Some people are perfectly fine with the sound system and equipment that already comes with their car. Yes, some built-in systems may seem fairly up to the task, but it’s only a matter of time before you notice the little things that really spell a difference when it comes the quality of music transmission. If you’ve ever wondered why the AM radio can sound muffled sometimes, even in places where there’s excellent reception, or if your speakers sound like they have these little crackles and pops, it’s probably down to the speakers that you have.
Choosing a good subwoofer to augment your system will spell quite a large difference in this. When you have the right equipment, you’ll be able to hear notes in tracks that you may not even have noticed. But it’s no easy task to find one that’s right for your car due to the sheer number of options and models available on the market. Here’s a few that come highly-recommended on a variety of online sites. Once you take into consideration your space limitations and your budget, you’ll be able to find a great one that will make your daily listening that much better.
Dual BP1204 12-Inch 1100-Watt Illumination Bandpass Subwoofer
Yes, this model is absolutely gorgeous—the illumination frame that fills your car with a soft blue glow through its plexiglass makes it quite an accessory in the car alone. But sleek appearance aside, this Dual subwoofer is known for a special feature: it comes with an acoustic chamber that is computer tuned to increase the efficiency of its sound output, making for warm, wonderful listening as you hear the nuances in even the slightest tonal difference. It helps that it also already comes with its own dual enclosure system, so you don’t have to buy a box to hold it all together, or even have one custom-made.
It doesn’t skimp on the power either, as its RMS Power at 4 Ohms is 250-Watt by 1-Channel. The bass can be cranked up all the way to the maximum levels, but this won’t affect its accuracy one bit, and with a frequency sensitivity of 89 dB, you know you’ll be getting sharp sounds at any time of the day when you’re driving. Some people marvel at how unreal the sound quality and excellent design are for the great price, and with babies like this, you may have to negate the need for an amplifier altogether, which is a pretty sweet deal. Tweak it a little bit and make sure you have the LED display working, and you’re all set.
Rockford Fosgate P3D4-12 Punch P3
Rockford is a go-to brand for many first-time buyers, and with good reason: the quality it invests in its design and sound technology is worth every bit of cash you spend on it, and this one is no exception, as some retailers have found it sound popular that they can barely keep it in stock. This one comes with an increased cone surface that beats many other models on the market by up to 25% in terms of projection and quality, and the spider venting keeps it from overheating even when you crank up your speakers to wake up the neighborhood.
The stamp-cast basket of this subwoofer also means that you no longer have to choose between keeping a light subwoofer in your car or having one with high sound efficiency, as the material used to make it is very lightweight, while maximizing sound output and vibration. The Vertical Attach Surround, or VAST, is what makes the cone of this one so amazing, while the aluminum keeps the heat steadily dissipating to reduce temperature increases even in your car. The power handling on this Rockford Punch subwoofer is highly praised for being able to meet CEA-2031 industry standards, so you don’t have to worry about your voice coils in your subwoofer suddenly blowing up and crackling.
Infinity Reference 1262w 12-Inch 1200-Watt High-Performance Subwoofer
Another well-known brand for your car sound equipment, Infinity’s Reference series is a bestseller for many good reasons. If you’ve ever been worried about how muffled or muddy your bass sounds even at middling volumes, this subwoofer eliminates that problem completely, thanks to the great design of its dual voice coil. Cooling down your sound system is also a non-issue with this Infinity subwoofer, as it comes with vented polepieces in its design, allowing hot air to rapidly travel out of your subwoofer and cool down in no time—so you can expect to minimize damage from long-term usage, weather conditions or even simply turning up your sound system while you take your car out for a spin.
The woofer cone is also made out of durable polypropylene, and it comes with large-roll rubber to keep it in place, so there won’t be any annoying rattling or worrying that your subwoofer will get damaged by a bit of carelessness. Its peak power handling is also up to 1200 Watts, making this quite the competitor that will have you hearing even the minutest slaps of an experienced bassist on a track. Put this together with a quality amplifier, and you’ll have a sound setup that rivals many more expensive ones on the market. It does all this at prices that are so low in comparison to other subwoofers, that some buyers can get a bit leery at first—but this is definitely value for money if you can get your hands on one! The price is unbeatable.
Kicker 10C124 Comp 12-Inch Subwoofer 4 SVC (Black)
Last but certainly not the least in terms of design and performance on this list, Kicker is another competitive brand in terms of car sound equipment and merchandise, as it is consistently able to deliver great equipment without forcing you to go over your budget. You get all of the features that you’d normally expect from equally well-known and pricier makers, such as an injection-molded cone that’s incredibly stiff and durable—and theirs comes with a coil wire that can handle high temperatures just as well as other more expensive models. Its vented pole piece also minimizes heating, and its stitched rubber surround makes it more durable—definitely a long-haul piece of sound equipment.
The nickel-plated push terminals also make for easy usage, and the 150 Watts RMS—with a maximum of 300 per subwoofer—means you can get some seriously crisp bass notes with minimal effort. It’s a breeze to install into your car as well, so if you’re looking for a cheaper subwoofer that can still get your car seats vibrating with a thrumming bass, this is the one for you. Durable but affordable, stylish but delivers substance: it’s a real winner. Some users do report that it performs best at lower wattages, so keep that in mind.
Final Verdict
Thanks to the plethora of online reviews nowadays which do honest comparisons about the performance and prices of various individual sound setups, finding a good subwoofer has never been easier than it is today. Many people have vastly varying preferences, but there’s sure to be at least one review that mirrors your situation and taste, so you can get a better handle on what you will get in the end. You no longer have to worry that you’re simply muddling along in your shopping selection. Whether it’s the kind of design that you want, the kind of car you have and the space limitations that come with it, your spending limitations or your usage, there’s something for everyone who wants to buy a subwoofer to augment what they already have.
You won’t have to settle for a subpar listening experience anymore—now there’s something for every budget and every kind of listener, providing you smooth and clear listening even from the backseat of your car. Now, even if you’re a serious audiophile who emphasizes the difference in tonality, a partyphile who wants to keep their speakers on the craziest level whether it’s at a bar or a car, or simply an average car owner who just wants to stop dealing with the headache and stress of a crackly sound system just when you need a diversion, you’ll be able to expand your options and choose from the best instead of settling for whatever is available.
You may end up saving on additional equipment such as boxes or amplifiers if you can find one that will do the job without it, or comes built in or packaged with one. Don’t deny yourself of a simple way to improve your day, however incrementally—now when you enter a store or have your mouse hover over the “ADD TO CART” button online, you’ll have a good idea of what you’re getting, and can expect a certain degree of performance and consistency. Make your daily routine less of a chore with a simple adjustment. It’s surprising how much a good subwoofer can do for the rest of your car on a day to day basis.