The 14 Best Subwoofers For Audiophiles

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The impact of a good subwoofer on an audio system is substantial. Bass-heavy tracks and low frequencies become so much more noticeable, shaking the very foundation of your room. You'll gain a newfound appreciation for some of your favorite tracks where the bass felt like little more than an afterthought. If you consider yourself a die-hard audiophile, then getting a subwoofer that can turn your living room into soundscape heaven is a must.

A good subwoofer covers a wide low-end frequency range to make bass tracks, movie explosions, and cinematic scores feel all the more impactful. They also need good subwoofer drivers to accurately reproduce these low-frequency sounds. Along with this, a few passive radiators to enrich this soundscape are always welcome. Checking both the RMS (Root Mean Square) and peak output of these subwoofers is also important to assess how much power they can deliver. Keeping all these factors in mind, most audiophiles and publications swear by these subwoofers as some of the very best you can purchase.

The Klipsch SPL-120 is a popular sub with a frequency response of 24Hz to 125Hz, an impressive maximum acoustic output of 118dB, 300 watts RMS, and a 12-inch long-throw front-firing driver. That's pretty powerful, this subwoofer can make your room rumble in no time. As a nice touch, the copper hues add a certain aesthetic, especially when paired with other similarly colored Klipsch speakers. For its $399 asking price, you'll be hard-pressed to find better subwoofers in the same range.

Audiophiles are more than pleased by this subwoofer's punchy performance. On the Klipsch website, customers have been fairly generous with a 4.3 out of 5 rating, while Crutchfield users gave it a perfect 5-star rating. If you're on the lookout for a subwoofer with a premium finish, room-filling bass, and excellent value-for-money, you can't go wrong with the Klipsch SPL-120.

With a 4.5 out of 5 rating from Audioholics, Rogersound Labs has done some stellar work with the Speedwoofer 10S MKII. For its size, the frequency response of this subwoofer is admirable, going down to 22Hz in LFE (Low Frequency Effect) mode. This is achieved courtesy of a 10-inch driver, a brand new RSL XDR amplifier, and 400 watts RMS, ensuring that the punchy bass sounds you expect from your favorite movies and sounds will be replicated to a T. All of this is achieved by a subwoofer so small that it won't dominate a room aesthetically.

Customers are pretty happy with their purchase, as evidenced by the near-perfect 4.95 out of 5 stars rating for this subwoofer on the Rogersound Labs site. Praise was directed toward its clear, full sound output and its accurate reproduction of high and low bass. For $499, it's a speaker that can breathe new life into your audio setup, as long as you don't mind sharp edges  — a small drawback in what is otherwise a subwoofer with great build quality.

The GoldenEar SuperSub XXL justifies its  $1,999.99 asking price with incredible performance. The 1,600-watt ForceField digital/DSP amplifier generates so much power that your living room will be vibrating to the beat of your favorite music. With a frequency range of 10Hz to 200Hz, the bass sounds from this subwoofer will be crisper than ever. The addition of dual 12-inch long-throw high-output drivers and two 12-¾-inch by 14-½-inch quadratic planar infrasonic radiators makes your soundscape richer than ever before.

Customers who shelled out the big bucks for this subwoofer were satisfied with its performance, giving it a perfect 5-star rating on Crutchfield. The detailed audio and clarity of its audio output were singled out in reviews. If you need another excuse to buy this subwoofer, its build quality and appealing finish will help it blend naturally into your living space.

Getting a perfect 5 out of 5 rating from Audioholics and Sound & Vision speaks well of the SVS PB17-Ultra R|Evolution. At $2,999.99, this is one of the more expensive subwoofers on the market, but any audiophile without a budget constraint will appreciate how this subwoofer transforms their multimedia experience. The new front-firing 17-inch high excursion driver, along with dual 8-inch voice coils, ensures that the powerful output of this subwoofer will shake the very foundations of your living room. You can — and should — use the SVS app to personalize this sub's settings, including the equalizer, polarity, room gain compensation, tuning modes, and power management. All of these settings can be saved to memory, making it very easy to set up this subwoofer for a variety of use cases.

A 2800-watt RMS power output that reaches up to 6000 watts at peak performance is eye-watering and hammers home how much of a monster this loudspeaker is. A high-resolution 295MHz DSP with double-precision 56-bit filtering guarantees a staggering amount of processing power. With its dual mono-block STA-2800D amplifiers further enhancing its sound, the audiophile in you won't get enough of what might just be the most advanced subwoofer you can get your hands on. The one negative may be that this loudspeaker is so powerful that heavy use can cause plugs to blow out of its audio input ports!

If you're seeking out a compact yet powerful subwoofer, the Bowers & Wilkins ASW610 may be exactly what you're looking for. The 200-watt ICEpower Class D amplifier generates a ton of power while also ensuring that the subwoofer doesn't heat up too much. This is complemented by a 10-inch long-throw hybrid paper/aramid driver and a frequency range of 27Hz to 140Hz, ensuring that this loudspeaker's bass output is accurate and impactful in equal measure. For $1,000, you'll definitely get the most bang for your buck with this subwoofer.

The build quality and compact design have earned rave reviews from customers and publications. What Hi-Fi? gave it a glowing 5-star review, and a similarly near-perfect user review aggregate score on Crutchfield supports that.  Audioholics was slightly more restrained, giving it a decent 3 out of 5 rating. Regardless, the ASW610 is perfect to enhance the soundscape of your living room without ruining its aesthetics.

At $759, the Hsu Research VTF-2 MK5 is packed with enough features to make it a cost-effective subwoofer. A 350-watt RMS that goes up to 1400 watts at its peak, front-firing 12-inch speakers, and a frequency response that goes all the way down to 16Hz make this subwoofer well worth its reasonable price. No wonder this appealing package received a perfect 5-star rating from Audioholics. Customers were also very kind to this speaker on the Hsu page, giving it a glowing 4.9 out of 5 stars aggregate review score.

According to users, the one-port mode performs best in a standard-sized room and delivers deep bass extension. However, don't shy away from two ports if you have a larger room, an elaborate sound system, or both. Users on Reddit discuss how clean its output is. Another great perk is that the VTF-2 MK5 isn't too heavy, so you don't have to clutter your living room with a bulky speaker. The subwoofer weighs 62 pounds, making it relatively easy to shift this sub around while you're trying to figure out its optimal position.

Bose's wealth of audio products is largely reliable, and the Bass Module 700 is no exception. A 10-inch driver and 110 watts RMS make this a pretty powerful subwoofer for its $749.99 asking price. Along with performance, this active bass-reflex loudspeaker features a premium glass-top finish. Your living room will look and sound great with this well-built sub, especially paired with the Bose Smart Soundbar 700 for an elite soundbar and subwoofer combo.

Audiophiles also have nothing but praise for this subwoofer, giving it high aggregate review scores of 4.7 out of 5 on Best Buy, 4.5 stars on Crutchfield, and 4.4 stars on the Bose website. The tight, punchy, and deep bass of this sub has earned praise from buyers. The price may be on the higher end, but Bose maintains its sound quality and build in the Bass Module 700.

There's no denying that $5,999 is a lot to ask for a subwoofer, but audiophiles with large rooms, larger budgets, and elaborate audio setups may find the REL Acoustics 212/SX worth the investment. Just make sure you have enough space in your room and are ready to lug around 128 pounds to set up this behemoth. It may seem overkill to some, but a subsection of audiophiles simply don't cut corners to achieve the highest possible bass quality and power. A look at this subwoofer's mind-blowing specs will make it clear just how otherworldly its output is.

There are two front-firing 12-inch long-throw active drivers built with a Continuous CastAlloy cone structure. These are supported by two passive radiators, one of which is placed at the rear while the other fires downward. With its 1000-watt RMS and a low-frequency extension that goes all the way down to 18Hz, the bass quality you'll enjoy will be unlike anything else. It's a sentiment echoed by AVForums, which gave the REL Acoustics 212/SX a 9 out of 10 rating.

Not only is the Perlisten Audio D15s expensive — retailing for almost $6,600 — but with a weight of 101 pounds, it's also ridiculously heavy. However, if you're a diehard audiophile who wants what may just be the best subwoofer on the market, then the D15s will satisfy your requirements and then some. It's one of the few THX Dominus-certified subwoofers around, making it perfect if your audio system is set up in a room with up to 6,500 cubic feet of space. With a 2,000-watt RMS amplifier and a 15-inch carbon-fiber driver, audiophiles will be blown away by the D15s' incredible performance.

With the Perlisten app, you can set up the subwoofer and adjust the equalizer, phase, polarity, low-pass filter, and volume. Its 10-channel parametric EQ and an impressive frequency range of 16Hz to 320Hz help you appreciate the bass in everything from your favorite songs to movies with impactful soundtracks. It's no wonder that AVForums gave it a perfect 10 out of 10 rating. Most audiophiles with deep pockets will find much to enjoy in the D15s.

With dual Class-D digital amplifiers, two 5-inch by 8-inch inward-facing elliptical woofers, and a frequency response that goes as low as 25Hz, it's easy to see why the Sonos Sub 4 appeals to publications and users. This subwoofer has received 4.2 stars out of 5 from Pickr,  4 out of 5 stars from T3, and 4.5 stars out of 5 from Apple Insider. Meanwhile, Stereo Guide paired the Sub 4 with the Sonos Arc Ultra and gave the combination a 93% rating — it's clear that its deep, rich, distortion-free bass and satisfying matte finish make this subwoofer an excellent purchase, albeit a somewhat pricey one at $899, currently on sale at $759.

Consumer ratings for the Sonos Sub 4 have been stellar as well. Out of 5, user aggregate scores came in at 4.9 stars on the Sonos website, 4.8 stars at Best Buy, 4.5 stars at Walmart, and 4.7 stars at Costco. Keep in mind that the Sub 4 isn't a huge improvement over the Sub 3, so an upgrade may not be necessary. If you're deep into the Sonos audio ecosystem and want to pair this sub with the stellar Sonos Arc Ultra soundbar or just want to get a great subwoofer that is easy to set up and supports a wireless connection, then the Sub 4 is right up your alley.

Another Klipsch subwoofer with a premium copper finish, the Reference R-120SW delivers a ton of features and is currently for sale for $249, well below its $599 retail price. The R120 SW features a frequency range of 29Hz to 120Hz, a 12-inch high excursion spun-copper IMG driver, an amplifier that supplies 200 watts RMS power — which goes up to 400 watts at peak performance — and an excellent maximum acoustic power of 116dB ensure that the Reference R-120SW will help out any audiophile who doesn't want to break the bank when purchasing a subwoofer. It helps that this loudspeaker is also compact, weighing 31 pounds and measuring 16.5 x 14 x 19.2 inches.

Audioholics gave this subwoofer a modest 3.5 out of 5, but consumers have been more generous. A perfect 5-star aggregate user score on Crutchfield and 4.8 stars on Best Buy paint a rosier picture, with users noting attractive design and clear bass free of irritating distortion.  

A ported subwoofer brimming with the bells and whistles one would expect from a high-end device in this category, there's a reason why the SVS PB-3000 is $1,499. It comes equipped with an advanced front-firing 13-inch high excursion driver, a Sledge STA-800D2 amplifier that's rated at 800 watts RMS, and a 50 MHz high-resolution Analog Devices audio DSP that is one of the most advanced processors used in a subwoofer. The Intelligent Control Interface (ICI) on the rear panel, along with the SVS app, make setting up this subwoofer accessible. With a frequency range of 16Hz to 260Hz in standard mode, you can enjoy a punchy, satisfying bass output.

There's a reason why the SVS PB-3000 enjoys a perfect 5-out-of-5 rating on Audioholics. User aggregate scores are just as impressive, getting a litany of perfect 5-star scores on Crutchfield, Klarna, Walmart, and the SVS website itself. Audiophiles note the depth this subwoofer brings to their setups, with its sheer power causing living rooms to rumble whenever they play games or watch movies.

Not only does Edifier make great, reasonably priced headphones, but its subwoofer is also budget-friendly and well-made. If you're looking for cheap audiophile gadgets to level up your music experience, the $199.99 Edifier T5 may be the sub for you. For this low price point, you're getting an 8-inch driver, a closed-loop Texas Instruments class-D amplifier with a power output of 70 watts RMS, and a frequency range of 38Hz to 160Hz, which is a bargain for some. These specifications deliver detailed, impactful bass that elevates your audiovisual experience without breaking the bank.

The low-pass filter and phase control options are also welcome for optimizing how this subwoofer works with the rest of your sound system. The Edifier T5 sports an elegant design, which is important if you don't want your living room's aesthetics to be marred by a large, ugly subwoofer. This cost-effective subwoofer is a favorite among audiophiles, who gave it an excellent aggregate score of 4.8 stars on Best Buy. Users praise its clean sound, punchy bass, and affordable price.

With a perfect 5-star rating on What Hi-Fi? and an 8 out of 10 score on AVForums, the Q Acoustics Q B12 has made a strong impression. It's the company's first subwoofer to feature a 12-inch high-excursion driver, which helps deliver punchy, powerful bass. To mitigate distortion, the Q B12 features a Texas Instruments TPA3255 class-D amplifier and a 50-millimeter voice coil to further enhance sound quality. The results are excellent, making your movie nights more memorable than ever.

The curved edges and quality finish help the Q B12 integrate into your living room. With an RMS power supply of 220 watts and a frequency range of 28Hz to 300Hz, this subwoofer, priced between $599 and $799 may be the final piece in the puzzle to make your sound system sonically coherent. Just make sure to adjust the phase switch, crossover frequency control, and level adjustment dial to your liking.

Subwoofers with good ratings from trusted publications, including What Hi-Fi?, Sound & Vision, Audioholics, AVForums, Pickr, Apple Insider, and T3 have been mentioned here. Along with this, glowing reviews and high aggregate scores from consumers at Walmart, Crutchfield, Best Buy, Costco, Klarna, and any relevant brand websites have also been taken into account.