How To Measure A Subwoofer?

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How To Measure A Subwoofer

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A subwoofer is possibly one of the greatest types of speakers you can get to improve your sound if you enjoy dancing to bass music. Whether you place it in a car or your house, it enhances the depth of the beats you’re listening to.

Subwoofers come in a variety of sizes and forms, so choosing the appropriate one for your room may be challenging. You’ll hear sound the way it was designed to be heard once you choose the proper specs and measurements with the detailed guidance provided below.

Subwoofer Measuring Procedure

You’ve probably experienced the shaking of your car while pulling up next to a car playing bass-heavy music, so you already understand what a decent subwoofer accomplishes. Determining the area available is essential since the larger the subwoofer, the fuller the bass.

To make the optimal choice, think about the sort of subwoofer enclosure you have before determining the subwoofer’s size. There are two types of subwoofer enclosures: sealed and ported. If you want audio that sounds nice across all frequencies and deeper bass, the former is ideal. The latter, on the other hand, is ideal for genres like rap.

Measurement Guidelines For Various Subwoofer Elements

How To Measure A Subwoofer

The size of a subwoofer’s speakers is only one factor in how big it is. To pick one that suits your sound taste and enclosure type, you must take into account its overall size. To establish the subwoofer’s total physical size with a tape measure, you will require the following measurements:

Size of the speaker

The full or complete circular length from one end of the speaker’s frame to the other can be referred to as the subwoofer’s diameter. The speaker’s mounting lugs are not included in this size.

Baffling Cutout Dimensions

This factor considers the mounting hole’s dimensions, including its length. It is crucial to know the diameter of the baffle cutout in order to prevent the mounting plane from obstructing the woofer surround and cones.

Installing Height

How far a subwoofer’s front façade will extend from its mounting plane is determined by the mounting height. It’s crucial to balance the height of your subwoofer on this dimension. If it is positioned too low, it may vibrate and contact nearby objects, which degrades the sound’s overall quality. The sound will not have any effect at all if it is set too high.

Installing Depth

A subwoofer’s mounting depth, as opposed to mounting height, is a measurement of how far the subwoofer’s back extends from the front mounting plane.

Understanding the subwoofer size is necessary

In the world of subwoofers, size definitely counts. The two types of subwoofers that may be roughly categorized are compressed horn and regular. Horn compressed Subwoofers are speakers with a diameter of less than 10 inches. They are perfect since they are lightweight and have a smaller cone for vehicles like cars, boats, and motorbikes. They can need between 150 and 100 watts to run.

Standard subwoofers are larger than 10 inches and are perfect for both automotive audio systems and home theaters. They can produce bass that is superior to compressed horn subwoofers. Unfortunately, they weigh more, take up more room, and use between 600 and 5000 watts of power. In order to get the most out of a subwoofer, it is crucial to establish the proper measurement.

Sizes of Subwoofers Explanated

The following is a list of the most popular subwoofer sizes:

Subwoofer, 8-Inch

These subwoofers are the smallest and most straightforward. They work well for low sound requirements. These woofers are generally included by automakers. Small automobiles are perfect for these built-in speakers since they can fit beneath the seats.

Simply said, this is an excellent alternative for those who prefer clear, bass-heavy music over loud sound. To achieve the optimum performance, someone will have to install a set of door speakers.

Subwoofer, 10 inches

Ten inches is the most common and in-demand woofer size. They are simple to set up and install. They have superior sound quality, more power, more bass. Jazz, pop, and blues are the music genres they work best with.

Subwoofer, 12 inches

Also, music fans like 12-inch speakers due to their greater adaptability and deeper bass. These speakers also have the advantage of producing excellent frequencies, making them perfect for romantic, slow-tempo music. Rap, R&B, blues, and rhythm and blues are the genres that 12-inch subwoofers perform best in. They are beneficial in reducing any additional noise produced by the 12 or 13-inch woofer.

Subwoofer, 15 inches

These are the monster class woofers, which deliver the most bass with the least amount of additional port noise. The lack of response of these speakers is a serious drawback. Because to their large size, they are appropriate for large vehicles such as trucks and SUVs.

Choosing a Subwoofer’s Size

How To Measure A Subwoofer

Method 1: Gauge the dimensions of the subwoofer

Step 1: The subwoofer must first be taken out of its container in the first phase. Start removing the screws from the enclosure using a screwdriver (screw holes). Continue until the driver is totally disconnected.

Step 2: The subwoofer is held in place while being measured with the cone pointed upward. A person will need to measure the mounting depth of the speaker from this point. This will approximate where the woofer will be placed.

It will help you determine where to store the subwoofer and how distant or close to position the speaker. The plastic plate or circular metal frame should be included in the measurement, which should begin from the top and stop at the bottom of the speaker.

Step 3: Obtaining the speaker’s mounting height is the next critical step. The speaker’s highest position is taken into account in this measurement. It should be placed on the ground with its broad side facing up. Take the inch tape from the speaker’s tip all the way down to its bottom, flat metal end. This will prevent any harm to the subwoofer after it has been installed.

Step 4: The last step is to measure the bass speaker’s diagonal dimensions, or the distance between its two mounting holes. In other words, the measurement of the cutout diameter is the final stage in determining the overall size of the subwoofer.

Method 2: Measure mounting holes

Step 1: Measure the subwoofer’s exterior diameter. Make sure the hole itself is round.

Step 2: Finding the position or site to attach the subwoofer is determined. It entails measuring the hole’s inner diameter. To make installation easier, measure the mounting hole’s length and width precisely.

Step 3: The third and last step in calculating speaker size is understanding the screw pattern and subwoofer box measurements. The individual should take into account the space between two screws and the angle between the walls.

The Most Important Factors To Take Into Account While Assessing Subwoofer

The elements to take into account while measuring a subwoofer are highlighted in the following points.

Impedance of a subwoofer’s voice coil

The voice coil, which functions similarly to our own voice box, is the essential component of any subwoofer. The voice coil in your woofer does the bulk of the job and manages any electrical resistance. Its ability to resist is called voice coil impedance, and it is expressed in ohms.

A subwoofer may more easily receive power from the amplifier if its impedance is lower. The subwoofer amplifier may overheat and shut down if the impedance is either too high or too low for it. So, take into account the subwoofer amplifier’s specs when connecting your subwoofers.

Cabinet Dimensions and Speaker Design

There is a potential that the speaker won’t fit in the enclosure even if the subwoofers’ diameter is correctly measured. This is a result of incorrect measuring of the speaker’s depth, speaker size, or cabinet size.

Failure Of The Enclosure Hole

The subwoofer should have two diameters: a smaller and a larger one, it is advised. These two dimensions indicate that the enclosing hole is recessed.

FAQs

How Can A Subwoofer Size Be Measured?

To effectively gauge the subwoofer size, four crucial factors must be taken into account. These elements are speaker diameter, cutout diameter, mounting height, and mounting depth. They may be measured using a ruler and tape measure.

How Are Subwoofer Distance Measurements Made?

The term “subwoofer distance” refers to the recommended distance from your subwoofer for the best possible sound. As a general guideline, you should position your subwoofer one to two times the port diameter away from a wall. Thus, you can position the sub 10–20 inches away from a surface if it has a 10-inch port.

What Is A 12-Inch Subwoofer’s Width?

The exterior diameter of the spherical metal frame in front of the speaker is measured as a 12-inch subwoofer. A subwoofer box of around 23.63″ wide, 13.78″ high, and 16.42″ deep is needed.

What’s better, a 10 or 12-inch sub?

For a bass aficionado who needs an updated sound system but doesn’t have a lot of space, a 10-inch subwoofer is perfect. A 12-inch sub, on the other hand, delivers a fuller bass response and works with other frequencies assuming you have adequate room.

What Sub Size Should I Purchase?

The optimal subwoofer size will depend on a number of factors, including your current speakers, the level of bass you need, and available space. The greatest subwoofer is a 12-inch model since it produces deeper bass and works with a range of frequencies. For balanced sound, you may match your audio system’s bookshelf or compact speakers with woofers that are 8 or 10 inches or smaller.

How Can Subwoofer Cutout Diameter Be Measured?

Turn the subwoofer’s speaker upside down so that the largest portion of the cone is facing down in order to measure the cutout diameter. Secondly, gauge how big it is at its widest point between adjacent mounting holes.

How Do I Measure the Depth of a Subwoofer Mount?

Either a ruler or a tape measure can be used to determine mounting depth. Tape should extend from the speaker’s bottom to the mounting frame, which is the flat, metallic or plastic portion of the cone. The mounting depths at the top and bottom must be measured.

Conclusion

The ideal, premium bass experience may be had with the proper subwoofer size for your enclosure. To improve the overall sound quality of your home theater or vehicle’s audio system, you must have the proper mounting height, cutout diameter, and mounting depth. Each size of subwoofer has a certain environment in which it performs best. Enjoy the vivid, all-encompassing sound of your sub by choosing the appropriate size with the help of our guide!

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