Even if your car came with a great audio system that offers high-quality audio output, it is highly likely that your car’s speakers still lack in terms of the low end and bass output. Because of this, you should consider installing a subwoofer inside your car. And if you are confused about which one to get, you can go with one of the best car subwoofers stated down below that have been chosen based on these factors:
- Size: Whether you are buying a subwoofer for your home or for your car, checking the size of the subwoofer cone or driver is quite important. This is due to the reason that, in most cases, a 12-inch woofer is going to perform much better than an 8 inch one. Although, an 8-inch woofer can also be ideal for applications where space and clearance is an issue.
- Peak Power: Apart from the size of your subwoofer, you can also check its peak power rating to get an idea of its performance and how loud it gets. This peak power rating is given in watts and includes ratings like 600 watts, 800 watts, 1200 watts, 1400 watts, and even 1600 watts, where a high rating always performs better.
- Frequency Response: Other than being loud and powerful, your car’s subwoofer should also offer high-quality audio output. To ensure the same, you can check its frequency response and go with a subwoofer that offers a large or wide frequency response range. You can find frequency ranges like 20 Hz to 150 Hz, 30 Hz to 200 Hz, 40 Hz to 160 Hz, and others where a wide range is generally better.
Surely these factors are a few of the most important ones when talking about car subwoofers, but there is still much more to keep in mind. Hence, all the best car subwoofers present here have been given along with their specifications and features properly explained along with a complete “Buying Guide” so that you can get the best car subwoofer by the time you make it to this listicle’s end.
Best Car Subwoofers Chart
| Car Subwoofers | Size | Peak Power | Warranty | Buy Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BOSS Audio Systems CXX8 Car Subwoofer | 8 inch | 600 watts | 3 year long | Check On Amazon |
| Rockville Vented Powered Subwoofer | 12 inch | 1400 watts | 1 year long | Check On Amazon |
| Dual Electronics illumiNITE Enclosed Car Subwoofers | 12 inch | 1100 watts | 1 year long | Check On Amazon |
| JBL GT-BassPro12 Car Audio Powered Subwoofer | 12 inch | 450 watts | 2 year long | Check On Amazon |
| MTX TNP212D2 Car Subwoofer Enclosure | 12 inch | 1200 watts | 2 year long | Check On Amazon |
| Skar Audio Single Loaded Subwoofer Enclosure | 10 inch | 1200 watts | 2 year long | Check On Amazon |
| BOSS Audio Systems BAB8 Amplified Car Subwoofer | 8 inch | 800 watts | 3 year long | Check On Amazon |
| Rockville DK58 Dual Loaded K5 Car Subwoofer | 8 inch | 1600 watts | 1 year long | Check On Amazon |
| Skar Audio Car Subwoofer | 10 inch | 1600 watts | 2 year long | Check On Amazon |
| Infinity Kappa 800W Car Audio Subwoofer | 8 inch | 800 watts | 1 year long | Check On Amazon |
Best Car Subwoofers Reviews
1. BOSS Audio Systems CXX8 8 Inch Car Subwoofer
Boss Audio is primarily a brand which is known for making highly affordable audio products that are still great for long-term usage, including its car subwoofer given here.
The Boss Audio Systems CXX8 car subwoofer is present at the 1st position in this list since it is the cheapest option listed here, despite which it still makes for a great reliable option. Talking about its driver size, this is an 8-inch car subwoofer which is to be expected at its given price tag. This is combined with a decent frequency output of 49 Hz, which is decent for the given price.
Although being a budget option, its power output is a bit limited to 600 watts which means that it may not be the loudest option out there. Since this car subwoofer does not have any enclosure, you can get any enclosure of your preference for easily fitting it in tight spaces. Coming to the key feature of this budget car subwoofer, it features a 3-year warranty making it perfect for long-term usage.
Best Features:
- Rated subwoofer cone size of 8 inch
- Outputs a peak power of 600 watts
- Offers a frequency response range of 49 Hz
- Comes with a 1-year warranty
Pros:
- Budget-friendly car subwoofer
- Perfect for long term usage
- Decent subwoofer cone size
Cons:
- Could have been a little louder
2. Rockville 12″ Vented Powered Subwoofer
Even though Rockville is a fairly recent and small brand of car audio equipment, it can be a great option since it offers some of the best versatile subwoofers available out there.
Rockville’s RVE12CA car subwoofer is present at the 2nd position in this listicle as it is one of the slimmest and most compact options available out there. Unlike what you would expect from a slim car subwoofer, this one features a large subwoofer cone size of 12 inches. Because of this, it is able to offer an excellent frequency response range of 30 Hz to 500 Hz for superb audio quality.
Not only that, but you also get a pretty high peak power rating of 1400 watts with it resulting in pretty loud audio output. Coming to the slim enclosure of this subwoofer, it is 2 inch thick, allowing you to easily fit it in any space. And you also get a 1-year long warranty with this subwoofer which is always great to have.
Best Features:
- Rated subwoofer cone size of 12 inch
- Outputs a peak power of 1400 watts
- Offers a frequency response range of 30 Hz to 500 Hz
- Comes with a 1-year warranty
Pros:
- Slim and compact car subwoofer
- Quite large cone with high peak power
- Great audio quality with a large frequency response range
Cons:
- A bit too tall for compact boots
3. Dual Electronics 12 inch illumiNITE Enclosed Car Subwoofers
Dual Electronics is primarily a brand of subwoofers and other audio solutions, which is known for its dual subwoofer units, just like its car subwoofer given here.
This Dual Electronics BP1204 car subwoofer is present at the 3rd position in this article because this can be a great option if you want something with dual subwoofer cones. Speaking of the subwoofer cone, you get dual 12-inch drivers with this car subwoofer. Thanks to these large drivers, you get a decent frequency response range of 30 Hz to 200 Hz.
However, despite having dual subwoofer drivers, its peak power is only rated for 1100 watts which can be a bit low for some users in terms of its loudness. Because this is a dual-cone subwoofer setup, its enclosure is quite large in size because of the size of the drivers and its design. Even though Dual Electronics might not be as popular as other brands, you still get a 1-year long warranty with it.
Best Features:
- Rated subwoofer cone size of 12 inch
- Outputs a peak power of 111100 watts
- Offers a frequency response range of 30 Hz to 200 Hz
- Comes with a 1-year warranty
Pros:
- Dual car subwoofer setup
- Fairly decent frequency response
- Great looking design for its enclosure
Cons:
- Peak power rating is a bit average
4. JBL GT-BassPro12 12-Inch Car Audio Powered Subwoofer
JBL is one of the most popular brands in the audio industry that not only offers professional studio equipment, but also makes various audio products for cars like its car subwoofer given here.
The JBL GT-BassPro12 car subwoofer is one of the best options out there if you want something that offers great audio quality. It is primarily made possible thanks to its 12-inch subwoofer design that uses a single vent. And with this large subwoofer cone, you get a frequency response of 35 Hz to 120 Hz, which results in excellent quality despite having an average range.
Unfortunately, this JBL car subwoofer is not the option for those who want something powerful because it has a very limited peak power rating of 450 watts. Thankfully, this does mean that its enclosure is fairly compact with an inbuilt amplifier. And since JBL is a highly reputable audio brand, its car subwoofer also features a 2-year long warranty making it a great option for long-term usage.
Best Features:
- Rated subwoofer cone size of 12 inch
- Outputs a peak power of 450 watts
- Offers a frequency response range of 35 Hz to 120 Hz
- Comes with a 2-year warranty
Pros:
- Fairly compact with an inbuilt amplifier
- Great audio quality with superb detail
- Ideal for long term usage
Cons:
- Poor peak power rating
5. MTX TNP212D2 12-Inch Car Subwoofer Enclosure
While MTX might be a bit on the premium side, most of its audio products are still worth the high-end price since they offer great performance, which is also true for its car subwoofer listed here.
MTX’s TNP212D2 car subwoofer can be another great option for those who are looking for something highly powerful made for loud audio output. This is made possible thanks to the dual subwoofer cone design of this unit which uses dual 12-inch subwoofer cones. Despite the large size, you get a frequency response of 37 Hz to 150 Hz which is to be expected and results in decent audio quality.
To ensure that both of these subwoofer cones are powered properly and offer loud output, MTX has included an inbuilt amplifier of 1200 watts peak power. Although, to fit all of these things in a single unit, MTX had to use a fairly large subwoofer enclosure which means that this is not ideal for compact cars. Being a high end car subwoofer, its included 2 year warranty and sturdy build quality are also to be expected.
Best Features:
- Rated subwoofer cone size of 12 inch
- Outputs a peak power of 1200 watts
- Offers a frequency response range of 37 Hz to 150 9 Hz
- Comes with a 2 year long warranty
Pros:
- Uses dual subwoofer cones for loud output
- Premium build quality and long warranty
- Decent audio quality with wide frequency response range
Cons:
- Not ideal for compact car boots
6. Skar Audio Single Loaded Subwoofer Enclosure
Skar Audio is known for offering fairly powerful and high value for money audio equipment which also includes a few car subwoofer models, including the ones stated in this list.
This Skar Audio SDR-1X10D2 car subwoofer is one of the best options out there if you are looking for something that offers a high value for money. Despite having a fairly mid-range price tag, you get a decently large woofer cone size of 10 inches with it. And this cone allows it to offer a pretty great frequency response range of 30 Hz to 300 Hz, which translates to equally great audio quality.
Other than offering great audio quality with proper detail, this car subwoofer also features a fairly high peak power output of 1200 watts which means that it is also quite loud. Although, to offer all of this, Skar Audio has to use a fairly large enclosure with this subwoofer making it a bit bulky for a 10-inch subwoofer. Thankfully, you do get a great build quality as well as a 2-year long warranty with it which are always great to have.
Best Features:
- Rated subwoofer cone size of 8 inch
- Outputs a peak power of 600 watts
- Offers a frequency response range of 49 Hz to 49 Hz
- Comes with a 1-year warranty
Pros:
- Budget-friendly car subwoofer
- Perfect for long term usage
- Decent subwoofer cone size
Cons:
- Could have been a little louder
7. BOSS Audio Systems BAB8 Amplified Car Subwoofer
Boss Audio also offers high-end car subwoofer models that can be a great option if you are looking for something that is ideal for compact spaces while offering decent audio quality.
The Boss Audio Systems BAB8 car subwoofer is the most compact option listed here in this article. And even though it is extremely compact, you still get a standard subwoofer cone size of 8 inches with this car subwoofer from Boss Audio. While you do get a pretty great audio quality from this car subwoofer, it does not mention any frequency range rating.
Fortunately, you do get a rating for its loudness in terms of its peak power rating, which is given in 800 watts. This is quite a high peak rating when you consider its thickness of just 2.9 inches. Similar to the previous Boss Audio Systems car subwoofer given up above, this one also features a 3-year long warranty making it great for long-term usage.
Best Features:
- Rated subwoofer cone size of 8 inch
- Outputs a peak power of 800 watts
- Offers a thickness of 2.9 inches
- Comes with a 3-year long warranty
Pros:
- Extremely small and compact cart subwoofer
- Perfect for long term usage
- Decently loud with good audio quality
Cons:
- Lacks any frequency response range rating
8. Rockville DK58 Dual 8″ Loaded K5 Car Subwoofer
Other than making compact and slim car subwoofers, Rockville also offers much larger units like the one listed here, which is great for those who want something highly powerful and loud.
Rockville’s DK58 car subwoofer is one of the loudest options available out there when it comes to subwoofers made for cars. And to offer loud audio output, it features a dual subwoofer cone design which unfortunately uses comparatively small 8-inch subwoofer ones. Thankfully, these cones do offer a superb frequency response of 44 Hz to 1.3 kHz, which is much higher than any other option out there.
Moving over to one of the best features of this car subwoofer, you will be glad to know that you get a high peak power of 1600 watts from this. This is made possible thanks to its full-size enclosure as well as a full-size external amplifier. Just like the previously stated Rockville car subwoofer, this one also features a 1-year warranty.
Best Features:
- Rated subwoofer cone size of 8 inch
- Outputs a peak power of 1600 watts
- Offers a frequency response range of 44 Hz to 1.3 kHz
- Comes with a 1-year warranty
Pros:
- Superb frequency range
- Fairly loud for given size
- Quite a high peak power rating
Cons:
- Uses small 8 inch drivers
9. Skar Audio Car Subwoofer
Skar Audio also offers high-performance car subwoofer units that can be a great option if you want something that offers loud audio output with matching audio quality.
This Skar Audio SVR-10 car subwoofer is the most powerful option present here in this listicle due to various reasons. Starting with its subwoofer cone size, it happens to be a 10-inch car subwoofer which offers a great balance between audio quality and form factor. As for the audio quality, this 10-inch subwoofer cone offers a great frequency response of 28 Hz to 325 Hz, which is one of the options out there.
One of the best things about this car subwoofer is that you get a superb peak power of 1600 watts with it making it extremely loud and powerful. Since you do not get any enclosure with this car subwoofer, its price is also fairly low, resulting in a great value for money. And other than being highly powerful, this car subwoofer is also fairly reliable thanks to its 2-year long warranty and a decent build quality.
Best Features:
- Rated subwoofer cone size of 10 inch
- Outputs a peak power of 1600 watts
- Offers a frequency response range of 28 Hz to 325 Hz
- Comes with a 2-year warranty
Pros:
- Excellent loudness output with high power
- Superb audio quality with a wide frequency response range
- High value for money car subwoofer
Cons:
- Requires an additional enclosure
10. Infinity Kappa 800W 8″ Car Audio Subwoofer
Infinity is a sub-brand of Harman, which makes it a great option if you want something similar to JBL but at a much lower price tag which is also true for its car subwoofer unit.
The Infinity Kappa car subwoofer is among the best options available out there in case you are looking for something affordable that still offers decent audio quality. Being a budget-friendly car subwoofer, it features a cone size of 8 inches which is to be expected. Thankfully, you still get a pretty good frequency response range of 34 Hz to 200 Hz which is great for audio quality.
Although, its loudness output is just average, which you can tell from its given peak power rating of 800 watts. Because there is no included enclosure with this car woofer, you can easily use it with any enclosure of your choice as you like. And since Infinity is cheaper than JBL, you get a 1-year long warranty with it instead of a 2-year one.
Best Features:
- Rated subwoofer cone size of 8 inch
- Outputs a peak power of 800 watts
- Offers a frequency response range of 34 Hz to 200 Hz
- Comes with a 1-year warranty
Pros:
- Affordable car subwoofer
- Great audio quality for the price
- Easily use with any enclosure of your choice
Cons:
- Loudness output could have been higher
Buying Guide for the Best Car Subwoofers
If you want to improve the audio system of your car, there are a lot of things you can upgrade, including the speakers, adding tweeters, installing an amplifier, changing the music system, and much more. But one of the easiest yet massive upgrades that you can do includes getting something like the best car subwoofers discussed earlier for your vehicle.
To help you in picking the right car subwoofer, all these various subwoofer units have been stated alongside their complete details like features and options. And if you wish to know, even more, you can check out the following extensive buying guide for the best car subwoofers:
1. Size
Since the size of your subwoofer or the size of its cone not only tells you about its overall size, which is important for using it in a car, but also tells you about its performance, it is the first thing that you should check. While buying car subwoofers, you will come across various size options like 8 inch, 10 inch, and 12 inch.
And out of all these different subwoofer sizes, the largest 12-inch size will offer the best performance. However, a smaller 8-inch size can also be ideal for tight spaces, as you will see later on in this buying guide.
2. Peak Power
Similar to speakers and other audio devices, subwoofers also have a peak power rating. This simply tells you about the loudness and the peak performance of your subwoofer. As a result, almost all car subwoofers have a peak power rating given in watts. Talking about the different car subwoofers given up above, you can find peak power ratings like 600 watts, 800 watts, 1200 watts, 1400 watts, and with some units up to 1600 watts.
With a higher peak power, you can expect a given car subwoofer to offer loud audio output with ease. Other than the peak power rating, you can also find the RMS power rating with most car subwoofers. And similar to peak power, having a higher RMS power rating also results in a louder and powerful car subwoofer in general.
3. Frequency Response
While having a loud and powerful car subwoofer is definitely great, you would also expect it to offer great audio quality. And to check the same, you can take a look at its frequency response rating to get an idea of its quality. If you are not familiar with the same, it tells you about all the frequencies your car subwoofer can produce.
Because of this, you should go with a car subwoofer with a wide frequency response range for the best audio quality. As for the options available out there, you can find frequency ranges like 20 Hz to 150 Hz, 30 Hz to 200 Hz, 40 Hz to 160 Hz, and a few more. Out of all these, the frequency range of 30 Hz to 200 Hz is going to offer the best audio quality.
4. Number of Drivers
Even though a single subwoofer should be more than enough for most users, some of you might be planning to install dual subwoofers for even better low end and bass. Because of the same reason, many car subwoofers even come with dual drivers or subwoofer cones. While such subwoofer units are certainly large in size, they do offer much better audio quality in terms of the low-end output.
5. Form Factor
Talking about the size of your car subwoofer, you should also consider its form factor. This is highly important when you want to install a subwoofer in tight spaces like the boot of your car. For the same reason, you can find both standard-size car subwoofers as well as slim ones.
And while larger subwoofers certainly offer better audio quality, slimmer options can easily fit in tight spaces, making them ideal for many users and their compact cars. Although, a few subwoofers may come without an enclosure which allows you to get any enclosure of your size and preference.
6. Amplifier
In order to use any kind of subwoofer either at your home or in your car, you are going to need an amplifier to power it. And even though you can get an amplifier separately, some highly versatile car subwoofers also feature an amplifier included in the box. Not only are such car subwoofers easy to install, but they also offer a high value for money. If you are going to use such an included amplifier, then make sure to check its power output in watts and ensure that it is powerful enough to handle the subwoofer and possibly any other speakers that you might want to power from it as well.
7. Warranty
Just like any other accessory or audio equipment made for using inside your car, you would also want your car subwoofer to last for as long as possible. Due to this, it is always a great idea to check the warranty included with your car subwoofer. While most car subwoofers feature a 1 year or a 2-year warranty, some highly reliable units may even offer a 3-year warranty for your peace of mind.
Conclusion:
Those of you who have a full-size audio system at their home must have multiple speakers along with a subwoofer for a full-sounding audio experience. And if you also want to have a similar experience in your car, then you are going to need a car subwoofer. Because of the same, we have already discussed some of the best car subwoofers up above. With these various car subwoofers, you will also discover their important details and specifications alongside a proper buying guide. And as per all this information and detail, here are our favorite picks for the best car subwoofers:
- While it may not be the largest, the Skar Audio Car Subwoofer is definitely the most powerful subwoofer given up above. Even though it is a single 10-inch subwoofer driver, you still get a pretty high peak power rating of 1600 watts with it. As for its frequency response, this woofer is rated for 28 Hz to 325 Hz, which should offer pretty good audio quality. Skar Audio also features a decent 2-year warranty with this car subwoofer for your peace of mind.
- Speaking of the warranty, if you want a car subwoofer that is not only the most affordable option listed above but also the most reliable one, then the BOSS Audio Systems CXX8 8 Inch Car Subwoofer is just for you. Despite being highly affordable, you get a decent size of 8 inches which is paired along with a peak power of 600 watts. And thanks to its 3-year warranty, this is a great budget subwoofer made for long-term usage.
- Those of you who do not have any budget restrictions and looking for something highly powerful can go with the MTX TNP212D2 12-Inch Car Subwoofer Enclosure. With this unit, you get dual 12-inch subwoofer cones that offer a pretty high peak power of 1200 watts for loud audio output. While its audio quality might not be the best with a frequency response of 37 Hz to 150 Hz, you do get a decent 2-year long warranty with it which is always great to have.
