Woofer speaker drivers for DIY Hi-Fi projects

What are woofers?

Woofers are additional speakers for a deep bass range. The distinction is in the way the woofer is used or in the woofer itself. A (sub)woofer reproduces the lowest frequencies that other speakers cannot reach at full volume. While some media may not have much information about deep bass, many types of hip-hop, rock, jazz, classical or electronica rely heavily on low-frequency content. Using a (sub)woofer helps to fill out the sound and in these cases provides a more realistic experience. At SoundImports, you can buy different types of woofers from numerous brands such as Dayton Audio, GRS, HiVi, Morel, PURIFI, SB Acoustics and many more! You can also find woofers that are part of a complete DIY speaker kit!

What is the difference between an active and passive woofer?

You can distinguish between 2 types of woofers: active and passive woofers. An active subwoofer is equipped with a built-in amplifier that recognises low-level information and, as a rule, contains electronic crossovers. A passive subwoofer contains a woofer in an enclosure without amplification. Using an active subwoofer generally gives better results due to its more centralised control in coordinating output levels and coordinating the crossover point between the subwoofer and the loudspeaker.

Which T/S parameters are relevant for woofers?

For woofers, the T/S parameters Fs, Qts, VAS and Xmax are vital because they help determine for which enclosure or alignment the specific woofer is best suited and which can help predict the low-frequency response.

What different woofers are there?

We have many different types of woofers in our range at SoundImports. Besides the 3 main type woofers, subwoofers and full-range woofers, you will find bass-midwoofers, mid-range woofers, passive radiators and micro speakers. A raw speaker or driver we call a subwoofer has a limited frequency response that often does not exceed around 400 Hz. Since frequencies below 20 Hz cannot be aurally perceived, at a fundamental level only a single subwoofer is needed. On the other hand, a woofer is a larger driver for all or only the mid-bass range. A standard woofer can have a frequency response that quickly reaches the mid-range frequencies or higher. A full-range woofer is an 'all-in-one' driver with the aim of reproducing as much of the audible frequency spectrum as possible.

What is the difference between a woofer and a subwoofer?

Both terms are used almost synonymously and there is a grey area between the two. The difference could be the woofer itself or how it is used. In general, a raw speaker or driver, which we call a subwoofer, has a low-frequency response range that sometimes does not extend beyond around 400 Hz. A typical "woofer" will easily exceed 2500 Hz or is more generous in frequency response. If you want to try to achieve good high-frequency performance, this can generally lead to poor low-frequency capability and load capacity. On the other hand, it would not work well at higher frequencies to create an efficient subwoofer with ultra-low-frequency capability and high power.

Do I need a woofer?

The short answer is yes. Although a subwoofer may be optional with its narrow frequency range, a woofer is a core part of almost every DIY speaker kit (exceptions might be a flat-panel speaker you build with exciters). The reason for this is the wide frequency range. If you don't install a woofer in your speaker and only work with a tweeter, you will miss a lot of "depth" in your music. This is why a woofer is crucial. But: don't forget that there is a wide variety of woofers! You can also opt for a full-range woofer.