If you are installing a subwoofer in your Jeep Wrangler, you will need a subwoofer box. A subwoofer box for Jeep Wrangler can provide extra protection to your subwoofer from mechanical damage due to the vibrations and bumps that are inevitable when you are out driving on regular roads or over rough terrain. The features of the subwoofer box can also help to enhance and amplify the sound, making it clearly audible over the engine noise.
There are three types of subwoofer boxes for Jeeps—sealed, ported/vented, and bandpass—and each of these comes with unique sound and power handling capabilities. By understanding the specific features of each subwoofer box type, you can make an informed purchasing decision to suit your listening preferences.
Sealed subwoofer box
A sealed subwoofer box for Jeep Wrangler is the smallest of the three subwoofer box types and a favorite with audiophiles for its superb transient response. With a sealed subwoofer box, the interior air cannot escape and acts as a shock absorber. It modulates the back and forth motion of the subwoofer cone, producing even sound waves that have lesser boom and more accurate bass. For best results, you will need to check that the internal box volume meets the requirement of the subwoofer manufacture.
If the box is too small, you will require a more powerful amplifier to get the tighter sound. If the subwoofer box is too big, the sound can get distorted. You will need to make sure your setup can handle higher wattage since a sealed subwoofer box requires more power for optimum performance. Its compact size will ensure convenient installation without taking up too much interior space.
Ported/Vented subwoofer box
A ported or vented subwoofer box has a mounted drive on one side with an open vent that allows the free passage of air in and out of the box. It makes it possible for the sound waves from the rear of the cone and the box interior to move outside. As they move out, the rear sound waves enhance the sound of the front ones, and you can get louder, deeper, and reverberating if less accurate bass.
Such boxes require less power to produce a louder boom and keep the subwoofer cool with the constant airflow. Ported subwoofer boxes are large, and you need to have adequate interior space in your Jeep Wrangler if you want to install one of these.
Bandpass subwoofer box
Bandpass subwoofer boxes are a combination of the sealed and ported/vented types and are larger in size than both. The bandpass subwoofer box comes with several ports, a subwoofer chamber, and an air resonation chamber. The subwoofer plays into the air resonation chamber that has ports to tune it. The ported front chamber acts as a low pass filter and lives up to the name bandpass by allowing only a narrow frequency range to pass into the listening environment. As the bandpass subwoofer box is efficient at that range, you will get a loud boom.
If you want to get this subwoofer box for Jeep Wrangler, check your subwoofer’s manual to find if it is compatible with a bandpass subwoofer box. Also, keep in mind that these boxes can be difficult to tune. Getting a preloaded bandpass box that is compatible with your subwoofer can resolve that issue. It also requires a lot of space, so make sure you do not have a problem with it taking up much of your trunk space for its installation. And be sure to fix it tightly in place. You do not want the bandpass setup to suffer from any rattling noises.
Other considerations about buying subwoofer boxes
When purchasing a subwoofer box, you need to make sure that it is of medium-density fiberboard (MDF). Avoid buying anything made of plywood or plastic. MDF is a dense and durable material that can withstand high temperatures and does not rattle. You can fit its exterior with a carpet covering or get a paint or vinyl finish. The carpet covering may be a better choice as it can protect the subwoofer boxes from scratches, and you can also select a type that blends in well with your Jeep Wrangler interior.