Why do Subwoofers Have Magnets? Explained!

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You may have heard about different types of speakers, and if you did, you may also know that subwoofers are the most famous ones, right? Well, subwoofers are definitely one of the most famous types of speakers that are in use by many people all around the world. A subwoofer is a speaker, which mostly deals with the low frequencies of the sound, and as it is said, a subwoofer is for those people that love to feel the music instead of just listening to it.

However, we are here for something else! There are the parts of a subwoofer that has brought you here in this article, looking for the answer to the question: Why do subwoofers have magnets? Well, you are more than at the right place! In this article, I will answer to you this question, and also, I will add some more important information about subwoofers in general.

Without further ado, let us get straight to the main point and find out why subwoofers have magnets!

Table of Contents

Parts of a Subwoofer

Whenever owning any type of device, the ones that have to do with the sound, you guys should know the parts that they own and what is their job, do they bring anything to that particular device. Well, it is important to mention that subwoofers have a lot of parts too, and I would like to mention some of the most important ones. They go as follows:

Bottom Plate
Magnets
Basket
Voice Coil
Spider
Surround
Cone
Dust Cap

Why do Subwoofers Have Magnets?

Now, here we came to the most important part and the main question of this article. Why do subwoofers have magnets? What is the purpose? What do they do? Well, let us see and find out more about them!

A subwoofer is the main and the most important part of a subwoofer. Whenever you press play, in order to listen to anything on your subwoofer, it is the magnet(s) that is in charge of creating a magnetic field that brings vibrations. Those vibrations, then proceeded to the voice coil, create the sound that we listen to! If there will be no magnet, there’s no sound! Also, when there is a stronger movement of the magnetic field the louder a subwoofer is, so a magnet plays an important role on a subwoofer and it is definitely the main part, which basically brings the sound to you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are magnets necessary in a subwoofer?

As previously mentioned, a magnet has a quite important job on subwoofers and their job is quite important. So, the answer to this question would be yes, a magnet is a super necessary part of a subwoofer that is completely related to the sound that you will listen to and it sure affects sound quality.

Do other types of speakers have magnets?

Just as in subwoofers, magnets are found in different other speakers as well. Floorstanding, studio monitors, and whatever that may come to your mind right now own at least one magnet. It is always added behind the cone of the speaker.

Are there different types of magnets?

In fact, there are! Magnets in speakers come in three types. Ferrite magnets, alnico magnets, and neodymium magnets.

Ferrite Magnets

Ferrite magnets are the most affordable types of magnets that you can find all over the world. They are used in different speakers starting from the smallest ones, to the bigger ones. A ferrite magnet includes ceramic and iron, and they are quite durable magnets, which can be used in fridges, electric motors, and speakers as well.

Alnico Magnets

In alnico magnets is a combination of different substances. They include aluminum, nickel, cobalt, iron, copper, and also titanium. However, I wouldn’t say that these magnets are the most used ones. They were used at a time, but it seems like right now, they are not found in any type of speaker anymore.

Neodymium Magnets

The last type of magnets that are used in speakers stand the neodymium ones. They are definitely the most used type of magnet in different speakers, but you should also know that these types of magnets are the most expensive ones. They are the most durable ones as well when compared to other types of magnets, and it is a combination of iron, neodymium, and boron. Subwoofers, in general, mostly work with a neodymium magnet.

Is a bigger magnet a better one?

There are some things in which size matters and somewhere in which it doesn’t. However, when it comes to speaker magnet sizes, they are totally up to the size of the speaker and it doesn’t mean that a speaker should have a bigger magnet in order to perform better. Even if there may be the smallest magnet on earth, if it is able to vibrate enough to move the voice coil, it is the best. But, you should always have in mind that a bigger magnet produces a louder sound.

Do headphones have magnets?

You may know that headphones work with drivers, and there are different headphone drivers starting from the size and to the material that they are made of. Well, headphones use magnets as well and they are found on the headphones’ drivers! Basically, thinking about the way that the sound is created in headphones, it goes the same as in speakers, via the magnetic field produced along the vibrations.

Final Words, Conclusion

Coming through the end of this article, I really hope that you guys really understood how important is the job of a magnet in a subwoofer! Basically, without a magnet, a subwoofer cannot perform and deliver the sound as you wish to be delivered. There is movement, and that movement creates the sound that you will be listening to, also there is loudness, and that high volume is brought by these parts.

Still, you guys should know that the other parts that I mentioned at the beginning of this article are important as well, and without them, a magnet cannot do its job!

Have fun!