Comparison Audio Pro SW-5 vs JBL Control 60PS/T

— Outdoor. The simplest type of installation: it does not require the preparation of niches, hanging on the wall, etc., just enough space on the floor. In addition, such a subwoofer is very easy to move from place to place, choosing the optimal location in terms of acoustics. Note that it is highly undesirable to put floor-standing subwoofers on shelves, since such models are designed based on the presence of a thick massive surface under the speaker; Otherwise, the sound will not be complete.

— Embedded. Subwoofers designed to be recessed into a wall or ceiling. Such models are convenient because they do not take up space in the room, easily fit into the interior, and with some tricks they can be completely hidden. On the other hand, installing a built-in subwoofer is a very troublesome business. There are not many such models on the market, they belong mainly to the premium class and are intended primarily for home cinemas and other similar places.

— Wall mounted. Subwoofers designed to be hung on the wall. Usually, they have a small thickness and a rather attractive design (since they are most often located in plain sight). Installing such a speaker is more difficult than in the case of a floor-standing speaker, but it does not take up space on the floor, which can be useful in cramped conditions and in some other cases. However, there are not so many such cases, therefore, wall-mounted subwoofers...have not received much distribution.

— Linear array. Subwoofers designed to be used as a line array element. Such an array consists of several columns for different purposes, located one above the other (sometimes with a slight curvature along the edges); this is one of the most convenient ways to combine multiple speakers to achieve high sound output. To work effectively in an array, subwoofers of this type have the appropriate features both in terms of acoustic properties and mounting options. According to their intended purpose (see below), they all refer exclusively to concerts — other options for using such acoustics are simply not justified.

— Active. Subwoofer with its own built-in amplifier. This allows you to connect the device to the signal source directly, without any additional external amplifiers. If the connection is made through a common speaker amplifier, the active subwoofer reduces the load on it, which has a positive effect on the volume and sound quality of the entire speaker. The built-in subwoofer amplifier itself is selected in such a way as to optimally match the characteristics of the speakers used. In addition, active subwoofers often come with their own fine-tuning tools that allow you to achieve optimal sound in your room without moving the subwoofer itself. The disadvantages of an active subwoofer are the need for a separate power connection and the high price.

— Passive. Subwoofer without its own built-in amplifier. Such a device requires connection to the signal source through an external amplifier, the characteristics of which should optimally match the characteristics of the subwoofer (see Power, Impedance). The advantage of passive subwoofers is their low cost.

The sensitivity value determines the volume of the subwoofer when an external signal of a certain power is connected to it. The higher the sensitivity, the louder the sound will be, with equal signal power and impedance.

The highest sound pressure level that a subwoofer can create, in other words, the volume that it produces at its maximum power level. This parameter is measured in the same way as any noise level - in decibels; since the decibel is a non-linear quantity, it is easiest to evaluate loudness using comparative tables. So, the most modest modern subwoofers are capable of delivering up to 95 – 100 dB, this is comparable to the volume of a subway car or a chainsaw. In the most powerful ones, it can exceed 130 dB - this is louder than an airplane on takeoff, a long stay near a subwoofer operating at full power can lead to hearing damage.

Note that sound pressure and sensitivity (see above) are fundamentally different characteristics, although they are measured by the same units.

Subwoofer AC impedance. This parameter matters primarily when connected to an external amplifier: if the impedance is lower than that of the amplifier, sound distortion is possible, if the impedance is higher, the subwoofer may sound quieter than we would like.

The range of audio frequencies reproduced by the subwoofer. As a general rule, the wider the frequency range, the richer the sound and the more detail the speaker can convey. However, it is worth remembering that subwoofers as a class are designed for low and ultra-low frequencies in the range from 20 to 150 (sometimes 200) Hz. Therefore, in fact, a significant difference in sound is noticeable only with a large difference in the reproducible ranges (for example, 20-200 Hz and 50-150 Hz).

Also, do not forget that an extensive frequency range is not yet a guarantee of high-quality sound; and in some cases (for example, if the main speakers of the speaker also cope well with low frequencies), it may be completely redundant.

The ability to shift the sound produced by the subwoofer in phase — usually by 180 °, but in some models the option is also available by 90 °.

Sound vibrations can be represented as a sinusoid. In some cases, the sinusoids from the subwoofer and from the main speakers may be out of phase — for example, with a difference in distance, inconsistency in the operation of amplifiers, etc. This degrades the sound quality. And the phase adjustment allows you to correct the situation and coordinate the subwoofer with the rest of the components of the speaker system.

The subwoofer has its own level control, in other words, a volume control. Adjusting the bass with such a control is often easier than digging into the settings of an amplifier or other external device.

The presence of an adjustable crossover in the design of the subwoofer.

A crossover is a device that divides the audio signal into separate frequency bands and directs each band to "its own" speakers. See "Crossover Frequency" for more on this. Here we note that the adjustable crossover allows you to change the upper threshold of the frequencies supplied to the subwoofer. This allows you to optimally match the bass speaker with the main speakers — so that, on the one hand, the bass does not overlap, on the other, there is no gap between the subwoofer and the rest of the acoustics.