What to Look For in a Subwoofer in 2022
Low frequencies are comparatively unusual in nature, and after we do hear them, they’re normally an indication of hazard. Thunderstorms, earthquakes, and landslides are among the causes you’d hear this low-frequency vary within the pure world. Because of this, they’re thrilling.
Adding a subwoofer to your private home theater setup makes motion pictures and music really feel extra impactful due to the way in which our our bodies reply to those decrease frequencies. This means including a robust subwoofer to your private home audio setup makes a a lot greater distinction than turning up the bass in your A/V receiver or soundbar.
Low frequencies are tougher to breed than larger frequencies due to the scale of the waveforms. This means you want a bigger speaker to breed decrease frequencies, so subwoofers usually have audio system which might be 12 inches or extra in diameter. That mentioned, you’ll discover an eight-inch subwoofer will be surprisingly highly effective.
Because of the scale of the audio system, subwoofers are inclined to take up a good quantity of house. Some firms construct low-profile subwoofers that may conceal away beneath a sofa, for instance, however these are harder to construct, so that you’ll discover they’re usually costlier than conventional, cube-shaped subwoofers.
Most subwoofers are additionally powered, that means they don’t require an exterior amplifier, however they do must be plugged right into a wall outlet. Typically, you’ll additionally must run a cable out of your A/V receiver or soundbar to the subwoofer. Wireless subwoofers can be found, although you’ll most frequently discover them packaged in home-theater-in-a-box or soundbar methods.
While most subwoofers will work equally effectively for music or motion pictures, you’ll need to bear in mind how you intend to make use of them. Smaller subwoofers usually work high quality for dwelling theater methods, however you may want a bigger subwoofer to maintain up with floor-standing hi-fi audio system, for instance.
Finally, subwoofers on your car are nearly a completely completely different class. These usually must be extra shallow to simply mount in a automobile, and so they usually don’t arrive in a bespoke speaker cupboard.
Pros
- ✓ Low-profile design makes it simpler to suit into your room
- ✓ Digital sign processing completely sculpts sound
- ✓ Low, highly effective bass regardless of small dimension
Cons
- ✗ Only wi-fi when used with the Pulse Soundbar+
Usually, cutting down the scale of a subwoofer is a fast path to skinny, lifeless sound. That is way from the case with the Bluesound Pulse SUB+ Wireless Powered Subwoofer. While it solely packs an eight-inch woofer, it gives highly effective bass, and you’ll put it nearly anyplace.
The Bluesound Pulse SUB+ encompasses a slim, low-profile design that makes it straightforward to discover a dwelling for, irrespective of how massive or small your front room may be. Slide it beneath your sofa to maintain it out of sight, or place it within the good spot for room-filling bass. No matter what, it received’t be in the way in which.
Looking on the audio efficiency, the Pulse SUB+ packs 150 watts of energy, with digital sign processing (DSP) to make sure good audio. This is a strong wattage to begin from within the first place, however the DSP makes this subwoofer sound a lot greater than the wattage and woofer dimension would have you ever think about.
One minor draw back of the Bluesound Pulse SUB+ is that it doesn’t embody a {hardware} distant. Instead, you management the whole lot from the BluOS controller app in your cellphone or pill.
If you’re purchasing for a soundbar and aren’t in search of a funds possibility, Bluesound’s Pulse vary is value contemplating. While it’s nice by itself, as we’ve outlined above, Bluesound constructed the Pulse subwoofer to pair with its Pulse Soundbar+ soundbar, making a strong package deal on your dwelling theater.
Best Subwoofer Overall
Pros
- ✓ Multiple inputs make it straightforward to connect with something
- ✓ Smaller cupboard makes it straightforward to cover away
- ✓ Black MDF cupboard seems good anyplace
Cons
- ✗ Relatively low wattage
If you desire a strong rumble through the motion scenes in motion pictures, however you need to keep away from spending an excessive amount of, the Monoprice 60-Watt Powered Subwoofer is a surprisingly strong possibility. It doesn’t take up an excessive amount of house, and despite the fact that it solely packs 60 watts, it brings some severe low-end audio to your audio.
The Monoprice 60-Watt Powered Subwoofer may solely have an eight-inch driver however can nonetheless produce frequencies as little as 50 Hz. If you’re utilizing smaller audio system for the remainder of your system, the crossover goes as much as 150 Hz, that means the subwoofer can deal with all the low-end audio spectrum with none assist out of your different audio system.
If you’re utilizing an A/V receiver that doesn’t have a correct subwoofer output, there’s no want to fret. This mannequin takes an ordinary RCA left/proper connection, you should use an ordinary line out, which the subwoofer will mix into mono for the bass sign. You also can take an ordinary speaker output from the entrance left and entrance proper channels and use that.
This being a funds possibility, you’re not going to seek out an unique wooden used for the cupboard. That mentioned, this black wooden cupboard with a cloth overlaying for the driving force and bass port doesn’t look low-cost. Plus, the minimalist design ought to slot in, irrespective of your selection of decor.
While it isn’t low-profile just like the Bluesound Pulse SUB+, the Monoprice 60-Watt Powered Subwoofer continues to be on the smaller aspect. If you’re not sure that you simply’ll be capable to make room for a bigger subwoofer, this smaller dimension is less complicated to suit subsequent to your TV or by your sofa.
Best Budget Subwoofer
Monoprice 60-Watt Powered Subwoofer
The Monoprice 60-Watt Powered Subwoofer might need a low value, however there’s nothing small concerning the bass that this speaker is able to cranking out.
Pros
- ✓ Plenty of energy to match any dwelling theater system
- ✓ Automatic room correction app matches the subwoofer to your room
- ✓ Plenty of inputs
Cons
- ✗ Wireless possibility is offered individually
Are you wanting to verify your motion pictures sound nearly as good as potential? If the reply is sure, the MartinLogan Dynamo 600 X subwoofer shall be good for you. Described by the corporate as audiophile-grade, the Dynamo 600 X encompasses a 10-inch woofer pushed by an amplifier with a peak energy of 240 watts.
No matter what you’re utilizing for the remainder of your sound system, the MartinLogan Dynamo 600 X can connect with it. The subwoofer options an ordinary LFE subwoofer enter, in addition to left and proper RCA inputs in case your A/V receiver doesn’t have a devoted subwoofer out. You may even join utilizing speaker-level inputs if that’s your most popular connection.
When it involves establishing and controlling the MartinLogan Dynamo 600 X, a pair of apps helps you management the whole lot. The MartinLogan Subwoofer Control app for Apple and Android units allows you to management quantity, crossover frequency, and extra. It may even run a tone sweep of low frequencies that will help you determine something in your room which may be rattling or resonating.
For a extra superior setup, Anthem ARC app helps you exactly tune the subwoofer to your room. Using the built-in mic in your smartphone, the app can determine points with how the subwoofer sounds in your room. Then, the built-in DSP within the subwoofer can regulate the sound of the speaker to sound its best possible, no matter the place you place it.
If you like to not deal with wires and have some spare money available, you possibly can even convert the Dynamo 600 X right into a wi-fi subwoofer. All you want is the MartinLogan SWT-X Wireless Subwoofer Kit, which is offered individually.
Best Subwoofer for Home Theaters
MartinLogan Dynamo 600 X
The MartinLogan Dynamo 600 X is a high-end subwoofer with options to match, together with software program that adjusts the sound to suit your room and non-compulsory wi-fi connectivity.
Pros
- ✓ Powerful energy dealing with in a 12-inch woofer design
- ✓ Rigid constructed prevents distortion
- ✓ Shallow design allows you to match it in your car with out giving up house
Cons
- ✗ May not really maintain as much as its most energy score
Because of their dimension, discovering a subwoofer to suit inside your automobile will be an train in frustration. The Rockford Fosgate Punch P3SD2-12 is a good possibility, because it’s a 12-inch woofer with a shallow profile, letting you mount it many locations inside your automobile with out having to surrender a lot house.
The P3SD2-12 handles 400 watts of steady energy, with a peak capability of 800 watts. That mentioned, some Amazon reviews point out that it doesn’t gracefully deal with larger wattage, so when you’re planning to crank your stereo, you may need to go for an amplifier that received’t method the utmost energy.
Rockford has packed the Punch P3SD2-12 with the identical options you’ll discover on lots of its audio system. The StampCast Basket gives a inflexible construction for the speaker, stopping flex brought on by distortion, whereas the aluminum voice coil prevents the woofer from overheating throughout prolonged use.
The Rockford Fosgate Punch P3SD2-12 is a 2 Ohm speaker, but in addition is available in a 4 Ohm model, the Rockford Fosgate P3SD4-12.
Best Subwoofer for Car/Best Shallow Mount Subwoofer
Rockford Fosgate Punch P3SD2-12
If you are seeking to convey the growth to your car, the Rockford Fosgate Punch P3SD2-12 is able to delivering all of the bass you possibly can deal with in a compact design.
Pros
- ✓ Pre-paired wi-fi transmitter makes any system wi-fi
- ✓ Black and copper look is gorgeous
- ✓ Injection Molded Graphite design avoids distortion
Cons
- ✗ You pay additional for the wi-fi transmitter
Klipsch is a well known and well-loved model in terms of audio, whether or not you’re speaking about your hi-fi music system or your private home theater. No matter what kind of audio system you’re seeking to increase, the Klipsch R-12SWI gives strong efficiency with out cluttering your room.
The Klipsch R-12SWI encompasses a 12-inch woofer powered by a 400-watt built-in amplifier. The woofer is an Injection Molded Graphite design, which helps preserve the subwoofer comparatively light-weight whereas additionally avoiding cone breakup and undesirable distortion.
What makes the Klipsch R-12SWI actually attention-grabbing is the pre-paired wi-fi transmitter that comes with it. Simply plug the transmitter into your A/V receiver for cable-free hookup, with out having to fret about pairing the subwoofer your self.
When it involves the inputs, you get two. An ordinary LFE subwoofer enter is joined by an RCA left/proper connector on the again to be used with A/V receivers with out devoted subwoofer outputs. On the again of the subwoofer, you’ll additionally discover the quantity and crossover frequency controls.
The Klipsch R-12SWI has the usual Klipsch black and copper coloration scheme, which ought to look nice wherever you place it. That mentioned, Klipsch does embody a mesh material cowl to maintain the woofer protected.
Best 12-inch Subwoofer
Klipsch R-12SWI
The Klipsch R-12SWI makes use of a transmitter so as to add a wi-fi subwoofer to any A/V receiver, plus it has a surprising look that may slot in practically anyplace.
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Best Soundbar with Subwoofer: JBL Bar 5.1
Pros
- ✓ Easy, all-in-one dwelling theater answer with minimal setup
- ✓ No satellite tv for pc audio system to put in
- ✓ Built-in AirPlay and Chromecast connectivity
Cons
- ✗ Subwoofer is taller than most
If you’re searching for a significant improve out of your TV’s built-in audio system however you don’t need to go for a full dwelling theater, a soundbar is a good possibility. The JBL Bar 5.1 gives a incredible mixture of strong audio efficiency, clutter-free wi-fi connectivity, and simple setup.
While JBL Bar fashions with larger channel counts embody satellite tv for pc audio system, this mannequin doesn’t. This system consists of the principle soundbar and the subwoofer. The subwoofer connects to the soundbar wirelessly, that means the one cables it’s a must to fear about are energy cables and the HDMI cable going to your TV.
In addition to any sound popping out of your TV, the JBL Bar 5.1 additionally options built-in Apple AirPlay and Google Chromecast performance. No matter which main smartphone you will have, you possibly can simply forged audio to the soundbar for simple playback. There can be built-in Bluetooth, letting you simply connect with different units.
The subwoofer itself makes use of a 10-inch woofer, not the largest on our listing, however definitely sufficiently big to pump out room-shaking bass. This subwoofer is slightly taller than some others, so it’s value preserving in thoughts that it might be slightly harder to cover this one out of the way in which than others.
If you’re searching for a soundbar with severe bass however don’t want the additional encompass audio system, you could desire the JBL Bar 2.1, which has comparable options however drops the satellite tv for pc audio system and trades 5.1-channel encompass for two.1-channel stereo.
Best Soundbar with Subwoofer
JBL Bar 5.1
The JBL 5.1 is an enormous improve over your TV’s built-in audio system, and it could not be simpler to arrange, due to its wi-fi connection to the subwoofer.
