When you start thinking about setting up a captivating sound system in your apartment some questions immediately start kicking in your mind. Like how much sound you want your home theatre or home sound system to make. Do you want a sound system with really high quality or a system which just works fine? Also one of the most important questions you face is about Best Subwoofer for Apartment.
Like do you need a subwoofer for your sound system? If you use one will the neighbors be bothered? Well, a subwoofer will most definitely enhance the sound system in your apartment, so going for a subwoofer being the wisest option, we are going to help you by telling you the way how you can set up a sound system properly by using a subwoofer in your apartment.
What is a Subwoofer
A subwoofer is a kind of loudspeaker that mainly helps in producing low pitch or lower frequency sounds, like the sound of a bass guitar. Your listening experience can become really enhanced and wonderful by using a good quality subwoofer, which can’t be provided by any other components of the audio speakers.
Why It Is Needed
If one wants to totally engage oneself into something he or she is watching, listening, or playing, a subwoofer will be of huge help, unlike other speakers, as a subwoofer can create a complete audio picture for the listener by delivering a really deep and rich sound. Sounds might fall flat easily without a subwoofer and the sound system of your apartment won’t be completed at all.
Using Subwoofers Without Disturbing Neighbors
When you have subwoofers in your apartment, it gets exploded with powerful sound and room-shaking bass. But the thing is the sound is bound to go out of your room and reach your neighboring apartments, in fact, they will hear the sound just as loud if you don’t take any measures to reduce the amount of sound going out of your apartment. And they might find it really disturbing and get hugely annoyed by that.
So you should be really careful when you are using a subwoofer and make sure that you are taking proper measures so that the vibration and sound of subwoofers can’t affect your neighbors much. Here’s a Subwoofer Frequency setting Guide to help you with that problem.
We know that subwoofers are different than other speakers as they only produce low-frequency sounds. Low-frequency sound waves can go a long way as they can move more air and can easily go way further than high and mid-frequency waves, completely ignoring all the partitions.
Also, human hearing is less sensitive to sounds of lower frequency. Also, a subwoofer can create huge sonic energy and as a result, massive vibrations take place which can be easily transferred to the floor and then can get transmitted everywhere including the walls, other rooms, and neighboring apartments. So in order to contain all the sound and vibration in the room of your sound system, you can take some measures and they can do a good job in declining the amount of sound that goes out.
How to Isolate Subwoofer From Floor
One of the most effective ways to reduce vibration is ‘decoupling’. This means minimizing the contact between the floor and the subwoofer by using a platform that upholds the cabinet and stops the vibration from reaching the floor. They also help to dampen the vibration of the subwoofer, so that much vibration can’t get to the floor. Hard material or layer of foam is used in this decoupling. The sound quality also improves if you decouple.
Subwoofer Isolation Pads
You can also adjust room gain compensation or high pass filter on the subwoofer to reduce the output of excessive low frequency. With excessive vibration, different furniture and stuff might start rattling in the room. So you can use a mat or sticky tack to stop them from rattling and the mat can also work to dampen the vibration of the sub too. You can use isolation pads which are really effective to dampen the vibration.
These are mainly rubbery or spongy material filled with air gaps. They reduce the vibrations before they can hit the floor and reach the neighboring apartments. Lastly, you can also use bass traps which are like isolation pads but instead of the floor, you place them on the walls and in the different corners of the room. They stop the reflection of sound waves inside the room and make the subwoofer sound better and this is how you can stop bass from traveling through walls.
But mainly they absorb stray bass waves and stop sound waves from hitting the wall and go past it. This can be of huge help in using the subwoofer without disturbing the neighbors. Well, if you take these measures you can play your subwoofer comfortably in your apartment without getting your neighbors irritated by huge sound or vibrations coming out of your subwoofer.
Check out these Best Subwoofer Isolation Pads to Reduce Vibration and Distortion
5 Best Subwoofers for Your Sound System
Choosing the perfect subwoofer for your home can be a tough choice, as there are so many subwoofers of different brands and quality in the market. If you want to feel the music really well and dance your heart out with it, then you should choose a subwoofer which can provide you with the best facilities.
There are several types of subwoofers in the market including passive subwoofers, powered subwoofers, enclosed subwoofers, component subwoofers etc. Normally powered or enclosure ones are vastly used to enhance the music.
You should also take many other features into account while buying a subwoofer like power output, volume or sound quality, frequency response, impedance, sensitivity, enclosure type, voice coils, wiring system, subwoofer dimensions, cone size, durability, etc.
Now based all on these things we have tried to assemble the 5 best subwoofers which are currently leading at the market. Now we are going to know about the 5 best subwoofers that can be a great addition to your sound system.
SVS SB-3000
With a beautiful cube design, the SVS SB-3000 is a really powerful subwoofer. The speaker in this subwoofer is an SVS driver of 13 inches which is made with a vented cone of aluminum which allows the metal to keep a mass ratio ideal for music.
An enclosure with a surround of an injection-molded extreme excursion is used to seal the subwoofer. The range of frequencies between 18-270 Hz is available with the subwoofer, so you can easily customize the level of the bass.
In ordered to get your preferred crisp and clear sound, you can easily adjust and tune the sound with several controllers. The speaker is slightly heavier than many other subwoofers of the same size, but with a size of 15.2”x17.8”x15.6”, it can be easily placed anywhere in your home.
If you use a smaller cone, it can still work well for large rooms. But one of the best features is you can control the subwoofer from a distance using the SVS smartphone app. However, it is a bit more expensive than other speakers.
Some Ranges of The SVS SB-3000 Subwoofer Are:
| Frequency Response Range | 18-270 Hz |
|---|---|
| Mounting Depth | N/A |
| Impedance | N/A |
| Sensitivity | 125 DB |
| Power Output | 800/2,500 Watt |
| Warranty | Available, 5 years |
| Price | Check Price On Amazon |
Alternative Product: SVS SB-1000 and PB-1000
Klipsch R-120SW
It is one of the best mid-range subwoofers for music. The Klipsch R-120SW subwoofer comes with a 12-inch front-firing speaker which is slick and spun copper and is enclosed by a black textured wood grain vinyl enclosure, which is sure to create an eye-catching view.
This is a wired system and if you want to connect it with a larger system, a separate card will be required. This one possesses an all-digital amplifier that helps the speaker to create accurate and efficient sound.
The bass level can also be customized in the speaker and you can adjust it with other speakers in the sound system. This can fit really easily into apartments and bedroom spaces.
But it may not do a good job to fill larger rooms with sound. However, the pricing is very reasonable for this subwoofer.
Some Ranges of The Klipsch R-120SW are-
| Frequency Response Range | 29-120 Hz |
|---|---|
| Mounting Depth | N/A |
| Impedance | N/A |
| Sensitivity | 116 DB |
| Power Output | 200/400 Watt |
| Warranty | Available, 2 years |
| Price | Check Price On Amazon |
Sonos Subwoofer
The Sonos Subwoofer is currently one of the best wireless subwoofers, as it has got rid of wires so that your home doesn’t become a jungle of wires and it also has a sleek minimalist design. The subwoofer will start playing music and other stuff and enhance your sound system with only a power outlet and the Sonos app.
The Sonos app can help you to stream music from many different services. Two force-canceling speakers are used in it so that you can enjoy bass without any vibration or rattling.
The subwoofer can be moves easily and as it is wireless you can play it anywhere smoothly. However, there are some problems though. If you want to connect the Sonos subwoofer with other equipment of your sound system which is not from the Sonos brand, it may not work well at all.
It will need other Sonos brand materials to work well. And another problem is Sonos doesn’t release many specifics of the subwoofer like impedance, sensitivity, etc, while many other brands do that which can help the customers to make decisions. Also take a peek at these Best Soundbars Without a Subwoofer.
| Frequency Response Range | Down to 25 Hz |
|---|---|
| Mounting Depth | N/A |
| Impedance | N/A |
| Sensitivity | N/A |
| Power Output | N/A |
| Warranty | Available, 2 years |
| Price | Check Price on Amazon |
BIC America F12
If you don’t have a very big budget to buy a subwoofer for your apartment, then the BIC America can be a great option for you as it provides with great music experience for less than 300 USD.
This 12” front-firing speaker can play clear, loud, and crisp music at home, and it is modeled after the same kinds of speakers used in the movie theatres before. With the feature of adjustable crossover and volume, this subwoofer’s sensitivity can go up to 116 dB, which is almost as same as a live musical performance.
The speaker is wired and it has inputs for both Dolby Digital/DTS and Dolby Pro. The subwoofer has a built-in amplifier, so with a source input and power outlet, it can start running and enhance your music experience.
This subwoofer has features like magnetic shielding, gold-plated terminals, and also an auto on\off system. The patented BIC “Venturi” vent helps the BIC America F12 to play loud and fast music without problems of other noises.
This can fit your apartment or small rooms very well but might have problems to fit in larger rooms due to its cone size. It is also a bit heavy in weight.
Some of Its Ranges Are-
| Frequency Response Range | 25-200 Hz |
|---|---|
| Mounting Depth | 22” |
| Impedance | 8 Ohms |
| Sensitivity | 90 db |
| Power Output | 150/475 Watts |
| Warranty | Available, 5 years |
| Price | Check Price on Amazon |
Rockford Fosgate P300-12
If you are really into rock music, the best subwoofer for you will be the Rockford Fosgate P300-12, as this is the best subwoofer to play rock music. A ‘closed-loop’ design between the amplifier, the subwoofer, and its enclosure keeps everything together as it is sealed.
It has a remote bass level control and also an adjustable built-in bass boost equalizer. The speaker has an intelligent auto turn on/off system and also thermal and over-voltage protection to keep it in top shape.
It has a resistant exterior and a quick installation system which makes this subwoofer very easy to use.
Some of The Ranges of The Rockford Fosgate P300-12 Are-
| Frequency Response Range | 35-150 Hz |
|---|---|
| Mounting Depth | 18 inches |
| Impedance | N/A |
| Sensitivity | N/A |
| Power Output | 300/600 Watts |
| Warranty | Available, 1 year |
| Price | Check Price on Amazon |
All of these subwoofers are currently among the very best in the market. You can without a second thought choose any of them and they can give your listening experience new and different dimensions.
Your experience of listening to music, watching movies, or playing games will be vastly enhanced. And you can rock your life with powerful and beautiful sound.
Details Guide for Subwoofer Set-up:
Well, after choosing the best subwoofer, you need to set it up like a pro to enhance the beauty of your apartment. But don’t worry about this, we are here to give you ample guidance to do that. Don’t go anywhere, stay with us and let’s jump right into it!
Placement of The Subwoofer
Now another question might arise when you are using a subwoofer in your apartment’s sound system, that where you’re going to place the subwoofer. The placement of the subwoofer can be a huge factor in creating a good sound experience. If you don’t find the perfect place to set the subwoofer, you won’t get the best experience of your sound system. You will find it difficult to perfectly have the vibration and deep sound the subwoofer can offer without placing it well.
You might also face problems regarding your neighbors. The subwoofer can create a huge amount of sound which can reach the neighboring apartments through the floor and walls. And the neighbors can feel very disturbed due to the high amount of sound produced by the subwoofer. So placing the subwoofer just on the floor or around the corners might not be a very good decision.
Finding a Good Place for The Subwoofer
The placement of the subwoofer will generally depend on how flexible your place is. You can put it in a place which is close to your seating location. Also, you can either place it in the middle of the room or behind furniture or something. You can also put it under a table or inside a cabinet where optimal ventilation is available.
You can just put it in the zone where all the entertainment equipment is kept. But in case of keeping it in a corner or on the floor, you should use a rug or dampening wall materials to lessen the noise that will go outside. Heavy curtains can also be of huge help.
Design of The Subwoofer
There are some important things to consider when you’re buying a subwoofer for your apartment. One of these important things is the design of the subwoofer. There are mainly two kinds of subwoofers regarding the design; they are downward-firing subwoofer and side-firing subwoofer.
The downward-firing subwoofers are pointed downwards; on the other hand, the side-firing subwoofers point towards the side or the front. If you want the sound to go into one specific direction more than other ones, then you should choose the downward-firing ones. And if you want the sound to reach everywhere evenly, then you should consider a side-firing subwoofer.
Different Sizes
Subwoofers come of different sizes. Like there are 8 inches subwoofers, 10 inches subwoofers, and also 12 and 15 inches subwoofers. In order to pick the perfect subwoofer for your apartment, size can be a really important factor. The size of your area will affect the size of the subwoofer.
Also if you want to have a tighter-sounding, more vibrant sound of bass you should go for the smaller sizes of subwoofers. But if you want more powerful and broader sound, larger sizes are for you.
Enclosures
Another important factor to look at while buying a subwoofer is the enclosure of the subwoofer. Two types of enclosures are generally used for subwoofers. Either a sealed wooden enclosure or a vented enclosure is used for a subwoofer. If a sealed enclosure is used, there remains no space for air movement so the subwoofer produces and accurate and tight sound.
On the other hand, a broader and room-feeling deep sound is produced by the subwoofer when a vented enclosure is used.
Buying Good Quality Subwoofers
The power handling capacity of the subwoofer is also important. Cause the power handling capacity is different for different subwoofers. So a subwoofer in which capacity matches the amplifier of the apartment should be bought. Taking all these into considerations, you can choose a great subwoofer for your apartment.
There are currently some subwoofers of really good quality in the market. There are the ‘Sonos Sub’, the ‘Klipsch R-120SW’ etc subwoofers on the market which can be a great addition to the sound system of your apartment.
Also take a look at these sq subwoofers if you’re still confused.
Final Words
It might always not be needed to add a subwoofer to your sound system, but using a subwoofer will always enhance the experience of the entertainment tasks in your apartment. Whether you’re watching a movie, or playing a game or just listening to music, a subwoofer can always give you the best experience in terms of sound. So, considering all the above matters you can easily modify the sound system of your apartment by purchasing a good quality subwoofer.
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