{"id":43820,"date":"2025-02-25T17:28:37","date_gmt":"2025-02-25T17:28:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/?p=43820"},"modified":"2025-02-26T09:09:15","modified_gmt":"2025-02-26T09:09:15","slug":"what-is-a-subwoofer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/what-is-a-subwoofer\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is a Subwoofer and Why Do You Need One?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/what-is-a-subwoofer\/#Our_top_picks_for_subwoofers\" >Our top picks for subwoofers<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/what-is-a-subwoofer\/#LD_Systems_ICOA_SUB_15S\" >LD Systems ICOA SUB 15S<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/what-is-a-subwoofer\/#Mackie_Thump118S\" >Mackie Thump118S<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/what-is-a-subwoofer\/#Electro-Voice_ELX200-18SP\" >Electro-Voice ELX200-18SP<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/what-is-a-subwoofer\/#What_is_a_subwoofer\" >What is a subwoofer?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/what-is-a-subwoofer\/#How_do_subwoofers_work\" >How do subwoofers work?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/what-is-a-subwoofer\/#Drivers\" >Drivers<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/what-is-a-subwoofer\/#Enclosure_design\" >Enclosure design<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/what-is-a-subwoofer\/#Active_vs_passive_subwoofers\" >Active vs. passive subwoofers<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/what-is-a-subwoofer\/#Crossover_filter\" >Crossover filter<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/what-is-a-subwoofer\/#Choosing_the_right_subwoofer\" >Choosing the right subwoofer<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/what-is-a-subwoofer\/#How_to_add_a_sub_to_your_PA_system\" >How to add a sub to your PA system<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/what-is-a-subwoofer\/#FAQs\" >FAQs<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/what-is-a-subwoofer\/#Do_you_need_a_subwoofer_with_a_speaker\" >Do you need a subwoofer with a speaker?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/what-is-a-subwoofer\/#Does_a_subwoofer_improve_sound\" >Does a subwoofer improve sound?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/what-is-a-subwoofer\/#What_are_the_disadvantages_of_a_subwoofer\" >What are the disadvantages of a subwoofer?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/what-is-a-subwoofer\/#Final_thoughts\" >Final thoughts<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p>[et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Intro&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<p>A <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/PA_Equipment\/Speaker-Systems.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PA system<\/a><\/strong> is crucial to live sound, whether it\u2019s a small venue or the Pyramid stage at Glastonbury \u2013 and one component that\u2019s a sure-fire way to improve your overall sound projection and save your other speakers from damage is a <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/PA_Equipment\/Subwoofers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">subwoofer<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>In this guide, we\u2019ll teach you everything you need to know about these low-end units, answering the questions, \u201c<strong>What is a subwoofer?\u201d<\/strong>, \u201cHow do I choose the right one?\u201d, \u201cHow do I add it to my setup?\u201d, and more. If you\u2019re a DJ wanting to add a bassier thud to your mixes, read on. If you\u2019re in a band and want the bass and kick drum to really shine through at your gig, again, read on.<\/p>\n<p>This is an article for pretty much anyone interested in setting up correctly for a live event.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2024\/07\/Secondhand-live.jpg&#8221; alt=&#8221;Secondhand live gear&#8221; title_text=&#8221;Secondhand-live&#8221; url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/secondhand\/live-gear?utm_source=blog&#038;utm_medium=banner&#038;utm_campaign=secondhand_live&#8221; url_new_window=&#8221;on&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;Secondhand Live Sound Banner&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_module=&#8221;41665&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Our top picks for subwoofers&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;20px||||false|false&#8221; border_width_top=&#8221;2px&#8221; border_color_top=&#8221;gcid-45928375-1fd3-4d7e-b1f0-0adee316b54f&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{%22gcid-45928375-1fd3-4d7e-b1f0-0adee316b54f%22:%91%22border_color_top%22%93}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Our_top_picks_for_subwoofers\"><\/span>Our top picks for subwoofers<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=&#8221;1_3,1_3,1_3&#8243; make_equal=&#8221;on&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; background_color=&#8221;#f3f3f3&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;30px|30px|30px|30px|true|true&#8221; locked=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; background_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;20px|20px|20px|20px|true|true&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;LD Systems ICOA SUB 15S&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;20px||||false|false&#8221; link_option_url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/PA-DJ-and-Lighting\/LD-Systems-ICOA-SUB-15A-15-Active-PA-Subwoofer\/3K2G&#8221; link_option_url_new_window=&#8221;on&#8221; border_width_top=&#8221;2px&#8221; border_color_top=&#8221;gcid-45928375-1fd3-4d7e-b1f0-0adee316b54f&#8221; locked=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{%22gcid-45928375-1fd3-4d7e-b1f0-0adee316b54f%22:%91%22border_color_top%22%93}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h4 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"LD_Systems_ICOA_SUB_15S\"><\/span>LD Systems ICOA SUB 15S<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-43832 aligncenter size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/02\/LD-Systems-ICOA-SUB-15S-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"LD Systems ICOA SUB 15S\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/02\/LD-Systems-ICOA-SUB-15S-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/02\/LD-Systems-ICOA-SUB-15S-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/02\/LD-Systems-ICOA-SUB-15S-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/02\/LD-Systems-ICOA-SUB-15S-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/02\/LD-Systems-ICOA-SUB-15S-1080x1080.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/02\/LD-Systems-ICOA-SUB-15S-980x980.jpg 980w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/02\/LD-Systems-ICOA-SUB-15S-480x480.jpg 480w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/02\/LD-Systems-ICOA-SUB-15S.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>1600-Watt peak power<\/li>\n<li>Digital Class D amplifier<\/li>\n<li>DynX DSP<\/li>\n<li>Bass down to 36 Hz<\/li>\n<li>18mm plywood housing<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/PA-DJ-and-Lighting\/LD-Systems-ICOA-SUB-15A-15-Active-PA-Subwoofer\/3K2G&#8221; url_new_window=&#8221;on&#8221; button_text=&#8221;SHOP NOW&#8221; button_alignment=&#8221;center&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;NEW CTA Button&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_button=&#8221;on&#8221; button_text_size=&#8221;14px&#8221; button_text_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; button_bg_color=&#8221;#0e95cf&#8221; button_border_width=&#8221;0px&#8221; button_border_color=&#8221;#0e95cf&#8221; button_font=&#8221;Arial|700|||||||&#8221; button_icon=&#8221;&#x35;||divi||400&#8243; button_icon_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||||false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;10px|30px||30px|false|false&#8221; box_shadow_style=&#8221;preset6&#8243; box_shadow_blur=&#8221;2px&#8221; locked=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; background_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;20px|20px|20px|20px|true|true&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Mackie Thump118S&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;20px||||false|false&#8221; link_option_url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/PA-DJ-and-Lighting\/Mackie-Thump118S-18-Active-Subwoofer\/4ZOE&#8221; link_option_url_new_window=&#8221;on&#8221; border_width_top=&#8221;2px&#8221; border_color_top=&#8221;gcid-45928375-1fd3-4d7e-b1f0-0adee316b54f&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{%22gcid-45928375-1fd3-4d7e-b1f0-0adee316b54f%22:%91%22border_color_top%22%93}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h4 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Mackie_Thump118S\"><\/span>Mackie Thump118S<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-43833 aligncenter size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/02\/Mackie-Thump118S-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"Mackie Thump118S\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/02\/Mackie-Thump118S-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/02\/Mackie-Thump118S-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/02\/Mackie-Thump118S-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/02\/Mackie-Thump118S-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/02\/Mackie-Thump118S-1080x1080.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/02\/Mackie-Thump118S-980x980.jpg 980w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/02\/Mackie-Thump118S-480x480.jpg 480w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/02\/Mackie-Thump118S.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>1400W Class-D amplifier<\/li>\n<li>Variable crossover<\/li>\n<li>Stereo XLR inputs<\/li>\n<li>Selectable voicing modes<\/li>\n<li>30 Hz &#8211; 150 Hz frequency response<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/PA-DJ-and-Lighting\/Mackie-Thump118S-18-Active-Subwoofer\/4ZOE&#8221; url_new_window=&#8221;on&#8221; button_text=&#8221;SHOP NOW&#8221; button_alignment=&#8221;center&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;NEW CTA Button&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_button=&#8221;on&#8221; button_text_size=&#8221;14px&#8221; button_text_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; button_bg_color=&#8221;#0e95cf&#8221; button_border_width=&#8221;0px&#8221; button_border_color=&#8221;#0e95cf&#8221; button_font=&#8221;Arial|700|||||||&#8221; button_icon=&#8221;&#x35;||divi||400&#8243; button_icon_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||||false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;10px|30px||30px|false|false&#8221; box_shadow_style=&#8221;preset6&#8243; box_shadow_blur=&#8221;2px&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; background_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;20px|20px|20px|20px|true|true&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Electro-Voice ELX200-18SP&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;20px||||false|false&#8221; link_option_url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/PA-DJ-and-Lighting\/Electro-Voice-ELX200-18SP-18-Active-PA-Subwoofer\/23EE&#8221; link_option_url_new_window=&#8221;on&#8221; border_width_top=&#8221;2px&#8221; border_color_top=&#8221;gcid-45928375-1fd3-4d7e-b1f0-0adee316b54f&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{%22gcid-45928375-1fd3-4d7e-b1f0-0adee316b54f%22:%91%22border_color_top%22%93}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h4 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Electro-Voice_ELX200-18SP\"><\/span>Electro-Voice ELX200-18SP<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-43834 aligncenter size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/02\/Electro-Voice-ELX200-18SP-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"Electro-Voice ELX200-18SP\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/02\/Electro-Voice-ELX200-18SP-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/02\/Electro-Voice-ELX200-18SP-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/02\/Electro-Voice-ELX200-18SP-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/02\/Electro-Voice-ELX200-18SP-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/02\/Electro-Voice-ELX200-18SP-1080x1080.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/02\/Electro-Voice-ELX200-18SP-980x980.jpg 980w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/02\/Electro-Voice-ELX200-18SP-480x480.jpg 480w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/02\/Electro-Voice-ELX200-18SP.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>1,200W Class-D power<\/li>\n<li>QuickSmartDSP<\/li>\n<li>18&#8243; EVS-18L woofer<\/li>\n<li>132 dB peak SPL<\/li>\n<li>Bluetooth control<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/PA-DJ-and-Lighting\/Electro-Voice-ELX200-18SP-18-Active-PA-Subwoofer\/23EE&#8221; url_new_window=&#8221;on&#8221; button_text=&#8221;SHOP NOW&#8221; button_alignment=&#8221;center&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;NEW CTA Button&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_button=&#8221;on&#8221; button_text_size=&#8221;14px&#8221; button_text_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; button_bg_color=&#8221;#0e95cf&#8221; button_border_width=&#8221;0px&#8221; button_border_color=&#8221;#0e95cf&#8221; button_font=&#8221;Arial|700|||||||&#8221; button_icon=&#8221;&#x35;||divi||400&#8243; button_icon_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||||false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;10px|30px||30px|false|false&#8221; box_shadow_style=&#8221;preset6&#8243; box_shadow_blur=&#8221;2px&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;What is a subwoofer?&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;20px||||false|false&#8221; border_width_top=&#8221;2px&#8221; border_color_top=&#8221;#f08000&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_a_subwoofer\"><\/span>What is a subwoofer?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>A subwoofer is a speaker that delivers low frequencies, i.e., <strong>20-200 Hz<\/strong>, broadening the soundstage of a mix and allowing you to <em>feel<\/em> the music and that low-end thump. Although subwoofers can be added to home audio setups to improve your listening experience, in this article, we\u2019ll focus specifically on the benefits of a subwoofer for <em>PA systems<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>Subwoofers ensure that the deep resonances of your mix \u2013 the bass guitar or kick drum, for example &#8211; are heard and felt to their full potential. This means that when you\u2019re performing on stage, your crowd can hear the mix exactly as you intended, with all frequencies in their own space.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s not just its output that\u2019s so beneficial, a subwoofer has a positive impact on the rest of the PA system. To put it simply, it takes some of the strain away from the other PA speakers, allowing them to focus on the mid and high frequencies while the subwoofer does the heavy lifting in the lower register.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;How do subwoofers work?&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;20px||||false|false&#8221; border_width_top=&#8221;2px&#8221; border_color_top=&#8221;#f08000&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_do_subwoofers_work\"><\/span>How do subwoofers work?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>In order for a subwoofer to effectively handle the frequencies that standard speakers struggle to reproduce, it needs to be designed slightly differently. It works by using a large woofer driver housed in a specialised enclosure with either a closed, vented, or band-pass design.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Drivers\"><\/span>Drivers<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-43825\" src=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/02\/Mackie-Thump-subwoofer-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"Mackie Thump subwoofer\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/02\/Mackie-Thump-subwoofer-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/02\/Mackie-Thump-subwoofer-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/02\/Mackie-Thump-subwoofer-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/02\/Mackie-Thump-subwoofer-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/02\/Mackie-Thump-subwoofer-1080x1080.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/02\/Mackie-Thump-subwoofer-1280x1280.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/02\/Mackie-Thump-subwoofer-980x980.jpg 980w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/02\/Mackie-Thump-subwoofer-480x480.jpg 480w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/02\/Mackie-Thump-subwoofer.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>A subwoofer uses a<strong> large driver<\/strong> (woofer) that typically measures from eight to 16 inches in diameter \u2013 the larger the driver, the more air it moves, and the greater the bass output.<\/p>\n<p>To move this air, the driver takes electrical signals and turns them into sound waves through a moving coil mechanism. This coil interacts with a fixed magnet, causing the diaphragm to move back and forth, pushing air and generating bass\u200b.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Enclosure_design\"><\/span>Enclosure design<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>You\u2019ll tend to find subwoofer cabinets made from medium-density materials like plywood. These are cleverly designed and constructed to reduce vibrations and prevent unwanted resonance, so only clean and accurate bass reproduction is heard.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Closed enclosures<\/strong> are sealed, providing tight and controlled bass with minimal distortion. They require more amplifier power since there is no port to enhance efficiency, but they deliver a natural and accurate low-end response.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Vented enclosures<\/strong> are also known as bass reflex designs. These include a port that extends low-frequency output and improves efficiency, producing louder bass with less power. However, they can introduce resonance and a &#8220;boomy&#8221; sound if not designed properly.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Band-pass enclosures<\/strong> are basically a hybrid between the two, using two chambers &#8211; one sealed and one vented &#8211; to boost efficiency within a specific frequency range. They deliver high output with minimal distortion but have a more complex design and limited frequency response\u200b.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Active_vs_passive_subwoofers\"><\/span>Active vs. passive subwoofers<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-43826\" src=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/02\/QSC-subwoofer-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"QSC subwoofer\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/02\/QSC-subwoofer-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/02\/QSC-subwoofer-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/02\/QSC-subwoofer-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/02\/QSC-subwoofer-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/02\/QSC-subwoofer-1080x1080.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/02\/QSC-subwoofer-1280x1280.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/02\/QSC-subwoofer-980x980.jpg 980w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/02\/QSC-subwoofer-480x480.jpg 480w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/02\/QSC-subwoofer.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>When shopping for a subwoofer, you\u2019ll also come across active and passive designs.<\/p>\n<p>Active subwoofers come with built-in amplifiers, making them easier to integrate with your existing system, while passive subwoofers require an external amplifier\u200b. Active subs are more common than their passive counterparts \u2013 this is because subwoofers need more power than standard speakers.<\/p>\n<p>If you were to go with a passive sub, you\u2019d need to make sure to choose an amplifier that can offer enough power.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Crossover_filter\"><\/span>Crossover filter<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>A crossover filter is used to ensure that the subwoofer operates only within its <strong>intended frequency range<\/strong>. A low-pass filter removes high frequencies, allowing exclusively bass to be played through the sub, and a high-pass filter can be applied to the main speakers to prevent them from handling low-end frequencies.<\/p>\n<p>You\u2019ll need to set your crossover filter properly to ensure a balanced and powerful low-end without overpowering the rest of the mix.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Choosing the right subwoofer&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;20px||||false|false&#8221; border_width_top=&#8221;2px&#8221; border_color_top=&#8221;#f08000&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Choosing_the_right_subwoofer\"><\/span>Choosing the right subwoofer<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>To get the best subwoofer for your setup, look at what PA speakers you already have and the kind of environments you\u2019ll be using the system in.<\/p>\n<p>First, do you want an <strong>active or passive sub<\/strong>? If this is your first venture into the world of PA, we recommend active \u2013 this takes away the stress of buying a separate amplifier.<\/p>\n<p>Next, what\u2019s your <strong>venue<\/strong>? For standard use, we recommend 15 \u2013 18-inch subs, but go smaller or larger depending on the size and capacity of your environment.<\/p>\n<p>You\u2019ll also want to think about <strong>wattage and SPL<\/strong>. The bigger the space, the more power you\u2019ll need. But be mindful that higher wattage doesn\u2019t necessarily mean more volume; instead, you\u2019ll want to look at sensitivity \u2013 this gives you a more accurate idea of how far the sub can throw those low frequencies.<\/p>\n<p>Sensitivity is worked out by calculating the SPL (sound pressure level, measured in decibels) that a speaker can produce from a 1-watt signal with a 1-metre distance. The subs recommended above all have at least 118 dB SPL \u2013 enough for strong bass in mid-sized to large venues.<\/p>\n<p>Of course, <strong>frequency response<\/strong> is a significant factor. Consider the type of music you\u2019ll be playing through these speakers and how low you need those frequency reproductions to be. In the same vein, you should look at the <strong>crossover frequency<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Look at your other PA speakers and set the crossover frequency to suit. A good place to start is 80 Hz, but you should adjust this to avoid any overlap with the lowest frequencies that your main speakers can handle.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, look at the <strong>connectivity options<\/strong>. Subwoofers offer 6.35mm Jack and XLR options, while passive subs tend to use speakON \u2013 and some even come with wireless\/Bluetooth connectivity. Choose the one that\u2019s best suited to your setup.<\/p>\n<p>Finally, once you know all the technical details you need, think realistically about the <strong>size<\/strong> of the sub and how you&#8217;ll transport it around. If you want a portable unit that you can take from gig to gig \u2013 go for one that\u2019s easy to carry and perhaps has a built-in handle for transportation.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-30321 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2023\/09\/Featured-image-Best-Subwoofer-Brands.jpg\" alt=\"Featured image - Best Subwoofer Brands\" width=\"1330\" height=\"665\" srcset=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2023\/09\/Featured-image-Best-Subwoofer-Brands.jpg 1330w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2023\/09\/Featured-image-Best-Subwoofer-Brands-600x300.jpg 600w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2023\/09\/Featured-image-Best-Subwoofer-Brands-1024x512.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2023\/09\/Featured-image-Best-Subwoofer-Brands-768x384.jpg 768w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2023\/09\/Featured-image-Best-Subwoofer-Brands-1080x540.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2023\/09\/Featured-image-Best-Subwoofer-Brands-1280x640.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2023\/09\/Featured-image-Best-Subwoofer-Brands-980x490.jpg 980w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2023\/09\/Featured-image-Best-Subwoofer-Brands-480x240.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1330px) 100vw, 1330px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;How to add a sub to your PA system&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;20px||||false|false&#8221; border_width_top=&#8221;2px&#8221; border_color_top=&#8221;#f08000&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_add_a_sub_to_your_PA_system\"><\/span>How to add a sub to your PA system<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>If you\u2019ve opted for an active subwoofer, connecting it to the rest of your PA is fairly easy as it has a built-in amplifier. Simply connect a line-level signal from your mixer to the subwoofer using XLR or RCA cables, then link the sub to your main PA speakers if required. Adjust the sub\u2019s crossover settings to ensure only low frequencies are sent to it\u200b.<\/p>\n<p>A passive subwoofer requires an external amplifier. Connect your mixer\u2019s output to a crossover unit to split the frequency range. Send the low-frequency output to the amplifier powering the subwoofer, and the mid\/high frequencies to the amp for the main speakers. Some setups use a speaker management system for better control over crossover points.<\/p>\n<p>You\u2019ll then want to ensure your sub is placed strategically for optimal sound. A centre front stage position ensures even bass coverage and reduces phase cancellation. If space is limited, an off-centre placement can work but may lead to uneven bass distribution.<\/p>\n<p>For mobile setups, pole-mounted tops are popular. The subwoofers sit on the floor, with the main PA speakers mounted above them on poles, keeping the sound aligned and improving efficiency\u200b.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re setting up in a large venue, you might find it most effective to position multiple subwoofers around the venue, such as stage corners or along the edge of the room. This would provide balanced bass coverage and prevent dead spots.<\/p>\n<p>Once you\u2019ve settled on your setup, make sure to conduct a sound check and alter the sub placement accordingly.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;FAQs&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;20px||||false|false&#8221; border_width_top=&#8221;2px&#8221; border_color_top=&#8221;#f08000&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQs\"><\/span>FAQs<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_you_need_a_subwoofer_with_a_speaker\"><\/span>Do you need a subwoofer with a speaker?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>You don\u2019t always need a subwoofer with a speaker, but if your system is struggling to reproduce the low frequencies of your music, integrate a subwoofer to really get that bass across.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Does_a_subwoofer_improve_sound\"><\/span>Does a subwoofer improve sound?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>A subwoofer gives you a heavier bass response and widens the soundstage, therefore improving the overall sound. Adding a sub is a great way to make sure the bass can be felt <em>and <\/em>heard.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_are_the_disadvantages_of_a_subwoofer\"><\/span>What are the disadvantages of a subwoofer?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>The main disadvantage of a subwoofer is that it can be quite cumbersome to set up. Subwoofers tend to be heavy and bulky and you\u2019ll need to take time to understand which sub will work with the rest of your system.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Final thoughts&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;20px||||false|false&#8221; border_width_top=&#8221;2px&#8221; border_color_top=&#8221;#f08000&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Final_thoughts\"><\/span>Final thoughts<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>If you\u2019re getting into live sound, either as a performer or engineer, you\u2019re probably already well-versed in <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/what-is-a-pa-system\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PA systems<\/a><\/strong>. But if you\u2019ve been wondering <strong>what exactly a subwoofer is<\/strong> and how it works, we hope this guide has provided everything you need to know.<\/p>\n<p>If you have any questions about a sub you already have, <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/contact-us\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">contact us<\/a><\/strong>, and if you\u2019re trying to find the right sub for your setup, our list of the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/best-subwoofer-brands\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">best subwoofer brands<\/a><\/strong> is a great place to start. For a broader insight into PAs, check out our <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/best-pa-speakers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">favourite PA speakers<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=&#8221;1_2,1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_button button_url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/PA_Equipment\/Subwoofers&#8221; url_new_window=&#8221;on&#8221; button_text=&#8221;SHOP SUBWOOFERS&#8221; button_alignment=&#8221;center&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;NEW CTA Button&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_button=&#8221;on&#8221; button_text_size=&#8221;14px&#8221; button_text_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; button_bg_color=&#8221;#0e95cf&#8221; button_border_width=&#8221;0px&#8221; button_border_color=&#8221;#0e95cf&#8221; button_font=&#8221;Arial|700|||||||&#8221; button_icon=&#8221;&#x35;||divi||400&#8243; button_icon_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||||false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;10px|30px||30px|false|false&#8221; box_shadow_style=&#8221;preset6&#8243; box_shadow_blur=&#8221;2px&#8221; locked=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_button button_url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/category\/live-sound\/live-sound-guides\/&#8221; url_new_window=&#8221;on&#8221; button_text=&#8221;READ MORE LIVE SOUND GUIDES&#8221; button_alignment=&#8221;center&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;NEW CTA Button&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_button=&#8221;on&#8221; button_text_size=&#8221;14px&#8221; button_text_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; button_bg_color=&#8221;#0e95cf&#8221; button_border_width=&#8221;0px&#8221; button_border_color=&#8221;#0e95cf&#8221; button_font=&#8221;Arial|700|||||||&#8221; button_icon=&#8221;&#x35;||divi||400&#8243; button_icon_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||||false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;10px|30px||30px|false|false&#8221; box_shadow_style=&#8221;preset6&#8243; box_shadow_blur=&#8221;2px&#8221; locked=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A PA system is crucial to live sound, whether it\u2019s a small venue or the Pyramid stage at Glastonbury \u2013 and one component that\u2019s a sure-fire way to improve your overall sound projection and save the rest of your speakers from damage is a subwoofer.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":43822,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"<p>A <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/PA_Equipment\/Speaker-Systems.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PA system<\/a><\/strong> is crucial to live sound, whether it\u2019s a small venue or the Pyramid stage at Glastonbury \u2013 and one component that\u2019s a sure-fire way to improve your overall sound projection and save the rest of your speakers from damage is a <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/PA_Equipment\/Subwoofers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">subwoofer<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p><p>In this guide, we\u2019ll teach you everything you need to know about these low-end units, answering the questions, \u201c<strong>What is a subwoofer?\u201d<\/strong>, \u201cHow do I choose the right one?\u201d, \u201cHow do I add it to my setup?\u201d, and more. If you\u2019re a DJ wanting to add a bassier thud to your mixes, read on. If you\u2019re in a band and want the bass and kick drum to really shine through at your gig, again, read on.<\/p><p>This is an article for pretty much anyone interested in setting up correctly for a live music event.<\/p><hr \/><h3>Our top picks for subwoofers<\/h3><h4>LD Systems ICOA SUB 15S<\/h4><ul><li>1600-Watt peak power<\/li><li>Digital Class D amplifier<\/li><li>DynX DSP<\/li><li>Bass down to 36 Hz<\/li><li>18mm plywood housing<\/li><\/ul><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/PA-DJ-and-Lighting\/LD-Systems-ICOA-SUB-15A-15-Active-PA-Subwoofer\/3K2G\">https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/PA-DJ-and-Lighting\/LD-Systems-ICOA-SUB-15A-15-Active-PA-Subwoofer\/3K2G<\/a><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><h4>Mackie Thump118S<\/h4><ul><li>1400W Class-D amplifier<\/li><li>Variable crossover<\/li><li>Stereo XLR inputs<\/li><li>Selectable voicing modes<\/li><li>30 Hz - 150 Hz frequency response<\/li><\/ul><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/PA-DJ-and-Lighting\/Mackie-Thump118S-18-Active-Subwoofer\/4ZOE\">https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/PA-DJ-and-Lighting\/Mackie-Thump118S-18-Active-Subwoofer\/4ZOE<\/a><\/p><h4>Electro-Voice ELX200-18SP<\/h4><ul><li>1,200W Class-D power<\/li><li>QuickSmartDSP<\/li><li>18\" EVS-18L woofer<\/li><li>132 dB peak SPL<\/li><li>Bluetooth control<\/li><\/ul><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/PA-DJ-and-Lighting\/Electro-Voice-ELX200-18SP-18-Active-PA-Subwoofer\/23EE\">https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/PA-DJ-and-Lighting\/Electro-Voice-ELX200-18SP-18-Active-PA-Subwoofer\/23EE<\/a><\/p><hr \/><h3>What is a subwoofer?<\/h3><p>A subwoofer is a speaker that delivers low frequencies, i.e., <strong>20-200 Hz<\/strong>, broadening the soundstage of a mix and allowing you to <em>feel<\/em> the music and that low-end thump. Although subwoofers can be added to home audio setups to improve your listening experience, in this article, we\u2019ll focus specifically on the benefits of a subwoofer for <em>PA systems<\/em>.<\/p><p>Subwoofers ensure that the deep resonances of your mix \u2013 the bass guitar or kick drum, for example - are heard and felt to their full potential. This means that when you\u2019re performing on stage, your crowd can hear the mix exactly as you intended, with all frequencies in their own space.<\/p><p>It\u2019s not just its output that\u2019s so beneficial, a subwoofer has a positive impact on the rest of the PA system. To put it simply, it takes some of the strain away from the other PA speakers, allowing them to focus on the mid and high frequencies while the subwoofer does the heavy lifting in the lower register.<\/p><hr \/><h3>How do subwoofers work?<\/h3><p>In order for a subwoofer to effectively handle the frequencies that standard speakers struggle to reproduce, it needs to be designed slightly differently. It works by using a large woofer driver housed in a specialised enclosure with either a closed, vented, or band-pass design.<\/p><hr \/><h4>Drivers<\/h4><p><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-43825\" src=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/02\/Mackie-Thump-subwoofer-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"Mackie Thump subwoofer\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" \/>A subwoofer uses a<strong> large driver<\/strong> (woofer) that typically measures from eight to 16 inches in diameter \u2013 the larger the driver, the more air it moves, and the greater the bass output.<\/p><p>To move this air, the driver takes electrical signals and turns them into sound waves through a moving coil mechanism. This coil interacts with a fixed magnet, causing the diaphragm to move back and forth, pushing air and generating bass\u200b.<\/p><hr \/><h4>Enclosure design<\/h4><p>You\u2019ll tend to find subwoofer cabinets made from medium-density materials like plywood. These are cleverly designed and constructed to reduce vibrations and prevent unwanted resonance, so only clean and accurate bass reproduction is heard.<\/p><p><strong>Closed enclosures<\/strong> are sealed, providing tight and controlled bass with minimal distortion. They require more amplifier power since there is no port to enhance efficiency, but they deliver a natural and accurate low-end response.<\/p><p><strong>Vented enclosures<\/strong> are also known as bass reflex designs. These include a port that extends low-frequency output and improves efficiency, producing louder bass with less power. However, they can introduce resonance and a \"boomy\" sound if not designed properly.<\/p><p><strong>Band-pass enclosures<\/strong> are basically a hybrid between the two, using two chambers - one sealed and one vented - to boost efficiency within a specific frequency range. They deliver high output with minimal distortion but have a more complex design and limited frequency response\u200b.<\/p><hr \/><h4>Active vs. passive subwoofers<\/h4><p><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-43826\" src=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/02\/QSC-subwoofer-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"QSC subwoofer\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" \/>When shopping for a subwoofer, you\u2019ll also come across active and passive designs.<\/p><p>Active subwoofers come with built-in amplifiers, making them easier to integrate with your existing system, while passive subwoofers require an external amplifier\u200b. Active subs are more common than their passive counterparts \u2013 this is because subwoofers need more power than standard speakers.<\/p><p>If you were to go with a passive sub, you\u2019d need to make sure to choose an amplifier that can offer enough power.<\/p><hr \/><h4>Crossover filter<\/h4><p>A crossover filter is used to ensure that the subwoofer operates only within its <strong>intended frequency range<\/strong>. A low-pass filter removes high frequencies, allowing exclusively bass to be played through the sub, and a high-pass filter can be applied to the main speakers to prevent them from handling low-end frequencies.<\/p><p>You\u2019ll need to set your crossover filter properly to ensure a balanced and powerful low-end without overpowering the rest of the mix.<\/p><hr \/><h3>Choosing the right subwoofer<\/h3><p>To get the best subwoofer for your setup, look at what PA speakers you already have and the kind of environments you\u2019ll be using the system in.<\/p><p>First, do you want an <strong>active or passive sub<\/strong>? If this is your first venture into the world of PA, we recommend active \u2013 this takes away the stress of buying a separate amplifier.<\/p><p>Next, what\u2019s your <strong>venue<\/strong>? For standard use, we recommend 15 \u2013 18-inch subs, but go smaller or larger depending on the size and capacity of your environment.<\/p><p>You\u2019ll also want to think about <strong>wattage and SPL<\/strong>. The bigger the space, the more power you\u2019ll need. But be mindful that higher wattage doesn\u2019t necessarily mean more volume; instead, you\u2019ll want to look at sensitivity \u2013 this gives you a more accurate idea of how far the sub can throw those low frequencies.<\/p><p>Sensitivity is worked out by calculating the SPL (sound pressure level, measured in decibels) that a speaker can produce from a 1-watt signal with a 1-metre distance. The subs recommended above all have at least 118 dB SPL \u2013 enough for strong bass in mid-sized to large venues.<\/p><p>Of course, <strong>frequency response<\/strong> is a significant factor. Consider the type of music you\u2019ll be playing through these speakers and how low you need those frequency reproductions to be. In the same vein, you should look at the <strong>crossover frequency<\/strong>.<\/p><p>Look at your other PA speakers and set the crossover frequency to suit. A good place to start is 80 Hz, but you should adjust this to avoid any overlap with the lowest frequencies that your main speakers can handle.<\/p><p>Additionally, look at the <strong>connectivity options<\/strong>. Subwoofers offer 6.35mm Jack and XLR options, while passive subs tend to use speakON \u2013 and some even come with wireless\/Bluetooth connectivity. Choose the one that\u2019s best suited to your setup.<\/p><p>Finally, once you know all the technical details you need, think realistically about the <strong>size<\/strong> of the sub and how you'll transport it around. If you want a portable unit that you can take from gig to gig \u2013 go for one that\u2019s easy to carry and perhaps has a built-in handle for transportation.<\/p><p><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-30321 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2023\/09\/Featured-image-Best-Subwoofer-Brands.jpg\" alt=\"Featured image - Best Subwoofer Brands\" width=\"1330\" height=\"665\" \/><\/p><hr \/><h3>How to add a sub to your PA system<\/h3><p>If you\u2019ve opted for an active subwoofer, connecting it to the rest of your PA is fairly easy as it has a built-in amplifier. Simply connect a line-level signal from your mixer to the subwoofer using XLR or RCA cables, then link the sub to your main PA speakers if required. Adjust the sub\u2019s crossover settings to ensure only low frequencies are sent to it\u200b.<\/p><p>A passive subwoofer requires an external amplifier. Connect your mixer\u2019s output to a crossover unit to split the frequency range. Send the low-frequency output to the amplifier powering the subwoofer, and the mid\/high frequencies to the amp for the main speakers. Some setups use a speaker management system for better control over crossover points.<\/p><p>You\u2019ll then want to ensure your sub is placed strategically for optimal sound. A centre front stage position ensures even bass coverage and reduces phase cancellation. If space is limited, an off-centre placement can work but may lead to uneven bass distribution.<\/p><p>For mobile setups, pole-mounted tops are popular. The subwoofers sit on the floor, with the main PA speakers mounted above them on poles, keeping the sound aligned and improving efficiency\u200b.<\/p><p>If you\u2019re setting up in a large venue, you might find it most effective to position multiple subwoofers around the venue, such as stage corners or along the edge of the room. This would provide balanced bass coverage and prevent dead spots.<\/p><p>Once you\u2019ve settled on your setup, make sure to conduct a sound check and alter the sub placement accordingly.<\/p><hr \/><h3>FAQs<\/h3><h4>Do you need a subwoofer with a speaker?<\/h4><p>You don\u2019t always need a subwoofer with a speaker, but if your system is struggling to reproduce the low frequencies of your music, integrate a subwoofer to really get that bass across.<\/p><hr \/><h4>Does a subwoofer improve sound?<\/h4><p>A subwoofer gives you a heavier bass response and widens the soundstage, therefore improving the overall sound. Adding a sub is a great way to make sure the bass can be felt <em>and <\/em>heard.<\/p><hr \/><h4>What are the disadvantages of a subwoofer?<\/h4><p>The main disadvantage of a subwoofer is that it can be quite cumbersome to set up. Subwoofers tend to be heavy and bulky and you\u2019ll need to take time to understand which sub will work with the rest of your system.<\/p><hr \/><h3>Final thoughts<\/h3><p>If you\u2019re getting into live sound, either as a performer or engineer, you\u2019re probably already well-versed in <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/what-is-a-pa-system\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PA systems<\/a><\/strong>. But if you\u2019ve been wondering <strong>what exactly a subwoofer is<\/strong> and how it works, we hope this guide has provided everything you need to know.<\/p><p>If you have any questions about a sub you already have, <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/contact-us\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">contact us<\/a><\/strong>, and if you\u2019re trying to find the right sub for your setup, our list of the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/best-subwoofer-brands\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">best subwoofer brands<\/a><\/strong> is a great place to start. For a broader insight into PAs, check out our <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/best-pa-speakers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">favourite PA speakers<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>","_et_gb_content_width":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[244,111],"tags":[290,169,126,802],"class_list":["post-43820","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-live-sound-guides","category-live-sound","tag-guide","tag-live-sound","tag-pa-systems","tag-subwoofers"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>What Is a Subwoofer and Why Do You Need One? | Gear4music<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"In this guide, we\u2019ll answer \u201cWhat is a subwoofer?\u201d, \u201cHow do I choose the right one?\u201d, \u201cHow do I add it to my setup?\u201d, and more.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/what-is-a-subwoofer\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What Is a Subwoofer and Why Do You Need One? | Gear4music\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"In this guide, we\u2019ll answer \u201cWhat is a subwoofer?\u201d, \u201cHow do I choose the right one?\u201d, \u201cHow do I add it to my setup?\u201d, and more.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/what-is-a-subwoofer\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Gear4music Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Gear4music\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-02-25T17:28:37+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-02-26T09:09:15+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/02\/Featured-image-What-Is-a-Subwoofer.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1330\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"665\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Maisie Scannell\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@maisiescannell\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@gear4music\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Maisie Scannell\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"9 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":[\"Article\",\"BlogPosting\"],\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gear4music.com\\\/blog\\\/what-is-a-subwoofer\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gear4music.com\\\/blog\\\/what-is-a-subwoofer\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Maisie Scannell\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gear4music.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/ffa7c88595245d170f6798c1c90404cd\"},\"headline\":\"What Is a Subwoofer and Why Do You Need One?\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-02-25T17:28:37+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-02-26T09:09:15+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gear4music.com\\\/blog\\\/what-is-a-subwoofer\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":3027,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gear4music.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gear4music.com\\\/blog\\\/what-is-a-subwoofer\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/storage.googleapis.com\\\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\\\/2025\\\/02\\\/Featured-image-What-Is-a-Subwoofer.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"Guide\",\"Live Sound\",\"PA Systems\",\"Subwoofers\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Guides\",\"Live Sound &amp; DJ\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gear4music.com\\\/blog\\\/what-is-a-subwoofer\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gear4music.com\\\/blog\\\/what-is-a-subwoofer\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gear4music.com\\\/blog\\\/what-is-a-subwoofer\\\/\",\"name\":\"What Is a Subwoofer and Why Do You Need One? | Gear4music\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gear4music.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gear4music.com\\\/blog\\\/what-is-a-subwoofer\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gear4music.com\\\/blog\\\/what-is-a-subwoofer\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/storage.googleapis.com\\\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\\\/2025\\\/02\\\/Featured-image-What-Is-a-Subwoofer.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-02-25T17:28:37+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-02-26T09:09:15+00:00\",\"description\":\"In this guide, we\u2019ll answer \u201cWhat is a subwoofer?\u201d, \u201cHow do I choose the right one?\u201d, \u201cHow do I add it to my setup?\u201d, and more.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gear4music.com\\\/blog\\\/what-is-a-subwoofer\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gear4music.com\\\/blog\\\/what-is-a-subwoofer\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/storage.googleapis.com\\\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\\\/2025\\\/02\\\/Featured-image-What-Is-a-Subwoofer.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/storage.googleapis.com\\\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\\\/2025\\\/02\\\/Featured-image-What-Is-a-Subwoofer.jpg\",\"width\":1330,\"height\":665,\"caption\":\"Featured image - What Is a Subwoofer\"},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gear4music.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gear4music.com\\\/blog\\\/\",\"name\":\"Gear4music Blog\",\"description\":\"News, tips, deals &amp; loads more...\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gear4music.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gear4music.com\\\/blog\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gear4music.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Gear4music\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gear4music.com\\\/blog\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gear4music.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/storage.googleapis.com\\\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\\\/2021\\\/12\\\/b75da5e6-blog-logo.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/storage.googleapis.com\\\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\\\/2021\\\/12\\\/b75da5e6-blog-logo.png\",\"width\":600,\"height\":193,\"caption\":\"Gear4music\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gear4music.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/Gear4music\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/gear4music\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/gear4music\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.linkedin.com\\\/company\\\/gear-4-music-limited\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/user\\\/gear4music1\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gear4music.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/ffa7c88595245d170f6798c1c90404cd\",\"name\":\"Maisie Scannell\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/6e169cf6daa8802ba0353caaaebbddd948e9d564cc2428047ab61895612d83e6?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/6e169cf6daa8802ba0353caaaebbddd948e9d564cc2428047ab61895612d83e6?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/6e169cf6daa8802ba0353caaaebbddd948e9d564cc2428047ab61895612d83e6?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Maisie Scannell\"},\"description\":\"Maisie is a pianist with a degree in music. She loves '70s\\\/'80s icons such as Kate Bush, Fleetwood Mac, Madonna, Joni Mitchell, Blondie, The Smiths... the list goes on. Beyond that, she's a bit of a film music nerd.\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/maisiescannell\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/maisiescannell\"],\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gear4music.com\\\/blog\\\/author\\\/maisiescannell\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"What Is a Subwoofer and Why Do You Need One? | Gear4music","description":"In this guide, we\u2019ll answer \u201cWhat is a subwoofer?\u201d, \u201cHow do I choose the right one?\u201d, \u201cHow do I add it to my setup?\u201d, and more.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/what-is-a-subwoofer\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"What Is a Subwoofer and Why Do You Need One? | Gear4music","og_description":"In this guide, we\u2019ll answer \u201cWhat is a subwoofer?\u201d, \u201cHow do I choose the right one?\u201d, \u201cHow do I add it to my setup?\u201d, and more.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/what-is-a-subwoofer\/","og_site_name":"Gear4music Blog","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Gear4music","article_published_time":"2025-02-25T17:28:37+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-02-26T09:09:15+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1330,"height":665,"url":"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/02\/Featured-image-What-Is-a-Subwoofer.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Maisie Scannell","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@maisiescannell","twitter_site":"@gear4music","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Maisie Scannell","Est. reading time":"9 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":["Article","BlogPosting"],"@id":"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/what-is-a-subwoofer\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/what-is-a-subwoofer\/"},"author":{"name":"Maisie Scannell","@id":"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/ffa7c88595245d170f6798c1c90404cd"},"headline":"What Is a Subwoofer and Why Do You Need One?","datePublished":"2025-02-25T17:28:37+00:00","dateModified":"2025-02-26T09:09:15+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/what-is-a-subwoofer\/"},"wordCount":3027,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/what-is-a-subwoofer\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/02\/Featured-image-What-Is-a-Subwoofer.jpg","keywords":["Guide","Live Sound","PA Systems","Subwoofers"],"articleSection":["Guides","Live Sound &amp; DJ"],"inLanguage":"en","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/what-is-a-subwoofer\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/what-is-a-subwoofer\/","url":"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/what-is-a-subwoofer\/","name":"What Is a Subwoofer and Why Do You Need One? | Gear4music","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/what-is-a-subwoofer\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/what-is-a-subwoofer\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/02\/Featured-image-What-Is-a-Subwoofer.jpg","datePublished":"2025-02-25T17:28:37+00:00","dateModified":"2025-02-26T09:09:15+00:00","description":"In this guide, we\u2019ll answer \u201cWhat is a subwoofer?\u201d, \u201cHow do I choose the right one?\u201d, \u201cHow do I add it to my setup?\u201d, and more.","inLanguage":"en","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/what-is-a-subwoofer\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en","@id":"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/what-is-a-subwoofer\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/02\/Featured-image-What-Is-a-Subwoofer.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/02\/Featured-image-What-Is-a-Subwoofer.jpg","width":1330,"height":665,"caption":"Featured image - What Is a Subwoofer"},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/","name":"Gear4music Blog","description":"News, tips, deals &amp; loads more...","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/#organization","name":"Gear4music","url":"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en","@id":"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2021\/12\/b75da5e6-blog-logo.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2021\/12\/b75da5e6-blog-logo.png","width":600,"height":193,"caption":"Gear4music"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Gear4music","https:\/\/x.com\/gear4music","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/gear4music\/","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/gear-4-music-limited\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/gear4music1"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/ffa7c88595245d170f6798c1c90404cd","name":"Maisie Scannell","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/6e169cf6daa8802ba0353caaaebbddd948e9d564cc2428047ab61895612d83e6?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/6e169cf6daa8802ba0353caaaebbddd948e9d564cc2428047ab61895612d83e6?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/6e169cf6daa8802ba0353caaaebbddd948e9d564cc2428047ab61895612d83e6?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Maisie Scannell"},"description":"Maisie is a pianist with a degree in music. She loves '70s\/'80s icons such as Kate Bush, Fleetwood Mac, Madonna, Joni Mitchell, Blondie, The Smiths... the list goes on. Beyond that, she's a bit of a film music nerd.","sameAs":["https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/maisiescannell\/","https:\/\/x.com\/maisiescannell"],"url":"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/author\/maisiescannell\/"}]}},"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-08-17 14:00:10","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43820","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=43820"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43820\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":43839,"href":"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43820\/revisions\/43839"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/43822"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=43820"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=43820"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=43820"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}