Square Subwoofers vs Round Subwoofers

by DoItYourself Staff

Round or square subwoofers are self-contained loudspeakers available in 8- and 21-inch diameters. The purpose of a subwoofer is to recreate bass frequencies which are low in pitch. Subwoofers are used as a way to augment the other speakers in your system. You'll find subwoofers in many design characteristics including square subwoofers. The first subwoofer was developed in the '60s to add bass to the home stereo system. The use of subwoofers, however, became more popular in the '70s when Sensurround was introduced for use in movies. Out of all of the sizes of subwoofers on the market the two that are widely seen are round subwoofers and square subwoofers. The following article will help to discern which of these two are the best for your needs.

Aesthetically Pleasing

The first thing that most people consider when purchasing speakers is how they look. Is the case the right color? Will wood or a smooth finish work better in a media room? Choosing a subwoofer is no different than choosing an entire speaker setup. Round and square subwoofers are often chosen based on their size and shell first and function second. Square subwoofers will look better in a sleek and contemporary environment. Round subwoofers are more vintage and offer a classic look to your setup.

Wide Availability

Supply and demand are always an issue when buying anything and subwoofers are not immune. Round subwoofers can be found at every store that sells speakers. It is the industry standard despite advantages that square subwoofers may have over round subwoofers. Square subwoofers follow the same standards and come in 10-inch, 12-inch, 15-inch and so on. Even if you want square subwoofers you may need to purchase them from an online source.

Volume and Sound Pressure Level

If you were a fan of the cult classic "This is Spinal Tap" you can now answer the question posed in the film by being able to go to 11. Even though round and square subwoofers are actually the same size they are not the same sound. Square subwoofers provide a higher volume and SPL. If your listening space is small then square subwoofers can equalize that space and you can make the most out of it by buying smaller square subwoofers. This added volume is due to the shape of the cone as it uses. The cone inside square subwoofers uses more of the surface area than round subwoofers.

Sound Quality

Just because subwoofers generate more sound does not mean that the sound quality is better. This is sometimes very hard to tell when you are listening. Square subwoofers may hit hard and loud but the quality of the sound is not as crisp as round subwoofers. The very thing that causes square subwoofers to be louder is the same thing that causes the quality to suffer. The sound waves hit the corners of the cone area which causes the sound to ricochet, causing the quality to suffer. Round subwoofers do not have corners so the fidelity is much higher.