If you are assembling components for your car stereo, chances are you will be looking for a 10 or 12 inch subwoofer. Subs give you a powerful bass sound, which makes for great driving music. While it's easy to find a high quality car sub (or pair of subs) for under $150, you'll need more than just the speakers. If you are getting a 12 inch subwoofer for your car, the enclosure that you get for it is as important as the speaker itself. Subs are created to deliver low frequency sounds, which are easily cancelled out by surrounding noise. The enclosure you choose for your 10 or 12 inch subwoofer needs to be strong and tight so that you get the full bass that your sub can deliver. One option is a sealed box, which will provide you with accurate and sharp bass. If you want more of a booming bass sound, a ported box may be the better option. Ported enclosures will re-enforce bass response, and are many people's choice for rock music--but the enclosure has to be larger than would be required if you're happy with a flatter response, so you have to pay special attention to the space constraints in your car. For those who truly appreciate music, a bandpass box will allow for maximum bass, an option many audiophiles utilize when listening to hip hop and rock. These two chamber enclosures are big, and you don't want to put just any sub in them--check to make sure that the 12 inch subwoofer you like will be compatible with a bandpass box if you want this huge sound in your car. At the other extreme, a free-air subwoofer uses the trunk of your car as an enclosure, but will give you a flat response in exchange for the no-fuss set-up.
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