Principles for Choosing the Best Car Subwoofer 2017!

Are you still using the small car speakers that were bought with the vehicle? Well, if yes, you are missing a lot.

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Trust me; you really need the best car subwoofer. If you find it hard to believe, just listen to your neighbor’s car music system if they have installed a woofer.

Well, I don’t mean the booming high sound that some of us dislike, there is that well-balanced soul-nourishing music that woofers produce.

Typical car speakers have trouble bringing forth enough low-frequency sound that is supposed to give the music sweet depth and realism. On the other hand, the best car subwoofer is capable of creating a distinctive difference between good sounding and a great-sounding system.


What is a Car Subwoofer?

This is a stereo car loudspeaker designed and dedicated to the production of low frequency sounds. It is an amazing system, which can completely transform the music system of any vehicle immediately it is installed. The good thing is, most car subwoofers are easy to install; thus, you can as well do it yourself.


So, Do I Need a Car Subwoofer?

Well, to be sincere with you, car subwoofers have become trendy. Anybody who has experienced the transformative music from a woofer always resort to installing a subwoofer onto their own vehicle.

Regarding whether you need a subwoofer in your car, of cause yes! It will transform the overall listening experience of your automotive sound systems, and you will definitely like it. Great music in your car helps in flushing away the stresses of life and at the time, it will make you feel proud every time you have a visitor in the car.


Realistic Benefits of Installing a Car Subwoofer

While some people relate the subwoofer with a booming sound, the benefits that come with quality car woofers are unquestionable. Top rated subs are designed to augment the low base of sound or recorded music, which transforms your car's atmosphere. Below are the other benefits of a good woofer you would like to know:

They Create a Realistic Sound Experience

Unlike other speakers, you can adjust your woofer to operate within the confines of your vehicle. They are made with speakers that can produce rich sound without the need of huge speakers. They can generate very low-frequency tones that are crucial to higher sound quality.


They Allow Customization of the Bass Range

With typical car speakers, you may need to fix additional bass speakers because they are not able to handle lower frequency music or sound. However, woofers are perfect in filtering off bass tones. It is upon you to fine to the taste of base you like.


Specialization of the Base Range

Most car speakers are not made to handle low-frequency sounds. Reason being, bass sounds need larger speaker capacities to perform within a certain required power range. Subwoofers have the capability of filtering off bass tones, which most mid-range speakers can not.


What Features Should You Check When Selecting a Car Subwoofer?

Well, the above questions simply tell you that there are various types of woofers. Thus, there are things to focus on when selecting the most appropriate subwoofer for your car. The features to concentrate on include:

  • Factor #1
  • FACTOR #2
  • FACTOR #3

Power


Are you the kind that likes a booming sound system. If yes, the system will need more power. Therefore, pay more attention to the RMS power rating other than the peak power rating. That is for continuous power handling or output of the system. Also, ensure the sub's power handling does rime with the amp's power output.


5 Best Car Subwoofers to Consider

Woofers can vary with size, the company of making, wattage, sound quality and many other features. However, what matters most is getting what will meet your needs in terms performance and cost. We have compiled 5 top quality sub woofers below to help you choose the best product.

***Below are more information on the recommended Car Subwoofers, but you can click the link of each product to get an update on the current price and customer reviews on Amazon.

The MTX TNE212D is a 12-inch, 1200-watt car woofer that is ideal for people with the mission of adding bass to their cars without having to dig deeper into their pockets. In other words, it is a reasonably priced woofer with appealing properties. It also comes with a combination of performance and value and has been in the market for the last 40 years.

Our Rating

Via Amazon.com


Other Prose

  • It houses two 12-inch subwoofers, which are ideal for adding base into your car
  • It is ruggedly constructed with an aviation grade carpet to make it last longer
  • The 5/8’’ black carpet used makes it dirt resistant
  • The item is 45.1 pounds, so it will not add more weight to the car
  • Each subwoofer can manage 200 to 400watts RMS power, which is superb for one enclosure
  • It has a spider plateau venting that facilitates cooling of the subwoofer to avoid overheating
  • May come in a single 2Ω Enclosure
  • It is okay for use with MTX THUNDER500.1 amp
  • Has a frequency response of 20Hz – 20kHz and sensitivity of 200mV which give it the best sound quality at both high and low tones

Cons:

  • During shipping, the item must be identified on the box, so no privacy

You can see this video to know how impress it is.


It is a digitally optimized subwoofer, carefully crafted to handle significant amounts of RMS and watts with ease, and comes in two-fold. A single product comes in dual 12-inch illumiNITE enclosed studio woofers. Its surface has a tantalizing finish and an elegant appearance, which assures to boost your car's aesthetic value.

Our Rating

Via Amazon.com


Other Prose

  • Comes with modified output capabilities, which increases the efficiency of the woofers
  • Has specialized tune ports that you can link to your computer
  • Its design takes away the enclosure movement thus giving a streamlined sound quality
  • The system has 1100 Watts peak power which guarantees plenty of entertainment
  • Comes with a 600 watts RMS, which is ok for a boom system
  • Has a 4 Ohm Impedance for sound balance
  • Has optimized drivers to maximize sound quality
  • Comes with 2-45 ounce magnets, which enables it to hit low tones
  • It is 30” W x 14.4” D x 14.4” H, which makes it an ok fit for bigger cars
  • Comes with a one years guarantee thus you can be sure of quality

Cons:

  • Some people think the bass from this woofer is too much
  • It is somewhat bulky in size


Are you looking to add some bass to your system but space is a challenge? Well, the Kenwood Compact kit should be your solution. This is a low profile powered subwoofer system. You can easily add it beneath the car seats, and the good thing is it is designed to produce a fine sound that people will hardly discover the areas where you have placed the speakers.

Our Rating

Via Amazon.com


Other Prose

  • Has an aluminum enclosure, which makes it rigid from external harm
  • Comes with a wired remote that allows you to adjust the volume levels
  • Also, has a 50-12 variable low-pass crossover that allows you to tune to the sound-range you like according to your mood
  • It is 8-1/4’’ x 5-1/8’’ which is a recommendable woofer size for small cars
  • You don't need to remove your spare tire with this sub because it is small
  • You can connect it directly to the radio not necessary the battery
  • It installable to both old and new car models including the 2014 Subaru Impreza
  • It comes with all necessary cables you need to hook to any existing sound system in your car

Cons:

  • It is not big enough for those that like the booming style
  • Has a maximum of 150 watts RMS, which is quite a small range


The Rockford Fostage P300 is a 300 watt, 12-inch subwoofer with an excellent blackish finish. It comes with a stylish design that you’ll most likely admire. It is an all-inclusive system thus; you will only need to run power, signal and the ground source cables to set it up. Its exterior surface is rigid to resist bumps and scrapes.

Our Rating

Via Amazon.com


Other Prose

  • It comes with a closed-loop design that guarantees optimum performance between the amp, woofer, and the enclosure.
  • The Built-in 0˚/180˚ phase switch helps in moderation
  • It has a property that separates the low level and speaker level inputs
  • Comes with an over voltage protection for safeguarding your system
  • Comes with an intelligent on/off function for easier operation
  • Has a remote base control so you can operate it from a distance
  • High efficiency but comes with a low current design for saving power
  • Its AWG input terminals are larger for easy handling
  • It is cased with an industrial heat activated vinyl that helps to regulate heating

Cons:

  • You need a technician to fit the sub nicely because its shape seems un-proportional
  • The sound quality is average


This 10-inch pioneer TS subwoofer comes with a frequency response of 20 Hz to 125 Hz, which gives it an edge in relation to other ordinary woofers in terms of performance. It is also the cheapest in our sampling of the top 5 best car subwoofers. Therefore, if money is your biggest concern, this product could be your quick solution.

Our Rating

Via Amazon.com


Other Prose

  • Has a music power of 1200 which is quite high
  • Has an RMS of 300watts; thus it can be connected to a powerful amp
  • Has a sensitivity of (1 W/1m): 93db, which means it doesn’t consume much power
  • Comes with shallow-mount pre-loaded enclosure that gives it a unique face
  • It is carpeted with a scratch resistant, non-slip enclosure surface, so it's protected from external damage
  • Has a tight bass that is enabled by its compact design
  • The compacted design makes it fit well even is small-spaced cars
  • Has a shipping weight of 19.5 pounds, so it's quite lighter and less expensive to ship

Cons:

  • It is just a speaker with no built-in amp
  • There are some notes that it cannot hit


Summary Table!

Let us a have a summary table to compare the fundamental properties of these subwoofers.

Item

Power, RMS

Subwoofer Type

Type of Voice Coils

Size of the Woofer

Amp

1. MTX Audio Terminator TNE212D

Max 400W

Standard, with an Amp

Dual

12”h x 24” d

In-built

2. Dual Electronics BP1204

Max 600W

Bass Tube

Single

14.4”h x 14.4d x 30” w

No

3. Kenwood KSC-SW11

Max 150W

Standard

Dual

8-1/8’’h x 5-1/4’’ d

No

4. Rockford Fosgate P300

Max 300W

Self-Amplified

Dual

14.4” h x 14.4” d

In-built

5. Pioneer TSSWX2502

Max 300W

Bass Tube

Single

9”h x 16”d

No

Advice: If you are after a booming sound system, pick the woofer with high RMS power rating. However, if you want an excellently balanced sounding system, try the MTX Audio, with an RMS power range of between 200 and 400 watts. On the other hand, you may not like an oversized woofer such as the 14.4”h x 14.4d x 30” w Dual Electronics because it will demand a bigger space in your car.


So Which Subwoofer Should You Select for Your Car?

If you want to make the smartest choice in choosing the best car subwoofer, properties such as the RMS power, frequency range, and sensitivity should be your major guide. In this case, the MTX Audio Terminator TNE212D seems to include a good balance of all these properties, I think this is what you ought to choose. Check below for more details about it:

The MTX Audio comes with a twin sub and is able to manage 200watts on each speaker. Its frequency response or range is 20Hz – 20kHz, which makes it able to play very low and high music notes with ease. In addition, it possesses a Max sensitivity of 200mV, which gives it a great sound quality. It is also reasonably priced besides having an in-built amp, thus a quick way to add bass to your car. It comes with a single 2Ω enclosure making it convenient in terms of space utilization. 

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