There are several ways to connect subwoofers to home music and cinema systems. The information you need is a bit different for Home Theater (multi-channel) systems than for two-channel, or stereo, systems. Here we discuss many aspects of subwoofer connection that we at Velodyne have encountered:

Many music and home theater enthusiasts have begun using multiple subwoofers in their systems, rather than using just one subwoofer. A home entertainment system that has weak, distorted bass sounds less than thrilling! Getting great bass in consumer-sized living rooms is a challenging topic, and a single sub may not fill the room evenly with great bass. Let's investigate the reasons why multiple subs make sense.

The trend toward small, easily concealed main speakers has fueled an increase in the use of subwoofers. Compact main speakers, and in-wall or in-ceiling speakers, are often bass-shy. Large, costly floor-standing speakers often have plenty of bass, but they may be cosmetically unacceptable. Also, the speaker room placement that results in the best stereo imaging is almost never the best placement area for reproducing deep bass.

There are many ways to design a subwoofer enclosure. In our view, there is no one "correct" way to design a subwoofer. Rather, there are many design approaches, and some designs work better at certain price points. Each design can have a good or bad result, depending on how it is implemented.

All subwoofer design involves trade-offs, and so determining at the start what result we desire is key to building a good subwoofer. What do we want this subwoofer to be? Should it be inexpensive, and sound as good as possible for the price? Is it a "cost no object" exercise in great sound? Do we want a small subwoofer that performs like a larger one?

YOU NEED the acoustical foundation of a subwoofer to replicate an earth-rumbling movie theater or a spine-tingling concert hall—or to take home gaming sessions to the next level of realism. High-quality bass extends the frequency range of your loudspeakers, providing a more realistic and pleasing listening experience. To help you understand what’s involved in creating the low end, I’ve dissected Velodyne’s Digital DrivePLUS subwoofer. No two subwoofer models are identical, but the parts described here are included in most. Now when you go to complete your sound system by purchasing a subwoofer, you’ll understand the salesperson’s lingo.