What is a Custom Subwoofer Enclosure?

After retailing car audio subwoofers for decades, there is little question that the right subwoofer makes a world of difference in a vehicle’s sound system.  Of course to produce great sound, you have to select the correct subwoofer for your specific system.  The challenge comes in selecting the correct subwoofer for your specific car or truck from the hundreds of subs on the market.

Usually the best choice of a subwoofer will be made after considering the space available for your installation.  Through the years, I’ve met many shoppers after they had made the wrong decision and were unhappy with the results.  While car audio subwoofers are available today in sizes from six to fifth teen inches in diameter, shoppers are sometimes surprised at the volume produced by even the smallest of subs.  Nothing will effect the subwoofer’s performance more then matching it to the correct enclosure.

Available space usually dictates the size sub box that can be installed.  The best vehicle installations usually include a custom subwoofer enclosure.  A custom-fit subwoofer enclosure is a sub box that has been made to fit in an “out of the way” location and usually results in a factory look when installed.

A great alternative to custom fit is a fiberglass subwoofer enclosure.  Your choice of sealed or ported will be governed by the specifics of the subwoofer you select.  The easiest way to shop for a universal subwoofer enclosure is to check your box measurements.  While ported enclosures generally produce louder bass, they also require more space then sealed boxes.  So measure your install area first, match a subwoofer that you like to the boxes volume or air space.

After the selection of sub and enclosure, you have to find an appropriate subwoofer amplifier.  Again you have to check your subwoofer’s spec sheet to determine the proper power requirements.  Don’t allow this procedure to deter you from adding a sub, the results are worth the effort.  As you might guess, there are several variables in the selection process that I can’t discuss here.  Be sure to click through to see detailed articles on selecting the correct components for a subwoofer installation.