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Make Traveling Enjoyable With The Best Car Subwoofers

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Last Updated: May 3, 2024, 1:03 p.m.

Even with excellent speakers, there’s a chance your car’s sound system is still lacking in terms of bass. This is where car subwoofers come in. These large speakers play a significant role in the sound quality and depth. Most car stereo systems need professionally installed quality car subwoofers paired with a high-power amplifier and head unit to produce a low-frequency range of bass sounds.

Car subwoofers can make any car ride more enjoyable by delivering quality sound. A quality car subwoofer can improve the overall experience, regardless of the type of music you like to listen to. There are many different car subwoofers available on the market, but finding the right one for your needs depends on several factors. By the end of this guide, you will be familiar with the top car subwoofers in 2023 to make an informed buying decision.

The Ultimate Buying Guide: Car Subwoofers

Subwoofers can drastically add to the quality of the speakers’ audio. Purchasing one for your car might seem daunting because every car model is different and requires a different pair of subwoofers. Here are some important things to consider when buying brand-new car subwoofers. Audiophiles, don’t skip this section!

Things To Consider Before Purchasing a Car Subwoofer

Power

Power consumption is an important factor to consider if you want a car subwoofer that is worth the money. Most systems have an average consumption ranging from 150 to 1000 watts, with higher wattage translating into better sound quality. You can increase the power of car subwoofers by hooking them up to an amplifier, but speakers are often a more compact vehicle option.

Sensitivity

Sensitivity goes hand in hand with power to achieve high output and high-quality audio. A car subwoofer with a high sensitivity rating will require less power to produce the same sound quality as a lower-sensitivity car subwoofer.

Frequency range

The frequency range indicates how high or low a car subwoofer can play a sound. A good-quality car subwoofer should offer a vast range of frequencies to play its audio.

Types of Car Subwoofers

Bass tubes

Bass tubes are car subwoofers that are fully enclosed in a tube. This allows you to add bass to your audio system without taking up any extra space in your vehicle. It is a quick and easy upgrade though it does not add a lot to the audio quality.

Self-amplified bass car subwoofer

Self-amplified car subwoofers have an amplifier installed inside the subwoofers rather than outside. It takes up less space in your vehicle for a more compact audio solution while allowing for excess bass in your car's sound system.

Standard car subwoofer

Standard subwoofers are made individually without any kind of enclosure. Such car subwoofers typically generate higher-quality audio and output levels with incredible bass, but they may require you to purchase enclosures separately.

Top Picks

Best Overall: Jbl Car Subwoofer
Fully Kitted: Skar Audio Car Subwoofer
Lengthiest Reach: Mtx Tnp212d2 Car Subwoofer
Highest Frequency Range: Dual Electronics Car Subwoofer
Most Lightweight: Rockville Car Subwoofer

Reviews

Best Overall

Jbl Car Subwoofer

Pros	Cons
Durable build Eliminates background noise Offers different input levels and bass Very lightweight	Slightly large at 12 inches

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Fully Kitted

Skar Audio Car Subwoofer

Pros	Cons
Maximum load of 2400 watts Three different amplifying channels The product comes with a complete audio kit	It weighs a lot

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Lengthiest Reach

Mtx Tnp212d2 Car Subwoofer

Pros	Cons
A complete sound package Lengthy wiring kit Three different levels of input Adjustable bass boost	Its cable can be a bit tricky to manage.

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Highest Frequency Range

Dual Electronics Car Subwoofer

Pros	Cons
Vibrant blue LEDs High-frequency response range Eliminates most enclosure movement A sensitivity range of 87dB	Peak power efficiency is 1100 watts

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Most Lightweight

Rockville Car Subwoofer

Pros	Cons
Slim and lightweight Thermal circuit protection Adjustable input sensitivity Auto turn-on technology	Low frequency range between 50 to 150 Hz

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FAQs

Does my car subwoofer need an enclosure?

Yes, an enclosure is required for extra protection so that your subwoofer is not tossed around while driving. It also adds extra bass to your audio.

Is RMS wattage more important than peak wattage in a car subwoofer?

Yes, RMS wattage is much more realistic than peak wattage in a car subwoofer because a car subwoofer functions much better at RMS wattage.

Does a bigger size mean better audio quality?

In car subwoofers, size has nothing to do with the audio quality. The audio quality depends on sensitivity ratings. If a subwoofer is bigger but has low sensitivity ratings, its audio quality will be much worse than a smaller subwoofer with high sensitivity ratings.