# Subwoofer instead of speaker **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [August 10, 2023, 6:58am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/subwoofer-instead-of-speaker/192197 "2023-08-10T06:58:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TyuTheSavage](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tyuthesavage/32/35704_2.png) [@TyuTheSavage](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TyuTheSavage)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2023, 6:58am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/subwoofer-instead-of-speaker/192197/1 "2023-08-10T06:58:53Z")
Hey, recently I found out that I have a Philips subwoofer and wondered about using it in my car. Instead of using new wires and all that, I was hoping that the subwoofer can be connected instead of a speaker that I got in my trunk. Could that be the case? It is to be mentioned that the subwoofer receives data from a port and power from another ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2023, 2:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/subwoofer-instead-of-speaker/192197/2 "2023-08-10T14:19:07Z")
Based on what little information you posted, I’d say, No, that will not work. ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2023, 5:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/subwoofer-instead-of-speaker/192197/3 "2023-08-10T17:14:50Z")
> [@TyuTheSavage](#): > > I found out that I have a Philips subwoofer Did you trip over it in the kitchen or something??? lol I am going out on a limb and going to say that you are asking about using a home audio specker in an automobile… So yes and no, if you know and understand how to rewire it then yes, we used to do it years ago… Don’t remember all the details though… > **[Difference Between Car and Home Speakers - The Home Theater DIY](https://thehometheaterdiy.com/difference-between-car-and-home-speakers/)** > > The most significant differences between car and home speakers are in the impedance, design, and aesthetic. Read more to learn all about these differences! ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2023, 10:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/subwoofer-instead-of-speaker/192197/4 "2023-08-10T22:54:12Z")
The home subwoofer idea should produce sound ok, but might not be as loud as you’d like for your car. One common difference between speakers designed for home use vs auto is the speaker impedance, usually 4 ohms for autos, 8 ohms for home. That’s b/c auto stereo systems have less power supply voltage, and lower impedance speakers produce a louder sound for the same signal voltage. ---
**Author:** ![keith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/keith/32/5518_2.png) [@keith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/keith)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2023, 12:51am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/subwoofer-instead-of-speaker/192197/5 "2023-08-11T00:51:27Z")
Is the current speaker in the trunk a subwoofer? If not, the answer is NO. ---
**Author:** ![Cavell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cavell/32/43396_2.png) [@Cavell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cavell)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2023, 3:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/subwoofer-instead-of-speaker/192197/6 "2023-08-12T15:25:27Z")
Made a ported sub box. Speaker lasted 1 day. Got new sub. Son sold it to friend after awhile. Amp blew out in 1 week. Kids are hard on stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Beancounter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/59ef9b/32.png) [@Beancounter](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Beancounter)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2023, 12:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/subwoofer-instead-of-speaker/192197/7 "2023-08-20T12:16:54Z")
Can you get it to work? Probably Will you be happy with the result? Doubtful Moving beyond the power supply voltage / impedance, speakers especially subwoofers are designed as a whole with the cabinet design having a major influence on the sound. So if you take a speaker component designed for a specific sealed, acoustic suspension, tuned port or passive radiator cabinet and put it in another cabinet/mounting it will sound very different. Further, “Home” speakers are designed to operate in a large, stable, climate controlled environment while “Car” audio components have to be able to function in a small, vibrating, environment that regularly varies between 0 and 120 degrees. It’s like leaving a dining room table on your patio or putting a Home stereo in a public phone booth. . ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2023, 1:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/subwoofer-instead-of-speaker/192197/8 "2023-08-20T13:33:59Z")
> [@George\_San\_Jose1](#): > > The home subwoofer idea should produce sound ok, but might not be as loud as you’d like for your car. Ohm is only ONE factor. Speaker efficiency probably thee most important. A good efficient subwoofer by companies like JBL, Altec (Great Plains Audio) will be MORE THEN LOUD enough for a car environment. Even a woofer that isn’t as efficient, will still be more then loud enough due to the very small volume in a car (or even large SUV). These subwoofers were designed to work in rooms several times larger than a vehicle. The problem with a subwoofer in a car is box tuning. Can be a real pain to get right. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2023, 1:52pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/subwoofer-instead-of-speaker/192197/9 "2023-08-20T13:52:10Z")
To me the problem with using a home subwoofer in a car is that almost all are powered with an amp in the enclosure. How’s that going to work in a car? ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2023, 5:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/subwoofer-instead-of-speaker/192197/10 "2023-08-20T17:25:39Z")
> [@texases](#): > > To me the problem with using a home subwoofer in a car is that almost all are powered with an amp in the enclosure. How’s that going to work in a car? During the 70’s, if you wanted to add a subwoofer to your car…the real only option was using a home or professional sub-woofer. So it’s been done.