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Active subwoofer
A subwoofer
speaker of varying design that has a
built-in amplifier, making for
straightforward and compact
installation. Kenwood active subs
also feature remote controllers for
ease of adjustment.
Box volume
This measurement,
listed with each component
subwoofer, tells you the recommended
interior volume in cubic feet that a
box should have to get the best
sound from the sub. A variation of
10-20 percent is generally
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Dual voice coil
By incorporating two 4 ohm voice
coils into one speaker, Dual Voice Coil technology
enables the same woofer to be used as a 2 ohm or 8
ohm impedance unit simply by changing it's wiring
connection. This allows the speaker to be used in
the widest variety of combinations and
configurations.
Enclosure types
| Sealed
Box -A sealed box is simply an
airtight enclosure housing your
subwoofer. A sealed box is best for
any music that demands tight,
accurate bass. Expect flat response,
deep bass extension, and excellent
power handling. A sealed box tends
to need more power than a ported
box. So, be sure you use an
amplifier with ample wattage to get
the most bass out of your sealed
box. |
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| Ported
Box - A ported box uses a vent
(called a port) which allows
movement of air in and out of the
chamber behind the subwoofer. This
additional air movement reinforces
low bass response. You get more
output from a ported box than you
would from a sealed box at any given
amplifier wattage. Some people
prefer the sound of ported boxes for
rock, heavy metal, or any
hard-driving music because they are
a bit boomier than sealed boxes. |
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| Free-air
Subwoofers — A free-air system
consists of woofers mounted to a
board attached to the rear parcel
shelf or placed in the boot against
the rear seat. The boot acts as the
enclosure housing the subwoofer.
Free-air systems save space and have
flat frequency response. The woofer
must be specifically designed for
free-air use, and the vehicle's boot
must be airtight for the best
results. |
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Frequency Range
The range of sounds from lowest
to highest that the subwoofer is capable of
reproducing. The figures listed with the drivers are
supplied by Kenwood. The actual range you'll hear
can vary depending upon the type of box and vehicle
the subwoofer is installed in. Under most
circumstances, a typical sub will play deeper than
its published figures indicate. So, don't base your
choice solely on this spec.
Peak Power
The amount of power the subwoofer
can handle as a brief burst during a musical peak.
You should not drive your subwoofer continuously
with wattage equal to the peak power rating.
Power Range
An external power amplifier is
required to drive any raw component subwoofer. Don't
try to drive one with your receiver's built-in amp.
The low number listed is the absolute bare minimum
wattage required to get acceptable sound from the
subwoofer. For best results use an amp that provides
a power level (RMS, or continuous watts) in the
upper part of the subwoofer's recommended range
(RMS).
Powered Subwoofer
see 'Active Subwoofer' above
Sensitivity
This spec is quoted in dB SPL
(Sound Pressure Level) The higher the number, the
more efficient the subwoofer is at turning amplifier
power into sound. Sealed box woofers tend to be less
efficient than those designed for use in ported,
bandpass or free-air applications, but they do offer
you extended deep bass and high power handling
capability.
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Shaped Diaphragm
The unique
Kenwood shaped diaphragm brings
radical new design to the strength
and rigidity of the diaphragm
itself. This high rigidity enables
the woofer to produce stable bass
sound without distortion at even the
highest power levels.
Conventional
woofer diaphragms natural resonance
is at about 100Hz - Kenwood's new
design shifts this resonance up to
170Hz, far above the useable bass
frequency range where it cannot
cause distortion. This also results
in improved power-linearity. The
result for the listener is tighter
and more powerful bass sound with
minimised resonance. |
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Conventional sub diaphragm
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Kenwood's shaped diaphragm
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Brand
A
Brand
B
Kenwood
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Voice coil
The voice coil is the coil of
wire in a loudspeaker that creates a magnetic field.
With the help of other speaker components, the voice
coil converts electrical signals into mechanical
energy which is used to produce sound. The voice
coil former is the part of the speaker around which
the voice coil is wound. Many of the speakers on
this site offer a heat-resistant voice coil to
prolong speaker life. |