Let’s see if we can present a guide to enable
you to select a proper enclosure for your specific subwoofer. First and foremost, select your subwoofer before
considering an enclosure. The fact of the matter is that subwoofer boxes are built to quite narrow specifics.
You definitely want to match your enclosure to the manufacturer’s suggestions for the subwoofer. I’d estimate
that 90% of my shoppers have already purchased their subwoofer before looking for a proper
enclosure.
I should mention that if you purchase one of the very
few remaining subs listed as “free-air”, you can actually forget about this entire question. The “free-air” sub
can be mounted into a large area such as between the passenger compartment of a car and the trunk. In this
case, the trunk serves as a large sealed enclosure when it is tightly closed. There aren’t many subwoofers of
this type being made anymore.
For the rest of us, we have to read the manufacturer’s
spec sheet that accompanied the subwoofer. Of course that is assuming you purchased a new, boxed sub directly
from a retailer. If you purchased a used subwoofer on eBay or from some other source, you can search out the
manufacturer’s web site and contact them for the specifics of you sub. It is quite important to do so because
if you fail to, you can either find yourself with a lousy sounding system at best or damage your sub at
worse.
Take your time and decide what would be a near perfect
match for your subwoofer. Many audiophiles will insist on constructing their own subwoofer enclosures but
through the years I have heard many expensive custom built boxes that sounded less desirable then factory made
boxes and many boxes off the shelf that outperformed those home made ones. This is why matching your sub to its
box is very important.
Now check the specifics of your subwoofer. See if it
recommends using a sealed, vented/ported or bandpass enclosure. These specific types also come in a range of
sizes or volumes. These different boxes are actually meant for different purposes or different sounds. A Sealed
Box, which is also known as an acoustic suspension enclosure is great for all kinds of music and has the
broadest range of frequency response. Sealed boxes deliver tight, controlled bass with excellent Sound Quality
and are best for jazz, classical, country or pop music. These are definitely the most popular boxes in use and
also take up the least amount of room in your vehicle. They also are the easiest to match to any specific
sub.
Another type of sealed enclosure which should be
mentioned is the custom vehicle specific enclosure. These are usually molded in fiberglass or special plastic
composites and fit in ‘out of the way’ locations such as under seats or on sidewalls in SUV’s. These will tend
to be a bit more expensive but most buyers feel the custom appearance and convenience are well worth the cost.
Normally these come as small sealed type enclosures.
Ported or vented enclosures are usually larger and tend
to have a boomier, richer, more resonant sound which lends itself to hip hop and heavy metal music. These are
just a bit more difficult to match only due to the additional requirements of port length and so forth. But if
you want a bit more BANG for your buck and space isn’t a concern, this type of box might be exactly what you
need. Again, be sure your specific sub can be used in a ported enclosure.
Finally we have Bandpass boxes which are the largest
and are known for an aggressive, boomy sound which is good for rap, reggae, and hard rock music. Again, you’ll
find most subs can be used in a bandpass box but be sure to check on the subwoofer specifics before making your
choice.
Really this isn’t as difficult as it might seem at the
beginning. For example if your 12” sub says it is suggested for a sealed box volume of .85 cu ft, simply look
for a good quality sealed box listed for a 12” sub with an interior volume of about 1 cu ft and you are right
on target. Of course there are more specifics to consider in the ported or bandpass boxes, but the steps are
the same. You do not have to match volume figures exactly in most cases but you want to come reasonably
close.
Although there are unknown numbers of manufacturers of
enclosures, there are some general rules that might help you narrow your search. Don’t necessarily choose the
least expensive. Reason on this point: why spend good money on a great subwoofer and then buy a cheap piece of
junk for a box. Without the proper box, even the best subwoofer will sound like garbage. Don’t be surprised at
the shipping costs of your enclosure. One main thing that contributes to good sound quality is the weight of
the box, itself. Many shoppers choose to buy their components online but they shop locally for their sub
enclosures. The trade off here is that in most cases you’ll never come close to the variety you can find on
line and you’ll generally have to pay a local sales tax. Be sure to take this into consideration when shopping
locally. It isn’t unheard of, to have a local shop sell you what is in their stock rather then what is best for
your specific subwoofer. Match the specifics for yourself before making a decision.
After retailing car audio online for over a decade, you
would be surprised at how many customers have purchased boxes from me after they had purchased a cheap box
initially and weren’t satisfied with the results. I always suggest being patient even if you have to wait a
couple of weeks after your sub purchase to save some extra money. Take your time and match the box to your
subwoofer. You’ll love the results.
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