How To Make A Subwoofer Box Louder Easily

how to make a subwoofer box louder

Subwoofers are very popular choices for audiophiles. If you’re new to the concept, a subwoofer is basically a loudspeaker system that can take your speaker setup to the next level.


Sub woofer box is common among sound-fanatics because a great subwoofer can really improve your bass and allow you to feel the music properly. While normal speakers often can’t tune in to really low frequencies, a subwoofer is a stellar performer, and any sound between 20-200 Hz can easily be reproduced by a sub.

But getting the audio equation just right can be a bit tricky. You may need to fiddle with your subwoofer a bit to get that ideal sound. So this article is going to guide you through how to make a subwoofer box louder.

How to make a subwoofer box louder

When it comes to figuring out how to make a subwoofer box sound better even without an amplifier, there are a couple of things you can do. I'll list some steps below for achieving this loud sound. Follow them correctly, and you will have those bass tunes ringing in no time!

  • Position your subwoofers properly:

When it comes to making sub boxes louder, where you’re placing your setup plays a huge role. Of course, you should try and experiment with different spots in a room (or a car), and if you get the result you like, then you don’t need to worry about anything else. 


But if trying out random spots in the house isn’t cutting it, then try these tips.

  • Try placing the subwoofer in the corner, as this gives you an easy 6 dB bass boost without doing much else.
  • If that doesn’t work, make sure you’re placing the subwoofer asymmetrically. Don’t place it at an equal distance between two walls.
  • This is a particularly useful tip if you need to know how to make subwoofers sound better in cars.
  • If you’re at home, placing the subwoofer under furniture (like under a couch for example) can work wonders.

LITTLE TIP:  Choosing the perfect spot for your subwoofer will be more convenient when it includes wireless connectivity. If you are looking for a wireless subwoofer then checkout these recommended subwoofers under 500.

  • Properly tune your subwoofer:

It might be difficult to figure out how to make your subwoofer louder without compromising your speakers. If you’re cranking up your sound controls too high, you might damage your speakers in the long run. especially if your audio system isn’t able to handle such intense bass. Instead, try the following steps:

  • Make sure you tune your controls properly and listen to the output carefully.
  • If you find that the speakers and subwoofer frequencies are competing, that’ll affect the overall bass sound.
  • Keep your subwoofer’s volume control somewhere in the midrange, particularly if you have an older sound system. This should still give you a loud sound.
  • If your sub has LPF (low-pass filter) controls, set that to a high frequency.
  • Adjust the onboard level controls, so that the sub isn’t stuck at a low AVR (Automatic Voltage Regulator) value.
  • Adjust crossover and phase settings:

If you’re confused about crossover frequency, it’s the frequency at which your speakers hand the job over to the subwoofer. That’s how you can access those great bass notes and LFEs (low-frequency effects). So when it comes to how to make a sub box louder, you do have to make some adjustments when it comes to crossover and phase settings.

CROSSOVER AND PHASE SETTINGS

First, let’s tackle phase settings.

  • Subwoofers with box speakers should face the same direction.
  • If your subwoofers aren’t in phase with each other, the bass effects from each speaker will get canceled out. This won’t give you a very good sound.
  • If you can’t switch speaker wires, check if you have a switch for ‘Phase’.
  • Listening carefully to the sound, flip the switch to either 0 or 180. When you like what you’re hearing, you’re on the right track.

Now, let’s move on to adjusting crossover settings.

  • If you’ve got a modern sound system, it should be able to set the crossover settings properly on its own. If you’re happy with the sound, don’t mess with it.
  • On the other hand, if you’re unhappy with what you’re hearing and the bass isn’t loud enough, try setting the crossover at 10 Hz higher than what your speakers can handle (on the lower end of the scale).
  • Adjust the volume of your main speaker accordingly, and play!
  • Fill your box with polyfill material:

If you’re wondering how to make a sealed box louder, we can help you there too! Polyfill is a synthetic fiber that’s often used in mattresses in pillows. It’s also used in the audio industry to enhance sound. It will help you get great bass results from the subwoofer.

So let’s walk you through how to make a subwoofer box louder using poly-fill.

FILL WITH POLYFILL
  • Around 0.8 to 1lb of poly-fill per cubic foot (of your enclosure) is a good amount to be working with. If you’re building your own sub box, try to pack the poly-fill in nicely, and don’t put in too much or too little. A balanced amount is best.
  • Avoid overfilling your box.
  • If you’ve got a box that’s around 2.5-3 cubic feet, don’t use more than 1.5lbs of poly-fill per foot. For larger boxes, 1lbs per foot will be sufficient.
  • The increased volume within the box will encourage sound to travel faster, thus giving you an enhanced bass!
  • Use high-quality audio files:

Of course, audio quality matters, whether you’re playing your music through an auto box speaker or a set of home studio speakers. While you might think you’re playing top-quality music files, you might not be aware of the nature of your audio files.

HIGH-QUALITY AUDIO FILES
  • When you’re listening to music through your earphones, you might not have any problems. But listening to the same track through your speakers might disappoint you.
  • When listening through speakers, you’re automatically picking a clearer, more coherent medium, so any sound issues are easier to notice.
  • A lot of music nowadays is released as a compressed file. As a result, the quality of the music is compromised. This is why you might be dissatisfied when you’re listening to that music through your speakers.
  • Luckily, there are solutions! Picking audio files that have the highest bit rate is a good bet.
  • Try to go for lossless/compressed audio files, such as .flac and .aiff formats. 
  • In case your music settings aren’t properly set up to play high-quality music, adjust them.
  • If you play music through certain apps, then make sure you’re streaming high-quality music. You can usually adjust this in the app settings.
  • Place sound dampening materials:

Vibrations within the subwoofer box can lower the overall volume of the bass. Try placing sound dampening materials within the box to muffle the vibrations and allow the music to shine through. Acoustic foam is a good option. You can also try placing the subwoofer on an isolation pad, but that can be expensive.

  • Try to replace the cables:

If your sound system has old wires, then switching them out for newer ones is the way to go. Even newer wires can fail sometimes and might need replacements. If you’re building your own sub box, it’s best to start with new wires and check them regularly.

  • Move your subwoofer from the floor:

Isolation pads can be a bit expensive, but you can buy one to place your subwoofer on if you’re wondering how to make subwoofer boxes louder. When the subwoofer is on the floor, the vibrations tend to overpower the output. Instead of going for an isolation pad, you can also just place it at a height or on a mat, to effectively dampen some of the vibrations.

What if subwoofer is in a sealed enclosure or custom box

If you’re looking to build a ported subwoofer box, we have some tips for you. When it comes to how to make subwoofer boxes louder, you actually have a lot more control over the results if you’re looking to build one from scratch.

  • Make a custom ported subwoofer box:

If you’re worried about how to build a ported sub box, don’t fret! This is the most important step, and it’s simple if you keep some things in mind.

CUSTOM PORTED SUBWOOFER BOX
  • The subwoofer box itself is the most vital component. It’s going to affect how your bass is going to sound more than anything else.
  • A ported design for a sub box is a great idea, and it doesn’t completely enclose the box.
  • Tune the port (at around 50 Hz).
  • You can model your box on 12” enclosures which can deliver some pretty good bass.
  • Fill with polyfill:

You may be wondering how to increase bass in subwoofer box systems that are ported, since the fact that they’re not entirely enclosed can be an issue.

As mentioned earlier, polyfill is a great tool in this case as well! It can help to amplify bass. Start with a thick layer of polyfill at the bottom of the enclosure, and build up lighter layers as you go. Seal the layers with a bit of cotton gauze at the top (you can use glue, but sparingly), to keep the fibers in place.

  • Choose a sturdier material box:

Make sure you pick sturdy materials if you’re looking for tips on how to make a ported subwoofer box. Although some strong wood can be good enough for a ported box, sealed boxes, when built with wooden materials, can expand. Stick to MDF or fiberglass if you’re puzzled about how to make a subwoofer in a sealed box louder.

CONCLUSION

There you have it. Now you know all about how to make subwoofer boxes louder, and you can listen to your bass-heavy music without worrying about damaging your speakers. Whether you decide that you need to know how to build a ported sub box or if you just want to buy one online, these tips should help take your bass from mediocre to amazing!


When it comes to how to make a sub box play music the way you want to hear it, you’re basically a certified expert now! Now you can listen to your favorite songs the right way.

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