Best Subwoofers In 2022

How We Chose Our Selection Of Subwoofers

Brand – With so many different brands of subwoofers on the market, it’s not an easy task to choose the best subwoofer. We chose brands from manufacturers that have a proven track record of producing quality products. The purpose of a subwoofer is to enhance your listening experience, not have you cringing at tinny, rattling sounds. It’s always best to avoid cheap imitations when shopping for a subwoofer.

Quality Enclosure – While the quality of the internal mechanisms of a subwoofer is of the utmost importance, don’t overlook the quality of the materials used in making the enclosure. Think of the acoustics. The materials used should enhance the acoustics, especially the bass. Inferior materials may result in a lot of vibration which will really distort the sounds. This is especially important for subwoofers as they produce lower frequency sounds that tend to reverberate.

Price – If you already have a sound system or home theater system, you’re well aware of the price of all the various components. Good quality subwoofers don’t come cheap, but they don’t need to break the bank either. We’ve included subwoofers in different price ranges so you can find one to suit your needs and your budget. The good news is, that a high price isn’t always indicative of the best subwoofers and in many cases, you can get a good quality one at a reasonable price.

Reviews – Consumers do not shy away from voicing their opinions and certainly do so when it comes to their purchases. We chose our selection of subwoofers because they came with detailed and positive customer reviews. This is a great way to understand how well a subwoofer performs and the quality of the bass sounds it produces. We recommend you also check the negative reviews. Negative reviews don’t necessarily mean the product is defective or inferior in any way. It could just be one little aspect that the customer wasn’t too fond of and it may be a deal-breaker for you too.

Features To Look For In Subwoofers

Low-Frequency Extension – There are limits as to how deep the bass tones can be and some sounds will go well below the threshold of human hearing. Most subwoofers can’t go lower than 20Hz, but the manufacturers will claim they can and play on the mid-range bass performance. If you really want the truest, deepest bass sounds, look for specifications that show the bass level capable of coming down to 30Hz.

Low-Frequency Output – The best subwoofers play loud sound free of distortions. Most subwoofers have an in-built internal amplifier that will adjust and play any sound that comes through. Where possible, listen to the sound produced by the subwoofer with a variety of tones. Pay close attention to how much thumping you feel. It’s also a good idea to do a little of your own research and check customer reviews if you aren’t able to check the performance in person.

Connectivity With Other Speakers – A subwoofer on its own isn’t going to deliver the pure sound so you will need to connect it to other speakers. If you have an existing sound system complete with speakers, you should check the manufacturer’s specifications to make sure you can connect your subwoofer with your current speakers and system. If you’re shopping for a new sound system, you have the advantage of being able to customize your system by choosing a great subwoofer and matching speakers. Many manufacturers bundle these systems together but check to ensure you actually want everything in the bundle.

Size – When it comes to the powerful sounds produced by a subwoofer, it’s easy to think that bigger is better. What is important is that your subwoofer works seamlessly with your other speakers to give you a completely immersive sound experience. Having said that, if your sound system is located in a large room or open area of your home, a larger subwoofer will reverberate really well. In short, the larger the surface area of the subwoofer, the deeper the bass.

Ports & Passive Radiators – Some subwoofers have an additional port that forces more air out of the subwoofer increasing the bass. Others use a passive radiator that, along with the speaker, increases the efficiency and precision of the sound. A passive radiator helps to increase the low-frequency performance of the subwoofer.

Crossovers – The crossover is an electronic circuit that re-routes low frequencies to the subwoofer. All frequencies above a certain point are produced in the main center of the system and the surrounding speakers. Anything below that particular point will flow through to the subwoofer. The best subwoofers have a crossover frequency of 100Hz.

Non-Directional Deep Bass – Our ears can’t actually pinpoint the origin of really low-frequencies so it’s important to look for a subwoofer with a non-directional deep bass. When it comes to a good subwoofer, it’s more about what you can feel, rather than hear.

Wired Or Wireless – Gone are the days when everything was connected by wires. In the case of a home entertainment system with surround sound speakers, the hardest part to deal with was how to hide all those wires. This wireless connectivity is great with powered subwoofers because these usually have their own built-in amplifiers.

Types Of Subwoofers

Passive Subwoofers – These are powered by an external amplifier in much the same way as the other speakers in your sound system. If you’re connecting a passive subwoofer to your home theater system, your best bet is to place an external subwoofer amplifier between the passive subwoofer and the subwoofer preamp outputs of your home theater’s receiver.

Powered Subwoofers – These days, the most common types of subwoofers are powered subwoofers. These have their own built-in amplifiers which are optimally matched to the subwoofer speaker. The best aspect of a powered subwoofer is that it’s simple to connect. All you need is AC power and a connection to Subwoofer output from a receiver.

Front Firing And Down Firing Subwoofers – A front-firing subwoofer has a speaker that is mounted so that the sound radiates from the front or sides of the enclosure. Down firing subwoofers, as the name suggests, is mounted so that the sound radiates from the bottom of the subwoofer towards the floor. Both of these subwoofers work in a similar way and most experts will tell you that it depends greatly on where you intend to place your subwoofer.

Subwoofer FAQ

Q: Do I need a subwoofer?

A: A subwoofer may not be all that necessary, but if you have a home theater or sound system, it’s definitely advisable to get one. You may have some great speakers, but without the subwoofer, the sound may come across as flat and even tinny. That’s when you really appreciate the bass sounds the subwoofer is capable of producing. One thing is for certain, once you’ve had a subwoofer, you won’t want a home entertainment system without one.

Q: What is the difference between a speaker and a subwoofer?

A: A speaker is an electroacoustic transducer. In short, it transforms an electrical signal into sound. In many ways, subwoofers are also speakers but their main focus is on the lowest frequencies of sound, particularly the deep, bass sounds. Speakers mainly work with higher frequencies.

Q: Can I use a subwoofer as a speaker?

A: Ask any audiophile, and they will tell you that you simply cannot use a subwoofer as a speaker. The main purpose of a subwoofer is to produce low frequency, deep bass sounds so it is really restrictive when it comes to the full spectrum of sounds and frequencies. To get the most out of your sound system, you will definitely need to pair your subwoofer with good quality speakers.

The best subwoofer will enhance every aspect of your home entertainment or sound systems. Turn your home into a cinema or an auditorium with sound you can hear and feel. Make sure the subwoofer you choose is compatible with the speakers you intend to connect to it. Enjoy the loud, reverberating sounds to your heart’s content, but don’t forget to be considerate of your neighbors and keep the volume down. Better yet, invite them over on movie night and let them experience the pure, deep bass sounds from your subwoofer.