Best Subwoofer Reviews: Music is one such thing that appeals to almost everyone. There couldn’t be anyone who does not like music.Agreed, that some people don’t like some kind of music. But, music, in general, is liked by almost everyone. Some like classical, some like metal which is full of rock music, some like jazz while some like pop music.
The music industry is undoubtedly one of the biggest industries in the world. No matter what people are not going to stop listening to music, so the downfall of this industry is almost close to impossible. You really need to be passionate and talented at the same time to make it in this highly competitive music industry. These are the two ingredients along with a lot of hard work could take you to the top of the chart in the music industry. The top artists are more or less considered as gods by their fans, which is really a huge thing.
Due to the invention of such new musical instruments, there have been a lot of additions to the genre of the music. Metal was not seen in the early 20th century. It started gaining a lot of popularity in the later part of the 20th century and is now one of the most liked and followed music genres in the whole world. And one of the main components in the music industry is the subwoofer.
The subwoofer is basically a loudspeaker that dedicatedly reproduces low-pitched audio frequencies known as bass. It is the most important part when it comes to a home theater.
Subwoofer Name | Item ID | Product Dimensions | Our Ratings | Weight | Price Tag |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16.1 x 14 x 14.4 inches | 2.2 pounds | |||
| 13.5*13.3*8.4 inches | 15 pounds | |||
| 12 x 12 x 9 inches | 15 pounds | |||
| 22*16*9 inches | 19.2 pounds | |||
| 15.5*15.5*10.2 inches | 22 pounds | |||
| 20.1 x 10.6 x 20.1 inches | 36.3 pounds | |||
| 19.9 x 15 x 18 inches | 40 pounds | |||
| 23.9*20.8*19.3 inches | 41.5 pounds | |||
| 17 x 14.8 x 17 inches | 42.7 pounds | |||
| 23.2*17.3*20.9 inches | 66 pounds |
There's absolutely no point in having a home theater without a subwoofer. A home theater is generally called as a 2.1 or 5.1. For a 2.1 home theater, the ‘2’ refers to the two stereo speakers for left and right sounds and the ‘1’ refers to the subwoofer and same is the case in the 5.1 home theater system. These components make for a nice music system when there is a best home theater subwoofer involved in it.
Also Read : TVFix Reviews 2023
How to evaluate subwoofers
Table of Contents
- How to evaluate subwoofers
- How do subwoofers work?
- Our List Of Best 12 Inch Subwoofer Picks
- CT Sounds Tropo 12 Inch Car Subwoofer 450w
- Bic Acoustech PL-200 Subwoofer - Black
- SVS PB2000 12" 500-watt Powered Subwoofer (Single)
- Kicker 10cvx12-2 Ohm Round 12-Inch Subwoofer
- Pioneer TSSWX2502 10-Inch Shallow-Mount Enclosure Sub Woofer
- SONOS SUB Wireless Subwoofer, Black/Silver
- Polk Audio PSW10 10-Inch Powered Subwoofer
- Rockford Fosgate P3D4-10 Punch P3 DVC 4-Ohm 10-Inch Peak Subwoofer
- BIC America F12 12-Inch 475-Watt Front Firing Powered Subwoofer
- Klipsch Sub-12HG Synergy Series 12-Inch 300-Watt Subwoofer
- Best Pick : Polk Audio PSW10 10-Inch Subwoofer Reviews
- Why Should you Buy this Subwoofer?
- Best Subwoofer Buying Guide and Setting Up
- Buying the right Subwoofer Guide
- How to Set your Subwoofer Properly
Whenever you need to buy something, the first thing you need to do is to understand the product that you need to buy. You also need to figure out why you need to buy the product. Now there could be many manufacturers that produce the same product. There could also be a quality that there are derivatives of the product wherein there are some differences in each derivative, but the main concept of the product remains the same. You also need to figure out your preferences while you buy something. The derivatives of the product will have some or the other parameters changes in quality as well as quantity according to the needs of the customers totally based on the perception of the manufacturer and customer reviews. All you have to do is see in which category of the derivatives you fit and buy that one.
Same is the case with subwoofers. Always buy a subwoofer based on your preferences. There might be many people who suggest you some subwoofer that worked for them really great. But the thing is that the kind of pitch they like might be different than the kind you like. The place where they are keeping the subwoofer might be really different than yours. So always look out for a subwoofer that suits you the most. You have to look out for the best cheap subwoofer that suits your place and taste. Now there are different things to be taken into consideration while buying a subwoofer. Here’s the description of those considerations.
Size & Aesthetics : Now, this totally depends on where you want to place your whole music system, whether it is an auditorium or your bedroom. If you are going for an auditorium, relatively huge subwoofers are a no big deal for you. But if you consider your bedroom, you need a relatively lower sound. You can go with a best 10-inch subwoofer that would be really fine according to your bedroom arrangements.
Budget : This seems to be the main concern for most of the buyers. You need to make it possible to have the optimal sound system for the money that you can spend. Suppose if you are buying a subwoofer for a car, you need to find the best car subwoofer that fits your budget.
Output : How much bass you want is totally depended on the output that your woofer gives out. If you like a lot of beats and bass drops, you should go with a high output subwoofer. If not go with a normal output one whichever suits your likes.
How do subwoofers work?
The main task of the subwoofer is basically to reproduce low-frequency sounds which are low-pitched. Initially, you need to understand the basic components of the sound. There are three frequency ranges in a sound, low, medium and high. And a subwoofer can only produce only low-frequency sound, it can produce clearer and better bass sounds than a general speaker.To explain it in layman's language, a subwoofer makes sound by the movement of air. The air that is moved in the subwoofer is omnidirectional meaning it comes from different directions. This air is then pressurized to make a more impressive bass.
The sound from the subwoofer is better when it is deflected by some surfaces. This is the reason why a subwoofer is always kept in the corner of the room as the walls of the room help in deflecting the sound. This is how a subwoofer produces bass. If there are two subwoofers to be used, the arrangement of them relatively, and their synchronization is an important aspect of consideration for a better bass. When two subwoofers are not in synchronization the sound that comes out of them would not be in unison and this will make the whole system sound bad.
Our List Of Best 12 Inch Subwoofer Picks
CT Sounds Tropo 12 Inch Car Subwoofer 450w
Can you imagine your car without the subwoofer? No. Right? Yes, now a days it is impossible for us to imagine our car without subwoofers. But when time comes for the selection of subwoofers as everyone wants the best for them. Here we are providing all the features of some of the best 12 inch subwoofers. CT sound is also one of them. Makers of this subwoofer tried their best to give a product that could match all the expectations. However, every product is made with this thought but the difference in this product is that the features of this product are such that those features make it the best subwoofer for cars. The reviews for this product are excellent. Till now, no one has given any issue regarding this product. Isn’t it impossible? But it is true. You can search for it. And if you want the best car subwoofer and the best cheap subwoofer of 12” then this product is made for you.
Features and Benefits :
- 4-ohm dual voice call - This product comes with a 4-ohm dual voice call which makes it a favorite product of every user.
- Power - This is a subwoofer of 450 W but can provide a maximum of 900W power.
- Depth - This subwoofer can be mounted to a depth of 6.2” which is a remarkable feature of this subwoofer.
- Basket Frame - Basket frame of this product is very sturdy and strong. Even very high audio sound cannot damage the product at all.
Pros :
- Non-comparable sound quality.
- Dual voice call
- Remarkable reviews
- No complain till now
Cons :
- Only the price can stop you from buying it as no cons have been found till now.
Bic Acoustech PL-200 Subwoofer - Black
Do you want to buy a subwoofer for your home theater? Are you looking for the best one as money is not your constraint? Then have a look at this subwoofer. This subwoofer can deliver the power of about 1000 watts as this subwoofer is driven by audiophile state-of-the-art BASH amplifier. Amazon also provides you a warranty of 8 years with this product. Is this line not enough for its durability? This product is the best home theater subwoofer and there is no doubt in this. Just give a try to this product.
Features & Benefits :
- Output Power - This subwoofer can give a peak output of about 1000 watts and it also has 250 watts RMS continuous.
- Crossover and volume control - You can easily adjust crossover and volume controls of this product.
Pros :
- Awesome sound in low price
- The best cheap subwoofer in the category of home theater
- It has the state-of-the-art BASH amplifier.
Cons :
- It has the little bass issue.
SVS PB2000 12" 500-watt Powered Subwoofer (Single)
You talk about precision, performance, and value while buying a product. This subwoofer clears all the criteria. It has an optimized driver and can effortlessly produce power up to 1100 watts. The design of this product also attracts. This is a complete package of all the requirements of a subwoofer buyer.
Features and Benefits :
- Performance/Price - This product has created a new bar of performance and price. No product till now has given this much good performance at this price.
- Peak Power - Peak power of this subwoofer is 1100 watts and this power is gained very effortlessly by it.
Pros :
- Awesome Design
- Very nice sound quality
- Best till now for the tradeoff of price and performance
Cons :
- Search for it if you can.
Kicker 10cvx12-2 Ohm Round 12-Inch Subwoofer
This is a subwoofer which is completely weather resistant. This is a product which has all the features that other subwoofers have but with an additional quality of being weather resistant. The peak output of this subwoofer can reach up to 1500 watts.
Features & Benefits :
- Sound quality - Sound quality of this subwoofer is very high. The Peak output power can reach up to 1500 watts.
- Weather Resistant - This product is completely weather resistant. So, this can be used for marine purposes.
Pros :
- Dual 2 ohm voice calls
- Very strong and good quality of sound
Cons :
- Difficult to find
Pioneer TSSWX2502 10-Inch Shallow-Mount Enclosure Sub Woofer
If you want a subwoofer with size less than 12” then have a look at this product. This subwoofer is of 10” and after you will go through the features of this product then you will find that this is the best 10-inch subwoofer. Its sound quality, its base, its size and its bass make a perfect combination. Give this product a try and you will definitely become a fan of this product. Various features of this subwoofer are:
Features and Benefits :
- Frequency response - frequency response of this subwoofer is 29 Hz to 125 Hz.
- Power Output - Can give peak output of 1200 watts.
- Bass - This product provides a tight bass with such shallow and compact design.
- Enclosure Surface - Enclosure surface of this subwoofer is completely scratch resistant.
Pros :
- Does not require much space.
- Power output can reach up to 1200 watts.
- It is 9 inches deep.
Cons :
- Very few of the pieces have found some problem of deterioration of sound quality with time.
SONOS SUB Wireless Subwoofer, Black/Silver
Sonos Sub Wireless Subwoofer unique and eye catching design will make you desire for it, for all the music lovers out there, suit up for this setup, it’s just like breeze; sit in any corner of your room and enjoy thrumming beats. This instant upgrade to your Sonos speaker system will fill your music lorn souls with deep base and thrilling treble. This wireless HiFi system connects automatically to Sonos speakers and works with PLAY1, PLAY3, PLAY5, PLAYBAR, and CONNECT AMP; you don’t have to worry about setting up a special place for it, this subwoofer is very adjustable just place it under a table or even beneath your sofa, you won’t miss the thrill.
Features :
- It is equivalent in size to a PC tower and has a distinctive O shape.
- It has 6 inch drivers which have a push and pull arrangement at the center of the unit and are oval in shape. This feature eliminates cabinet rattling.
- It’s completed with rubber feet and can be kept mounted on its side or even upright.
- It has only one button, so you need not worry about fiddling with other buttons, it takes care of the rest and there is no LFE input.
Pros :
- Once it comes to life, it’ll transfer you into a musical world, such is its quality.
- It can be adjusted under a sofa or kept upright under a table.
Cons :
- Too pricey.
- Connects only to Sono’s system.
Polk Audio PSW10 10-Inch Powered Subwoofer
Polk Audio Powered Subwoofer has the ability to make you speechless in its musical spell. Its deep bass capabilities will make you sway to the beats enticing you with its definition and control system. Its abilities of extending dynamic thrills and deep bass to your movie or music sound system along with easy to choose, use and connect make it the best home theater subwoofer. It has a single black 10 inch subwoofer making it the best 10 inch subwoofer, which has a built-in high current amp for the big bass. It’s equipped with a ten inch polymer composite dynamic balance cone driver. Its laser based Klippel measurement technology brings in improved linearity along with deep and precise sound.
Features and benefits :
- It has 0.75 inch thick baffles, internal bracing and an enclosure of all MDF non resonant construction.
- For maximum bass impact it has a unique configuration of specially tuned directed port.
- It can limit distortion at extreme levels through superior compression circuitry.
- Its intelligent amplifiers can professionally control your bass input through its adjustable phase switch, low pass crossover and subwoofer volume controls.
- Blends easily with other Polk loudspeakers like TSi, RM and R/T/M series speakers.
- Since they’re capable of playing very extreme loud volumes of more than 85 decibels, always keep it lowered for personal use.
- It comes at just $103.99 making it the best cheap
Pros :
- Very powerful even for a large room.
- It has flexible input options.
- Excellent build quality.
Cons :
- Can be harmful for ear after prolonged loud use.
- Too much bass for a small place.
Rockford Fosgate P3D4-10 Punch P3 DVC 4-Ohm 10-Inch Peak Subwoofer
Rockford Fosgate P3D4-10 Punch P3 DVC Peak Subwoofer is designed to take your breath away; its peak power rating of 1000watts along with the amazing RMS rating of 500 Watts is the best car subwoofer. It’s constructed with a dust cap and thermal anodized aluminum core and Rockford VAST (vertical attach surround technique). It has cool high temp voice coils to handle heat buildup and spun laced Nomex reinforcement collar for high strength along with its flex fit basket design meant for adjustments when mounted, this will make you buy it, no matter what. Its stitched tinsel leads help in improving reliability and performance as they reduce possible shorting and fatigue.
Features and Benefits :
- 10inch Dual 4 ohm Punch Subwoofer with 250-600 watts RMS, frequency response 28-250 Hz.
- Its compound bend frame geometry has sturdy 16 gauges.
- VAST increases cone area and PVC textured magnet cover increases protection.
Pros :
- It has optimized motor magnetics along with extended pole and bumped vented backplate.
- Its sensitivity is 82 db at 1watt/1m
BIC America F12 12-Inch 475-Watt Front Firing Powered Subwoofer
BIC America F12 Front Firing Powered Subwoofer incorporates a high current of 475 watt peak amp which is designed by BASH technology. This formula F-12 subwoofer has 12 inched injection molded long throw woofer. Port noise often heard from other woofers is eliminated in this powered subwoofer through patented BIC ‘venturi’ vent. It has adjustable crossover and volume control along with automatic signal sensing. It gives inputs for Dolby Pro Logic and Dolby Digital/DTS with black laminate finishing.
Features and benefits :
- Its sensitivity is 90dB and frequency response is 25Hz to 200Hz.
- It has gold plated terminals and magnetic shielding.
- Weight is 42.7pounds with 5yr warranty on parts and labor.
Pros :
- 12 inched injection molded woofer with heavy-duty surround.
- Solid construction, input with LFE
Cons :
- Its size is very big.
Klipsch Sub-12HG Synergy Series 12-Inch 300-Watt Subwoofer
This subwoofer produces best-in-class deep-bass, these full-size subwoofers offer a down-firing 12 inch woofer, it has options for connection that covers all base and (RMS) 300watt amp. It gives 650watts of dynamic power and Line-level (RCA) inputs & speaker-level inputs. It significantly extends the bass range, performance and dynamics of any audio or home theater system. Its Frequency Response is 24Hz-120Hz +/- 3dB; Auto-on/off.
Features and benefits :
- 12 inch down-firing woofer.
- It gives 650watts of dynamic power.
- Most affordable 12 inch subwoofer.
Pros :
- 300watts RMS
- Solid subwoofer given its cost.
Cons :
- Too weak and puts on muddy-bass.
Best Pick : Polk Audio PSW10 10-Inch Subwoofer Reviews
Let the main speakers of your device work on the highs and the mids and leave the bass duty on the PSW10 subwoofer. The PSW10 is one great addition to the system without any subwoofers. It brings out your movie watching experience to just another great level. The PSW10 completes the theater system at your home.
Every PSW10 woofer has the downward firing port which is floor coupled. With this configuration, there is the maximum impact of bass while maintaining the cabinet front low profile as much as possible. All the materials used for products manufactured by Polk are of high quality. And they use the most advanced techniques for manufacturing as well. The products go through many quality tests which also include the drop test, signal response in extreme cases, the salt and UV exposure testing to produce the best home theater subwoofer.
The Polk loudspeakers are made to last a lifetime. The voltage of the PSW10 is the standard US voltage rating which is 120 volts. Here is more about the amazing features of the subwoofer.
Why Should you Buy this Subwoofer?
- The 10-inch woofer are excellent in delivering the deep beating bass which is the prominent factor while watching action movies and also the finesse and speed needed for the real musical effects.
- The cabinet which is non-resonant and compact pleats out from the way, but the forward firing designing of the woofer delivers the maximum impact for all the levels of volume due to which you will always feel the presence of bass in your room.
- Woofer’s intelligent amplifier design can deliver the right power when the movie or the music require the power. Also, the subwoofer consumes less power at the standby mode and low volumes as well.
- The resonance free dynamic materials for balance driver which is resonance-free remain stiff and also move fast which contributes to the incredible performance of the PSW10 subwoofers.
- You get the exciting experience of musical at low frequencies and the thrilling effects due to the superior blending system of the subwoofer.
- The smart circuitry for sensing can detect when to turn off or on. And the compression circuitry limits the distortion caused at the extreme level of volume.
- The amplifiers feature phase switch, low pass crossover which is adjustable, and the volume control of the subwoofer. The control helps to get the professional control to the bass and the blending characteristics to the front stage speakers.
- The efficient design of PSW10 subwoofer contributes to maintaining the stability even at high level of volume.
Technical Information:
- Size of subwoofer: 10” diameter
- Overall Frequency Response: 35 to 300 Hz
- Weight: 26 pounds
- Cabinet dimensions: 14 3/8" x 14" x 16 1/8" (H X W X D)
- Power (Dynamic): 100 watts
- Power (Continuous): 50 watts
Good things about PSW10
- It is equally adept at the music and movies sound.
- The MDF cabinet of the system is robust.
- The PSW matches the other speakers from the monitor series of the Polk.
- The bass is well detailed in the subwoofer and provides a great effect.
Bad things about PSW10 :
- There is no direct input which bypasses the internal crossover of the subwoofer.
The best overall Polk Audio PSW10 10-Inch Powered Subwoofer for a price : If you have never experienced the audio of home theater and the excitement that comes with it or you want to complete your sound system, then the PSW10 is the best choice you can get. It is the perfect subwoofer which can provide the bass thrills which pounds your heart at the movie time. And the sound effect is amazing even when you play games, watch your favorite programs on TV or listen to the music. And the bonus of this best 10-inch subwoofer is the five years of warranty. The subwoofer comes with five years warranty for both the speaker and the subwoofer amplifier separately.
Appearance of the PSW10 : There are two options available for the finishes of the Polk PSW10 which are cherry-colored vinyl and black. Like most of the subwoofers, the PSW10 is a standard box of the cube. And there is the use of MDF board for the construction of the subwoofers. It looks just like the other subwoofers available in the market. The manufacturer offers many options for connections for the subwoofer including stereo speaker and RCA line inputs.
Pricing Details : The price of the product is $200 in the market. But it is available at discounted price of $110 to $150 which is quite less and satisfying for the features offered by the subwoofer. You can get the best experience from best car subwoofer with such cheap price; no deal can be as good as this one. No matter how you see this, you are the one to get the most of the benefits by purchasing the subwoofer.
Summing Up
The PSW10 is one of the best cheap subwoofers available in the market which comes with many amazing features. The price is also reasonable for the features that it offers. And the best part about getting the subwoofer is the warranty period of five years. Get the best experience of the movie, gaming, music, TV shows and all the things with the best subwoofer under 100-500 and that too for such cheap price. The subwoofer never misses a beat or a thump and delivers the sound with the utmost clarity.
Best Subwoofer Buying Guide and Setting Up
We all want that cinematic experience in our home theater that gives us the feel of what we feel in a cinema hall with all the sounds and visuals that leave us mesmerized. We all know that we can achieve a theatrical feel through home theaters but what makes the sound that much more theater like is by having a subwoofer connected to the home theater. Setting up a subwoofer will make having a home theater worth it as it enhances all the low sounds in the right feel and gives you goosebumps while watching an action or horror movie.This article will guide you to have the best 12 inch subwoofer and will help you set it up in the right manner to give you the best home theater experience.
What is a subwoofer?
Before we go into buying the best subwoofer and setting it up let us understand what a subwoofer is and does.A subwoofer makes low sounds in a dynamic range that gives us that extra bass sound quality that improves our home theater experience. The perfect subwoofer produces a tone of 20Hz that gives you the sound even of the smallest sound that the TV produces. Today we get subwoofers that have built-in amplifiers that make integration of sounds to the main speaker and blend the sounds together to give powerful sound quality. You can bring out the best from the subwoofer when you place it correctly in the room and there should be enough distance between you and the subwoofer to get its best.Now that you know, what a subwoofer does it is up to you to decide if you want to purchase a subwoofer for your home theater.
Reason for having a subwoofer
If you have a home theater or are, planning to buy one purchasing a subwoofer with it is necessary. If doubts arise regarding a subwoofer, forget it all and buy one because without a subwoofer the experience of having a home theater is incomplete. The subwoofer device gives the ultimate theater effect and enhances the sound of your home theater system without which you are missing a great sound experience. With advancements in technology, the subwoofer system has the provision of linking to the home theater through an output dedicated to the subwoofer itself.
Buying the right Subwoofer Guide
After you have gone through the above reason to buy a subwoofer, you can consider buying the right type of your home theater. There are various things to keep in mind before buying the best subwoofer under 500. We will now see some considerations to take in before buying a subwoofer.
- The right size - While picking the right sized subwoofer where to put a subwoofer also comes in play. If there is more room in the place where you want to set up then consider buying a large subwoofer and if there is less place choose a small subwoofer. Commonly a subwoofer that has large surface area will give you greater sound quality.
- Sealed or ported enclosures - There are two types of subwoofers sealed and ported. The sealed ones give you a tight bass as the air does not go in and out which make it responsive but at the same time, it does not deliver that huge power that a ported subwoofer can deliver. A ported one will give more output with less power and offers high-quality bass. For those acoustic music lovers and subtle classic sounds choose a closed subwoofer and the ones that like rock and electric dance music go with the ported ones and groove to the tunes.
- Having a remote control - While buying a subwoofer select the one with a remote control as it offers you convenience and you can control all the features of a subwoofer from a distance.
- With or without wires - If you are a person who does not like the look of wires all around choose a wireless subwoofer or buy an accessory along with it that will make it wireless. Then there is a subwoofer where one has to connect it to the receiver with a wire, this is not as bad as it seems it is just a matter of look.
How to Set your Subwoofer Properly
After you have made the purchase, it is now time to set up your subwoofer system in the best manner to give you an experience of what you have been looking for.
- Connecting your subwoofer - First thing you will think is how to connect a subwoofer, it is simple and easy to do it on your own if you follow the instructions. A subwoofer needs two connections one is to the power outlet and the other for the signal. For the signal connection, you will require an LFE connection for which you will take a subwoofer cable and connect from the receiver’s output to the LFE input in the subwoofer.
- Crossover settings - Once you have set up the speakers and your subwoofer you need to crossover all the wires in the right manner through calibrating it in the right frequencies. Once you calibrate everything fine-tune the connection and you are set.
- Placing it right - You need to find just the right spot to place your subwoofer to gain the correct bass sound. Play a trial music sound and sit where you usually sit. Does it sound good? If not then move the subwoofer in different places n do the same until you get that perfect sound. Placing the sub in the right spot will give you the right amount of bass sound without too much or less of it.
- Tweaking - Once you have set up everything often you will have to make adjustments and you must know how to adjust a subwoofer. Here are few things that you can do to tweak your subwoofer system to perfection. The first thing you can do is change the phase switch as it can be out of phase with the speaker. To correct this you can change the phase plug to another, as you can plug into another phase switch because it has two in the sub. The second thing you can do is adjust the level of bass in the sub.
If there is a louder bass, you can always dial it down and if the bass is less, you can turn it up as most subs have their own volume control. Sometimes you can hear vibrations off the subwoofer to stop this you can put the sub on a platform where it can absorb the sound coming out of the sub.
Wrapping it up
All the above points and considerations will guide you to buy your best subwoofer under 100-500 and help you set up in the right manner to give you the experience of the best digital sound you can get. However, it all depends on your requirement and your understanding is mandatory to get the right kind of subwoofer.
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