The most commonly asked question we get at Source Sounds is whether a subwoofer works best sealed or ported? In our opinion there is no definitive answer to this as everyone has their own opinions and preferences. All of us here at Source Sounds in Sheffield prefer the sound of a sealed subwoofer enclosure over the sound of a ported enclosure.
Sealed Enclosures
A sealed subwoofer enclosure uses a specific volume of air for the type of subwoofer. As the woofer moves, it pulls the air forwards and backwards with no pressure loss which allows the subwoofer to reproduce the low frequencies more accurately than a ported box due to the air inside the enclosure acting like a shock absorber, allowing the subwoofer to move with more control thus giving better controlled sub bass.
Ported Enclosures
A ported enclosure is something that is a little more tricky to build due to the nature of the box. For the subwoofer to perform to it’s optimum the port has to be a specific size. This includes correct measurements for the width, length and shape of the port. You can’t just stick a hole in a sealed box and turn it into a ported box. Having a ported enclosure allows the subwoofer to take advantage of the frequencies produced at the rear of the subwoofer. This reinforces the low frequency response of the subwoofer. This lower frequency response however will only sound good at whatever the tuned frequency of the port is. This tuned frequency can be adjusted by altering the airs resistance to motion inside the port which is accomplished by changing the length and width of the port.
In summary, ported enclosures can typically offer better low-end extension as well as greater output around the tuned frequency whereas a sealed enclosure will give a better frequency response across all frequencies with a more controlled output, which is why here at Source Sounds in Sheffield we prefer the sealed enclosure as it gives better sound quality overall than a ported subwoofer enclosure.
Good quality copper cable is becoming more and more rare due to the steady increase in the price of Copper.Many companies have been selling cheap poor quality power cable otherwise known as CCA (Copper Coated Aluminium). You can distinguish this from true copper cable by it’s lightweight feel and appearance as you look at the end.
Here at Source, we genuinely don’t rip-off any customers, but we feel very strongly about this. If you use inferior materials in your audio system, then the results aren’t going to be as good as what you expect. The cable won’t conduct as much power, so your 1000w amplifier won’t produce anywhere near as much power thus resulting in not as much bass or volume.
The power cable we use is good quality copper cable from two companies JL Audio and Audison Connection. Both these brands excel in their quality control so you can expect good results when using their cabling products.
Power Cable generally comes in 3 main sizes (classed as Gauge)0g, 4g and 8g. The lower the number, the thicker the cable, 0g being the thickest. The size of cable you need to use is determined by the amount of current each amp draws. In the majority of cases if you are using one amp only then 8g power cable would suffice. Anymore than that and you would have to upgrade to 4g cable to get the added benefit of using the extra amplifier. In high-end or high-powered installations you would expect to use 0g power and earth cable to get everything out of the products you are using.
To see if your power cable needs upgrading, call into the shop or call us on 0114 257 1550
What is a subwoofer? Many of our customers ask this question. Most people only know about them from hearing a car driving past going Boom Boom Boom. This is not a true representation of what a subwoofer is about. Music is made up of lots and lots of different frequencies and these are known as Hertz. Human hearing has a commonly know range of 20Hz to 20KHz. Bass is normally in the frequency range from around 20hz to 80hz. Almost every type of music has Bass and this type of sound is produced by a subwoofer.
You often get the younger generation wanting more and more bass, which can result in some eventual hearing loss. This is often due to wanting to be louder than their friends, but can harm the quality of sound you are hearing. The way a subwoofer should be used is to allow the Bass frequencies to match every other frequency in volume. This will result in a nice smooth sound in your car audio system. Most cars don’t come with a subwoofer as standard as this adds additional costs onto the price of the car. Also, not everyone wants a better sound in their car so vehicle manufacturers don’t normally fit these as standard.
Installation
We offer a Subwoofer upgrade for any vehicle to allow you to enhance the sound in your car. This will greatly improve the Bass in your vehicle and as most cars don’t have one as standard this is often one of the most impressive upgrades you can do in your car audio system.
Why not call into our Store in Chapeltown, Sheffield which is easly accessible from Sheffield, Rotherham, Barnsley and Doncaster from the M1 motorway juncton 35a, to listen to the huge difference a Subwoofer will make in your car.
Call SOURCE for more information on 0114 257 1550 on how to add a subwoofer into your car.
