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Author: topstuf
Date: June 26, 2020

Full Guide On Finding The Best Car Subwoofer In 2020

The big question is does your car really need a subwoofer? Yes, it does! If you want to give your car audio system a whole new dimension, you need to get the best car subwoofer which suits your needs. Thanks to the fact that subwoofers are typically larger than other component speakers in a car stereo, they can add a lot of power to the system.

In fact, this is a kind of device that has the power to take the music playing experience to a whole new level. Once you get it installed, you’ll wonder how you managed to do without it!. This is because it can reproduce sound frequencies that other parts of your audio system cannot. We’re talking about sub-bass frequencies, that is, those in the range of 20–200 Hz.

But, simply buying any kind of subwoofer won’t do you any good. As this is a device that you buy once every couple of years, it’s definitely good advice to take some time to do your research in order to find the best one.

The good news is that you have us to guide you through everything. We’re now going to point out some of the most important things you need to pay attention to when shopping for the car subwoofer!

Which Car Subwoofer Features You Need to Focus On?

The fact is that there are literally hundreds of different car subwoofers on the market, which is definitely a good thing. You will be able to find the one that matches your needs and wishes perfectly.

But, because the offer is so large, it means that you will have to invest a lot of time and effort in order to find the right car subwoofer. To save you some time, we’re now going to show you which are the features that each good subwoofer need to have.

Quality Sub Plays Very Low-Pitch Sounds

Frequency range is the specification you should look for. The lower the frequency response, the deeper the sound the sub will be able to produce. Surely, you might argue that the human ear can’t hear the frequencies lower than 20-30 Hz, but you can definitely feel them.

That is the reason why a good subwoofer is capable of creating an experience you haven’t felt before. A quality sub is going to make you not only hear the music but feel it deep in your bones, as well.

Best Subs Have a Lot of Power

One of the specs that sellers like to point out about subwoofers is the maximum power output. But, even if it sounds impressive, it doesn’t mean that the sub will actually be able to achieve it. At least not all the time…

This is why it’s essential to take a look at the RMS rating of the subwoofer before deciding whether to buy it or not. RMS stands for “root mean square” and it’s basically the power at which your sub will run continuously, without any problems along the way.

So, if you’re looking for a subwoofer that can give your car stereo system a real kick, you need to look for one with a high RMS rating. But, even if the RMS power handling of the sub is impressive, it doesn’t mean that your amplifier is. So, before making a buy, make sure that your amp matches up!

Great Subwoofers Have Great Sensitivity Ratings

The rule of thumb is that if you want to play the music really loudly, you need to look for a sub that has a high sensitivity rating. Basically, the more sensitive it is, the less power it needs to reach the maximum sound. So, if your car audio system has a powerful amplifier, you can expect to create some really loud audio.

Best Car Subwoofer Brands

It seems that there’s no way of knowing how well the sub is going to perform and for how long. This is why many people simply decide to risk it and buy a sub based only on its specs. But, we believe there’s another thing you need to pay attention to before making your decision – the manufacturer.

Rather than putting your trust into shady manufacturers, we urge you to focus on the products made by reliable companies. If a brand has a good reputation, the chance is that their products are going to work fine for many, many years. So, it’s definitely a good idea to focus on those manufacturers.

So, which brands are we talking about? Here are some of the best car subwoofer brands, whose products are guaranteed to provide you with amazing performances for a long time!

  • Rockford Fosgate
  • Pioneer
  • Kicker
  • JBL
  • Skar Audio
  • MTX Audio
  • Infinity Reference
  • Kenwood
  • Alpine
  • Rockville
  • Orion

Of course, just picking one subwoofer made by one of these brands is not a very good idea. You need to pick the best one! Such sub will provide you with awesome audio performances, while also there won’t be any risk that it would break easily.

The bad news is that finding the best car sub is not that easy. The good news is that you have us to help you out. We’re now going to present you with our top 5 picks for the best car subwoofer in the world!

Top 5 Car Subwoofers Reviews in 2020

Here are five subwoofers that we believe are capable to take your car audio system to a whole new level. Each of these products is superb, there’s no doubt about that. Still, what’s crucial for one buyer might not be important for another. That’s why it’s super-important to read these car subwoofer reviews and choose the one that’s perfect for your car!

1. Rockford Fosgate P3D4-12 – Our Choice for the Best 12-Inch Car Subwoofer

Rockford Fosgate 12" 300W Subwoofer w/Enclosure and Amplifier w/Wiring Kit
  • Rockford Fosgate R1S4 12 12" Prime Series 300 Watt 4 Ohm SVC Subwoofer
  • Power Handling (Max): 300 Watts
  • Power Handling (RMS): 150 Watts
  • Features:**

Rockford Fosgate is one of the best manufacturers of car subs on the planet. This Arizona-based company has been around for more than four decades, during which it’s established itself as a brand famous for the quality and durability of its products.

That said, you can be sure that Rockford Fosgate P3D4-12 is going to serve you well for a long time, putting on amazing audio performances along the way. This 12-inch subwoofer is loud, powerful, and very accurate when it comes to playing audio.

All of this makes us surprised that its price is pretty affordable. Of course, in order to be actually able to use it, you need to have enough space in your car to mount a 12-inch sub. You also need a good amplifier to make P3D4-12 reach its full potential.

Features

RMS power handling – Its RMS power handling is 600 Watts, while the maximum power Rockford Fosgate P3D4-12 can handle is 1200 Watts.

Sensitivity – Its sensitivity rating could’ve been better than 85 dB, but considering that it’s super-powerful, you’re going to be satisfied with the kick it produces.

Frequency response – The frequency range of Rockford Fosgate P3D4-12 is 28 Hz – 250 Hz.

Pros

  • Sturdily-built
  • Impressive power handling
  • Decent frequency response
  • Nice design

Cons

  • Sensitivity rating isn’t too impressive

2. Rockford Fosgate P3SD2-8 – Shallow-Mouth 8-Inch Sub with Pretty Impressive Performances

Rockford Fosgate P3SD2-8 8" Dual 2-Ohm Punch Series Shallow Mount Car Subwoofer
  • The Rockford Fosgate P3S series shallow mount subwoofers deliver Punch, designed to...
  • The Punch P3SD2-8 is a slim 8” 2-Ohm DVC (dual voice coil) subwoofer with 150 Watts RMS...
  • Featuring anodized aluminum cones and dustcaps, with a unique spider venting design to...
  • Optimized for both sealed and vented enclosures {Sealed (Vb): 0.25 cu. ft. (7.0 Liters) /...

If you own a small city car, you probably don’t want to waste too much of its space on a large subwoofer. That’s why Rockford Fosgate P3SD2-8 might be your perfect choice. Its diameter is 8 inches, while its mouthing depth is less than 3 inches. This means that no matter how compact your car is, you will have no problems mounting this sub.

But, being small doesn’t mean that Rockford Fosgate P3SD2-8 isn’t powerful. On the contrary, it will give you a pretty decent kick, while still maintaining the quality of audio. If you’re still not convinced that Rockford Fosgate P3SD2-8 is good for you, know that this sub is made by a reputable brand, famous for the durability of its products.

Features

RMS power handling – This sub can handle the continuous power of 150 Watts. We understand that this might not be too impressive, but you won’t find many other 8-inch subs that can handle more power.

Sensitivity – The sensitivity rating of Rockford Fosgate P3SD2-8 is 82 decibels, which is enough to make your whole car shake when playing deep bass.

Frequency response – The range of frequencies this sub can reproduce is between 38 Hz and 250 Hz. Surely, it would be better if the response was even lower, but Rockford Fosgate P3SD2-8 can definitely make your body shake.

Pros

  • Compact size
  • Easy to install
  • Decent audio performances
  • Quality-built and durable

Cons

  • Not impressive power handling and sensitivity
  • Not too deep frequency response

3. Skar Audio VVX-10v3 – Probably the Best Option for the Money

Skar Audio EVL-12 D2 12" 2500 Watt Max Power Dual 2 Ohm Car Subwoofer
  • Peak Power: 2,500 Watts | RMS Power: 1,250 Watts
  • 3" High Temperature Dual 2-ohm Voice Coil with Black Coating
  • Competition Grade Paper Cone & High Roll Foam Surround
  • Premium Suspension Featuring the EVL Series Signature Red Two Layer Spider

If you decide to buy Skar Audio VVX-10v3, you won’t have to spend more than a hundred dollars. And in return, you will get a 10-inch sub with breathtaking performances. Everything about this subwoofer seems impressive, starting from the fact that it’s super-powerful and very loud. In combination with the best car subwoofer amplifier, Skar Audio DDX-10 D2 10" 1500 Watt Max Power Dual 2 Ohm Car Subwoofer  can really take you to heaven with its audio performances.

The fact that it’s extremely loud and powerful might make you worried about its durability. If you play a sub to the max on a daily basis, there’s a chance that some of its parts might break or melt. But, that shouldn’t concern you if you buy Skar Audio VVX-10v3. This sub is made of top-quality materials, not to mention that its advanced vent system ensures no overheating will happen.

Still not convinced that Skar Audio VVX-10v3 is the right subwoofer for you? Well, then you definitely need to take a closer look at its features!

Features

RMS power handling – You probably won’t be able to find too many subs with such as impressive power handling rating as Skar Audio VVX-10v3. At least not in the same price range… The RMS power rating of this sub is 600 Watts, while the maximum power it can handle is twice that number.

Sensitivity – With the sensitivity rating of 85.2 dB, this sub can make a lot of noise!

Frequency response – Here’s one of not too many things that could do with an improvement. The frequency range of this sub is 40 Hz – 450 Hz, which isn’t bad, but true bass-lovers want the response to be lower than 40 Hz.

Pros

  • Loud & powerful
  • Sturdily built
  • Affordable price

Cons

  • Frequency response isn’t too impressive

4. Rockville RVB12.1A

Rockville RVB12.1A 12 Inch 500W Active Powered Car Subwoofer+Sub Enclosure Box
  • Rockville RBV12.1A Single 12" 500 Watts Active Subwoofer Enclosure. Size: 12".
  • Peak Power: 500 Watts. RMS Power: 300 Watts. Nominal Impedance: Single 4-Ohm. 2" Voice...
  • Inverted Carbon Graphite Molded Dust Cap. Kevlar Reinforced Pulp Cone.
  • Matte Black Custom Molded Grill. Double Laminated Foam Surround, Stitched to Cone.

This is an active powered car subwoofer that comes with an enclosure included in the package. Speaking of the enclosure, it’s designed so that it will fit most of the cars, not taking too much space. In fact, its back is angled, so that it fits perfectly against the back seats of any car.

Apart from being easy to install, this sub is great for many other reasons. First of all, it’s very powerful, which you could’ve expected from a powered subwoofer. It’s also very loud, with impressive sensitivity rating. Even its frequency response is decent, so performance-wise, you can’t have any complaints.

The sub is also very cheap, but Rockville didn’t use cheap materials in its construction. On the contrary, this subwoofer is made to work very well for a long time, causing its owner no problems along the way.

Features

RMS power handling – RMS rating of this subwoofer is 300 Watts, while the maximum wattage Rockville RVB12.1A can handle is 500 Watts.

Sensitivity – The sensitivity rating of Rockville RVB12.1A is astonishing 93 decibels.

Frequency response – The audio that this sub can play is in the range of 30 Hz – 150 Hz.

Pros

  • Powered sub
  • Decent power handling
  • Impressive sensitivity
  • Comes with an enclosure
  • Affordable price

Cons

  • If the bass sound was just a bit deeper, this sub would’ve been perfect

5. Orion HCCA154

This is a competition subwoofer, so it’s not a big surprise that its price is higher than the price of the other four subs from our list. But, the price is very well justified. Orion HCCA154 is capable of making every bone in your body tremble to the sound of its bass!

Orion HCCA154 is a super-powerful 15-inch sub, with a really amazing power handling. We’re not talking about hundreds of Watts, but literally thousands. Because of this, you better check with your local authorities will you be able to use this sub at all. You probably will, but not at max volume.

Features

RMS power handling – The continuous power this sub can handle without any problems is 2000 Watts. Yes, you’ve read correctly, Orion HCCA154 has an RMS power handling of two thousand Watts. It’s even more impressive when it comes to peak power handling – Orion HCCA154 can deal with as much as 4000 Watts.

Sensitivity – The sensitivity rating of 87.4 dB is really high considering how powerful this sub is.

Frequency response – This sub can play really low bass, considering that its frequency response is in the range between 22 Hz and 100 Hz.

Pros

  • Super-powerful
  • Extremely loud
  • Super-deep bass

Cons

  • Not very cheap

Frequently Asked Questions about Car Subwoofers

People who are shopping for car subwoofers usually have plenty of questions to ask. Here are some of the most common ones.

  • What if my amplifier doesn’t match up to the subwoofer?

If you don’t have a powerful amplifier, you won’t be able to get the most of your subwoofer. The good news is that these days you can buy a quality amp without spending too much cash.

  • Does a low sensitivity rating mean that I won’t be able to play the music loudly?

If your sub doesn’t have an impressive sensitivity rating, it doesn’t mean it’s not loud. If the sub is powerful enough, you got nothing to worry about.

  • How much money is too much to spend on a subwoofer?

Even if you buy the most expensive sub on the market, it won’t do you any good unless other components of your car audio system are good as well. Still, generally speaking, paying a few hundred dollars for a quality car subwoofer isn’t too much. All of the subs we discussed in our reviews are pretty reasonably priced, considering their specs.

Final Word of Advice

Getting a subwoofer in your car can really bring a whole new experience to listening to your favorite music in the car. But, this is only true if you buy a good sub. Otherwise, it’s going to produce annoying noise, so you might end up regretting buying it.

This is why we urge you to choose the very best car subwoofer! We’ve shown you our top five picks and it’s now up to you to decide which one of those best matches your needs and preferences. One thing is certain, though. Whichever you pick, you won’t make a bad decision!

Now to make your car even fancier, in case you need, look around some of the great double din head units we reviewed.

Last update on 2024-10-15 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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