The capabilities of the many different speakers vary when they handle different notes and sounds. This is the reason why many singers, DJs, and other stage performers use many different kinds of speakers for the show. They will use tweeters, subwoofers, and woofers to achieve a quality sound system.
The common mistake people make with woofers and subwoofers is that they think both are the same. Even if they appear identical, there are some factors in which they differ. Below is an elaborate explanation of where they differ.
Frequency Range
To put it simply, a woofer is a loudspeaker that produces low-frequency sounds. They can range from 40-2,500 Hz. The sounds with very lower frequencies than this cannot get reproduced by the woofer, but a subwoofer can do that job. Generally, the range of a subwoofer is 20-200 Hz.
The woofer’s frequency range is wide, but for a subwoofer, it is narrow. That is why a subwoofer can give you constant bass. For most uses, the frequency range of woofers can be ideal. But it is best to add a subwoofer for music who are into bass because it can produce fuller bass than a woofer.
Size
The size of the woofers is built smaller than the subwoofers. To give low frequencies needs a large volume of air. The device needs a large, powerful magnet and a large cone surface area. This is why the subwoofers are large to give very low frequencies.
Drivers
The powering of woofers and subwoofers differ. Passive bass drivers are woofers that are powered by an external amplifier. You can use the same amplifier as a regular speaker to power the woofers. But the subwoofers are either active or passive-powered. The working of the passive woofers is the same as that of passive subwoofers. Only active subwoofers are different.
Active subwoofers come with their inbuilt amplifier inside the box. For this to work good, it requires a connection with the amplifier. They also require a connection to a power source and the head unit. That is why it is more demanding to set up than its contemporaries.
Power
Generally, a woofer demands less power than a subwoofer. The subwoofers use a lot of power because it takes much of it from the amplifier. Sometimes you may need a capacitor if you are using a subwoofer.
Number of Drivers
Most woofers have either a 2-way or 3-way driver system. The 2-way setup has a tweeter and a woofer are the 2 drivers of the speaker. Meanwhile, the 3-way setup has a midrange driver, a tweeter, and a woofer. Some models come as a 4-way driver system with an additional driver called super-tweeter.
The subwoofers have only a single-driver system. You can have many subwoofers, but each one will be a single-driver system.
Final thoughts
From the above technical aspects, it is easy to see that woofer and a subwoofer are quite different. So, depending on the kind of bass you want, go for the one that meets your needs.