| Subwoofers, or "woofers," have always seemed | | | | subwoofer installation in cinemas. That system was |
| quintessentially masculine to me. I suppose it's because | | | | succeeded by the Dolby Stereo 70 mm Six Track, |
| of all the young men I've met who have shown me | | | | which was in turn followed by Altec's dedicated |
| their car trunks, the entire interiors of which have been | | | | cinema subwoofer model, the 8182. Today, the THX |
| taken up with gigantic speakers. Yet as silly as it can | | | | certification qualifications define the parameters for |
| sometimes seem, the subwoofer is an important part | | | | audio systems in the cinema, including subwoofer |
| of any high quality music reproduction system. | | | | requirements. These requirements help to ensure that |
| First created in the 1960s, the subwoofer was | | | | when "the audience is listening," they enjoy what they |
| developed in response to complaints about a lack of | | | | are hearing. |
| bass response in electrostatic speakers. For the first | | | | In addition to commercial applications, almost all modern |
| decade or so, these loudspeakers were known only to | | | | home theatre audio systems feature a subwoofer |
| music professionals and the truly dedicated fans. Then, | | | | supplemented by two to five small "satellite" speakers. |
| in 1974, the movie Earthquake was released in | | | | The advantage of having a subwoofer as part of an |
| Sensurround. In the seventeen theatres where it was | | | | audio system is that it allows the satellite speakers to |
| shown, six very large subwoofers driven by a pair of | | | | be smaller without sacrificing low frequency capability. |
| 1600 watt amplifiers were used to simulate the sounds | | | | In a domestic setting, the subwoofer is usually |
| and effects of an actual earthquake. This movie and | | | | separated from the other speakers and is often |
| its use of sound were responsible for bringing | | | | hidden in a cabinet or other piece of furniture. For |
| subwoofers to the public's attention. | | | | optimum low frequency sound, experts recommend |
| Then in the late 1980s, the advent of the commonly | | | | that the subwoofer be placed in a corner of the room, |
| used compact cassette made it possible to add more | | | | far from large room openings and close to the listener. |
| low frequency content to recordings. The result was | | | | As previously mentioned, the automobile is the other |
| that subwoofers became increasingly popular in | | | | popular place for subwoofer use among the general |
| domestic settings. Since that time, there has been an | | | | populace. Because of their size, most car subwoofers |
| ever increasing popularity for subwoofers in home | | | | end up in the back seat or, more commonly, in the |
| stereo systems, home theatre audio systems, and car | | | | trunk. In such an application, due to the typically small |
| audio systems. Today, it is almost impossible to go to a | | | | space of a car's interior, it is actually possible for a |
| professional concert or music venue that does not | | | | subwoofer to produce dangerously high levels of |
| utilize the unmistakable resonances of at least one | | | | sound pressure. Over time, such situations can lead to |
| subwoofer. | | | | hearing loss or tinnitus, which is usually indicated by an |
| The introduction of Sensurround sparked a trend of | | | | unidentifiable ringing or buzzing in an individual's ears. |