You may be the type of user who likes to experience the shots and explosions in the movies and series that you see in the living room. But of course, if you do not have a good sound system, or if the one you have does not incorporate a speaker that improves the bass, you will not be able to “experience them closely”. So, so that you can enjoy all that content as you wish, today we explain everything you need to know about subwoofers and some of the best speakers that include it.
What is a subwoofer and what is it for?
This type of device may sound familiar to you but you have no idea what it is or what it is used for. Surely when looking at the data of a sound system you have seen the typical 2.1 or 5.1, right? Well, precisely that “.1” refers to this element.
Subwoofers are a type of speaker designed to reproduce frequencies so low without distortion that other speakers cannot reach them. That is, its use is focused on correctly reproducing the bass of any type of audio that comes out of a movie, series or, of course, a song.
What do you need this for? Well, referring to the cinema, all shots, blows or explosions are loaded with low-frequency sounds. So, if you want to hear them correctly and feel like that car has exploded next to you, you need your sound system to have a subwoofer.
Details to consider when choosing a subwoofer
Like any other electronic device, there are different details to consider before choosing it. Knowing them will allow you to differentiate between a team that meets or not what you expect of it.
The most relevant aspects that you should know about a good subwoofer are:
- Active or passive : we can find these two types of subwoofer. Focusing on equipment such as sound bars or Home cinema systems for our televisions, the usual thing will be that they are active subwoofers. That is, they have their own built-in amplification stage and for them to work it will be enough to connect them to the receiver. On the other hand, there are the passive type, to which we will have to add an external amplifier or even an A / V receiver to control the frequency.
- Minimum Frequency : Subwoofers are typically limited to frequencies of 20 – 35 Hz minimum, which does not mean they are bad. Furthermore, if one of these devices is capable of reaching lower frequencies, it may be an indication that the manufacturer is committed to quality but, yes, these types of frequencies can produce annoying vibrations at home.
- Size : for one of these speakers to be able to produce powerful bass, it must be of considerable size. By this we do not mean that you have to opt for the largest. Approximately 10 – 15 inches will be more than enough, that is, the size of a “normal” laptop screen.
- Power : Although you may want your house to rumble every time something explodes in a movie, this is not good for your ears. This factor is measured in watts RMS and will depend a lot on the result you want to achieve and the room where you are. RMS power indicates how long you can hear sound at maximum volume without burning your speakers or breaking your eardrums. The recommended and most common measures is to opt for a range between 120 – 200 watts RMS.
- Connectivity : the type of connection between the subwoofer and the rest of the sound equipment is important. From an analog audio output (the most recommended to enjoy good quality), to completely wireless equipment that uses Bluetooth connectivity.
- Placement : Although it seems a bit absurd, many people wonder where is the correct place to place the subwoofer of their sound system. Although the manufacturer will indicate its recommendations in the instructions of the equipment, the most normal thing is to put it on the floor next to the audio system such as the sound bars and not on top of the furniture or hidden inside it.
Best stereos with subwoofer
Now that you know the most important aspects of this speaker that will accompany your sound system, it is time to decide on one. To make your search a little easier, since there are countless models on the market, we have chosen some interesting ones that you can find through Amazon.
And, of all these, we have focused on two completely different uses: sound equipment for the Smart TV and, on the other hand, sound equipment for your computer. The two great places where it is most common for us to want to enjoy the best possible audio.
Trust Yuri
Starting with the sound equipment for the personal or work computer, one of the cheapest models that you will be able to find is this Trust Yuri . It is a set of 2.1 speakers, whose maximum power is 120 W. These are connected through the RCA port to the subwoofer and, in addition, we have a 3.5 mm Jack port for the pc. Of course, if you were looking for something with Bluetooth, these are not your speakers since everything goes by cables.
Logitech Z333
On the other hand we have the Logitech Z333 . A 2.1 speaker system from Logitech, with a maximum power of 80 W, powerful bass thanks to its subwoofer and, regarding the inputs, it has a 3.5 mm Jack. It also has a roulette that comes connected from this speaker to control the volume.
Yamaha HS5
But if what you are looking for is sound quality, these Yamaha HS5s are one of the best options but, yes, their size is considerably larger. Keep in mind that the price you see on Amazon is for a single speaker, so you will have to buy two to make the sound of the left and right channel. And, on the other hand, for the bass issue you will have to purchase the HS8 subwoofer separately. One of the best 2.1 systems you can have for your computer but, of course, quality has to be paid for.
Samsung HW-T430 / ZF
Now we change rooms to go to the sound systems for the TV in the living room, that is, we move on to talking about sound bars with subwoofer.
The first of the models that we want to recommend, and one of the cheapest, is this Samsung HW-T430 / ZF . It is a 2.1 soundbar with 100 W power that includes its own speaker to enhance the bass. It also has Bluetooth 4.2 connectivity.
LG SN6Y
Another very interesting option, although somewhat more expensive, is found in the catalog of LG audio equipment . It is the SN6Y model , a 3.1 soundbar with a power of 420 W and its own subwoofer. It has DTS Virtual: X compatibility to take advantage of that surround sound in the best way. It also has an optical input, Bluetooth 4.0 and HDMI.
Sony HT-ZF9
Finally, being one of the models of the most popular brands when it comes to audio systems, is the Sony HT-ZF9. A 3.1 soundbar with spectacular power and an immersive audio system that will transport us inside our favorite movie. It has compatibility with Dolby Atmos / DTS: X for a sound that is as realistic as possible and, as an addition, it integrates the intelligent assistant Alexa.
