3 Best Positions for Subwoofers in SUVs:
A subwoofer is an excellent addition to your SUV for a better music experience. However, adjusting the subwoofer placement can enhance your music experience even more if you’re struggling with bad sound quality.
There are many directions and positions you can place your subwoofer. However, after setting up many subwoofers, I’m sharing my experience with the best subwoofer positioning I’ve attained.
Read the whole article to find out best positions for subwoofers in SUVs.
Which Way Should Subwoofers Face in an SUV?
When installing subwoofers, it is essential to consider the speaker’s placement and whether it should face forward or backward. However, below are the most effective ways to face your subwoofers:
1. Subwoofer Facing Upward Direction (Firing-Up):
Installing a subwoofer and having it face upwards can have a noticeably different sound than if the subwoofer were facing down. With the subwoofer having an upward direction, one may experience a more profound, robust bass response with better low-end extension.
When the subwoofer faces up, it is completely exposed to the vehicle’s interior and can use the SUV as a reverberation chamber. Through such installation, you allow sound waves to bounce off all surfaces, leading to better bass response and smoother low-end frequencies.
Additionally, having the subwoofer face up increases mid-range clarity since the reflected sound does not conflict with direct sound.
Overall, having a subwoofer face up will have a fuller, more impactful sound with improved clarity that is better suited for music and bass-heavy applications than if it were facing down.
2. Subwoofer Facing Backward Direction (Firing-Back):
Firing a subwoofer backward can feel like having a powerful bass-filled experience. When it is rear firing, it helps to project the sound to both the front and rear of the vehicle.
The result is a full-bodied sound with plenty of punch you can feel through your body. This kind of sound gives your music a sense of depth and richness.
For those that want to take their car audio experience a step further, firing the subwoofer backward to the SUV’s boot will help to create a much bigger soundstage. All this happens because the woofer can spread the sound out more evenly, giving you a greater sense of space.
Overall, firing a subwoofer backward in an SUV can give you an incredibly immersive car audio experience that is hard to replicate with other methods.
3. Subwoofer Facing Front Direction (Front Firing Subwoofers):
When a subwoofer faces forward to the driver’s seat, it imparts intense bass into the cabin. The sound’s directivity is increased for a dynamic listening experience with improved clarity and detail. It creates a deep, immersive soundstage that you can’t achieve with any other type of subwoofer placement.
The bass output’s volume level is dramatically higher than the rear-facing configuration, meaning you can turn up the music without worrying about rattling your windows.
Additionally, the directional bass output makes it easier to pinpoint where sounds originate from within your vehicle’s cabin, providing a more realistic soundstage when listening to music or movies.
With a subwoofer firing ahead, you can expect a powerful, room-filling sound that will have everyone in the car grooving to the beat.
However, I warn that subwoofers firing frontward can be detrimental if the vehicle’s cabin is not adequately treated for bass waves. The repercussions from these deep frequencies can cause objects to vibrate if the cabin doesn’t contain adequate insulation. So it is essential that you correctly insulate the vehicle before installing a subwoofer facing forward.
4. Side-Firing Subwoofer:
When your vehicle subwoofer faces sideways, as shown in the image, it will produce different waves than when it is pointing forward or backward. As a result, the soundscape can be noticeably altered.
The sound waves produced by the side-firing speaker will spread out more widely and create an atmosphere with greater stereo separation. The bass tones will also be more pronounced, providing a complete and dynamic range of sound.
Additionally, because the sound is spread out more evenly in all directions, it can feel like it’s coming from all sides for an enveloping car audio experience. Ultimately, side-firing a subwoofer provides a more immersive experience than when it is pointing in one direction.
However, you would be more likely to install it in the car’s trunk. Also, you can save up trunk space for your other components if you are space-saving conscious.
3 Most Considered Positions to Place Subwoofer in SUV:
There are different positions to place your subwoofer. But as a Car Stereo Expert, below should be the most considered positions for a music enthusiast:
1. Trunk:
The trunk is the best position to place your subwoofer. Most beginners (even experts) prefer to choose this location for placing their subs. Below are the pros and cons of putting your sub in the SUV’s trunk:
Pros
- One of the primary benefits of placing a subwoofer in the trunk is that it allows for more cargo space to work with when creating and designing your sound system (especially for large-sized subwoofers).
- Having your subwoofer in the trunk gives you much easier access to it, making it more straightforward to change out components or fix any issues that may arise.
- Subwoofers in the trunk are also much more effective because they are not hindered by cabin noise and thus can produce a loud, precise bass frequency.
- Finally, having your subwoofer in the trunk of an SUV provides excellent protection from theft or damage to the subwoofer itself.
Cons
- The potential issue with putting your subwoofer trunk is that it can be difficult to properly soundproof the area and prevent rattling or other noise from being heard outside the vehicle.
- Additionally, you may find that your subwoofer can get hot due to the lack of airflow in a closed trunk space, which can harm its performance.
- However, having your subwoofer in the trunk can negatively affect the balance of the sound system ⁽¹⁾, as it will make the bass levels overpower everything else.
- Finally, putting it in the trunk can reduce space for your other goods. If you manage to place other things along with the subwoofer in it, it may damage your sub or affect your sound quality badly.
2. Under the Front Seat:
If I were a person who doesn’t have the space in the trunk, and also I want to hide my subwoofer, I would consider the subwoofer installed under the SUV’s seat. However, I’ve written some of the pros and cons below:
Pros
- It is incredibly convenient as it allows for easy installation and provides a significant boost in sound quality (If paired well with other door speakers) due to the extra space available.
- The subwoofer will be well-protected from potential damage or exposure to dust or other debris that could otherwise damage the unit over time.
Cons
- Due to potential air restrictions, it can be challenging to achieve the optimum bass level from a subwoofer placed under the front seat.
- If not correctly installed, the position may cause sound quality irregularities due to the subwoofer’s vibrations affecting other components.
- Placing a subwoofer under the front seat or even the back seat may cause further noise pollution due to sound leaking from gaps in the seating area and even into other cars on the road.
- You may face some challenges if you want to repair or replace the components.
- You may have to install two subwoofers (one under the driver’s seat and the other under the co) to keep the sound quality balanced.
Note: You can also get subwoofers installed in the rear seats.
3. Behind the Rear Seat Of SUV:
Installing a subwoofer in the back seat is one option for those looking to enhance the sound quality of music. Before beginning this project, taking stock of the vehicle’s physical dimensions and acoustics is essential to choose the right subwoofer and install it properly.
However, the passengers in the back seat will find it very disturbing as the sub will be very close to their place. They may find it challenging to communicate with each other because the frequency output is too close to them. Also, the front or rear placement of the subwoofer has different frequency qualities.
Best Subwoofer Setup in SUV:
Regarding the best subwoofer setup, there are a few key points to consider. First and foremost, you want to ensure that you have selected the correct size subwoofer for your vehicle. If it’s too small, then it won’t be able to produce enough bass; if it’s too big, then it will be too loud and overpowering.
Secondly, you want to ensure that you mount the subwoofer in an ideal location for optimal performance. Depending on your vehicle’s interior layout, I suggest you place the sub behind the rear seats or in cargo space.
With these points in mind, you can set up the perfect subwoofer setup. However, we have the setup list for different music enthusiasts:
For Bass Loving Enthusiasts:
If you are a bass lover, consider installing big-sized subwoofers, such as 12″ or 15″ subs, for the best sound quality. Place the subwoofer right behind the backseat, facing it to the boot. Through this setup, you’ll get the deep bass. However, it can reduce your van’s space.
The Hi-Fi Enthusiast & Audiophile:
Consider installing the 8 or 10-inch subs to hear the texture & detail of each bass note played by the instruments. Placing them in the front-firing position can help you get the most out of your SUV or Cab stereo system.
For Space Savers:
Those who are looking to save space, as well as an excellent sound system in SUVs, should consider the under-seat subwoofers. Placing the subs under the seat will not give such sound & bass quality but will save you the most of space than others. The ideal size is 10″ wide and nearly 3″ tall subwoofer. I’ve covered an article on the underseat subwoofers where I’ve shared my thoughts on whether they are good or not.
General FAQs
How Do You Put a Subwoofer in an SUV?
In order to install a subwoofer in an SUV, you’ll need to choose a suitable location, a compatible amplifier, and a reliable power source. Furthermore, you will have to ground the subwoofer and place it inside an appropriate enclosure type.
Does Car Subwoofer Position Matter?
Yes! subwoofer placement matters a lot. Simply think, if you install it in a location where there are a lot of other components, you will hear rattling and distorted sound. However, you will get a much better music experience if you choose a suitable position for a subwoofer in the car.