Subwoofers: All that matters is the bass and movement
Crucial to your home theater is the subwoofer. The ominous sound of the approaching T. Rex 30 minutes into Jurassic Park would not be the same without them. The thundering footsteps of millions of orks descending on Helms Deep in the Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers would be like ants in the sand if it weren’t for good subwoofer quality. When you go to see a movie, you are entranced by the images on screen, but the sounds emanating around you, the deep bass pulsing through your body, is what makes the movie come alive. You have to expect the same from your home theater.
It is the subwoofer that manifests the low-frequency tones or bass of a movie score. There are two primary types of subwoofers available.
Passive Subwoofers: Powered by an external amplifier, the same as your other speakers. The extreme bass requires more power so you must make sure your amplifier or receiver can output the power necessary to sustain good quality bass.
Powered Subwoofers: Self-contained speaker/amplifier unit. This option ensures the subwoofer has enough power to provide a steady quality bass. This takes a large part of the power drain away from your system’s amp/receiver so that it can better output power to the other speakers in the system.
The optimum placement of the subwoofer depends on your room size, floor type, home theater furnishings, and wall construction. Typically, best placement for a subwoofer is in the front of the room, to the left or right of the main speakers.
The type and brand of subwoofer you choose for your home theater system depends on the characteristics of the room and your own preferences. When you go to a dealer, take a favorite DVD and/or CD that has a lot of bass and listen to how they resonate through various subwoofers.
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