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Are you looking for ways to add some excitement to your music and home theater system? There are dozens of interesting options available on the market. Enjoy a soothing and relaxing time listening to music or a thrilling movie night with the best subwoofer.
If you’re looking for an affordable subwoofer that’s got a slightly fresher look than what been most popular the last couple of year. If you are trying to find best offers as well as for the cash and also sound, this is the right place for you. We review and compare specs, features, prices, & more of the Best Subwoofers on the market here.
Table of Contents
- Top 3 Best Subwoofer Reviews
- 1. Polk Audio PSW10 10-Inch Powered Subwoofer
- 2. BIC America F12 12-Inch 475-Watt Front Firing Powered Subwoofer
- 3. Polk Audio PSW505 12-Inch Powered Subwoofer
- Choosing The Best Car Subwoofer
- Best Subwoofer Brand
- Our Overview of the 4 Top Brands
- Quick Recap of the Top Subwoofer Brands
- How To Choose The Best Subwoofers
Top 3 Best Subwoofer Reviews
1. Polk Audio PSW10 10-Inch Powered Subwoofer
The Polk Audio PSW10 is a single 10 inch subwoofer that delivers big bass at one of the lowest prices anywhere. It measures just over a foot across (14 x 14.38 x 16.12 inches, to be exact) and is equipped with a 10 inch polymer composite cone driver.
Our Rating: (4.6 / 5)
This subwoofer is designed to fill out the bottom end of your home theater system, taking the bass load off your system’s main speakers so they can concentrate on reproducing the mid and high frequencies.
When the bass is left to a designated subwoofer, the difference in sound can be huge and the way you experience movies and music will change.
What’s not to like?
This is a great starter model: not too expensive and yet high on quality. However, some customers have complained that this subwoofer is better at handling music than movies. While this may be true, remember that movie sound is very different from music: it does not come at you in a steady, consistent stream. The audio patterns in movies go up and down much more aggressively than in music in both volume and frequency. The result is that the sense of being enveloped by sound is not as strong when watching films as it is when listening to music.
Here are some great features of the Polk Audio PSW10
- 10 inch Dynamic Balance® Woofer
- Intelligent Amplifier
- Compact Non-resonant Cabinet
- Laser-based Klippel measurement technology for improved linearity and deep, precise sound
This subwoofer definitely has a great, sleek look with a metal face that gives it a special character. The majority of subwoofers on the market are black so if you like to style it a little differently, you’ll be happy to know that this one breaks away from the pack.
For the price/quality combination, this one’s a great choice.
2. BIC America F12 12-Inch 475-Watt Front Firing Powered Subwoofer
The BIC America F12 subwoofer is an exceptional piece of equipment featuring an adjustable crossover, adjustable volume control, automatic signal sensing and high level inputs. Carrying on the legacy of the first Formula Series introduced in 1973, it offers an output capability of up to 116dB (live rock band levels) and has no equal when it comes to clarity.
Our Rating: (4.8 / 5)
Here are some great features of the BIC America F12
- Design: Front-firing 12-inch, 475-watt peak powered subwoofer
- Frequency Response: 25Hz – 200Hz
- Sensitivity: 90dB
- Drivers: 12-inch injection molded woofer with heavy duty surround
- Magnetic Shielding: Yes
- Gold-Plated Terminals:Yes
- Impedance: 8 ohms
- Dimensions: 17 x 14-3/4 x 17-1/4 inches (HxWxD)
One thing that makes this subwoofer stand out from many others is a patented BIC “Venturi” vent which eliminates port noise, something often heard from other subwoofers especially when playing demanding music and videos.
The BIC America F12 is an outstanding subwoofer for the price and whether it’s used for watching TV, BluRays or PS3 games, the difference in sound is absolutely amazing. This sub is also backed by a 5 year guarantee, which says a lot about the kind of quality you can expect from the F12.
3. Polk Audio PSW505 12-Inch Powered Subwoofer
The Polk Audio PSW505 subwoofer speaker is a little powerhouse that can be added to any stereo system or home theater sound system for enhanced true-to-life sound.
This stand alone speaker features a 12-inch long throw and has slot-load venting which will minimize noise and sound distortion.
Whether you listen to music with it or watch movies at home, the Polk Audio PSW505 subwoofer will provide you with realistic sound and crisp and clear bass.
Our Rating: (4.5 / 5)
Let’s Take A Closer Look
The Polk Audio PSW505 subwoofer is powered by 300 watts of continuous power for big sound. It measures a compact 16-1/8 x 15-1/8 x 18-3/16 inches so it doesn’t take up much space. That’s a good thing since most people’s home entertainment rooms often tend to be a little cramped.
It has a frequency range between 23 Hertz and 160 Hertz and it includes phase switch volume control so it offers outstanding performance and works with any other speakers you may already have in your sound system.
What this means is you can use this subwoofer together with your other speakers and it won’t overpowerthem because it will adjust to the correct volume setting automatically.
Here are the features of the Polk Audio PSW505 in list format
- Single powered subwoofer for use with stereo or home theater speaker systems
- Equipped with one magnetically shielded 12-inch long-throw woofer
- Slot-load venting minimizes turbulence, noise, and distortion
- Rated to 300 watts of continuous power (460W peak)
- Measures 16-1/8 x 15-1/8 x 18-3/16 inches (HxWxD)
How does it get along with your other technology?
One advantage of the Polk Audio PSW505 subwoofer is that it is magnetically shielded to block interference which allows you to safely place it near any television or video monitor without concern. It also has an on/off switch that lets you turn off the added sound without having to turn off the movie for quieter viewing and listening.
The automatic circuit conveniently turns on your subwoofer if it senses a program signal. If there is no signal available, the amplifier will turn off automatically within just 15 minutes.
How long is the warranty?
It has a 5 year warranty on parts and labor for the speaker and a 3 year warranty on parts and labor on the amplifier. It includes the PSW505 subwoofer, an owner’s manual and an online registration card so you can register your new speaker for the manufacturer’s warranty.
Is the Polk Audio PSW505 solid?
Polk Audio subwoofers are famous for their sound quality but they are also known for their solid MDF construction that features a 1 inch thick front baffle that will suppress any enclosure panel resonance. This feature will provide you with the utmost in distortion-free response.
As we mentioned earlier, Polk Audio also backs their products with a manufacturer’s warranty so you can rest assured they will stand behind your purchase if you ever require support or service.
Choosing The Best Car Subwoofer
First of all, a car subwoofer enhances the quality of your vehicle’s audio system in a huge way, make no mistake about it. This being said, there’s tons of different types, designs, and models of subwoofers on the market and the fact is you’re going to get a different opinion on the best one on every blog you visit.
So these are just my top three that I’ve seen from personal research and that seem to be on the top of most people’s lists: the MTX Magnum MB210SP, the Pyramid BNPS102, and the XXX Car Audio Pair.
Let’s take a closer look at these models to see why people are picking them over other car subwoofers.
The MTX Magnum MB210SP is a dual 10” enclosure and amp combo. The unit offers 800 watt power with clean and clear bass which will certainly lift you off your seat. Each of these subs comes with 4 ohms wire for added savings. The mono block amps offer both high and low level inputs with a bass boost and crossover system. The unit comes with 3 way circuitry protection system to provide you peace of mind.
Our Rating: (4 / 5)
The Pyramid BNPS102 offers 1000 watt dual bandpass system in a 10 inch enclosure. The unit also comes with neon accent lighting to enhance your vehicle’s audio experience. This subwoofer system comes with silver polypropylene cone which provides added rigidity and weather resistance. Enjoy all around-performance with this hard working subwoofer system which comes with specially treated rubber surround.
Our Rating: (3.7 / 5)
The XXX Car Audio Pair comes with two 12” Subwoofer and car amplifier kit with box. This is a flashy set of audio equipment for your vehicle. The unit offers 24 Hz- 1 kHz Efficiency with 87 dB Amp in a double stacked strontium magnet. We’re used to thinking that if it’s flashy it’s trashy, but that’s not necessarily the case with this subwoofer kit. I found mostly 4 star customer reviews for it and despite the fact that it’s not the cheapest unit around, it’s selling well.
Our Rating: (3.6 / 5)
So there you have it, three of the most popular and best car subwoofers on the market. Personally, I like the fact that they’re three totally different styles and yet the quality is high for all three. It’s really a matter of personal choice.
Best Subwoofer Brand
If you’re looking for a subwoofer, you can save a lot of work for yourself by checking out our list of the best subwoofer brands. Generally, you can be assured a quality product with any subwoofer made by Polk Audio, BIC America, JBL Speakers, or Yamaha. There’s still variance in quality, of course – but a bad Yamaha subwoofer is still better than the vast majority of its competition. Let’s take a closer look at each of these four brands, and discuss their pros and cons.
Our Overview of the 4 Top Brands
Polk Audio is fairly high-end in its target audience. The closest thing they have to a mass-market product is a $300 iPod dock. So, be prepared for a decent amount of cash outlay for any of their products. The PSW10 is one of the most popular options; it’s a 100W, 10-inch subwoofer with a very reasonable $110 or so. It’s small and relatively affordable, but does a great job both in music and movies, producing a well-defined bass sound.
In the higher end of the product line, you have the DSWmicroPRO1000. It’s 12 inches, 2400 watts at peak or 1200 continuous, and has an incredibly strong and clean sound profile. It’s also just shy of $900, but it’s worth it, should you fancy yourself a bit of an audiophile. Lastly, Polk Audio has a fairly decent selection of built-ins and automobile subwoofers, which are well worth considering.
BIC America isn’t any less targeted toward the high end of the market than Polk Audio, and their subwoofers have similar price tags. BIC tends to charge a little more, but provide slightly greater sound quality and wattage. Really, though, they go after essentially the same design goals, and they trade blows in terms of success in achieving those.
Either brand is a great pick for high-end systems, but isn’t well-advised if you want something a bit more affordable. That’s a shame, though; even if you’re on a budget, you want to get your money’s worth. So, what would be the best subwoofer brand for someone without the ability to throw a few hundred dollars at the problem?
Yamaha has a far more diverse product line than any other company in audio. They make everything from cheap headphones to hundred-thousand-dollar concert pianos; it’s no surprise that their subwoofer selection would have similar range. Yamaha’s dedicated powered subwoofer line starts with the YST-SW012. It’s still not super-cheap, at a price of $129.95, but it’s a good entry-level unit that’s accessible to people with tighter budgets, and boasts reasonable sound quality with 100W of power. Their other products are relatively competitive in their price range, but they don’t chase the same super-high-end segment that Polk and BIC do. They top out with the $449.95 NS-SW310, which has excellent sound quality, but is lacking in power given its 160W rating.
Lastly, there’s JBL Speakers. Their dedicated subwoofer offerings are fairly limited, and only really cover the $400-$600 mid-high-end range; this means that you don’t have nearly as many choices as the other brands. They’re providing some fantastic sound quality and earth-shaking loudness at those price points, but you are advised to be cautious; compared to the competition, build quality is questionable. You may wind up sending a lemon back before you get a subwoofer that you’re satisfied with. Still, the value proposition of a subwoofer with a range of 27Hz-150Hz and a peak power of 500W being sold for under $600 is considerable.
Quick Recap of the Top Subwoofer Brands
- Polk Audio
- BIC America
- JBL
- Yamaha
- Sony
- Cyber Acoustics
- Pioneer
- Klipsch
Hope you enjoyed this article, now go get yourself some deep sounds with your favorite subwoofer!
How To Choose The Best Subwoofers
With so many subwoofers in the market its perfectly understandable if you get confused trying to choose. There are many good types, but the best way to choose is to know exactly what you are looking for. Since you probably have some questions as you shop for the best subwoofers, we’ll try to answer them right here so you can end up with the best sound possible.
Loudness
To get the correct level of loudness, you have to have 3 things all coming together correctly: sensitivity, the casing that the subwoofers come in and how much power they have. Think also about the size of the room they are required for. A set of subwoofers that is not so powerful in a small room will sound much louder than if they were placed in a larger room. If you want them for a small room, go for less power but keep the sensitivity and the casing the same.
Bass tones
You want a variety of bass tones and the only way to achieve it is with reduced frequencies. The casing is of topmost importance here. The best bass tones come in a large subwoofer that comes in a sealed box. Big subwoofers are usually designed to do a range of good bass tones. You also want to think about wattage here – the more the better the bass sounds you’ll get.
Power
To find out the power that a subwoofer will need, check the spec sheet. The lowest power is the one that will give you barely acceptable results. Remember that the bigger the subwoofer the more the power it uses so the better the sound.
Shape and design
These are really a question of taste. If you’re looking to spice up the look of your equipment, round ones or triangular ones will add the jazz. Most people go simply for square or rectangular one. It really doesn’t matter so long as they are the right size, have the right power and are encased in the right material.
Cone material
Subwoofer cone material can be derived from paper, synthetics or composites, but paper is by far the best because it responds very fast. To know the best subwoofers, you would need to test the sound of a set made of each of these materials because they greatly vary depending on their manufacturer. Paper ones, because they sound really good, are more expensive but also have a shorter lifespan. If you can afford them, go for it.
If you want to design an entertainment system that’s top of the range, subwoofers are a must. True, they may sound complex and you might not understand a lot of the jargon that surrounds them, but talk to an expert about the best subwoofers on the market. Remember that someone talking about one particular kind may not be giving you all the information – there are many types that are really good and all you need to do is take into account the above mentioned.
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