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Have you ever wondered at those big subwoofers people have in their homes as part of the stereo system? Gee, you think, that wouldn’t fit into my house even if I can pay for it. Well, friend, you have put your finger down on the problem. Necessary as they are to the enjoyment of rich sound quality, subwoofers are large, unsightly objects that annoy the hell out of interior decorators. The solution to this dilemma is, obviously, to keep subwoofers out of sight – in the walls, for example.

The Basics

In-wall subwoofers are just normal ones, with one major difference: they don’t come with cabinets. Instead, they are mounted on special frames and use the wall cavity as the cabinet. Regardless of whether the issues are about esthetics or floor space, more and more people are being driven to hide their sound systems without losing the benefit of great sound quality, and you can see why. The average person doesn’t want their house to look like Circuit City all the time. In fact, that may the reason you are hesitating about whether to get it in the first place. In-wall subwoofers solve this problem by tucking away the clutter into the walls, away from reproving eyes.

First things first: Brands to consider

While in-wall subwoofers are still a relatively new trend, you will still have a sizeable array of brands to choose from. You should really keep in mind that you can’t hope to hit bull’s eye by choosing the ‘right’ brand. It’s not like that. Instead, what you can do is get a list of all the brands available and, with the help of experienced users (talking to acquaintances, participating in online forums, etc.), whittle it down to a few which are known for good performance. Some of the notable brands are Polk Audio, JBL, Velodyne and Sonance.

Installation

This is the part where you need to wary. With normal free-standing subwoofers, you have the option of lugging them around if the sound doesn’t suit you. But the in-wall version doesn’t leave any room for experimentation. The placement has to be just right, or you’ll be left with a big, useless hole in the wall and irritated occupants of the house. The best advice in this case is: never do the installation all by yourself. Let professionals handle it.

What’s the catch?

To be honest, there are no catches really. Just a few simple facts. Firstly, you need to be aware that in-wall subwoofers are a compromise: it is the balancing off of square footage (or esthetics) against decent sound quality. Although good brand choice and proper installation can guarantee a good performance, in-wall subwoofers will never deliver sound as great as their free-standing counterparts. If this is a trade-off you are not willing to make, it is better to abandon your efforts rather than regret it later.
One more thing. The sound produced by sub-woofers inside the walls can damage the structure of your house. Thankfully, technological advancements have provided us with techniques to contain damaging vibrations, meaning that you no longer need to worry about music literally bringing down the house. Just make sure the system you buy employs those techniques.

Conclusion

In-wall subwoofers offer you middle road between home theater entertainment and real-world décor. It is a big consideration for buyers, which explains why the market for these products is growing rapidly. Don’t simply dismiss them as the newest ruse invented by companies to delve deeper into your pockets. Take a look, and you may find it worthwhile.