12-inch subwoofer - impressive sound in the car
A deep and clear bass forms the basis of an impulsive vehicle sound system. Subwoofers with an outer diameter of 30 cm have now established themselves and are the
most popular size. We explain why 12-inch subwoofers offer an optimal compromise and what to look out for when buying one
. The two most popular brands in our large range are Edge Car Audio and Deaf Bonce. Click here to go directly to the selection of these two top brands: Edge Car
Audio and Deaf
Bonce.
Is a 30 cm subwoofer necessary?
A subwoofer is responsible for the reproduction of low-frequency sound waves and provides a
powerful sound experience within a sound system. A characteristic feature is the large diaphragm diameter, which visually distinguishes the subwoofer from tweeters and
mid-range speakers. The term subwoofer is made up of the word "sub", which means "under", and the word "woofer". The word woofer refers to the bass speaker. A 12 inch subwoofer is therefore used when the primary woofer in a multi-channel sound system has too little power or the bass needs
special attention. The 30 cm subwoofer typically operates in a frequency range of 25 Hz - 100 Hz, although some models can reproduce lower tones in the 20 Hz or even 10 Hz range. They are available individually or pre-installed in enclosures. There are basically two basic types of 12 inch cabinet subwoofers, the active and the passive. The active models are equipped with an
integrated amplifier and impress with their detailed bass reproduction. Furthermore, there are three types of
enclosures for car subwoofers:
closed enclosures, bass reflex enclosures and bandpass enclosures.
Why 30 cm subwoofers are the most popular
The 12 inch subwoofer is considered a special speaker in a sound system and reproduces the lowest tones that the human ear can perceive. The diaphragm diameter is an important factor in the production of deep sound waves in conjunction with a high volume level. A 30 cm subwoofer is capable of reproducing fast and
long-lasting bass sequences impulsively. Larger subwoofers with a diameter of 46 cm and more produce a powerful deep bass and are usually less suitable for fast music genres such as heavy metal, house, pop or techno. For an optimal sound experience, the bass-heavy octaves must be transported to the listener's ear at the right speed. A 30 cm subwoofer is considered an all-round loudspeaker in this respect. In addition, the cone is large enough to generate an impressive sound pressure level.
Optimal compromise between space requirements and strong bass output
A large resonance chamber is necessary for the deep sound waves to develop optimally. Not every car has a large trunk and space for a bass speaker.
Free-air subwoofers are well suited for small vehicles. These are woofers without an enclosure that are designed for installation in the trunk or under the seat. However, despite their sometimes considerable power, 12-inch subwoofers are so handy that a good enclosure is recommended in any case. For many models, there are manufacturer-recommended assembly instructions for the ideal enclosure, including for one of our top sellers in the high-end range, the
"JL Audio 12W7AE". Alternatively, the cabinet dimensions for the
"B2 Audio RAGE 12 V2" or the
"Ground Zero RADIOACTIVE GZRW 12XSPL" can also be found or calculated on our product pages. These brands offer 30 cm subwoofers in first-class quality and in all performance and price classes.
What is important for a 12 inch subwoofer
Power is one of the most important key figures to look out for when buying a 12 inch subwoofer. The watt rating describes the power handling capacity of a speaker. It is important to pay attention to the "Watt RMS" specification; this unit indicates the
actual rated power of the speaker. The abbreviation RMS stands for "Root Mean Square" and means root mean square. The higher the RMS value of the speaker, the more powerful bass output is possible with an equally powerful amplifier. In conjunction with an amplifier, these performance values should be similar to each other. A high RMS value for a subwoofer with a low RMS value for an amplifier will not provide a satisfactory sound experience. It is also important to compare this RMS power with the correct resistance. For example, to make perfect use of a 1-channel amplifier with 1000 watts RMS at 1 ohm resistance, you need a 12 inch / 30 cm subwoofer with an impedance of D2, which corresponds to 2x2 ohms. The voice coils are then connected in parallel, resulting in an impedance of 1 ohm and thus the 1000 watts of the amplifier. With two 12 inch subwoofers, for example, an impedance of D1 or D4 is required to ensure a 1 ohm amplifier connection.
12 inch subwoofer - Our professional tip:
In addition,
efficiency is another factor that is important for a 30 cm subwoofer. The efficiency describes how much of the supplied electrical power the speaker converts into sound pressure. If the 30 cm subwoofer is connected to an amplifier, the
impedance is an aspect that should not be neglected. The impedance is the electrical resistance, which for most models is between D2 (2x2 Ohm) and D4 (2x4 Ohm). To avoid loss of sound or damage to the
amplifier, it should have the same impedance value as the subwoofer.
Which manufacturers does Masori distribute?
Masori currently sells
30 cm subwoofers from the following manufacturers: Accuton, American Bass, Audio System, Avatar, B2 Audio, Blam, Cerwin Vega, DD Audio, Deaf Bonce, DLS, Edge Car Audio, ESX, Ground Zero, Hifonics, Image Dynamics,
JL Audio, Kicker, Morel, Peerless by Tymphany, Pride, Rockford Fosgate, Scanspeak, Tang Band.
Conclusion
A
30 cm subwoofer rounds off the sound experience in the car and ensures precise amplification of the low frequency ranges. Thanks to the different sizes and designs, every car can be equipped with an impressive sound generator. The market offers the right 12-inch subwoofer for every taste in different power ranges to breathe new life into your favorite music.
