Do you want deeper sound for your Home Theater, Cinema, or HiFi stereo system? Adding a subwoofer to your speaker system is certainly the solution you are looking for. Let’s see which are the best subwoofers on the market for features, performance, and price ranges.
The dedicated subwoofer is an indispensable component to increase the frequency range and obtain a deep sound, in a self-respecting home theater system.
The subwoofer is one of the most important elements, even before the rear speakers. If the budget is tight, once you buy the receiver and the two front speakers, the subwoofer is certainly the next piece on your shopping list, to add more bass boost and make up for the lack of speakers in that department.
The question at this point is: which subwoofer to buy? First of all, let’s clarify a fundamental point, subwoofers are usually active (powered subwoofer) and not passive, unlike the other speakers in your home theater system.
This is because they need a lot of power and usually, the external amplifier does not have a high enough wattage to satisfy the needs of the woofer.
Once you have made sure that your amplifier is compatible with an active subwoofer (sub-pre-amp output, or similar wording) and choose the price range, let’s now see which are the best active subwoofers to buy this year for your HiFi system, Home Theater, and Home Cinema, with a range of options in features and prices to meet all needs.
1. Klipsch SPL-150SW
15″ subwoofer for a powerful home theater system
The best home theater subwoofer this year is the Klipsch SPL-150SW, for watching cinematic movies. It fits into a home theater system complete with floor-standing speakers and surrounds speakers, and the sound is powerful and deep enough for us to hear details that other speakers in the system struggle to express.
The cone is 15 inches, built-in COPPER CERAMETALLIC, a material patented by Klipsch with incredible agility, for fast movements and effective air displacements. The subwoofer is responsive, and the low-frequency sound is punchy, precise, and driven.
The frequency response of the Klipsch SPL-150SW is 18Hz – 125Hz and the maximum RMS power is 400 Watts. With this sub, there is the power to spare, it is suitable for large home theater rooms and is capable of supporting very high volumes.
On the back we find the RCA connection to send the signal to the subwoofer in analog, or we can buy the Klipsch wireless kit to send the signal without wires. The two input modes can be used simultaneously.
There is the phase control, the low-pass pot, and the gain knob. The bass reflex port is positioned on the front.
- Powerful and accurate
- Double input (RCA + Wireless)
- Frequency response 18Hz – 125Hz
- Price
2. Sonos Sub
The smart wireless subwoofer for the Sonos branded system
The Sonos Sub weighs 16 kg and is a subwoofer that can be positioned both vertically and in a flat position, there are very few connections, one of these is the power socket and the other is the Ethernet port (if you decide to connect it to the network rather than using it wirelessly).
We especially recommend it to users of Sonos systems, if you have a Sonos Amp and a Sonos speaker system, the next natural choice is to invest in a subwoofer of the same brand, to have the whole Hi-Fi system (or Home Theater) compatible. with the incredible wireless control features offered by Sonos.
The comfort of the ecosystem offered by this brand is the feature we love the most, all the components communicate with each other and work like a wonder, connecting the new sub is very easy and takes very little time, plug it in, turn it on and you are ready to integrate it into your Sonos system, to listen to music and watch movies with a richness of low frequencies that take your breath away.
The bassline of a music track comes to life, a movie scene increases in drama and expression, the sound effects are heard at stomach level, everything changes when you add a sub to your home theater system, and we’re sure you won’t regret it. the choice of expanding your audio system with a quality sub.
Compared to other models, the ratio between the audio quality and the label price is slightly lower. We have examples of other subwoofers that offer more thrust, at a lower cost, which is certainly not a big flaw or too bad.
- Wireless functionality
- Flexibility in positioning
- It lacks a bit of thrust
3. Klipsch SPL-120
12 ”subwoofer for quality home cinema
The Klipsch SPL-120 is the best 12-inch active subwoofer for a home theater system with floor-standing speakers. The frequency response is 24-125Hz and the power generated is 300W RMS and 600W peak. With a 12-inch cone and front bass reflex port, this subwoofer will truly make you feel the difference.
For those who already own Klipsch speakers, it is clearly the perfect option for design and looks. But even for those who want to add a subwoofer to their soundbar, or bookshelf speakers, this sub has a vintage design that goes with any decor (and even gets noticed).
The amplifier built into the Klipsch subwoofer is high-efficiency class D, very lean, and fast in reacting to input. The sound is powerful, precise, and with that natural breath that is typical of subs with a bass reflex port.
Less suitable for listening to hi-fi music for those who want to keep the track as faithful as possible, because it adds that cinematic reverb that works very well in movies, but not for listening to high fidelity music. But for those who like to listen to hip hop music with low-frequency emphasis, the experience with this subwoofer is exhilarating.
At the bottom, we find good rubber feet that keep vibrations under control. In the back, there is the RCA L / R input, the gain knob, the frequency cut, and the phase switch.
With action movies, the performance is outstanding. The sound effects come to life with this subwoofer which gives a truly thrilling chest feeling.
- The 12 inch is a versatile size
- 300W output power
- Less suitable for high fidelity music
4. Klipsch R-120SW
The best quality/price home cinema subwoofer
An excellent amplified subwoofer for home, powerful, and in the price-quality range is the Klipsch R-120SW. If you want to add a layer of low frequencies to the sound of your Home Theater or Cinema system, to make the walls of the house shake and hear the frequencies under the sofa, this is one of the best 12-inch subwoofers.
It offers a frequency response of up to 29 Hz, with an RMS power of 200W and a peak power of 400W. It is available at a mid-price range, with excellent value for money for the home theater system.
For a robust, full, and powerful low-frequency feel, to see movies to their full potential, and to listen to music much more pleasantly, this is a fairly versatile subwoofer.
On the back, you will find a pair of RCA Line-In, a potentiometer for adjusting the gain, and one for the low pass. These controls allow you to assign the right amount of bass to your home theater system, depending on the setup of the other speakers you have available. There is also an LFE input for greater compatibility with different types of receivers.
The cabinet is very nice, built-in MDF with bass reflex capability, elegant, a little vintage with a nice look and can be adapted to different types of furniture. The front grille is magnetic and does not alter the sound in any way, to maintain the maximum purity of the low frequencies produced.
- Good output power
- Very high sound quality
- Poorly defined below 60 Hz
5. JBL LSR310S
The best active studio subwoofer in the price range up to $500
Built around a 10-inch driver, the JBL LSR310S studio active subwoofer delivers an incredible bass boost, thanks to XLF technology, ideal for anyone who appreciates (and possibly produces) electronic or hip hop music.
Together with a pair of monitor speakers, JBL LSR310S will be able to give great satisfaction in terms of acoustic performance. The frequency response reaches up to 27 Hz, allowing the listener to fully enjoy the entire range of low frequencies, which in fact are clearly perceptible even at low volumes.
The cone of the subwoofer is positioned on the face facing down (down-firing), but there is also an opening in the front. The output returned from the 200W Class D amplifier may not shake the walls, but it is more than enough for use in even the largest home environments.
The sound is defined and precise: we recommend this subwoofer both to those who work with music and are looking for a product to connect to a PC or system, to be placed in a dedicated environment.
The build quality is good, you can tell immediately when you take it out of the box. It weighs a good 15.6 kg and is of sturdy and well-reinforced construction, to avoid annoying vibrations of the speaker. The footprint is not exactly small: the dimensions 44 x 38 x 39 cm do not make the JBL LSR310S very easy to place on a desk that is too small or crowded, better to dedicate an ad hoc space to it, perhaps on a piece of furniture or a shelf.
- Excellent low-frequency performance
- Clear and faithful sound
- A little bulky
6. Indiana Line Basso 840
Subwoofer for hi-fi and home cinema systems, made in Italy
If you are looking for an active subwoofer model for the home and Hi-Fi, the Indiana Line Basso line (company from Vicenza) is excellent for adding low frequencies to the audio system. The Basso 840 version, listed here, is the one that offers a 10-inch cone and rated output power of 75W.
To be a 10-inch subwoofer, this model has an excellent frequency response that goes down to 30Hz, so we can also recommend it to those who eventually want to integrate floor speakers.
Note that this subwoofer is of the down-firing type, with the cone inserted in the lower part and facing the floor. First of all, we advise apartment dwellers to pay attention, as the downstairs neighbors may not appreciate the vibes. For those who are on the ground floor and want a sub-down-firing that spreads the low frequencies, the feeling is really pleasant and the bass effect is very engaging.
We recommend Indiana Line Basso 840 both for listening to hi-fi music and for watching movies with the home cinema system. Its clean and elegant design, thanks to the black vinyl coating, makes it easy to place inside any type of furniture, even displaying it in plain sight in the living room.
- Good sound performance
- Build quality
- Compact
- Slight distortions at high volumes
7. Yamaha NS-SW200PN
Incredibly wide frequency response, at a mid-range price
With a frequency response from 28Hz to 200Hz, the Yamaha NS-SW200PN is a good-capable stereo, TV, and home theater subwoofer for a high-end audio experience for around $ 300.
Thanks to Twisted Flare technology, Yamaha has managed to implement crisp and precise sound for both music and movies, with a 130W amplification power that minimizes energy consumption and overheating.
The cone of the subwoofer, when we see a movie with sudden clicks and dry sounds, moves promptly to create a precise and powerful sound pressure, the result is that in seeing a scene with many hits and explosions, with a poorer subwoofer you will have the feeling that all the sounds are mixed together, while with the Yamaha you can identify the single hits and have a sound reproduction that is closest to the professional level.
We find the presence of the power and volume controls directly on the front panel convenient, so as to have more immediate access rather than being hidden on the back.
Speaking of the rear panel, here you will find several connectivity options: the two inputs from the amplifier, two outputs to the speakers, an LFE input, the phase adjustment switch, the switch for the auto-on and stand-off adjustment. by, the system connector and the potentiometer to cut the high frequencies.
In conclusion, if you are looking for the best mid-range subwoofer, the Yamaha NS-SW200PN is the recommended model for quality, price, and features.
- Wide frequency response
- Good connectivity options
- Defined bass
- No wireless functionality
8. Elac Debut S10.2
The best subwoofer for a soundbar and home theater in small rooms
The Debut S10.2 is a good subwoofer to pair with the soundbar, or a small home theater and hi-fi system. Designed by renowned designer Andrew Jones, it offers a 10-inch driver, 100W RMS power, 200W peak power, 35 to 150Hz frequency response, and is suitable for listening to music and movies.
For connection to your TV or soundbar, make sure you have the option of being able to send an analog signal to the subwoofer, which accepts RCA cable inputs. You can then adjust the low pass through the dedicated potentiometer.
Whether it’s an action movie or a blu-ray concert, the Elac Debut S10.2 subwoofer has no problem reaching the lowest frequencies to create a rich and enveloping sound, precisely for a feeling of total immersion in the sound environment. of the content we are watching.
The BASH integrated amplifier regulates the power input into the subwoofer and provides the right voltage according to need, with a tracking system that combines energy efficiency and effectiveness in managing the sound.
The cabinet is in MDF, not in wood, however very solid and well built, weighs about 13 kg, and is a good presence in home furnishings. On the back, you will find the volume pot, low pass adjustment, power button, and phase adjustment, and the pair of RCAs work as both Line-in and LFE.
The Elac Debut S10.2 is recommended for use in a not too large room because if you install it together with a powerful home theater system, in a large room, the power is not enough to make a real difference. sound. The sound is still very pleasant, round, and stable, and the price is very attractive.
- Efficiency and energy saving
- High audio quality
- MDF cabinet, not wood
9. Numan UniSub
Down-firing subwoofer with an attractive design
The Numan UniSub is a down-firing Hi-Fi subwoofer for home, with the cone facing the floor, to expand the low-frequency impact of a home system.
The Unisub is particularly appreciated for its modern and different design. This home subwoofer is suitable for home cinema and gaming applications, where there is a need to hear the low frequencies coming from different directions and create an atmosphere of involvement.
The Numan UniSub creates a good breath in the low frequencies, with a prolonged effect thanks to the bass reflex port located in the front part of the case. It is also quite accurate and responsive, but we don’t consider it the best for listening to music.
Either way, the aluminum base, and rubber feet do a good job of attenuating the resonance, and the sound is well balanced. The subwoofer is built with high-quality materials, and the weight of about 20kg confirms this.
It features a pair of RCA inputs and one output, to receive the unamplified signal from the amplifier, and to send it to an external component.
The frequency response is 40-160hz and is therefore recommended for those who have bookshelf speakers with limited frequency, to add bass to their audio system.
- Design
- Build quality
- Less accurate for hi-fi music
10. AUNA Linie-300-SW
Entry-level 10 ”HiFi subwoofer
The best budget subwoofer for home, TV, and Hi-Fi is the AUNA Linie 300-SW, with which you can enhance a home theater and hi-fi system that is lacking in low frequencies. We recommend it to those who own bookshelf speakers with frequency response from 60Hz upwards because this sub offers a range of 40-180Hz.
This is actually one of the best budget subwoofers for the quality of the sound generated. It adds that extra touch to movies especially if we are used to listening to audio from a soundbar or from speakers with little extended range.
The design is simple and functional, inconspicuous, but not totally invisible either. We like the option of being able to buy it in different colors depending on your needs.
The bass reflex port is on the back. We recommend placing it just detached from the wall otherwise you will have too much rumble caused by the air coming out from the back. For those who prefer to dry out the sound, the bass reflex port can be filled with fabric or foam to soften its breath.
On the back, we have a pair of RCA inputs, and a pair of RCA outputs, plus there’s the option to use the sub to pass the sound from the amplifier to the speakers through the passive speaker connections.
It can be set in on-off or auto mode, there is a switch for phase inversion, and the knobs on the back allow you to adjust the volume and cut frequencies.
- Economic
- Well built
- Not suitable for medium-high level systems