There are many speaker drivers available that promise the best features you could ever ask for. However, you should be careful choosing one, as you can end up wasting your money on something not suitable for your needs. Our team did the leg work for you and identified the difference between woofer vs subwoofer. This will help you pick the ideal driver for your audio needs.
What is a Subwoofer?
A subwoofer is a speaker system designed to boost low-pitched audio frequencies. Since they can enhance low-frequency sounds, they also provide constant bass sounds.
A subwoofer has two types: passive subwoofers, and active subwoofers. An active subwoofer has a built-in amplifier on its sound system. On the other hand, the passive subwoofer needs an external amplifier as it only has the loudspeaker enclosure and the speaker driver inside.
What is a Woofer?
A woofer is also a speaker that focuses on the lower part of the audible spectrum. This specialized speaker to play music can also enhance sounds of low frequencies but has a narrower frequency range compared to the subwoofer.
The low-frequency sound that can be heard from the woofer is likened to that of the dog’s “woof.” They are usually called a bass speaker as they are responsive only to acoustic lower frequencies.
Features Compared
To help you in deciding which speaker to buy, our team of experts summarized all the necessary information you need to successfully purchase one.
Size
Size is one significant difference between a woofer vs subwoofer. A subwoofer box is typically designed to be larger than a woofer due to the frequency range it needs to achieve. As it is required to produce low-frequency sound, it has to be more significant.
The large size of the box and the subwoofer driver is needed to move a lot of air while maintaining the low-frequency ranges of 20 Hz to 120 Hz.
Woofers are now usually as large as the car subwoofer. Even if large woofers are available, they still cannot produce sounds of the lowest frequencies and lowest bass notes as subwoofers can.
Frequency Response
The frequency range of woofers and subwoofers differ significantly.
Woofers cover a more comprehensive range of frequencies, typically from 40Hz to 2000Hz. It’s more wider frequency range is recommended for a large set of applications, and if you are planning to have a sound system with more than two speakers, then woofers are for you.
They are also called mid-woofers or midrange drivers where they can produce mid-range frequencies as well as higher frequencies than subwoofers. They are used in car sound systems and other portable systems that don’t need the lowest frequencies with that frequency range.
Subwoofers, on the other hand, have lower frequency ranges of about 20Hz to 200Hz. Its low-frequency drivers can reproduce frequencies that woofers are not able to achieve. The low pass filter [1] prevents it from playing frequencies higher than 200Hz.
Unlike woofers, they can achieve lower frequencies, so users who play the music with a lower bass line choose them. They are also commonly seen in home theater systems because most viewers look for the bass response and sound quality that a subwoofer can produce.
Power
The differences in the lower frequency range between the subwoofer and the woofer dictate the differences in their power handling.
Since subwoofers can produce the lower frequency of the two, the amplifier output is more extensive. This means that it consumes more power to make the multiple drivers work.
The low frequencies produced by the subs are larger sound waves, so there is higher power consumption needed to move them and produce the best quality sound.
On the other hand, woofers need less power since they move sound waves smaller because of high frequencies.
Mechanism
A typical woofer consists of a cone driven by the voice coil. A magnetic field surrounds the voice coil. Its one speaker driver moves when electricity flows through the voice coil and magnet.
Most woofers are part of the primary speaker system to produce low-frequency audio. They are also passive bass drivers needing an external amplifier to power them.
Unlike woofers, subwoofers cannot be used alone. They are typically made of one or more woofers mounted in an enclosure. This enclosure, or box, is strong enough to withstand the constant air pressure moving inside to produce the sub-bass.
Hence, a subwoofer is called a specialized woofer. They can also be classified as active subwoofers or passive subwoofers.
Drivers
Typically, a subwoofer is a single driver system given that it wants to achieve a narrower spectrum of frequencies. Woofers have multiple driver systems, which typically include midrange and high-range drivers to achieve a more dynamic sound quality.
Crossover
Subwoofers like the Acoustic Audio PSW-10 usually have a crossover system built into them. However, woofers typically don’t have this system included. To avoid distorted sounds and unclear bass, the user can adjust the crossover setting in the subwoofer. However, if you still fail to get the sound quality you want, you should get a more spacious subwoofer box or add another car amp.
How They Power the Driver
As woofers are designed as passive drivers, they need an external amplifier to power them. There is the need to connect the woofer to the amplifier’s output for it to produce sounds.
Subwoofers are built either passive or active. Passive subwoofers work just like woofers. Active subwoofers have built-in amplifiers inside the sub box. This amplifier can boost the audio signals from the head unit and reproduce them in the box.
The active subwoofer needs to be connected to the head unit and in the power source to produce its narrow range of frequencies.
Price
The woofer system is more straightforward, so its price is also lower than that of the subwoofer. A woofer’s price range typically ranges from around $30 to $50, while a subwoofer is around $160 or higher.
FAQ
Are a woofer and subwoofer the same?
A woofer and a subwoofer are not the same. Woofers cover frequencies from 40Hz to 2000Hz and are considered general low-frequency speakers. Subwoofers can produce sounds of 20Hz to 200Hz. Subwoofers are also enclosed in a strong box, typically made of wood, capable of withstanding air pressure moving inside the box. Woofers are not enclosed in a box.
Can I replace a woofer with a subwoofer?
Yes, you can replace a woofer with a subwoofer. Replacing woofer with a subwoofer is possible if you aim to produce lower bass notes. However, replacing it with a subwoofer means that you won’t listen to audio channels with higher frequency.
Conclusion
Our sound engineers summarized the differences between woofer vs subwoofer so you will know what to buy according to your specifications. Woofers can produce low to mid-range frequencies, while subwoofers produce the lowest notes. Subs are also larger, more expensive, and have higher energy consumption. By knowing these differences, you can choose which one is ideal for your home theater system setup.
For related pages, you can also check the list below:
