Powered Subwoofer

If you are assembling a home theater, plan on including a powered subwoofer. Many Dolby Digital and DTS soundtracks provide a dedicated channel of deep bass (sometimes known as low frequency effects, or LFE). This bass is what makes the entire soundtrack feel larger, fuller, and more lifelike — and gives special effects like thunder or explosions their window-rattling punch.

Since most speakers can't deliver that level of bass on their own, a subwoofer is needed to ensure that your home theater system delivers crucial low-frequency impact. A subwoofer is also a wonderful way to enrich music listening — it can round out all types of music, from classical to jazz to rock to R&B.

What to look for:

• Power java script:void(0)r. If you have a large room (or if you just crave that serious bass content) then you should look for a sub with more watts in the built-in amp. Plus, as a general rule, the larger the driver, the deeper the bass — so go for a sub with a big 10" or 12" woofer cone (or a multi-woofer sub) for serious bass response.
• Placement. Low frequency sound waves are omni-directional, so you have a great deal of flexibility when it comes to subwoofer placement. If you have a spot in your room picked out, consider the dimensions of the sub's cabinet to make sure it will fit. And remember that placing your sub near a wall, or, even better, in a corner, can increase bass impact noticeably.
• Video-shielding. If you are planning to place your subwoofer anywhere near a tube TV, be certain to get a video-shielded sub.

by Julie Govan