What Makes It Tick? Alpha One SUB10 Active Subwoofer

If you haven’t heard (pun intended) by now, Alpha One by BimmerTech is the leading audio system tailor made for BMWs and MINIs. Our speakers and amps will transform your auditory experience. No, this is not just a marketing scheme – there are tons of people out there who agree.

For a while though we have been feeling just a tad let down in the bass department. Alpha One BMW underseat woofers are great, but there is only so much you can do with the limitations of the factory mounting locations. And the fact that these are still just speakers, albeit meant for the lower tones. 

We decided to take things a bit further. This is why we are now offering a trunk sub compatible with all Alpha One systems to truly allow you to experience our sound system the way it was designed to be utilized. 

So, without further ado: we are proud to introduce the Alpha One SUB10.

BMW Sound System 101 – What Is a Subwoofer?

Before we get too carried away, let’s cover some basics. 

What is a subwoofer? What does a subwoofer do? What is an active subwoofer? The list goes on, so let’s cover some of these basics – if you are an audiophile or know the fundamentals of car audio, you can skip this section and go straight to the 3 virtues of SUB10.

Active vs. Passive Subwoofer

You have probably heard active and passive thrown around when shopping for subwoofers. What’s the difference between them? In short:

• ACTIVE – the sub has its own, built-in amplifier to power the speaker in the unit. 
• PASSIVE – the sub relies on an external amp to be powered.

How does it affect the way they operate? Since the active subwoofer’s amplifier has to fit within the speaker’s enclosure, there are some space constraints that need to be considered when designing such a unit. Consequently, there is a limit on how powerful it can be – active subs rarely have amps that put out more than 500 W RMS. 

On the other hand, passive subs don’t have to deal with these limitations, which is why they are usually found in the most powerful setups. A majority of high power output subwoofer speakers will by definition require a separate, fairly big amplifier and a decently-sized heatsink. This, in most cases, makes building all of that into the enclosure impossible. 

However, when it comes to the SUB10 BMW subwoofer, we managed to join the best of two worlds by designing an enclosure that can comfortably fit our hefty monoblock amplifier. It’s 900 W RMS-capable, leaving it with a lot of room to spare when powering our 300 W driver. Additionally, the way it’s incorporated into the whole unit allows for optimal heat dissipation, so you can be sure it won’t get too hot from blasting your tunes.

Okay, but what it all really boils down to? 

To sum it up, an active subwoofer is a more compact, self-contained unit. In turn, a passive sub will—theoretically—be able to achieve higher outputs when paired with a sufficiently powerful external amplifier. When going for the latter, just remember to choose an amp that can keep up with your subwoofer or slightly exceeds its power rating. An underpowered amplifier will distort the signal, making it much more likely to damage a subwoofer driver compared to running 10–20% too much clean power to the sub.

Alternatively, simply choose a solution that’s ready to go – like the Alpha One SUB10 Subwoofer ;)

Underseat Woofer vs. Trunk Subwoofer

So, your car already has two woofers under the seat (or in the back, for you Z4 or Supra owners). Why does your BMW sound system need them? And how is it that tweeters are always small and woofers are always big? Or how when a car pulls up to you blasting music with the windows up you hear the low end?

Without getting too scientific here, sound travels in waves. Sound waves. Higher pitched frequencies (treble) are shorter/smaller waves and lower frequencies (bass) are longer/larger waves. Short waves also don’t travel as far and are dissipated more easily, compared to longer waves. You also need a lot more power to generate the same SPL of low frequencies than you do to generate high frequencies. Think about when you’re watching a movie and there is an explosion off in the distance. You always hear that low rumble, nothing else. That’s because the low end travels further.

This is all to say that a bigger speaker is required to generate low frequencies, when powered and tuned properly of course. While the BMW underseat woofers do a great job at replicating the low end, they have limitations as to how low they can go, especially at higher volumes. These mostly stem from the fact that it’s constrained by the physical size of the factory mounting points. 

A bigger subwoofer installed in the trunk doesn’t deal with such constraints. This is also how it is able to achieve sub-bass frequencies (hence, the name “SUBwoofer”). What are the operating ranges for each driver type?

The 3 Virtues of Alpha One SUB10 BMW Subwoofer Upgrade

Now that you’re an expert on the subject of passive vs. active subwoofer, subwoofers for cars in general, and so on, let’s talk about the best subwoofer for BMW: the Alpha One SUB10. The three virtues mentioned in the heading above refer to the three main “ingredients” that allowed us to achieve unparalleled quality when designing the SUB10.

Virtue No. 1: The Design & Specifications

If anything is going to work well, it has to be designed well – from a simple can opener to a BMW M3, it has to do its intended job perfectly. And, unless it’s a factory tool, it has to look good too. Our subwoofer has both of these requirements covered.

First off, it’s got a 10 inch driver. This is the optimal size for our goal, which was bringing out the low end AND fitting the widest possible range of cars, without having to worry about space constraints. The 900 W RMS-capable Alpha One Monoblock Amplifier delivers all of the power needed to drive the 300 W RMS speaker, with extra power to spare.

Second, there is the compact sealed enclosure that accomplishes three things:

1. It allows the subwoofer to fit in any BMW’s trunk.
   
2. It allows the low frequencies to rumble at their ideal peak.
   
3. Last but not least, it looks freaking amazing.

We chose CNC-machined MDF as the material for the enclosure, as it provides necessary durability and performance. It is also beautifully wrapped in soft touch velour fabric to look as good as the interior of your BMW that you’ll be putting it in (maaaaybe even a tad bit prettier…). The industrial design of the grille is the finishing touch that sets the look apart from what little competition there is.

Since we realize that not everyone has their BMW as a weekend or show car, we’ve included a very neat feature into the design of the enclosure. Daily drivers need to be used as daily drivers and sometimes this means loading them up with stuff (like groceries or whatnot).

If you need some trunk space back, the Alpha One SUB10 has all quick disconnect connectors. Simply unplug them, remove the subwoofer, and you have your space back. When you’re done hauling what you need, place the subwoofer back in, snap the connectors back in, and you’re back in business. Just like that!

Virtue No. 2: Optimization & Tuning

We covered the look and how it’s powered, but how does it sound and what is it made for? Let’s get one thing out of the way: if you want to rattle the spoiler off of the Honda Civic next to you at a red light, this is not the subwoofer for you.

The Alpha One SUB10 is DSP-tuned using the Alpha One amp which feeds it with signal to reinforce the lowest octaves of your audio and replicate them to allow a deep bass response, but not with any undesired “trunk sub sound.” You will feel the low end, but it won’t make you sick. Alpha One has always been about replicating clean audio signals at any level. We don’t believe in tinny tweeters, distorted mids, farting underseat woofers, and we definitely don’t believe in blow-your-head-off trunk subs. You can get those off facebook marketplace.

To keep this promise, our SUB10s are optimized to work with Alpha One Amplifiers. Think about Apple products: all of their hardware is built and designed to work with their other devices. PCs and Androids work well on their own, but if you start adding parts from different manufacturers, you might not always get the best, most seamless experience. That is why our SUB10 was crafted to work with Alpha One Amps only. More on that in a sec.

Virtue No. 3: Its Genesis & Heritage

Why do you drive a BMW? Probably because of the fact that the brand has a proven history of making fun and luxurious status symbols. And you like (or love) them for that. This is the same reason people choose Alpha One.

Our team of audio specialists recognized that one of the biggest downfalls for BMW was the audio systems—or in many cases, the lack thereof. They then sat together and figured out over years of trial and error what material choice, power levels, tuning, and more made the best speakers and amps for BMWs. Regardless if you have a base system or Harman Kardon, we wanted to make sure that Alpha One is the last system you’d ever need.

The decades of in-car audio knowledge led us to create hands down the best system for BMW Group branded vehicles: no corners cut, no shortcuts taken. The speakers allow for clarity and precise frequency replication at any level and our amplifiers are not a mass produced, one-size-fits-all solution.

Each amp is always custom tuned for your specific style of music, listening level, and to the interior of your specific car. A BMW 2 Series is NOT the same as a BMW X5, so we always take the size and shape of the vehicle, as well as the speaker placement into account.

All of this science, passion, and years of experience were put into the design of the SUB10, and you’ll be able to both hear and feel that.

Other Pieces of the Puzzle – Alpha One BMW Speakers & Amplifiers

We’ve mentioned the Alpha One speakers and amps previously, but let’s dive a little more into the Alpha One brand and why Alpha One gear is needed for the SUB10. As alluded to, the SUB10 is only supported with our amps, so you either need to have one or get one to be able to order a SUB10. 

Why is this? It simply comes down to design and how it’s supported.

The SUB10 was engineered to be a match made in heaven with an Alpha One amp. Will it work with something else? Sure, it could, but it would not sound the way we have intended it to. The DSP tune we provide for your current Alpha One amp is tailored to get the most out of the SUB10.

Using it on anything else can lead to poor performance. Poor performance means unhappy customers – and we won’t be able to do much about gear that’s not ours. Lastly you might have noticed that the amplifier powering the speaker is overpowered by a factor of 3. One false move with the gain knob on the Alpha One monoblock and the 10” subwoofer will be gone, which is why we set it up with an oscilloscope and cover the knob up with a warranty void sticker :)

Alpha One Amplifier Upgrade for BMW

So, what’s the deal with the Alpha One Amplifiers? They are a phenomenal, plug-and-play solution – almost all of them are supplied with custom mounting brackets, making installation a piece of cake.

Each amp is tuned for your ears based on the questions we ask when you’re placing your order. We want to know things like: 

• What kind of music do you listen to? 
• How loud do you listen to it?
• What level of treble do you prefer?

They are also tuned for your specific model BMW to make sure each speaker is delivering the optimal audio based on the distance from you and the shape of your interior.

Our Sales Team and the comments on our socials get this question a lot: what should I do first? Speakers or amp? While not to turn you to the more expensive option, the answer is the amp. Our Alpha One speakers are fantastic and will absolutely make your stock system cleaner and get more volume, but if you’re putting tires rated for 250 miles per hour on a car that maxes out at 120, you’re not getting the full advantage.

The BMW amplifier upgrade is what will make your system sound the cleanest. It’s not just about volume, but clarity. The DSP in our amps will tell each speaker which frequencies it should be getting and how much of them. This is what allows you to turn up your volume and not hear distortion.

However, some speakers are not made to deal with these signals and can get damaged. If you have an HK or B&O system, you’ll be fine. Hi-Fi - the margin for untapped power handling becomes smaller. Base? Get ready to blow your speakers. To sum this section up though… Amp first, always—unless you have base—then amp and speakers out of the gate or do nothing at all.

Check out our article to learn more about this subject: BMW Amplifier or Speaker Upgrade? What to Buy First.

Alpha One BMW Speakers Upgrade

Speakers are what’s responsible for how you hear your music. They are taking an electrical signal, vibrating accordingly to disrupt the air around it, and then your ear translates those vibrations into “music.”

That FINALLY answers the “if a tree falls in the woods and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound” question. Technically speaking, “sound” is our perception of the vibrations in the air. No ear to perceive the vibration means no “sound.”

In our case, the Alpha One Amp is the tree and it’s pushing out those electrical signals, but you won’t hear a darn thing unless a speaker is there to make a physical reproduction of that audio. Alpha One speakers do that very well.

To not burden you with more science and philosophical questions, the components of a speaker make or literally break them. Vibrations need material durable enough to stand up to them, but also be flexible enough to move. On top of that, they need to be resilient to heat, which is a byproduct of the energy.

Our speakers are plug-and-play, fitting exactly where the factory speakers do and using your vehicle’s existing wiring harnesses, which makes their installation a breeze. Pair them up with an Alpha One amp compatible with your BMW and you’re golden.

If you want to learn more about our BMW sound system upgrades, check out this Alpha One Q&A!

Alpha One SUB10 – A Dynamic Bass Response and Zero Mud

To sum it all up, the Alpha One SUB10 Active Subwoofer is going to let you experience low end in your music like you never have before, but without being overkill. No mud, all clarity. You will feel every note without any unsettling side effects, rough harmonics, or distortion.

This trunk sub is made for those who want the cleanest experience possible from their audio. THAT is what Alpha One and our SUB10 are all about. 

We hope you found this article helpful! Don’t forget to check out our other blog articles or YouTube channel for other helpful maintenance and DIY focused videos for BMW, MINI, Supra, and Tesla.