How to connect speakers to a subwoofer

A standard acoustic system, be it computer speakers or standard car audio, cannot provide high-quality sound. Conventional speakers produce sound primarily in the frequency range that can be heard by the human ear. A subwoofer is needed to play low-frequency audio signals. To fully enjoy your favorite musical compositions, you should choose the right device and make the right connection.

What types of subwoofers are there?

The characteristics of “subs” clearly show how they differ from conventional speakers:

• the frequency range has artificially established boundaries, usually this value is 40–200 Hz;
• the product is equipped with a large diameter sound emitter - for example, for a device for home use it ranges from 30 to 50 cm.

Subwoofers have a simple design, but are divided into several types: closed, open, active and passive.

1. Passive. Their design is very simple. They have a low frequency filter and a large speaker. To “boost” such a device you will need an amplifier. The device is unable to process or convert the signal.
2. Active. They do not require an additional amplifier to operate. A speaker and circuits for controlling filtering are built into the device body. The product is capable of processing and amplifying the audio signal supplied to it.It has a significant advantage - an active subwoofer is easy to install in an already prepared audio system.
3. Closed. They have a durable body. Most often, closed-type subwoofers are passive subs. Such products provide good sound, do not distort the audio signal, and do not cause resonance or reverberation. However, they have their own drawback - the larger the diameter of the installed speaker, the greater the power required to “swing” its membrane.
4. Open. This option is installed directly into the prepared car body, most often in the trunk. With this installation option, the device will use the entire volume of the cabin to create deep and rich bass. The disadvantage of such a “sub” is that it is quite difficult to achieve high-quality sound.

ATTENTION! When using filtering, the maximum frequency that an open-type product can achieve is 100 Hz.

Is it possible to connect speakers to a subwoofer?

Connecting other speakers to the active subwoofer is quite simple. The passive version does not have a standard audio amplifier, so you will need to purchase and install it. If this is not possible, then the sub can be connected directly to the acoustics. However, in this case the sound quality will be insufficient. To ensure sound filtering, you can optionally install a filter.

ATTENTION! The filter can slightly enhance the audio signal supplied to the speaker, but the sound quality will increase slightly.

Thus, the best way is to use an amplifier. This way the load on the speakers is significantly reduced.

How to connect speakers to a subwoofer

If you are connecting regular speakers and a subwoofer, you first need to make sure that there are appropriate connectors on both devices. The following methods are commonly used:

1. Using cables with 3.5 plugs. This is the most common connection method, since 3.5 jacks are usually present on all audio devices.
2. RCA. These wires are divided into a pair of cables, through which audio is supplied from the left and right channels.
3. Cables with terminals. The cables have special terminals at the ends that must be snapped or screwed. It is important to maintain the correct polarity.

Installing the device inside a car is somewhat more difficult. This requires:

• prepare the place where the sub will be mounted - after which the wires from the radio are connected to it;
• all cables must be hidden under the upholstery of the car;
• the cable should be carefully secured with clamps, and in the place where the subwoofer is installed, you need to lay a material that provides good shock absorption;
• the amplifier and subwoofer must be placed at a sufficient distance from each other and securely fixed;
• both products are connected using wires that need to be inserted into the corresponding sockets.

ATTENTION! The best option is to install cables on the roof of the car. This reduces the likelihood of them being damaged.

The procedure for connecting speakers and subwoofer is quite simple. To achieve good sound, you must comply with all requirements, use high-quality equipment and securely fix all connections.