The history of subwoofers is littered with decades of advancement, from the first-generation elementary units to their current-day successors. Since their creation, Subwoofers have been a vital part of home theatre, Hi-Fi, and car audio systems. They take the low bass and make it much more audible to your ears, allowing you to enjoy your movie or music to its full potential.
When Was The First Subwoofer Invented?
The history of subwoofers begins in 1964 with Raymon Dones’s creation in California. The first official subwoofer was developed to address the lack of bass from standard speakers, enhancing overall sound quality. This groundbreaking design, named “The Octavium,” could reproduce frequencies as low as 15 Hz without distortion. It gained popularity among recording artists and was used in theatres for the 1974 film Earthquake.
Other early subwoofer technologies from the 1960s include the Servo Statik 1 (SS-1) by Arnold Nudell and Cary Christine, later known as Infinity, and a design by Ken Kreisel, the founder of Miller & Kreisel Sound Corporati
on.
Subwoofers in Music and Cinema
In the history of subwoofers, the 1970s saw significant advancements. Ken Kreisel introduced a prototype of his subwoofer to Village Records in 1973, marking the beginning of its use in recording sessions. Kreisel’s innovations led to the creation of the first satellite speaker and subwoofer system, known as David and Goliath.</p>
The cinematic world embraced subwoofers with films like Earthquake (1974), Midway (1976), and Rollercoaster (1977), which utilized the subwoofer’s low-frequency effects to enhance the viewing exper
ience. Additionally, the rise of hip-hop and disco in the mid-1970s led to the use of subwoofers in clubs, where DJs used them to amplify bass-heavy tracks for dancers.
Residential Subwoofers: Innovations in the History of Subwoofers
The history of subwoofers took a new turn in the 1980s with the release of the Bose Acoustimass AM-5. This system revolutionized home audio by combining a subwoofer with compact satellite speakers. Following its success, other companies, like Cambridge SoundWorks and Boston Acoustics, developed their own subwoofer-satellite systems.
In the mid-1980s, Origin Acoustics introduced the Composer, the first in-wall subwoofer designed for residential use. This innovation allowed subwoofers to be discreetly mounted in wall studs during home construction.
From Niche to Mainstream: The Evolution in the History of Subwoofers
Initially, subwoofers were popular among audiophiles and large audio production companies. However, by the 1990s, their use became more widespread. The advent of the Compact Disc (CD) made it easier to add bass to recordings, enhancing the listening experience. Residential subwoofers became more accessible and easier to integrate with existing multimedia systems.
Today, the history of subwoofers reflects their rise in popularity, with further advancements making them more effective and versatile. Subwoofers continue to provide an enriched audio experience, allowing listeners to engage with their music and films fully.
We stock the highest quality subwoofers from some of the biggest brands like REL Acoustics, Bowers and Wilkins, Dali and more</strong>. Alternatively, you can speak with one of our product experts on 02476 631 707 to help find the best subwoofer for you.
