Subwoofers can enhance your listening experience on short or long drives. The low frequencies they produce can send the pounding beats of your favorite music vibrating throughout your Jeep Gladiator interior. You end up not just listening to music but experiencing it. If you install the subwoofers as they are in your vehicle, though, the vibrations and bumps are likely to cause mechanical damage to the speakers over time. To prevent that from happening, you need to get a Jeep Gladiator subwoofer box.
What is a subwoofer box?
A Jeep Gladiator subwoofer box is an enclosure that houses the subwoofer and prevents it from rattling about when you play loud music or go on off-road drives. You can get subwoofer boxes made of medium-density fiberboard (MDF), plywood, fiberglass, or plastic, but the high-quality ones are generally of MDF. It is a thick, strong, and durable material and capable of withstanding high temperatures. Fiberglass is also a good choice if you are looking for a weatherproof option.
You can buy ready-made subwoofer boxes or get them customized in a straight or slant design to fit your subwoofers and your interior space.
What are the types of subwoofer boxes?
There are three types of subwoofer boxes:
Sealed subwoofer boxes
These are airtight enclosures with single or multiple cut-out openings for the speakers. Since there is no airflow within the box, the subwoofer comes under internal pressure as its cone moves to and fro to produce sound. The subwoofer must have more power to overcome the pressure build-up and create an accurate bass sound.
The sealed subwoofer boxes are compact and can fit into your Jeep Gladiator without taking up too much interior space. They are a great choice if you are an audiophile and the accuracy of the bass sounds matters to you. The downside is that, since there is no airflow in the sealed box, the subwoofer can overheat with continuous play.
Ported subwoofer boxes
Also known as vented subwoofer boxes, these enclosures have holes or ports at their sides or bottoms to allow airflow. That ensures equal pressure within and without the box, and the subwoofer will require less power to produce loud bass sounds. The vents allow for a more harmonious flow of low-frequency sounds waves. The sound may be less accurate than what you get with a sealed subwoofer box, and ported boxes are bigger in comparison too.
Bandpass subwoofer boxes
These enclosures are bigger than the sealed and ported subwoofer boxes and combine their designs. A bandpass subwoofer box has two chambers, one sealed and the other with a port. The subwoofer is in the sealed chamber and plays into the ported one, which acts as a filter and allows only specific band frequencies out for your listening pleasure.
What are the benefits of subwoofer boxes?
Protects the subwoofer: A subwoofer box protects the subwoofer by preventing it from rattling around from both the Jeep motion and the cone movements when you play loud music.
Prevents overheating: The vents in the subwoofer box allow a continuous flow of air and keep the subwoofer cool even after playing music for an extended period.
Provides better aesthetics: You can get subwoofer boxes with carpeted exteriors to match the interior of your Jeep Wrangler. The carpeting is not just about aesthetics, though. It can provide extra protection to the subwoofer box and the subwoofer.
Ensures great bass: While protecting the subwoofer from damage is the main purpose of the subwoofer box, it also serves to prevent flat and distorted sounds arising from the collision of the rear sound waves with the front sound waves.
Tips for installing subwoofer boxes
Follow these tips to get the most out of your Jeep Gladiator subwoofer box:
• Seal the joints with wood glue to prevent air leaks and made the box stronger.
• Match the subwoofer box dimensions to those of the subwoofer system and your Jeep Gladiator trunk, and get a box that is an exact fit or a near close fit to prevent the subwoofer from rattling inside it.
• Install the subwoofer box in the trunk, under the rear seats, or any area without direct sun exposure to prevent warping or heat damage.