Different between passive subwoofers and active subwoofers
Subwoofers are categorized as active and passive.
An active subwoofer means that it has an internal/powered subwoofer. Some brands offer the subwoofer in a sealed enclosure powered by an internal amplifier. This simplifies connection properties and saves time for most users.
It is also known as a powered subwoofer in the audio industry. In contrast, a passive subwoofer should have an extra source to power the unit, thus customizable. Your amplifier must be in a particular position to output and maintain bass effects produced by the sub.
A good amp position reduces the chances of draining the supply of power. It is necessary to merge the subwoofer with the rest of your car audio system. The way you connect a subwoofer to the rest of the equipment is determined by whether it is active or passive.
Sealed Subwoofers vs. Ported Subwoofers
Sealed subs are the perfect choice if you want to produce high-quality bass without sacrificing sound quality or space. They're also great for small cars that need a solution to produce better sounding, tighter music, and they don't have any of those pesky issues related to porting-like noise!
They're also popular with audiophiles who want more accurate reproduction of music. The driver is who manages 100% of the system's output. The cone inside of a sealed subwoofer takes more power to produce the same volume as it would in a comparable ported box.
Ported subwoofers are the best way to get a louder and more powerful bass. For the more discerning bass-head, porting is a must. A ported subwoofer has ports that allow air to escape out of the box (vented).
This means there are two different mechanisms moving air in one box -- which will give you louder and bigger sound from just this single unit! This subwoofer system does not require a lot of amp power.
However, if you have a large subwoofer and want to get the best sound quality, it is recommended that you do. If you're looking to completely upgrade your vehicle audio experience and don't have room for an install, these bad boys will do the trick!
Single Voice Coils vs. Dual Voice Coils
A voice coil is the coil or cable around the tube attached to the apex of the speaker cone. This provides the force to the cone via a magnetic field's reaction to the current passing through it.
Single voice coils
Single voice coils are very popular, and the most common coil that is featured in subwoofers.
It is composed of one length of cable around the former, another name used for the cylinder. To identify a single voice coil in your subwoofer, just check if it has multiple wire entries, which is a positive and negative terminal.
A single voice coil is simple to identify because it has only one set of speaker wire entries.
Dual voice coils
Instead of unidirectional, the dual coils are wound in opposite directions.
The dual coil handles a higher amount of power coming from the amplifier. Users connect them in series or parallel to get more versatility out of the equipment.
The primary difference between single and dual voice coil subwoofers is the multiple wiring options DVC subs offer, which include: parallel wiring, series wiring, or independent wiring.