The best subwoofer for home theater is one that has the appropriate oomph for the specific room size. It will be invisible which means it will blend in and allow the main speakers to produce their bass rather than being an independent ‘speaker’. Crossover setting is a crucial part of the subwoofer that needs to be tweaked accurately.
Multiple subwoofer is always preferable and recommended by audio experts. This is because a single subwoofer will have dead spots and peak spots allowing the bass to be absent at the dead spots. REL Acoustics subwoofers are one of the best high-end subwoofers that excel in engineering and advanced technologies.
Polk Audio, Monolith, Yamaha, SVS produce some of the best affordable subwoofers which focus on the low-frequency range. The enclosure should allow the driver to move huge amount of air and produce resonant-free sound. Most subwoofer cabinets are made of MDF which is of high quality. These home theater subwoofer reviews will assist you to choose the best one.
Top 5 subwoofer for different home theater size:
Subwoofer drivers can vary in size and the ideal size depends on the area it will fill. If you place a small sized subwoofer in a large room, there will not be adequate bass.
Subwoofer and room size matching guide
The following table gives you can idea of the room size and which room is considered small or large.
| Room | Dimensional Volume |
|---|---|
| Small Room | < 1,500 ft^3 |
| Medium Room | 1,500 ft^3 to 3,000 ft^3 |
| Large Room | 3,000 ft^3 to 5,000 ft^3 |
| Extreme Room | > 5,000 ft^3 |
Table: Top 5 subwoofer for different home theater size
Best affordable subwoofer for home theater: Earthquake Sound FF6.5 6.5-Inch Subwoofer review:
This compact subwoofer can produce 100 dB peak SPL through 40-135Hz. The size and power makes it the best subwoofer for small rooms in a home theater. The amplifier has increased efficiency and it has Automatic signal detection circuitry this means the sub gets turned on when there is signal. It gets off if there is no signal for 30 minutes.
The 6.5” subwoofer is ideal for budget home theater applications and can also be used in condos, restaurants, etc. The rear side also has 0-180-degree phase shift which is needed for better integration of subs with the speakers. There is a filter knob from 40-180 Hz with 12 dB per octave. For this subwoofer, it is recommended to set it at 2 o clock position but you can also tweak it.
There are low level RCA inputs at 100Hz. You can place this cheap subwoofer for home theater in a corner or use multiple sub which will increase the loudness by 5dB and is considered the best setup. The bass is deep and rich and the loudness is sufficient for small spaces. The cabinet is well designed to be resonant free.
The performance, quality and engineering is impressive and the cost is affordable. When connecting to amplifier or receiver, check for the Sub/LFE out port in the receiver. Transmission line enclosure improves the bass response. A 150W RMS is ideal for most small home theaters. Overall, it will blend it easily if paired with right set of speakers and ensure invisibility while producing deep and punchier bass.
Best value for money: Polk Audio PSW10 10″ Powered Subwoofer review:
This Polk Audio has long excursion and the driver allows smoother response and minimized distortion. If you have a TV in your home theater where you will connect the sub, make sure to place it at a distance because it isn’t magnetically shielded.
The cabinet is vented though the Front Panel Flared Port and is made from MDF which is popular for producing uncolored sound with accuracy. In terms of placement check the image below. You can also place this closer to the wall to make it louder.
To connect it to a receiver, take a RCA cable, connect one end to the Sub out of the receiver. Take the other end and connect it to the Line in ports of the sub. If you are using 2-ch or Dolby Pro Logic receiver, then 2 conductor 16-gauge speaker wire. The sub has a phase switch which you can adjust by listening to jazz or country music. The crossover frequency is 80-160Hz.
The Polk PSW10 is one of the best budget home theater subwoofer for small spaces. It uses Klippel distortion analyzer that ensures the optimum bass throughout a wide low-frequency range. The bass is deeper and punchier for both movies and music. The clean and thundering bass will impress you and if you have two, it will be much better.
This Polk Audio model is the best value subwoofer for home theater which you can set into tight spaces. It has three options in the power switch: Auto, On and Off. You can select Auto which will turn on the sub if signal is detected. Otherwise it will be turned off. Connections include RCA Line Level, speaker line level input and output with spring clip.
Best subwoofer for home theater under $300: BIC Acoustech PL-200 II Subwoofer review:
The BIC Acoustech PL-200 has dual flared front ports. The front ports are broad that measures 9×2 inches and these help to reduce port noise and it causes the bass to be evenly distributed throughout the room.
The BASH amplifier with 1000W dynamic power allows the 12” long-throw woofer with high volume of air and ensuring the best bass for movies or music. The subwoofer can get quite loud with a sensitivity of 110dB @ 30Hz. These features make it the best home cinema subwoofer.
The cabinet bracing minimizes any resonance or vibration and ensures uncolored sound. The enclosure also has hand rubbed lacquer that is more resistant against scratches. It has tight and clean bass. The cabinet quality is good and it is long lasting. The rear side shows gold plated terminals. The setup is very easy and straightforward.
You can push the sub harder or listen to how it works at its limit. The result is clean and deep low-end which most of other subwoofers at this price range can’t produce. The sound makes it one of the best subwoofer for movies and the low-end produces a shaking bass. The placement is similar to others which is, place it in a corner of the room for best results.
The rear side has power Auto/ On switch, a phase switch of 0-180 degrees, volume control, crossover switch, crossover switch for receiver or subwoofer. Connections include Sub RCA In, Output to speakers, and High Level inputs.
The user manual has detailed setup on how you should connect speakers and run a test. Whether you are a general listener or an audiophile, the deep bass will satisfy you. Although best for medium sized rooms, you can also you two of these subwoofers for creating a 7.2 home theater.
Monolith Powered 15” Subwoofer review:
Monolith 15” subwoofer enclosure is made of HDF (High Density Fiberboard) which is used to ensure inert cabinet. There is internal bracing which eliminated vibration or resonance that might affect the audio. The cabinet is sturdy and heavy to produce deeper bass. There are three front ports that measures 88.5mm.
Multiple ports minimize turbulence and increases SPL. You can alter the sound by sealing one or two ports if you want with the given plugs. The finish is excellent and feels premium. It is a variable tuned subwoofer which means you can alter how long of frequency it can get. This is done by sealing the ports.
The sub is also THX certified which means the users should be able to listen to the original audio just as the artists intended them to be. The driver is made of paper/fiber glass composite so that it is very lightweight and a Nitrile Rubber surrounds it. The driver has excellent rigidity and stiffness, and it shows enhanced excursion.
The motor and voice coil are designed so that the voice coil remains cool which ensures you can push the subwoofer harder. It allows higher SPL at lower frequencies and lower distortion. The audiophile grade amplifier produces bigger headroom, better transient response and allows the driver to vibrate easily.
Overall, this subwoofer will deliver high-fidelity bass and you can enjoy immersive movies with ample bass to fill large rooms. It is one of the best powered subwoofer for home theater. Inputs and outputs include stereo line level inputs, an XLR balanced input, an XLR passthrough.
The rear side Crossover, Phase, and Level knobs. There are switch for Crossover (On/Off THX), EQ (Extended/THX). The setup is easier and it gives you freedom to tweak the settings to adjust the audio. The manual recommend using Subwoofer Crawl technique to ensure the best possible placement.
Rockville RBG18FA 18″ 3000w Active Powered Pro Subwoofer
This best active subwoofer for home theater has a folded-horn in a bass reflex cabinet. A horn is folded so that it can be placed within the cabinet. This increases the efficiency of the speaker. The rear side has Balanced XLR + TRS input jacks and Balanced XLR thru/output jacks. There are also knobs for Phase, Level and subwoofer crossover (50-250Hz).
The engineering makes it one of the best subwoofer for home theater with room-shaking bass and ultra-high loudness. It has built-in pole-socket. The back side also has amplifier clip limit LED indicator, protect mode LED and cooling fan. These protective options ensure the durability of the subwoofer so that it lasts long.
If the amplifier limit LED continuously glows, adjust the level and lower the power of the source to avoid permanent damage. There is a Ground Lift switch which deals with ground-loop noise. A signal input LED indicator easily shows when the sub detects input. A variable voltage switch allows you to set between 110v to 220v.
It has a maximum SPL of 135dB peak. The sub has heavy duty thick wooden MDF enclosure with 3” locking caster wheels. Along with 18” driver, it has 4” voice coil and 130oz Magnet. This Rockville 18” subwoofer is produce chest thumping bass and if you are a basshead, you will be satisfied. It allows the speakers to bring out the bass in them.
The cost is quite reasonable when compared to its advanced technology, premium built and extremely deep bass. Since the subwoofer is quite heavy, it is suggested not to wall mount it. Also, don’t put on wheels if you are using it at home. You can use this large subwoofer for parties or big ball rooms.
Best 8-inch subwoofer:
If you have congested place, then check out some of the best 8-inch subwoofer for home theater.
Table: Quick comparison of best 8-inch home theater subwoofer
The best SVS subwoofer for home theater has Sledge STA-800D amplifier with Intelligent Control Interface. The amplifier allows drivers to move with high excursion of around 1 inch. The enclosure sits on 4 isolation feet, is made of MDF and is sonically inert to minimize coloration. There are two 8” drivers have aluminium cones with fiber composite dust cap that can move massive air easily.
It has a 50MHz Analog Devices Audio DSP processor which ensures the subwoofer to blend in with other speakers easily. Overall, the sound has excellent clarity, increased SPL to have room-filling effect and as low of distortion as possible. The back panel has Phase, Low pass filter and Level, Auto/On options. It also has unbalanced RCA Line level inputs/outputs; USB type A port.
To connect the sub to a receiver, use the RCA interconnect to connect one end to the Sub out of the receiver and the LFE of the sub. If you are using 2 SVS 3000 subs to achieve better frequency response and output, then you can connect two subs to the sub out 1 and 2 of the receiver. If there is only one Sub out, complete the connection with RCA splitter or RCA Y-adapter.
You can increase the loudness of the sub through the receiver. For placement, you can try, corner, front or side wall options and figure out the best one for your room. The SVS subwoofer app can be controlled via smartphone to adjust settings. It is easy to use with helpful tutorials. No matter how bass heavy songs you play, the subwoofer produces high-fidelity bass.
While maintaining a compact size, the SVS effectively made a subwoofer that is capable of producing thundering bass. Since space limitation is often an issue, this subwoofer can easily fit into your room. Having an 8” driver, the cost is slightly more than others. However, the small size and ‘big’ performance makes it one of the best compact subwoofer for home theater.
REL Acoustics T/7x 8” Subwoofer
Rel Acoustics subwoofers are different from traditional ones. It helps the speakers to produce the best bass while shows a linear response under 15 Hz. It has Natural Roll Off circuitry to bring out the details of the low-end. the back side of the sub has volume control, phase 0-180-degree, 20-120 Hz crossover, low-level RCA input and .1/LFE level.
You can use the high level and .1/LFE inputs together. To connect the subwoofer with the amplifier, take the given 10-meter cable, connect one end to the High Level Input and the other to the speaker output port of the amp. If you follow this connection, it will improve how well the sub blends with the main speakers.
It is suggested to place the sub in a corner behind the speakers. This will give a 9dB amplification and produce the truest bass. To be more precise about placement so that you hear the lowest frequency extension, take the sub to the corner and very close to the wall. Then slowly move the sub through the diagonal of the room keeping same distance from rear and side wall.
If you placing multiple subs, check the image above. Adjust the phase by listening to the music, set the point where the music has the clarity and fullness. It is one of the best high-end subwoofer for home theater that has a balanced nature and articulate bass. The design and build uses advanced engineering true form of bass from compact profile.
Will Rel, you will achieve sweet spot in your listening position and can enjoy games, movies and music. It is one of the best audiophile-grade subwoofer for home theater. While REL Acoustics manufacture most expensive subwoofer for home theater, the cost compensates the performance and engineering. Users who know their devices and how to use them to get the best out of it will be more than happy with Rel subwoofer.
KEF KUBE 8b Subwoofer Black
Kef Kube 8b is a sealed shiny subwoofer which is ideal for compact spaces. You can place it in a corner or inside a cabinet. The sub has a maximum output of 105dB. The Intelligent Bass Extension algorithm allows the sub to go much lower and produce bass with depth. It controls the driver so that it can work with full potential.
The punchier bass makes Kef Kube 8b best for music and movies. The amplifier along with 56-bit 50 MIPS DSP preamplifier causes the driver to produce impressive bass. The intelligent engineering causes the driver and amplifier work together for optimum performance. Controls include phase, crossover frequency, level and EQ options.
If you want to use a preamp, connect the sub to the preamp or sub out port. Adjust the sub amp frequency to 80 Hz and the choose the LFE on the sub. Adjust the crossover of the sub so that there is seamless integration between the sub and the main speakers. Use the frequency control knob and rotate it between 40-140 Hz.
The sealed cabinet is of high quality that ensures the accurate details and uncolored sound. This also makes it less placement sensitive. To stream wirelessly, you can use the KEF KW1 Wireless Subwoofer Adapter to transfer signal from receiver or speakers.
You can use this 8-inch home theater subwoofer in small office rooms or with other KEF speakers like the LS50 or LSX to build a home theater. The aesthetics is pleasing with a shiny black top panel. The sub will bring out the bass from drums or soft rock genre. The price is slightly higher and you can consider it a mid-range subwoofer with tight and undistorted bass.
Dayton Audio SUB-800 8 and Monoprice 60-Watt Powered Subwoofer - 8 Inch are some of the best subwoofer for home theater under $150. Dayton Sub-800 has a vinyl finish cabinet. This bass-reflex has downward firing flared port design which is known to deliver clean bass. Like other subs, the rear side has phase, crossover and gain knobs.These are also present in Monoprice 8” subwoofer. For Monoprice, you can adjust the crossover filter from 50-150Hz. se range of 50 ~ 250 Hz with a low-pass crossover filter, which can be adjusted from 50 ~ 150 Hz. It has 2.75” port on the front panel. Both these subwoofers have excellent bass.
While these may not produce room-shaking bass, it is adequate for small rooms and it paired with the right speakers. you can consider these as entry-level subwoofers and since they are quite cheap, you can buy 2 or 4 to create even bass at all sitting positions.
Best 10” home theater subwoofer:
The following enlists 5 best home theatre 10 inch subwoofers.
Table: Quick comparison of best 10-inch home theater subwoofer
The Sony 10” subwoofer has a 9.84” driver in cone diaphragm. It is made of Mica Reinforced Cellular (MRC) fiber woofers. It can move huge volume of air and can ensure stability over time. The Sony subwoofer comes with foot pads which you should attach to eliminate any vibration.
The enclosure can absorb waves acoustically and as a result vibrations are minimized. It has a wood veneer black finish with a small baffle area which will ensure audio clarity. The low-end is decent and impressive. It can bring out the bass in multi-channel scenarios as well.
Check if the amplifier has Mono out or Subwoofer jack, then use the supplied cabled to connect the other end to the Line In of the subwoofer. While setting up the subwoofer, ensure the wires are tightly inserted to avoid any noise. If you are playing the sound of LFE signals, Dolby digital, or DTS, then it is suggested to adjust the crossover at 200Hz.
Also adjust the crossover frequency. Place the 10-inch subwoofer for home theater carefully and don’t keep any object on it. If you have the Sony STR-DH790 receiver you can easily use the Monaural audio cable to connect it to the subwoofer. The sound is much bigger than the size and cost of the subwoofer. It produces an excellent bass in movies and music.
If you have small apartments where you want a low-profile subwoofer, then the Sony SACS9 is the best home audio subwoofer. With the correct speakers, it will blend it well and together will produce room-filling audio with impactful low end.
Acoustic Audio PSW-10 400 Watt 10-Inch Down Firing Powered Subwoofer
Acoustic Audi subwoofers and other products go through strict testing and, trial and error. This is done to ensure years of service. For placement, it is suggested to place in on the floor rather than anything else. You should also change the position to find the sweet spot. The controls are similar like other subs: Auto/on, phase switch, volume, gain and crossover controls.
You can use the Audio cable to connect to the receiver into the Subwoofer Out jack. If you want to use the speaker in ports, then use the speaker wire and connect to the left and right speaker outputs. For this, use a 16-gauge wire. Use single RCA cable to connect into the LFE output of the receiver and to the LFE input of the subwoofer.
The speaker can get quite loud and has a SPL of 97dB at 8 ohms. The slotted port at the lower side of the sub makes bass deeper. The subwoofer has a black finish just like most modern subs and it sits on four vibration absorbing legs. The build quality is very good. It is made of MDF and it also has internal bracing to increase stability.
Although the subwoofer doesn’t come with warranty, the manufacturer is reliable and trustworthy. They are also conservative about RMS power. The amplifier is highly efficient and controls the driver over long excursion. The cost is very cheap for a subwoofer of this good quality. It ensures deeper low-end representation and better integration with speakers.
While these subwoofers can’t produce chest thumping bass, the low frequency extension is powerful, musical and clear from any distortion or resonance. If you like the engineering and sound quality, you can also buy different driver size based on your room size.
The Rockville Rock Shaker 10 and No products found. are some of the best 10” subwoofers for home theater. The Pinnacle 10” sub uses anti-clipping circuitry to ensure undistorted or uncolored bass. The solid brass isolation cone also incorporates to produce bass with depth.You can adjust the subwoofer cut frequency on the sub. The Rockville Rock Shaker 10 has a premium vinyl enclosure made from MDF. The rear firing port and the well-designed woofer ensure thumpy bass. The rear side has volume, phase and crossover frequency controls.
If you use it for smaller setups, you will be more than happy with the clean bass. The setup is easy, the cost is very reasonable and the quality of both cabinet and audio is satisfying.
Best 12” home theater subwoofer:
10” and 12” subwoofers are widely used by audio enthusiasts.
Table: Quick comparison of best 12-inch home theater subwoofer
BIC F12 12” subwoofer is a better performer than other competitive subwoofers. It has “Venturi” vent to reduce any port noise making bass cleaner. The controls are similar to other subs. Watching contents in Dolby or DTS HD Audio will give accurate bass as well. You can increase the loudness and experience undistorted audio.
After testing this 12-inch subwoofer for home theater with bass heavy songs, the result is, the clear and articulate bass is better than other competitors like Polk. The performance and cost makes it the best value for money. The BASH designed amplifier give an output of 150WRMS.the subwoofer has a dimension of 17″H x 14 3/4″W x 17 1/4″D which means its needs some space to sit.
The enclosure is made of MDF and has gold plated terminals. There are four rubber feet on which it sits on and the it can reduce any sort of vibration. For connecting it to a receiver, connect one end to the Sub in of the subwoofer and the other end to the subwoofer or LFE out. In case the amp or receiver doesn’t have this ports, connect to the left and right speaker ports of the receiver and to the high level input of the sub.
Then connect the speaker to the out to speaker terminals. Once the connections are complete, turn on the sub by keeping the volume down. Then play a music file that is bass heavy type then slowly increase the volume until you hear the bass.
In case you hear any humming noise, check whether you have ground looped the cable TV or satellite cabling. Other solutions include checking the amplifier or cables.
Definitive Technology Descend DN12 12″ Subwoofer
The design is slightly different from other subwoofers and we really like the aesthetics. It uses 3XR Architecture which increases the surface area of the 12” subwoofer. Thus the driver can move huge amount of air producing better low-frequencies. It has two passive radiators that can produce smoother frequency within the range.
The overall bass is louder and clearer. The amplifier helps to produce precise low-ends. The 56-bit Digital Signal Processor (DSP) focuses on the woofer driver. It closely watches the performance and ensure there is no distortion. There are three EQ modes like Flat, Deep and Loud.
Flat modes create a balanced surrounding; the Deep mode ensures some extra low-end but the loudness may be slightly reduced loudness and Loud mode improves the SPL but the low-end might be reduced. Choose the Deep mode for music and Loud mode for home theater. The subwoofer has Intelligent phase control.
With this you will have 360-degrees phase tuning. This ensures the group delay of the subwoofer with the speakers is minimized. The cost and features makes it one of the best home theater subwoofer in 2020. The high cost gets compensated with outstanding performance.
It also has a remote control which makes tweaking very easy. Now you don’t have to get up, move the sub to access the rear side. The following image gives you an idea of subwoofer placement. Connect receivers with built-in bass management to the LFE in of the sub and insert the other end of the RCA cable to the LFE/sub out of the receiver.
If the receiver has L/R pre out ports, then connect the other end to the Line In ports. if the receiver doesn’t have any of the ports mentioned above, use the speaker output of the receiver and the Speaker out of the sub.
REL Acoustics HT/1205 Subwoofer
Connect a 5.1 home theater with 12-inch subwoofer to get best results. This 12-inch subwoofer for home theater has long-throw front-firing driver. It also has carbon fibre dust cap. The enclosure has Line Grained Black Composite finish and it sits on four MDF legs.
A 12mm thick top absorbs any form of vibration. The build quality is very sturdy. The width is minimized and the depth is increased to ensure deepest low-frequency representation from compact cabinet. The driver material is chosen to be budget-friendly while being best at performance.
The carbon glass cone is extremely lightweight and at the same time rigid. This ensures tighter bass with fast movement of driver. The amplifier is powerful to deliver impressive bass needed for large home theater applications. It doesn’t get heated up over time and the large space within which the driver moves, enriches bass even more.
Use the RCA-to-RCA cable to connect between the .1/LFE jack of the sub and the SUB OUT Jack of the processor. If there is low level output port in the amplifier, use RCA cable for Left and Right and connect the other end to the Low Level Input.
To adjust crossover, it is recommended to turn the volume to minimum, set move the crossover control to 10 o clock position. Then, slowly increase the volume and try to hear the point where there is balance. If you want to use the sub for wireless connections, then you need to buy a HT-Air module. Considering the features, it is one of the best home theater subwoofer under $1000.
The difference between REL wireless compared to traditional wireless sub is, they have zero compression. It has a lag time of 16-20ms and it is better than other Bluetooth connections. Overall, it is one of the best subwoofers for audiophiles. The sonic accuracy, clarity and high-fidelity bass is outstanding.
The ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3030 1000 Watt andSVS SB-2000 Subwoofer (Black Ash) – 12-inch are some of the 12-inch woofer for home theater which you can also look into. Elac has 12″ high-excursion doped paper woofer and 12″ downward-facing passive radiator. You can use the ELAC SUB CONTROL 2017 app to control the sub.
It gives realistic and solid bass and you can consider it to be a mid-range sub. The enclosure is designed to be sturdy and ensures uncolored original sound. The image above shows placement options that you should try with Elac. SVS SB-2000 12” subwoofer is considered the best subwoofer under $1000. SVS is a reliable brand that you can trust. It is made of MDF and has rubber feet.
The DSP controls ensures better and enhanced behavior and bass response. The amp can drive the sub to extreme level. Speaker placement is easier with this compact sub. Paired with correct speakers, they will rattle the house. The brand suggests the best movie scenes to test subwoofer: Ch-3 of Super 8, beginning of Edge of Tomorrow and Ep-II of Star Wars.
Best 15” home theater subwoofer:
This section lists the best 15” home theater subwoofers.
Table: Quick comparison of best 15-inch home theater subwoofer
Klipsch SPL-150SW 15 Inch Powered Subwoofer
This Klipsch 15” subwoofer has front-firing internal bass-reflex port so that you can place it close to wall in case there is space issue. The outer surface is scratch-free and the build quality is reliable, so is the brand. It also has rubber feet to take in any form of shock and overall, it has a premium feel.
Taking of the woven cloth grille will reveal the copper-spun woofer. With a maximum output of 122dB which makes it one of the best high-performance subwoofer for home theater. The driver is lightweight and have good rigidity so it can move to enhance the low-frequencies. The efficient amplifier ensures detailed and accurate bass.
Klipsch suggests using Wa-2 Wireless Subwoofer Kit with which you can wirelessly connect compatible Klipsch subwoofers to avoid messy wires. Follow the image below for placing the subwoofer. The driver is designed in such a way that the conductivity will increase and the acoustic performance will be at its best.
You can use this 15-inch home theater subwoofer for medium to large sized rooms and you can also enjoy all kinds of contents with great oomph. If the receiver has Subwoofer Pre Out, use the subwoofer cable to connect one end to it. And connect the other end to the LFE of the sub.
The connections are quite versatile. You can use the LFE/RCA and WA-2 together. You can connect the WA-2 to setup your home theater and the RDA for 2-channel audio system. The sub has adjustable low pass crossover within 40-120Hz.
Martinlogan Dynamo 1600 x 15-inch
Martin Logan has poly cone woofer. In case you place it inside cabinet, the driver will act as down-firing rather than front-firing. Connectivity is quite flexible where you can connect both 2-channel stereo music and multi-channel home theater together. Each setting will have independent crossover and other adjustments.
The inverted surround helps the driver give its best in either front- or down-firing mode. The cone damping helps to reduce any vibration. The driver can effectively bring out the minute details in the bass. The sub integrates well with main speakers. overall, the subwoofer is designed to deliver lowered distortion, outstanding linear response and bass with clarity.
Along with having the best MOSFET transistors and transformers, it uses noise-suppression techniques as well. The Inverse Mathematical Equalization, IME is responsible for producing impactful bass. You can use the Martin Logan Sub Control app to adjust volume level, low-pass filter (frequency and order), phase, 20–30Hz level, Anthem Room Correction, 3 presets.
The Anthem Room Correction is a unique feature of Martin Logan where it produces low-frequencies and detects positions in the room where resonances or the audio degradation may occur. Since room acoustics play vital role in the audio representation, we are quite impressed with this room correction feature.
The sub has ETC feet which grips the ground if placed on carpet. ETC spikes which can be used to enhance stability on thick carpets, or create tighter coupling between the subwoofer and your floor to enhance overall sound quality. The built-in spikes are conveniently and discretely hidden underneath the rubber feet.
Sound Town METIS Series 1800 Watts 15” Powered Subwoofer
Sound Town METIS is a top of the line stage monitors. It is one of the be best subwoofer for professional use. this powerful subwoofer is best for PA applications, like DJs, clubs, weddings, school, etc. the amplifier ensures lightweight and easy movement of the driver. Speaking of the cabinet, the sub 5/8” plywood front and rear panels inside which there is amp.
The cabinet is also designed to minimize any sort of distortion that may affect the sound. housing a powerful amp inside. It also has metal grille which is corrosion resistant and two sturdy handles on two side panels which will make shifting the subwoofer easy. You can adjust the low pass filter from 40-160Hz.
The rear side has Clip LED which warns by glowing in case the amp is clipping. In this case you need to lower the output of the input that is being fed into the sub. The subwoofer has versatile connections like the 3.5mm pole can be used to connect satellite speakers. it has sensitivity of 96dB and the SPL measures 124dB.
The most powerful home theater subwoofer can produce room-shaking and chest thumping bass. You will more than satisfied especially when you will use this in an open room. The subwoofer construction is excellent; the massive bass is more than what we expect. The feature and performance is more than what you will pay.
Once you have done tweaking the controls and find the best setting for your room setup, the subwoofer will reveal the articulate and clean bass. You can also include this sub in your karaoke setups.
Dayton Audio SUB-1500 15 and Monolith Powered Subwoofer - 15 Inch with 1,000 Watt Amplifier are some other 15-inch subwoofer. The Monolith subwoofer is THX certified that can get very loud while minimizing distortion.The driver is designed to ensure high-profile and uncolored audio. The powerful amp ensures broader headroom, better transient response and cleaner sound. The cost is high but the sound is massive. The bass gives a punch in the face and is quite faster. Dayton Audio price is much lower than the Monoprice sub but so is the power.
The Dayton Audio subwoofer has a bottom-firing flared port bass reflex that will easily reduce any port noise. The large driver can move huge amount of air. If you have price limitations but still want a subwoofer for a large room, then this is will deliver cleaner and powerful bass.
Once you have setup the home theater, you can play specific content to test the sound. Some of the best scene to test surround sound are: Ch-4 of House of Flying Daggers (2004), Ch-1 of Baby Driver (2017) and Ch-1 of Taxi driver (1976). If you watch Netflix too often, check these Netflix movies to test surround sound: Avengers: Infinity War, Annihilation and Doctor Strange.
Best 18-21inch home theater subwoofer
The 18-21-inch home theater subwoofer are needed if you are a professional DJ, band artist and want to use them for large spaces.
Table: Quick comparison of best 18-21-inch home theater subwoofer
PRORECK PR18 18 inch 2000W P.M.P.O Active Powered PA DJ Subwoofer
If you are used to looking for frequency response in subwoofers, Proreck will confuse you. It lists the electronic crossover from 40-160 Hz. This 18” home theater subwoofer works with 3” voice coil. The large size and sound makes it one of the best subwoofer for parties or weddings. Like many other subs, it has a built-in Class D subwoofer.
The sub has an excellent grille design and the sides have handles for easy movement. Plywood is used in its construction to ensure stability, non-resonant and impactful bass. Along with phase, volume and crossover controls, the rear side has Clip LED which warns the user of subwoofer damage.
If you don’t want to risk something expensive but badly need a massive subwoofer for indoor and outdoor parties, then this is the best for you. This deep bass subwoofer for home theater is perfect for bassheads. It punches you in the face and can be described as ‘plenty of thump for the buck’ because it is budget-friendly.
This is best for people who want house shaking bass and want to feel the low-end within. So, in case you want to use it indoors, make sure you have a large room or ‘lovely’ neighbors. Overall, it is well-built, has massive low-end audio, and on top of that, the prompt customer service fixes any issues one might have.
JBL Professional JRX218S Portable Stage Subwoofer, 18-Inch
The JBL JRX218S subwoofer has a sturdy cabinet. It is made of MDF that includes adhesives and several other technologies. This is done to ensure smoother frequency response and longevity. On the top panel there is a cast aluminium pole receptacle. With this, you can mount a speaker cabinet.
The woofer driver is protected by 18-gauge perforated steel. There are steel handles which come in handy to move this 32kg subwoofer. The subwoofer is best for live music playing applications. It is a direct-radiation subwoofer that can The JRX218S is an 18″ compact
direct-radiation subwoofer that can play extended low-frequencies with ease.
It has a sensitivity of 98dB and an SPL of 133 dB peak. The 18” driver works with stamped steel frame and 3” voice coil. You can use this JBL Rolling Sub Transporter Bag for JBL 18-Inch Sub Speaker JBL-Sub-18T which is a protection cover that comes with wheels. This is useful in case you need to move the sub.
The bag is made of nylon, has thick padding and is resistant to water. If you are a musician or a DJ who plays in school cafeteria’s or any outdoor activities, they will sound just like a professional equipment.
The sub can produce wall thumping bass, it is loud and clear and powerful enough to fill up large spaces. You need to use an amplifier because it doesn’t have one built-in. once paired with a sub and crossover set to the ideal value, the subwoofer is ready to be in use.
Cerwin Vega CVX-21S 21-inch Powered Subwoofer
This Cerwin Vega 21” subwoofer is a giant that weigh 53.6kgs. it has an angle-fired 21” driver with a low-frequency extension of 29Hz, it produces deepest bass. You can use multiple subwoofers as well. The enclosure is made of 18mm Birch Plywood and has a TourShield finish. The subwoofer reduces port turbulence to achieve clearer sound.
The rear side has signal or Clip indicator. This glows as red in case clipping occurs. Lower the power of the amp to keep devices safe. There is a main volume and a remote volume knob. Set the Main level to minimum then increase it slowly. You can also do it via remote connection. To prevent the subwoofer from damaging, there is a Protect indicator as well.
In case of too much limiting or device gets heated up, the LED will glow red. If there are 2 or 4 subwoofer, the Cardioid mode will help to lower the subwoofer level on the rear side. The following image shows the connection of two sub. It focuses on better sound and coverage for audience. If you have only one sub, leave the Cardioid mode off.
Along with these controls, there is also a Front LED indicator. The Cardioid mode is also available for 3 subs, but audio experts often recommend going for even number of subs. It is not need to mention that this 21” subwoofer is best for extra-large rooms.
Some other 18” and 21” subwoofers are the Rockville SBG1184 18 and Yorkville ES21P 2400-Watts 21-Inch Powered Subwoofer
the Yorkville 21” subwoofer is a rear horn loaded subwoofer. It has a maximum SPL of 142dB. You can choose from three different modes: punch, deep and Smooth. You can use the Yorkville app to control the sub. The sub has a DSP-based circuit which protects the subwoofer. It eliminates clipping, or excess power or even over excursion of the sub.
the cabinet is made of 11-ply Russian Birch and has a Black Ultrathane Paint finish. Rockville is quite reliable brand. This 18” subwoofer from Rockville has MDF cabinet that reduces any sort of distortion. The bass is impressive, whether you are a DJ or an audiophile, this sub will suit you. The cost is reasonable but the quality is excellent.
Subwoofer and speaker matching guide for home theater
Matching a subwoofer needs your time investment more than you think. The subwoofer size and power not only depends on room size, but also on the type of speakers, their audio precision and power.
To avoid this hassle altogether, you can always go for 5.1 or 7.1 home theater systems that includes speakers, subwoofers and all that is needed. However, this requires spending more at a time and not everyone is ready to do so.
You can always take assistance from subwoofer matching tools online.
Subwoofer vs amplifier: Matching guide
Once you have decided on your subwoofer model by matching it with your main speakers, the next task is to ensure subwoofer and amplifier compatibility.
- Note down the watts RMS of the subwoofer
- If you have multiple sub, total watts RMS = no. of subs x RMS watts
- Note down the impedance
- If you have multiple sub, find out the total impedance
- Choose an amplifier that can deliver the total watts RMS at the total impedance you calculated.
| 2-ohms | 4-ohms | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Single voice coil (SVC) | 1 SVC | 2 | 4 |
| 2 SVC | 2 or 4 | 2 or 8 | |
| 3 SVC | 6 | 1.3 | |
| 4 SVC | 2 or 8 | 1 or 4 | |
| Double voice coil (DVC) | 1 DVC | 1 or 4 | 2 or 8 |
| 2 DVC | 2 or 8 | 1 or 4 | |
| 3 DVC | 1.3 or 3 | 2.7 or 6 | |
| 4 DVC | 1 or 4 | 2 or 8 |
Best subwoofer for home theater: Buying guide
Subwoofer matching:
This means matching the subwoofer specs with the main speakers and amplifier so that they can blend it and work seamlessly to produce the bass in the low-frequency. The method of doing so is mentioned above.
Subwoofer size vs room size:
For most average home theater room sizes, a 10” or 12” subwoofer is best. If you have space constraints, you can go for 8”. For outdoor applications or larger home theater rooms, choose an 18” or 21”.
Subwoofer setup:
If you are using an amplifier, subwoofer frequency setting is another area of interest for which you need to be knowledgeable. In other cases, the subwoofer rear panel will show several control knobs with which you can adjust phase, crossover, gain, etc.
Most subwoofers come with user manual describing what you should do. Some are over protective and has Clipping LEDs that will warn you if the power is too much.
Subwoofer Placement
We have always shown our concern regarding speaker placement. How you put the subwoofer in you room will have huge impact on the audio. Since most of the users don’t have the ‘ideal’ room, placement is what we can rely on.
Methods include:
- Placing the subwoofer in a corner of the room, move half feet around to find the best spot. This is one of the best subwoofer placement home theater.
- Placing the sub between the left/right speaker and the TV
- Placing it on the side wall
- Subwoofer crawl technique
Parting words:
The best subwoofer for home theater will depend on you room size, main speakers and you ‘bass’ taste. In case you are a newbie and don’t want the hassle of matching an amp with the subwoofer or buy an additional amp, you should look for subwoofer with built-in amplifiers.
If you come across subwoofer that has down-firing drivers, then will act best if placed on corner of the room. Room with space issues need to place the sub closer to the speaker, a front-firing will suit you. Some of the budget-friendly subwoofers come from SVS, Klipsch, Dayton Audio, and Kef. SVS, Rockville and Klipsch are some of the reliable brands.
The Cerwin Vega CVX-21S 21-inch subwoofer is a gigantic subwoofer which you can use for indoors along with outdoor spaces. If your subwoofer has a port on the rear side, you should not place it too close to wall. Last but not the least, match your budget with the quality and low-end representation go the sub.
FAQ
This FAQ section is all about finding the solution about some of your problems, that may arise while walking in the quest of finding the best ips tv. let’s find out more!
Do I really need a subwoofer for the home theater?
If you have a home theater with dedicated speaker for a 5 channel theater, then a subwoofer is a must have. Speakers that you have as main, rear or surround, are designed to work with high to mid-range frequencies. So you need a subwoofer which will only work with low-frequency range.
Subwoofer brings the extra oomph needed to enjoy rock or classical music. It is also needed for movie effects.
What is isolation platform and should I have one?
In case your furniture with glasses rattles and make a noise out of vibration because of the subwoofer, you need isolation platform like the Auralex Acoustic Subwoofer Platform You need to place it under the subwoofer. This will detach the subwoofer from touching the floor directly and the rattling noise will stop.
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