What do all these specs actually mean?

[xmakeafistx 10+ year member]

I always wondered what specs I should be looking at when it comes to purchasing a woofer, which specs mean what, how that will help the woofer, make it sound louder, sound better, etc.

Can someone please help define what all of these numbers mean? Of course I know RMS & sensitivity but I know there is much more to the woofer than that.

Click to read more...

 

[Bassin Buick]

Thiele/Small - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[xmakeafistx 10+ year member]

I don't even.

 

[mast240 10+ year member]

its really hard to explain all the specs on a subwoofer, without ending up writing a novel.... best advice is research brother.... start with bassin bucks post, as that is a really good write up... and then, if you have any questions on a particular spec... ask a question

 

[Kangaroux 5,000+ posts]

All I know, and particularly care about is Qts, Fs and Vas lulz

 

[surreal 10+ year member]

Well for starters, RMS isnt the defacto power handling number, and sensitivity isnt applicable to subwoofers at all.

Enclosure determines all of that. Like everyone else said, do a lot of reading.

 

[xmakeafistx 10+ year member]

I shall study up tonight after work, It seems like quite a bit of reading.

 

[maljr1980 10+ year member]

for those of you who dont understand advanced physics, the higher the msrp the better the sub lol

 

[Kangaroux 5,000+ posts]

for those of you who dont understand advanced physics, the higher the msrp the better the sub lol

I couldn't disagree more lol

 

[xmakeafistx 10+ year member]

lol ^^

 

[hispls 5,000+ posts]

Most TSPs are pretty useless when comparing high powered car audio subwoofers. They will tell you how it will perform in various alignment enclosures to an extent, but really you're also relying a lot on the honesty of the manufacturer for things like power handling and true efficiency if they even offer such particulars.

Start by reading the WIKI page. Also a good read here:

Myths about subwoofers

 

[barbaroja 10+ year member]

how bout searching for everything before you buy in this forum??? there is often someone who already did what you will...

 

[Germ305 10+ year member]

for those of you who dont understand advanced physics, the higher the msrp the better the sub lol

You sir,Fail. Try again.

 

[audioholic 5,000+ posts]

No sub manufacturer that Im aware of publishes a 'true efficiency rating' of a subwoofer, because the standard measuring method for speakers (including subs) is 1w/1m @ 1khz. Since your subwoofer will never see 1khz, the number they publish, even if it is tested 'honestly', is virtually completely irrelevant. And if a manufacturer breaks the mold and tests their subwoofer's efficiency at some freq other than 1khz, then that might be considered a 'true efficiency' rating, but is completely impossible to compare to any other sub on the market (since they are rated at 1khz), thus rendering even that ;true' spec as all but worthless.

And, while most people consider a higher efficiency as 'better', that is simply not true either. Hoffman's Iron Law tells us that many times a less efficient driver will be more desirable than a more efficient one. In car audio at least, where available space is usually a factor in determining enclosure size potential.

This is merely a glimpse into the complexity that overwhelms a person who tries to determine over all characteristics of a speaker's performance by looking at one, or even just a few, of the speaker's specs. The simple answer is, there is no simple answer.

 

[pro-rabbit 5,000+ posts]

I was going to make a huge post about the various "fudge factors" used for the mathematical equations and the history of how they were founded in pro audio and never adjusted(still to this day) to fully be suitable for mobile audio...but that is just way to much for this thread lol...

Lets just say learn what they are and do your own research(if you want) to find what a few us already know haha.