Subwoofers can make a great addition to any car or truck, allowing your system to take the deep bass and lows to another level. Subwoofers also come in all types of shapes, sizes, and configurations.
Before you go out and purchase a new sub, you will want to take a few things into consideration, especially their size. The good news is that there are subwoofer enclosure options for every vehicle! In this article, we’ll talk a little bit about the different types of enclosures and which would be best for your vehicle.
Measure your trunk or desired location for the subwoofers
First, things first. Measure the area that you are looking to install your subwoofer box and consider those dimensions while shopping for the enclosure. The dimensions of every subwoofer box on our website are in the product description and in the “features & specs” section on every product page. This process seems so simple but will save you a lot of time and headaches if you get those dimensions right. Now let’s take a look at the different types of enclosures.
Different enclosure types
Empty enclosures
The first thing to consider is if you are going to buy a subwoofer by itself or if you are buying a loaded enclosure. Although there are a few empty enclosures that are smaller and more shallow, a majority of the empty enclosure we offer are larger squared-off boxes that were built to fit almost any subwoofer. While this makes them versatile and easy to switch the woofer in and out, they tend to take up more space. These are a great option for someone with a larger vehicle like an SUV, wagon, or even a sedan that has ample trunk space. Also if the box is ported or if it is a dual enclosure, it will take up even more room.
Loaded enclosures
Loaded enclosures vastly range in size and shape. Some are larger clunkier boxes meant for larger spaces and others can be small enough to fit underneath your seat. The advantage of having the larger loaded subwoofer box is that they more than likely have a subwoofer with a larger magnet and basket. This means they can handle more power over a smaller, slimmer subwoofer. One great option is hatchback-style or a truck-style box. These have an angle back and fronts so they can fit in smaller spaces. Hatchback style boxes have angled backs so they can rest along the backside of your back seats and take up less space. Truck style subwoofers have an angled front so they can be easily installed behind the seats of a single truck.
Under-seat subwoofers were designed for people who do not have much room in their vehicle or do not want to sacrifice any of their trunk space. As their name suggests, they were built to fit underneath your front seats. They may lack the power from that of larger subwoofers, but they make up for it in versatility and usability. We wrote an entire article about them and you should check it out if you are considering these as an option.
Vehicle specific subwoofer boxes
Although these might be one of the more expensive routes to installing a subwoofer in your vehicle, they do look OEM, like your car came that way from the factory because they were made specifically for your vehicle. They also tend to be the most efficient use of space because they typically will fit into empty alcoves or unused space like the area underneath the back seats of a truck. These are a quality option for anyone who has the budget to install one.
Which one should I get for my vehicle?
The answer to this question like almost anything in car audio comes down to preference, budget, and the limitations of your vehicle. If you have a small vehicle like a coupe, I would usually recommend a hatchback box or an under seat subwoofer so you can save space. If you have a larger SUV or van your options are endless; however, just because you have space doesn’t necessarily mean you want to use it all on your subwoofer, so something smaller might still be an option for you. Finally, if you are going for that factory look, I think the best option by far would be to get a vehicle-specific box made for your car.
Regardless of what you choose, make sure to read up on all some of our other articles from our subwoofer and enclosure categories to help make you are confident in your buying decision and to also make sure you install it correctly.
