Different speakers do different jobs. When you go to a club or a gig and see the vast sound setups they have, you’re actually looking at several other speakers combined to give you a great sound.
The main point of difference between most speakers is the frequency range they handle. Both woofers and subwoofers handle bass frequencies at the lower end of the spectrum.
So what’s the difference? Let’s dive straight into the subwoofer vs. woofer debate.
What Are Woofers and Subwoofers?
First of all, what is a woofer? A woofer is a specialized speaker that handles mid-to-low-range frequencies. They have a cone-like shape, and the sound from a woofer gives live performances and DJ sets their kick.
So what is a subwoofer? Well, it’s essentially an even more specialized woofer. Subwoofers deal with super low-range frequencies like bass tones. These bass frequencies can be difficult to hear without specialized speakers.
Subwoofers are either active or passive. This means that active subwoofers will have a built-in amplifier, and passive subwoofers require an external amplifier.
There’s so much informative content that can teach people about the different types of speakers including subwoofers and woofers.
Subwoofer vs. Woofer: The Key Differences
So that’s a basic overview of the main difference between a subwoofer and a woofer. The differences go a little bit deeper than just frequency range, though. Let’s take a look at some of the other significant differences.
Size
Carrying low frequencies across considerable distances for big crowds takes a tremendous amount of effort. A speaker capable of doing that needs to be a specific size.
Subwoofers are generally much larger than woofers as the extra size gives them the added punch they need to cut through dense crowds and deliver a great bass sound.
Don’t be deceived. Woofers can still be huge, but you’ll very rarely find a woofer bigger than a sub.
Drivers
The driver is the part of the speaker at the front that moves back and forth as the speaker makes noise. When it comes to woofers and subwoofers, both speaker types have a different number of drivers.
It’s not uncommon to find woofers that have two or three-way drivers, especially in vehicles. These speakers will often have both woofer and tweeter drivers to give the speaker a more rounded sound.
Subwoofers are a different beast, though. Subwoofers are typically only one-way driver units. This is because they are specialized pieces of kit that are only there to drive bass frequencies.
Power
The last thing to consider in the woofer vs. subwoofer debate is power consumption.
Woofers will typically consume a lot less power than subwoofers. As mentioned above, when talking about the size of the speakers, driving the lowest frequencies requires much more strength and power, which is why subwoofers consume more energy.
Sometimes, your subwoofer can draw too much power. If it does this, you’ll need to get a capacitor that can store some of the spare electricity being taken by the speaker.
The Difference Is in the Details
So, subwoofer vs. woofer, which is better? Well, it depends on your needs. If you’re looking for a balanced and well-rounded sound, then a woofer may be able to do the job perfectly fine for you.
But if you need a speaker that has been specially designed to drive deep bass sounds, then a subwoofer is the right choice for you. It all comes down to personal preferences and requirements.
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