Do You Really Need a Subwoofer?

This year, the movie Twisters was everyone’s favourite summer blockbuster. If you’re looking to relive the thrill of nature at home, where you can feel each deep rumble of thunder and even imagine the swirling wind right next to you, then a subwoofer is what you need.

A home audio subwoofer is a specialised speaker designed to reproduce low-frequency sounds between 20 and 200 Hz. It focuses solely on bass, providing depth and richness to the audio that standard speakers struggle to achieve. That’s why, when watching movies through a subwoofer system, you get a more intense, immersive experience of special effects, movements, ambient sounds and dialogues.

We know that subwoofers play a big role in amplifying movie magic, but if your speakers are primarily used for music, do you really need one? Let’s take a look at some common issues faced by music lovers when listening at home:

Common Issues With Home Listening:

  • Lack of depth
  • Imbalance
  • Distortion

Common Issues With Home Listening

We know that subwoofers play a big role in amplifying movie magic but if your speakers are primarily used for music, do you really need one? Let’s take a look at some common issues faced by music lovers when listening at home:

  • Lack of depth: Standard speakers deliver music but lack the deep bass frequencies, resulting in a flat and uninspiring sound.
  • Imbalance: Mid and high frequencies often overpower the lower frequencies.
  • Distortion: Playing bass-heavy tracks at high volumes can affect sound quality and clarity, making your music sound “muddy.”

With the right audio equipment, your favourite pastime can be profoundly elevated. Transform your music listening experience into something truly extraordinary, where the subtleties and depths of your favourite tracks can be fully appreciated. This is where the addition of a subwoofer comes into play. While they excel at enhancing movies, their benefits extend far beyond purely cinematic use.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the difference between a subwoofer and a speaker?

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A:
Frequency 
Size 
Sound quality
Integration
Subwoofer  
Low frequency (20 – 200 Hz) focuses on deep bass notes
Larger, to account for drivers that produce deep bass sounds
Adds depth and fullness 
Used together with regular speakers
Speaker
​​​​​​​Mid and high frequency (60 – 20,000 Hz) focuses on vocals and treble sounds
Flexible, depending on requirements and living space
Produces a broad range of sounds
Can be used alone but often paired with a subwoofer for the best audio quality

Q: Why do I need a subwoofer?

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A: Adding a subwoofer to your home audio setup ensures that you hear and feel the full spectrum of sound in your music. It captures the deep bass that standard speakers often miss, creating a more immersive and satisfying listening experience.

Q: How does a subwoofer improve music sound?

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A: By accurately reproducing low-frequency sounds, music becomes more alive and dynamic. This is particularly noticeable in tracks with heavy bass lines, drum beats or orchestral compositions. Even in genres like hip-hop and classical, where the bass might not take centre stage, a home audio subwoofer can highlight details that are often overlooked, adding a sense of complexity to the music.

Q: Can a normal speaker be used as a subwoofer?

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A: Unfortunately, no. Normal speakers are not designed to handle the low-frequency sounds that a subwoofer specialises in. While regular speakers might attempt to produce low frequencies, they usually result in distortion, which not only sounds terrible but can also damage your speakers. With a subwoofer, you enjoy cleaner, more accurate sound reproduction.

Setting Up Your Subwoofer

This process requires a fair amount of trial and error. Our resident audio experts share some tried-and-tested tips to guide you:

1) Find an ideal location

Often, subwoofers are placed along walls or in corners out of convenience. However, these spots aren’t the best for an optimised home audio setup. Instead, try placing your subwoofer in the middle of the room or near where you usually sit. A setup closer to you reduces the need to fill the entire room with bass energy.

2) Do the subwoofer crawl

Place your subwoofer where your main listening chair usually goes. Play something bass-heavy, then crawl around the room with your head at subwoofer level until you find the spot where it sounds best. You’d be surprised at how well this works; you’ll notice significant changes in the quality and volume of the bass.

3) Consider your room’s finishes

Hardwood or carpet? Hardwood causes more noise to travel (which isn’t great if you have thin walls), while carpet helps absorb sound, preventing your neighbours from hearing everything you listen to. Want to take it up a notch? Consider traps and energy absorbers to improve your bass. Ultimately, the closer an object is to the subwoofer, the more energy it will experience.

4) Two is better than one

This might seem counterintuitive but adding a second subwoofer to your home audio setup can help reduce the amount of bass energy your neighbours hear. The second subwoofer eliminates standing waves (weak bass in your listening area but obtrusive bass elsewhere), pressurising your room to a decent listening level without overworking a single subwoofer.

KEF recommends: Stack it up for next-level bass

For a space-saving trick, try the KSK92 Subwoofer Stacking Kit, which effortlessly merges up to three KC92 subwoofers into a single, powerful unit. Sleek yet sturdy, the durable aluminium frames make stacking easy, allowing you to enjoy higher levels of audio performance without sacrificing valuable floor space.

Straightening Out Phase Issues

Ideally, your speakers should be in phase with each other. When your speakers are out of phase, the signals they produce can cancel each other out, resulting in a noticeable lack of bass. That doesn’t mean your subwoofer system isn’t working, it just means your ears aren’t hearing it. 

Tip 1: Size ratio

The smaller your main speakers are, the closer they should be to your subwoofer. You shouldn’t specifically hear the subwoofer; instead, the bass should feel as if it’s coming from your speakers.

Tip 2: Distance and position

The farther your subwoofer is from your main speakers, the larger the relative phase shift between them. This is why you may need to experiment with placement to achieve your desired sound quality. Try positioning your subwoofer to face your main speakers or set it up at a different angle rather than perfectly aligned. If you’re limited by cable length, consider going wireless.

KEF recommends: Convert your subwoofer to wireless mode

Retain high-quality audio without the hassle of unsightly wires. The KW1 Wireless Subwoofer Adapter Kit delivers audio up to 24bit/48kHz, offering intuitive pairing with multiple subwoofers, so you can place them wherever you like.

Tip 3: Ask a friend for help

Invite a fellow music lover to join you and take turns listening to familiar tracks while flipping the phase switch. After a few tries, you’ll likely notice an increase in bass. You can also use the phase controller to make small adjustments—just be sure to use the same passage from the song to compare the differences.

    KC92: Elegant, Compact And Robust

    Elevate your immersive listening experience with KC92, which delivers remarkably deep and impactful bass with exceptional precision. With its minimal, timeless design, KC92 seamlessly matches any KEF speaker, blending effortlessly into your living space.

    Nestled within the subwoofer is our proprietary Music Integrity Engine (MIE), a suite of in-house coded digital signal processing (DSP) algorithms that allow our wireless HiFi speakers and subwoofers to work in perfect harmony. MIE performs incredibly fast calculations to analyse input signals; for example, the phase correction feature addresses inherent timing issues, while the iBX Intelligent Bass Extension enables our subwoofers to deliver deeper bass and greater dynamics.

    Pair your KC92 with our award-winning LS60 Wireless, LS50 Wireless II or LSX II for the ultimate music listening experience.

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