What is the Best 12-inch subwoofer?

A subwoofer is an important element of any sound or home cinema system. These small speakers are also a perfect addition to your car’s music system if you want to add some extra booming bass.

Nevertheless, if you don’t know what to look for, you can end up with a model that isn’t right for your vehicle. Our specialists have analyzed the top 12-inch subwoofers to help you avoid wasting your money.

Top 12-inch Subwoofers Reviews

Ohm Subwoofer-CompRT Kicker 12″ 1

If you’re familiar with powerful automobile subwoofers, you’ve probably heard of Kicker. This brand’s 12-inch subwoofer gives your powerful booming sounds a boost when you utilize it in your car’s subwoofer installation. When a speaker’s maximum power capacity is 1000 watts, and the RMS is below that, you will know it’s doing its job.

In regards to subwoofers, the more sensitive the subwoofer, the more effective it is. The CompRT’s responsiveness is 85.5dB, which is great for this low price.

Furthermore, the injection-molded polypropylene cone is sturdy and provides just the proper amount of stiffness. It also has some flexibility, which allows the shallow-mount surround sound system to give the greatest rebounding bass. This also aids in the prevention of distortion.

All of this Ohm Subwoofer-CompRT Kicker 12″ 1 is the first quick alternative for convertibles and jeeps for outdoor excursions, with robust paper cone surrounds.

Pros

• Mounting that is not too deep
• RMS value is high.
• Peak output is high.
• Polypropylene cone, injection molded
• Santoprene is used to wrap the object.
• Material that can withstand the elements
• Dual voice coils, each with a resistance of 1-ohm
• the impedance of 1 ohm

Cons

• For the size, it’s a little too big.
• Not designed to play at full power for long periods of time.

Subwoofer-JL Audio 12W3v3-4

For longevity, the single Subwoofer-JL Audio 12W3v3-4 has a polypropylene mineral-filled top cone. The 12W3v3-4 series has a high-end sonic tone thanks to the metallic JL logo. The surrounding material is polymer, namely Nitrile Butadiene Rubber (NBR). This aids in the dampening of vibrations so that the bass responsiveness of the audio subwoofer can be suitably enhanced. Despite the subwoofer’s lack of power, its sensitivity of 87 dB may nevertheless deliver a thrilling deep bass performance. The 12W3v3 4-ohm subwoofer produces precise bass with low harmonic distortion.

With a length of 1314 inches, the 12w0v3 4- JL subwoofer 12′′ is incredibly lightweight for its length. This makes things simpler to link your audio system to your car.

Pros

• Subwoofer with a lot of punch.
• Sensitivity of 87 decibels.
• The impedance is 4 ohms.
• Rubber surrounds are made of nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR).
• Upper cone made of mineral-filled polypropylene.
• Looks sophisticated.

Cons

• The RMS power of this 12-inch sub is lower than that of comparable 12-inch subs.
• The peak power is also reduced.

DVC Subwoofer Rockford Fosgate R2D4-12

Whenever it appears to large build performance group Rockford Fosgate subwoofers on the market, Rockford Fosgate 12′′ Prime is another dependably trusted brand.

Because of its high-quality build, the DVC Rockford Fosgate Subwoofer R2D4-12 is one of the top 12 inch loudspeakers. 

Similar to its sibling, the Rockford Fosgate P3D4 12′′ Punch, it features a single 4-ohm speech coil, solo copper-clad metal vocal coils, a PVC trimmed ring, a postal stamp cast frame, and a Kevlar-reinforced paper cone. The Rockford Fosgate R2D4 12′′ subwoofer’s constant power output is a touch lower than other 12-inch subwoofer alternatives. Still, it produces a good and clear massive amount of volume for a bass sound bubble.

The surrounding components are just as durable as the driver itself, which is made of anodized aluminum and has a cast metal basket. A transparent polypropylene-infused cone with a foam surround edge is what we’re looking at.

Pros

• Voice coil made of anodized aluminum.
• Stamped metal frame.
• Trim ring made of PVC.
• Subwoofer of excellent quality.
• Paper cone with Kevlar reinforcement.
• Single voice coil with a resistance of 4 ohms.
• Spider with a straight line.
• The design is well-ventilated.
• A one-year warranty is included.

Cons

• For the size, the RMS power is lower.
• The peak power is also reduced.

2400W Loaded SDR Series Vented Subwoofer Enclosure “Skar Audio Dual 12.” 

Subwoofer Dual Skar SDR Series is among the greatest 12-inch subwoofers you can acquire if you require a powerful vehicle subwoofer container with your car installation, have space, and prefer dual bass drivers. The SDR series’ peak power handling capacity is an incredible 2400 watts.

The RMS quantity and quality of this twin 4-ohm sub is 1200 watts. 

Since it’s pre-wired for rapid integration and only has a 1-ohm impedance, the Skar Audio’s car setup is simple. The strong container is specially designed with a black carpet surface and is ventilated. This compact enclosure is ideal for providing superb bass and long-term durability.

On the other hand, the drivers have a higher and lower sound roll surround that conveniently supports low-frequency signals. For optimal performance of 1200 watt RMS, the CCAW voice coil can sustain extreme heat.

Pros

• Easy installation thanks to pre-mounting and pre-wiring.
• Peak power is high.
• Power handling of 1200 watts RMS.
• The voice coil is a CCAW.
• Designed to endure a great deal of force.
• Four ohms on both sides.
• The carpeting is finished in a premium black color.
• The impedance is 1 ohm.
• Custom enclosure with vents.

Cons

• The size is quite large.
• 8 gauge screws are not suitable.

Sealed Enclosure Active Subwoofer “Pioneer TS-WX1210A 12” 

The product TS-WX1210A-Pioneer is an active subwoofer, meaning it comes with a built-in stereo. It’s more durable since it’s surrounded by a box that protects, shields, and avoids deformation. This eliminates the need to study the compatibility of an external amplifier.

With a maximum energy processing capacity of 1300 watts, this Pioneer subwoofer is rather amazing. Only at 300 watts to 350 watts, though, the RMS voltage control capability isn’t fantastic.

For ultimate rumble, the subwoofer has strong dual vocal coils. The low resonant frequency is 20 to 125 Hz, and the responsiveness is a whopping 114 decibels.

The Pioneer TS-construction WX1210A’s is engineered to be sturdy so that you can get the most out of this 12-inch sub. It has a great basic design with a carpet texture on the front and the Pioneer logo.

Pros

• Subwoofer with active subwoofer and class D amplifier.
• Frequency responses are excellent.
• Sensitivity is high.
• Design with a minimalist aesthetic.
• The carpet is finished in a luxurious black color.
• One thousand three hundred watts of peak power handling.
• Cone urethane surround made of cellulose fibers.

Cons

• RMS power handling is low.
• There isn’t a lot of wire in this.

12 Inch Subwoofers Buyer’s Guide

Which factors go into creating the top 12-inch subwoofer?

It isn’t just about the audio quality and precise bass sounds it can reproduce in music; it’s also about the build quality, how simple it is to set up your sub in your automobile, and, of course, the pricing.

With the help of our experts, let’s take a deeper look at what else to seek for in 12-inch subwoofers.

Length and Design

Since our current focus is on the greatest 12-inch woofers, we won’t go into further detail on length. Presuming you desire a little bass and are confident that 12 inch subs will fit into your configuration rather than high performance 8 inch subs, the layout is the next thing to consider.

Do you need a bass subwoofer which attains with its individual 2-in-1 combo, container, or just a solo bass subwoofer that you can plug into your amplifier? The 2 ohms’ powerful shouting sound effectiveness and high quality sound will undoubtedly outperform the bass of a single ohm, but you’ll furthermore enjoy the function for a long time. The quantity of available car space primarily determines it.

If you want one with its own strong enclosure, look for a pre-wired and pre-mounted subwoofer on the marketplace. This simplifies the installation process tremendously, but we’ll get to that in a minute. A particular subwoofer out of an enclosure will take up more of your time during setup and installation. It’ll take a little more extra work to make sure it’ll work with your bass speakers.

Investigate the components used in the building. What’s utilized to generate better audio quality and bass depends a lot on what’s used to generate it. A solid cone design, such as polypropylene, plus a foam surround would make the ideal 12 inch loudspeaker/subwoofer.

Look for injection cones or high-quality shallow installation subs in the marketplace for your car system. The sounds in your main subwoofers will complement the rest of your high-quality car speakers thanks to durable material with the proper stiffness.

Installation

The installation process frequently influences our specialists’ evaluations of the products. Subwoofers of 10 or 12 inches, for example, that give amazing high class sound but need a bunch of effort to operate, will still ruin your pleasure. 

Thankfully, firms have introduced this into consideration, and most subwoofers are now fairly simple to set up. It’s considered excessive if it takes more than 10 minutes.

Before you purchase a thing, make sure you know what you want. Is your 12-inch sub all you need, or do you need to look at a bunch of extra bass elements before you can finish your setup?

The ported speakers will influence the woofer installation method. Your car audio sound setting will be affected by your judgment of lightweight mounting depth, ported or sealed enclosure. Of course, 2 distinct amplifiers can be used to connect any subwoofer to a speaker. The amplifier can improve the audio sounds purity, feature, and bass by using this method.

Power

As we discuss and examine the enormous bass generated by 12′′ subwoofers, the maximum voltage handling you obtain will have an impact on the product’s rating. There are two separate peak power ratings for the greatest speakers and subwoofers that you should be aware of. The first one is the RMS power, and the second is the maximum power.

Advertising agencies and producers tend to emphasize on the peak power, which is usually higher than the RMS. While looking at subwoofers on the market, our specialists advise negatively fooled by marketing and to continue to concentrate more on the RMS value.

The subwoofers’ highest power handling refers to the amount of reliable power they can handle in brief bursts. This value is much higher than the RMS because it isn’t designed to be continuous. As you might expect, the RMS generates the highest heat and quantity of power your speakers can withstand without damaging or distorting them.

You are more than capable of blowing your subwoofers when you choose to perform your song at the maximum voltage handling level on a regular basis. As a result, when it appears to the control of your subwoofer, the RMS is more important.

A strong speaker demands a proper sound enclosure; here are some tips for making your subwoofer box more louder and smoother.

Sensitivity

What creates amazing subwoofers is also what’s concealed inside. The inside wiring and structure are responsible for the resistance, responsiveness, and maximum energy rating, which takes us to the following aspect.

The sensitivity of your loudspeakers determines how loud your bass will be. The sensitivities, which are measured in decibels or dB, refer to the amount of power that can be converted into sound. Our experienced sound quality team considers anything above 88 dB to be the greatest match and recommends it.

You may also read our assessment of the best 10-inch subwoofer here if you want a subwoofer with an amount of discrimination sound.

Impedance and Amplifier Impedance

The impedance is next on the list of items to look for in subwoofers. The susceptibility of a subwoofer is the impedance it holds to electrical drift. It’s crucial for the subwoofers’ functionality with the remaining of your audio loudspeakers. It’s written in ohms, and most of all subs have one, two, or four of them.

If you bought detached sub speakers, they don’t have a sealed box or an inbuilt sub. The sub is prone to breakage without enclosed enclosures. If your subwoofer is active or powered, it will come with its own amplifier.

Whether it’s a passive or active subwoofer, the subwoofer should be properly labeled. However, most single subs that do not have a ported box or sealed box enclosure will most certainly be obedient.

2 ohm, 4 ohms, 6 ohms, and 8 ohms are popular resistance values.

It will be simple to incorporate your sub into your tiny audio sound system if it fits into any of these classifications.

Voice Coils

You’ve probably heard our specialists mention vocal coils a few times by now, but some of you may still be unsure what they are or what they do. DVC or SVC are abbreviations for solo voice coil and dual voice coil wiring, respectively. 

The wiring differences between the single or dual voice coils can be significant. Therefore it’s critical to understand what they do. The pressure behind the driver is provided by the special voice coil wiring, which is critical to the subwoofers’ output.

As a result, whenever you all possess a sub qualified of higher or lower power and RMS rating, preferably of a single speech coil, two speech coils would need less wire. In this situation, the ohm rating is also important, and twin voice coils are usually preferable in terms of audio sounds.

Enclosure

Are you looking for a sealed or a ported enclosed space? Is it more beneficial to invest in the best subwoofer with a ventilated enclosure? Our experts recommend choosing a sub with a piece of information when you really desire a convenient and simple setup and your car stereo sound system enables it.

Sealing and ported enclosures are the two basic types of enclosures. Then, what are the distinctions between the two, and which is better? Personal preference plays a big role in the answer. So, in order to assist you in making the best choice between ported and closed, our experts will now break down each option.

A ported enclosure subwoofer has a worse sound quality. Yet, it can create more punchier bass than notes and consequently louder music. They can also handle greater power. Subwoofers, including modest or very high capability levels, are often seen in ported enclosures.

As you can expect, a closed enclosure subwoofer has a greater audio quality built. Subwoofers in sealed enclosures are smaller and more accurate in terms of sound quality. Despite the fact that the condition circumstance of sealed subs is a principle, you may find a higher quality ported enclosure sub that is solidly built than a sealed sub that is amateurishly put together.

Frequency Response

The frequency statement comes next. Because we’re talking about subwoofers rather than speakers in overall, the upper frequency range isn’t as important as the low frequency range.

The frequency range, also known as a reply, is the range of sound that your subwoofer or speaker can reproduce without distortion. Because others are more liable for the high music sounds of the tweeters, speakers should be able to go as low and as high as feasible. Speakers like the best Hertz vehicle sound are utilized to convey the whole audible sound spectrum for human ears. Thus the high and low frequency ranges should be as broad as possible.

The lower the frequency replies, on the other hand, the better for subs. A great subwoofer does not require a large frequency range.

To begin, search for subwoofers that can produce boomy bass tones of roughly 20 to 30 Hz.

Motor Cooling

You may visualize the amount of heat generated by your sub as something you’ll be using frequently. This is why cone cooling, whether by engine cooling or general cooling techniques, is critical.

Just to keep your sub from overheating, make sure your speakers have a cooling system. That’s common for your sub to warm up a little after use, but it shouldn’t get too hot. If your sub gets hot all of the time, rather than just warm, you should look into improved thermal options. 

Your subwoofer’s lifetime will be extended if you use effective motor cooling methods. Like other tech devices, Vocal coils guard against overheating, which can induce long-term harm, so make sure your cooling system is working.

(Are you having trouble connecting your subwoofers and speakers?

For faultless connectivity, utilize a subwoofer pre-out in your residence movie.)

Cost

Our professionals, as always, ensure that there is an ample variety of products available to suit everyone’s budget. Single or twin subs are available, with prices ranging from low to high. There is a pricing range selection for everything you’re looking for. 

A variety of factors influences a subwoofer’s pricing. For example, top of the line 15-inch subs are priced separately rather than 12 length subs. It’s also not as simple as buying the product with the most positive reviews because it could not be the ideal fit for your needs. The bass might be a low-quality and underappreciated instrument.

The label, kind of enclosure, length, and materials utilized can all have a significant impact on the price. As all buyers are aware, a product’s brand can be the primary determinant of its price, yet this isn’t without cause. The technology to produce the highest audio quality has most likely been mastered by well-known brands in the field.

Rockford and Kicker Fosgate remain very well known for automotive audio subs, but their prices are still very affordable if you need a quick boost to your audio amp, which is why they frequently appear on top rankings.

As previously said, there are two sorts of enclosures, one of which is of greater quality and sensibility than the other. Y’all can anticipate much more dependable quality sound and, of course, a higher rate with higher quality.

Because we’re just talking about 12 inch subs today, they’re all in the same price bracket. The length of the subwoofer, on the other hand, can have an impact on the price. Recognize the materials utilized in the woofer’s construction.

You should anticipate a price increase if they use top-of-the-line technologies, such as injection-molded aluminum cones and superior durability. Using multiple voice coils instead of a single voice coil might further raise the cost.

In the end, our specialists never advise sacrificing quality for cost savings. This is due to the possibility of receiving a poor product or a burst subwoofer that will need to be replaced soon. This would not occur if you had chosen the higher feature bass in the first section. It will also save you the time and effort of having to disable the old one before installing the latest one.

After reviewing our prime ten listing and buyer’s advice, you should be able to work within your budget. Now, you should have a more comprehensive understanding of how to choose the ideal sub to purchase.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)