If you’re shopping for a Best Subwoofer Under 500 Dollar, then you probably already know how hard it is to find a great one that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.
Purchasing a subwoofer isn’t like picking out a toaster, where the top brand is the one that’s priced the most.
Subwoofers require a certain amount of power, so a good subwoofer doesn’t need to cost a fortune. In fact, there are plenty of good subwoofers on the market that cost less than $500.
Our Home Entertainment team test subwoofers to determine their power output, sound quality and loudness.
We also test how easy they are to set up, and how intuitive their controls are. It’s important to remember that a subwoofer’s performance can be highly dependent on your room’s acoustics. If you have a highly budget then there are the Top 10 Best Subwoofer Under $1500.
After analyzing dozens of subwoofers on the market, we’ve identified the best subwoofers under $500.
1. Rockville WHEEL OF BASS 8″ Slim Car Audio Subwoofer Sub: (Best Subwoofer Under 500 Dollar)
The Wheel of Bass under-seat or trunk subwoofer provides powerful bass output with your car audio. Its shallow 3.15 inch enclosure is ideal for locations that are tight on space.
The enclosure has a built in subsonic filter which removes the lowest of frequencies.
The adjustable input sensitivity is perfect for most systems. Switching to 180 phasing on the Wheel of Bass changes the rotational phase 180 degrees, resulting in a lower frequency output.
This is perfect for car audio with subwoofers due to the lower moving mass required.
The Wheel of Bass features a low pass crossover filter that filters out certain frequencies, this is done to minimize the interruption of the “subsonic filter”.
The subwoofer features green power/red protect LED lights which inform you of the subwoofer’s status.
2. Rockford Fosgate Punch P500-12P 500 Subwoofer System with Built-in Amplifier:
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Rockford Fosgate recently introduced a 12″ subwoofer with built-in amplifier, and it’s arguably its Best Subwoofer Under 500 Dollar yet.
The Punch P500-12P has excellent low frequency response, and it’s powerful enough to feel substantial without creating unpleasant distortions at maximum volume.
The P500-12P also has excellent built-in bass boost controls, allowing you to tailor the subwoofer’s output to your specific needs.
The integrated amp also delivers plenty of power, even when used with higher-impedance factory speakers. Still, the Punch P500-12P has a somewhat cumbersome user interface, with a complicated set of buttons on top.
But overall, the P500-12P is an excellent subwoofer, and it provides more power and control than ever before in a 12″ system.
3. PIONEER 8″ Slim 700W 2 OHM SUBWOOFER
The Pioneer 8-inch Best Subwoofer Under $500 Dollar is a sort of reverse of the Pioneer 10-inch sub. While the 10-inch model uses 10-inch-diameter woofer drivers, the 8-inch unit uses 8-inch drivers.
The extra room allows the output to be continuous from 20 Hz to 1.4 kHz, while the 10-inch model’s output stops at 1.4 kHz.
The size difference also shows up physically, with a slightly larger enclosure for the 10-inch model and a slightly smaller one for the 8-inch model.
The build is equally impressive, with solid components and solid construction throughout. Our only complaint is that the enclosure is rather large, so you may have to make some sacrifices in terms of placement.
4. KICKER TRTP 12-inch (30cm) Thin Down Firing Subwoofer:
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We love the sound of the KICKER TRTP Best Subwoofer Under 500 Dollar. It produces deep, thumping bass, with just the right tone for movie watching.
And did we mention that it’s extremely shallow, measuring just 3 inches in depth while delivering respectable performance? The boxy enclosure takes up minimal space in your trunk, but don’t let that fool you.
This kit feels surprisingly big and punchy, and the bass it puts out will surprise you. The passive radiator is enclosed in a separate box, so there’s no need to stack the subwoofer and passive radiator.
The revised cabinet design also makes for a cleaner look and resists cracking and warping, plus it provides better airflow.
Our only complaint is that the 12″ sub’s rubber feet are extremely low profile, and the bass can shake a lot of your trunk electronics when you hit the sweet spot. A vertical mount would go a long way towards improving that situation.
5. KICKER 46HS10 Compact Powered 10-inch Subwoofer:
The HS10 is a powerful 10-inch Best Subwoofer Under $500. The speaker, amplifier, and wiring are all very well put together. The wiring and harness is a Molex connector, and that’s not necessarily the best connector.
The combination of the wiring and connector can sometimes cause the cable to fray, and this does happen.
The speaker looks durable thanks to the powder coated gray enclosure, but it’s small, so you’ll probably need the subwoofer box that holds all of the wiring and the speaker.
The housing is heavy, so it will be ready for more bass and vibrating floors than some sub enclosures. The sub itself can push 100 watts, which is more than enough for a small room, or a small party.
The subwoofer is loud, and it shakes the floor when turned on. The sound is powerful, deep, and clear. If bass is what you’re looking for, the HS10 is an excellent choice for a subwoofer.
6. BESTISAN Subwoofer, Powered Home Audio Sub woofer:
BESTISAN subwoofer’s deep bass, powerful sound, and good balance make it an excellent Best Subwoofer Under $500 choice for most listeners. Its compact and lightweight design is perfect for apartments, dorm rooms, and small living rooms.
It’s also a good choice for people looking for the best sound in a budget-oriented sub. The subwoofer also shows us what the benefits of a subwoofer can sound like when matched with a good pair of bookshelf speakers.
The bass is deep, dynamic, and surprisingly extended, and we didn’t experience any distortions or rattling. The bass effects are noticeable, even at low volume, which makes listening to music even more enjoyable.
The design of the subwoofer is attractive, and it’s easy to connect it to most receivers, sound bars, and bookshelf speakers.
The subwoofer does an excellent job of producing high-quality bass, but keep in mind that this sub isn’t built to blast out bass at high volumes.
It’s not designed for hard rock or heavy metal, and it’s not optimized for low frequencies.
This is a compact, affordable subwoofer that will help you fill a room with powerful bass, but it’s not the best choice for anyone looking for high-end bass.
7. Subwoofer, BESTISAN Powered Subwoofer:
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If you’re looking for a compact subwoofer to add to your home theater setup, this one from BESTISAN is a solid choice.
It offers the same sound quality as models from higher-priced brands, like the Sealed Sub, but it’s a little cheaper.
And while it’s automatically regulated to 110V, a dedicated transformer makes it capable of handling 220V, so it can handle most power outlets in Europe and North America.
The speaker slides in easily and locks in place. However, it comes with a thin wire that connects it to a Y-connector, so you’ll still need a splitter to connect it to your receiver.
The subwoofer’s built-in amplifier puts out 200W RMS power. However, the bass response isn’t as punchy as some of the competition. Overall, though, this is a solid choice for people looking to fill their home with surround sound.
8. Definitive Technology Descend DN8 8″ Subwoofer:
The Definitive Technology DESCEND DN8 8″ subwoofer is big-sounding and powerful, and it has the power to take care of multiple subs in a home theater system. It’s surprisingly versatile, too.
The DESCEND DN8’s 500W Class D amplifier gets loud quickly and cleanly, which makes for effortless blending into movies and music, and the low-pass crossover allows for precise tailoring of the bass frequencies.
The bass radiators, the pressure-coupled design and the 3XR architecture combine to let you extract more low-end bass from the same cabinet than you could from a typical ported subwoofer.
Compared with other entry-level subs, the Descend DN8 is also exceptionally efficient and delivers surprisingly clear, distortion-free sound. The naturally minimal cabinet design blends in well with most home theater setups.
Comfortable controls and a remote mean you can easily operate the DN8 from across the room.
If you’re upgrading your home theater, the Descend DN8 will deliver more bass with more detail and with less distortion than a typical budget sub.
If you want a little more bass than your budget sub can provide, and a little more versatility, this one is a great choice.
9. CT Sounds MESO-8-D2 1600 Watts Max 8 Inch Car Subwoofer:
The CT Sounds MESO-8-D2 is the best car sub we’ve seen so far. It packs 1,600 watts of raw power into a 7-pound package.
That translates into a bass response that effectively pushes your voice to the back of the room, plus fantastic highs and lows, giving the bass a nice blend of punch and clarity.
Our only complaint is that it’s missing two RCA inputs, so you’ll need a receiver or subwoofer amp if you want to use this sub with a stereo.
How We Pick & Test?
- Size matters: A car subwoofer has to fit in the trunk or behind seats, so we try to include models that fit most vehicles.
- Power and depth: We look for models that can get really low with their sub and can deliver decent bass at reasonable volumes.
- Portability: The best models have comparable power to a 400-watt home subwoofer, but they take less space.
- Height and width: We look for models with high excursion (the amount they can move), a wide frequency response, and enough power to fill a car.
- Ease of use: The best car subwoofers offer simple controls, Bluetooth connectivity, and volume knobs.
Features We Like:
- -8 Inch Subwoofer
- -2.4 Inch Voice Coil
- -High-Temperature CCAW Voice Coil
- -160 Oz Triple Stacked Y35 Grade Ferrite Magnet
- -24 mm Chrome Top Plate
- -Competitive Mega Foam Surround
- -5% Carbon Fiber Reinforced Cone
- -Dual Round Weaved Copper Tinsel Leads
- -8 Gauge Push Terminals
10. Klipsch R-120SW Subwoofer, Black:
The Klipsch R-120SW Best Subwoofer Under $500 delivers solid bass in a surprisingly small package, thanks to the 12″ high excursion woofer, which gets plenty of power and good bottom end from its 400 watt max output.
The speakers are also pretty efficient, at 117dB at 115 Hz, which is plenty loud for small to medium-sized rooms, though you might want to equip them with external subwoofers for bigger parties.
Despite their compact size, the speakers also manage to be extremely clean, with smooth, controlled bass.
The only downside to the speakers’ far superior performance was their tendency toward clipping at higher volumes, though you might benefit from connecting them to the included subwoofer.
While we didn’t note any problems in our tests, Klipsch offers a pretty extensive warranty for the R-120SW.
What is a subwoofer and how does it differ from a woofer?
A subwoofer is a speaker that reproduces bass frequencies that are too low for the speakers that reproduce lower audio frequencies. The two different types of speakers are subwoofers and woofers.
The woofer is a speaker that reproduces mid- to lower-range frequencies. These speakers are found in most speakers because they provide sound better.
Subwoofers are speakers that reproduce low-frequency sounds. They produce bass sounds while the woofers produce mid to lower sounds.
How to choose the Best Subwoofer Under 500 Dollar for your bedroom?
Subwoofers are designed to be placed on a couch, under a table, or on the floor. You’ll usually see them in home theater systems, so don’t be surprised when you see one in your home.
If you want to enjoy movie theater-quality sound in your own home, a subwoofer is the way to go. But how can you make the right choice? Consider a few factors before making your purchase:
Size:
Subwoofers come in a range of sizes. The larger ones are usually bigger and heavier, and can produce deeper bass at a higher volume. If you have a small room and don’t want it to shake too much, a smaller subwoofer may be the better choice.
Power handling:
Subwoofers are rated according to their power output. Some subwoofers can handle up to 1000 watts of power; these are usually bigger and heavier and can handle a lot of power.
Smaller models may only handle up to 200 watts of power; these are usually lighter and cheaper, but shouldn’t be cranked up too high.
Enclosure type:
Subwoofers usually have one of two enclosure types: sealed or ported. Sealed enclosures have no ventilation at all; this means that the bass output will be accurate.
Ported enclosures have ports through which air can move, resulting in lower bass output but better dispersion.
Frequency response:
All subwoofers have their own frequency response curve. The response curve shows how the subwoofer reproduces frequency content at different volumes, from 20 to 20,000 Hz.
Most subwoofers include a graph in their specifications that shows you what this curve looks like.
Sensitivity:
Sensitivity tells you how loud the subwoofer sounds at different volume levels. A sensitivity of 86 dB means that at 100 watts, the subwoofer puts out 86 dB of sound.
Impedance:
The impedance of a subwoofer tells you how well it will work at different volume levels. A low impedance means that the subwoofer will work well at low volumes, but may fail at higher volumes.
What to look for when purchasing a Best Subwoofer Under $500?
A subwoofer is a loudspeaker or speaker that is designed to play low-pitched audio frequencies (below 20Hz), producing low-pitched sound called “bass”.
In technical terms, a subwoofer compresses the low-frequency sounds coming from the main speakers and delivers them to a smaller driver. When the driver reproduces those frequencies, it sends them to the room in a powerful way that listeners can hear and feel.
A speaker driver is usually placed in a sealed box or cabinet, which minimizes reflections that could cause interference.
A subwoofer usually sits between the loudspeakers and listeners. It also works in conjunction with other loudspeakers to produce different sound effects and moods, particularly when it comes to music.
Conclusion:
If you are looking for the best subwoofer under 500 dollars, then you should definitely consider one of the options that we have listed above.
We highly recommend that you take a look at all of the different features and options that each subwoofer has to offer before making your final decision.