The Subwoofer Kick Drum Test

Background

This simple and enjoyable test checks if your subwoofer is used as it is supposed to be used. Many people rely on their subwoofer to add more bass to their sound system: what they are looking for, actually, is an equalizer! A subwoofer is not meant to play louder basses; it is meant to play deeper basses.

In other words, you should add a subwoofer to your main speakers to extend the frequency range of your system toward lower frequencies, not increase its bass level.

Give your subwoofer a kick (or two, or... six)

Our test files have been designed after the Roland TR-808 electronic drum machine, and its infamous analog kick drum.

Play these files, in two test conditions: first, with your main speakers only, then with your subwoofer turned on.

If your system has been properly set up, the level of all these kick drums should remain the same, whatever the file and condition.

You will hear a difference though, as each kick offers a different depth. A better subwoofer will discriminate among all the kicks easily. But remember, the only difference you should hear will be in the frequency range, not the loudness.

Related pages

Other Subwoofer Tests

• Low Frequency Response Test
• Low Frequency Localization Test
• Subwoofer Midrange (cross-over) Test
• Subwoofer Harmonic Distortion Test

External Links

• All you wanted to know about subwoofers
• WavTones Online Noise Generator (the generator used for this page's kick drum).

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Frequency Response Tests

• Low Frequency Response and Subwoofer Audio Test (10-200 Hz)
• Subwoofer Kick Test
• Subwoofer Midrange Frequency Test
• High Frequency Response and Hearing Audio Test (22-8 kHz)
• Aliasing Test
• Mosquito Tone Audibility Test (17.4 kHz)
• Audiometric (Hearing Loss) Test (125-8,000Hz)

Stereo Imaging Tests

• Left/Right Stereo Audio Test
• Loudspeakers Polarity Audio Test
• LEDR Imaging Audio Test
• Stereo Perception and Sound Localization
• Low Frequency Sound Localization and Subwoofer Imaging Test

Dynamic Range Test

• 16-bit Dynamic Audio Test
• Dynamic Range, Dithering and Noise Shaping

Room Tests

• Musical Articulation Test Tones (MATT)
• MATT as a Listening Test NEW

Distortion Tests

• Low Frequency Extension and Subwoofer Harmonic Distortion Test (THD)
• Total Harmonic Distortion (<1kHz) NEW

Thematic Tests

• The Ultimate Headphone (and Earbud) Sound Test
• The non-linearities of the Human Ear