Sealed vs ported, and how low is low enough
A subwoofer’s job is the bass you feel. The enclosure type and its low-frequency reach decide whether that bass is tight, deep, or both.
Sealed or ported — which subwoofer should you get?
Sealed for music, mixed use and control; ported for maximum movie bass per dollar. Sealed subwoofers roll off gently, so they keep contributing usable output below their rated limit and tend to sound tight and controlled. Ported designs use a tuned vent to play deeper and louder from the same amplifier, which is exactly what movie soundtracks reward — but below the port’s tuning frequency their output falls off a cliff. Neither is “better”; they’re tuned for different jobs — and in a small room or apartment the balance tips toward sealed, which our apartment-subwoofer guide explains through room gain.
How low does a subwoofer need to go?
A sub rated down to 20 Hz reproduces the sub-bass you feel more than hear — the rumble under a spaceship flyover. One that stops at 30 Hz covers nearly all music and most movie content but softens the lowest effects. Deeper extension demands a bigger box and more power, so match the spec to what you actually watch. And remember your main speakers only need to reach the crossover — typically 80 Hz — because the sub carries everything below it.
Are two subwoofers better than one?
In most rooms, yes. Every room has spots where bass piles up and spots where it vanishes, and one sub can’t fix that — your seat is either lucky or it isn’t. Two modest subs placed apart average out those peaks and nulls, giving smoother, more even bass across the whole couch. Given the choice between one $1,000 sub and two $500 subs, the pair wins in most rooms.