Question on subwoofers

[hurricanefan]

I'm looking to make an upright slim cabinet and I have questions about using a powered subwoofer instead of getting a separate amplifier.

I currently have these 4" speakers: https://smile.amazon.com/Car-Sound-Speaker-Pair-Non-fatiguing/dp/B000230LBI/ref=sr_1_7?keywords=car+speaker+4+inch&qid=1551751343&s=gateway&sr=8-7

And I'm thinking about getting this powered subwoofer:
https://www.amazon.com/Acoustic-Audio-PSW-6-Powered-Subwoofer/dp/B00KGA6A8A/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=PSW-6&qid=1551750856&s=electronics&sr=1-1

1) Will this work in a cabinet?

2) Will this be too small of a subwoofer?  (They have 8" and 10" options too)

[Mike A]

You don't need a subwoofer in an arcade cabinet. You stand 18 inches away from the speakers.

[processedmeat]

I'm looking to make an upright slim cabinet and I have questions about using a powered subwoofer instead of getting a separate amplifier.

For my last few builds, I've been buying replacement logitech subs from ebay.  I think they would be paired better for your build since they are ones that normally sit close to you on the desktop.  You can build cables to connect your speakers to it and they have a dongle in which you can control the volume from.

[Gilrock]

Yeah I don't know if you need a subwoofer unless you are wanting to use it as a jukebox.  I'm not putting subs in either of my arcade cabs but I did put a 10" sub in my vpin.  It was way overkill being run by a Kenwood car stereo amp but the sound is pretty awesome.  I cut a hole in the bottom of the pin cab so the speaker faces down out of view and the cabinet acts as a speaker enclosure.

[newmanfamilyvlogs]

I've always put a small sub in cabinets I've built just to fill out the bottom end a little. I've also tried to acoustically couple the subwoofer to the cabinet as much as I can, either by laying it on the longest edge and weighing it down, or just bolting it into the body.

To me it's felt like you can have a more full sound at a lower overall volume when the bottom end is being filled out, even if it's just a 4" sub.

[paigeoliver]

Most games were designed for mono sound, an onboard low power amp chip driving a single speaker around 4" in size.

[nitrogen_widget]

You don't need a subwoofer in an arcade cabinet. You stand 18 inches away from the speakers.

hey if he wants to FEEL 250 watts of galaga all up in his special place that's his business.

I personally have one of those $30 portable speaker about the size of a foster's can that I can't put at full when playing the pandora cause it's too loud.
And i'm half deaf.

[hurricanefan]

This is my first cab and I'm wanting all the bells and whistles. 

[Drnick]

This is my first cab and I'm wanting all the bells and whistles. 

Bells and whistles go in pinball cabinets 

As for your original question, Yes that 6" will work fine.  It will be more than enough power.   

[BadMouth]

Depends on what games you are playing.

If you are running 80's games on a pi, then it's fun but unnecessary.  The start of Donkey Kong has some low end.

  If you are using a decent PC and running 3D games with good soundtracks, then the subwoofer makes sense.  My go to example is Psyvariar 2 on Demul emulator.

I have an 8" sub in a decent size enclosure in my cab.  It's balanced with the other speakers, not booming....unless the content was intended to be booming.

[acvieluf]

I had a subwoofer in my cab.  A simple PC 2.1 setup.  I changed it out due to WAY too much.  One car audio 6x9 is way more than enough.  Two smaller speakers, if you want stereo.

[Howard_Casto]

I always throw a sub in there, but nothing fancy.  Many games don't need it, but pc speakers of a decent quality come with a sub and I'm assuming you'll use pc speakers, so why not just use it?

[yotsuya]

Duh... we all know that unless you are running 21,000 watts, you ain’t doin’ it right.

[BadMouth]

Duh... we all know that unless you are running 21,000 watts, you ain’t doin’ it right.

Yots goes to 257.

[hurricanefan]

I've got a decent pc already built that is going to go into the cab.  Thanks everyone for the feedback.

[bperkins01]

I put an inexpensive sub in my cabinet.  Has no impact on games really.
When I switch over to more of a jukebox mode - its nice.

Basically - I can put up background music in the area..  By no way is it a quality sound system.  It is much better than I anticipated however.
Cost of small amp and sub was < $70.