Photo Credit: C.J. Ramos
For music enthusiasts, no car sound system is complete without an aftermarket subwoofer. Your subs have to match your speakers and amplifiers, but also needs to fit into the designated location. Subwoofer positioning has always been a topic of heated debate amongst bassheads and car audio forums. The biggest question we’ve been getting lately is along the lines of which direction should I point my subwoofer when it is in my trunk?
Whether you already own a killer subwoofer or are in the market for a brand new beast, knowing where and how to place it is arguably the most important decision. You could have a couple of brand new, custom made 12-inch subs but without taking advantage of the space available, you will never maximize your audio potential. Typically, most subwoofers are found in the trunk/boot. But with an extensive array of positions available, getting it right can be harder than it sounds. So, what is the best direction for a subwoofer to face when it is located in the trunk?
The best direction to aim your car subwoofers has been and still remains a topic of much debate. After decades of trial and error, there is not a single “best” direction. When it comes to car audio, it’s never the case that one size fits all. There are however, several factors that come into play when determining which direction is best for your custom set up.
These factors include your overall objective, music taste, individual preferences, as well as your car’s make and model. Experimentation is indeed the name of the game. It’s only by rigorous experimentation that you can determine which direction works best for you. Your choice should also be influenced by what type of enclosure or subwoofer setup you are working with. Here are three examples of how you can arrange your sub within your vehicle:
Facing the Boot – Rear of the Car
This is the most common direction used by the majority of custom car audio fanatics. By placing the subwoofer in the trunk against the last row of seats, facing away from the driver, the bass becomes more pronounced and evenly distributed across the car’s surface area. If you are looking for hard hitting bass that goes superbly with genres focused on bass (Rap, Dubstep, Trap, etc.), this is the direction for you.
Facing the Rear Seat – Towards the Front of the Car
A highly unconventional position includes aiming the entire enclosure inwards towards the hood and inverting the subwoofers into a sealed enclosure so the woofer is facing downward protruding out of the enclosure. This means that instead of facing the trunk, the subwoofers are now facing the passenger and driver. Unlike the opposite direction mentioned above, this placement allows for bass to be felt by each and every component of your car. This will not drown out notes above 200hz so this is a good idea for those of you not focused on overwhelming bass.
Facing Upward – Towards The Trunk Hatch
This type of position is used by car owners looking to save room in their cargo space. Facing the subwoofer upward while in the trunk, gives you big bass without consuming a lot of space. This direction offers crisp sound with a slight advantage to high frequencies and treble, and won’t rattle loose parts in your vehicle as much. When done right, the bass is so smooth, that you wouldn’t even know where the aftermarket woofer is installed. Additionally, experimenting with the location will also have a greater impact on the sound quality. For example, a subwoofer placed at the right corner of your trunk means louder results for the driver, but better bass response for the passengers.
Final Words
If you feel that your subwoofer is too muffled, you can make a few small holes around the boot and cover them with a thin, disguised material. This should allow the trapped bass to come out and be heard more clearly. Also Sonic, you’re leading car audio retailer, carries all the products you will ever need to maximize your car’s system. Sound damping material like mats and foams are always recommended when you upgrade your stock sound. A bass worth paying for is going to make your car rattle; a steel box (your car) is not designed to withstand that kind of wattage. Combat the rattles with NVX sound damping materials, to ensure that all you hear is bass blasting in your face.
