to Rap, Electro, House, Dubstep, Alternative, Trap, Jazz, Hip Hop, Techno, Drum n Bass, Trip Hop, Experimental, House, Country, Classical, Heavy Metal, or even the Blues;  you must coordinate your subwoofer with the genre of music to maximize your audio experience. This article aims at giving you a comprehensive breakdown on how different sizes and types of subwoofers optimizes different music selection.

Choosing Subwoofer Size According to Music Taste

No matter the taste in music, it is of the utmost importance to choose the correct size sub or subs. Basically, a larger subwoofer translates into a larger surface area on the cone which results in more air displacement. While this factors for louder sound; people make the mistake of assuming bigger is always better. There’s much more thought required when choosing subwoofers. Going with the biggest, meanest beast on the shelf is rarely recommended. Here’s how the different sizes perform with various music types:

8-Inch Subwoofer

8-inch subwoofers are one of the smallest and most inexpensive sizes in the market, most stock sound systems come with either one or two of these from the factory. Luckily this is the easiest aftermarket upgrade to make because your new 8 inch subs will fit right into the factory location. While an 8 inch woofer offers excellent clarity and bass response, they produce relatively little additional power. This size focuses on clean and clear bass to pair with the speakers. Genres like Punk, Country, Drum n Bass, Alternative, Classic Rock and other music types that are not concerned with  overpowering bass will pair nicely with one or two 8 inch subs.

10-Inch Subwoofer

10-inch subwoofers are also easy to install and offers supplemental bass production compared to an 8 inch subwoofer. If you are looking for a little more power without overwhelming your music and sacrificing sound quality this is the size for you. Typically if you listen to metal, pop, jazz and even the blues, this size will bring you audio bliss.

12-Inch Subwoofer

This is the most common aftermarket purchase and is only factory installed in a few trucks and SUVs. Thanks to its larger size, it is difficult to install but the benefits are evident. A 12-inch subwoofer is known for generating extra bass production with decent bass response Overall the sound quality is not sacrificed, but if you are playing your sub at peak power your system will suffer. It is always recommended to use the RMS Wattage to best utilize your woofer. Drivers who listen to a mixture of RnB, Rap, House, Dance, and even Funk  prefer to go for this particular size.

15-Inch Subwoofer

While no stock sound system comes in this size, a 15-inch subwoofer is becoming increasingly popular. Due to the larger size, this sub will occupy the majority of either your cargo or passenger space. This size generates massive amounts of bass when compared with any other size listed. While it excels in achieving very deep lows, it lacks the tight responsiveness of smaller sizes. With a 15 Inch subwoofer, you will have to upgrade your car’s speakers as well but this does not ensure that your music will not be flooded with bass. Some genres that benefit from such dominating bass are Hip Hop, Rap, Dubstep, Trap and other forms of EDM.

Choosing Subwoofer Type According to Music Taste

There is a variety of options when selecting a subwoofer type. Each one has different strengths and weakness dependent on each individual’s audio needs. Two of the most basic options are component and enclosed subs. A component sub best suits a bass fanatic that prefers to feel music and have the entire car vibrate. For those of you with more modest bass needs that actually want to hear the notes above 200hz, it is recommended that you find an enclosed sub or a smaller component subwoofer.

Component Subwoofer

Component or passive subs are just woofers. This speaker relies on an external amplifier and requires an enclosure to safely house the unit. This set up will take up more space and cost more money, but trust me when I say this; you will hear the difference. Reserved for only the biggest bass enthusiasts this will suit your needs depending on the genre of music you fancy and the amount of bass you desire. Luckily for the most knowledgeable of audiophiles, this subwoofer type is highly customizable and can be tweaked to your audio needs.

jl audio custom subs and amplifier build

Enclosed Subwoofer

Enclosed or powered subs are the easiest to install and operate since they come powered with an internal amp and tailored within an enclosure to protect the unit and enhance the raw quality of the bass. This type is a must have if you want to avoid the hassle that comes with building an enclosure from scratch and running wires throughout your vehicle. Getting your enclosure matched with the right sub will ensure that you get an adequate bass response for your particular tastes in music and luckily this subwoofer does that for you. This a space conscious choice for those who do not want overwhelming bass.