Whether it’s for listening to music on your stereo, enjoying movies and shows with your home theater surround sound system, or even for feeling that heart-thumping bass while gaming, a good subwoofer is an essential component of any audio setup. For music like rap and techno and explosive action sequences in films and video games, even the best speakers by themselves can’t do the job of a dedicated subwoofer when it comes to delivering that deep, punchy bass that you can feel in your chest. If you’re on a budget, you don’t have to suffer with the most bare-bones cheap subwoofer you can find. Our roundup of the best subwoofer deals has just what you need at prices you can afford:
Today’s best cheap subwoofer deals
Klipsch Synergy Black Label Sub-100 Subwoofer
$280
Sony SACS9 10-Inch 115-Watt Powered Subwoofer
$158
Klipsch Jamo S 808 8-Inch w00-Watt Subwoofer
$160
Klipsch R-110SW 450-Watt 10-Inch Subwoofer
$300
MTX Audio Terminator Series TNE212D 1,200-Watt Dual 12-Inch Sub Enclosure
$150
Monoprice 8-Inch 60-Watt Powered Subwoofer
$75
Definitive Technology SuperCube 2000 7.5-inch 650-Watt Powered Subwoofer
$500
Klipsch R-12SWi 12-Inch 400 Watts Wireless Subwoofer
$300
Klipsch R-12SW 12-Inch Subwoofer
$225
Skar Audio SDR D2 Car Subwoofer (Multiple Sizes)
Multiple sizes available
Klipsch Reference Series R-100SW 10" 150W Powered Subwoofer
$200How to choose a subwoofer
A subwoofer is an essential component of your sound system, but the good news is that you don’t have to shell out a fortune to get a good one from a trusted brand. That’s not to say that the absolute best subwoofers aren’t pricey, though; just know that there are a lot of options out there that are capable of fitting all but the tightest of budgets. Sony, Polk, Klipsch, JBL, and Dayton Audio are just a handful of brands that spring to mind which offer solid subwoofers at reasonable prices. Serious audiophiles and home theater enthusiasts can choose from high-end makers like MartinLogan, Paradigm, and SVS, to name only a few.
After setting your budget, there are a few things to consider when choosing a subwoofer. These bass-boosting speakers are fairly straightforward — their single job is to put out deep, heavy low audio tones — but you don’t want to rush into the first subwoofer deal that looks nice and meets your price limit. Pay attention to overall dimensions (the size of a subwoofer can be hard to glean from pictures alone) to make sure the one you’ve got your eye on will fit in the space you’ve set for it, and pay double attention to wattage and connection options. This is especially important if you’re setting up a more complex home theater system where the subwoofer will be integrated into a network of speakers and input/output devices connected to an A/V receiver.
It’s also important to consider subwoofer setup and placement. Is it wired or wireless, and will this determine whether you can place it where you want it? Does it feature an app to help with installation and managing calibration settings, and if so, does it do its job well? Reading professional and customer reviews can help you to get a picture of the end-user experience. Placement is particularly vital. Don’t be afraid to test out your subwoofer in different rooms, if possible, and to move it around and use it in different areas of the room for a few hours to figure out for yourself where it works and sounds best. The size, shape, windows, and furnishings of a room all affect the acoustics of the space, and sub-optimal subwoofer placement will hinder its performance.
Finally, if your system can support it, you should consider purchasing two subwoofers instead of one. Two subwoofers will almost always perform the job better than a single unit, no matter the acoustics of the room. A/V receivers feature numbered designations that indicate how many power channels they have for speakers and subwoofers. For example, a 7.2-channel receiver has enough channels for seven speakers (the minimum for true surround sound) and two subwoofers, whereas a 7.1-channel receiver can only support one sub. If you’re shopping for subwoofer deals but are also looking to buy an A/V receiver, we recommend going for one that can support dual subwoofers, even if you only plan to use a single subwoofer now.
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