The 8 best subwoofers for 2024: add boom to your movie or music room

SVS Sound

You've sewage nan speakers, you've sewage nan soundbar ... but your location theatre is still missing something: that deep, rumbling bass that genuinely immerses you successful nan action. We're present to thief you find nan cleanable subwoofer to complete your audio setup.

We’ve rounded up nan champion subwoofers of 2024, whether you crave nan earth-shaking rumble of an action movie aliases nan subtle listen that brings your euphony to life. From powerful beasts that will shingle your instauration to sleek, compact options for smaller spaces, there's a sub connected this database for everyone.

Our apical pick, nan SVS SB16 Ultra, is an absolute monster that delivers incredibly heavy and articulate bass. But we've besides sewage stylish gems for illustration nan Klipsch Reference 12 and boutique beauties from Kanto.

Get fresh for a genuinely cinematic experience pinch deep, powerful bass that will toggle shape your location theater. Ready to consciousness nan difference? Explore our apical subwoofer picks (and best soundbars pinch subwoofers) and find nan cleanable lucifer for your location theater. We'll moreover guideline you done nan setup process.

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

SVS SB16 Ultra

The champion wide subwoofer

The SVS SB-16 Ultra has been connected our database for immoderate time, chiefly because we haven't recovered thing worthy to return its place. This subwoofer has go our measuring stick, which mightiness really beryllium unfair to nan title — it's that good. Beneath a sleek, stylish subwoofer box, nan cubic SVS SB16 houses a monstrous 16-inch Ultra driver pinch an 8-inch, edge-wound sound coil and a ridiculous 1,500-watt continuous Sledge amplifier pinch discrete MOSFET output that tops retired astatine 5,000 watts highest power.

Additionally, a smartphone app for iOS and Android has upped nan SB16 Ultra's crippled significantly, taking nan symptom retired of mounting up your sub by allowing you to fine-tune nan speaker from your optimal listening position and create civilization presets for different listening situations.

All of this is to say: No matter really you're utilizing nan SB16, it impresses. Gunshots and explosions successful films registry pinch a hefty listen to nan chest, and nan sub manages low-end instrumentation beautifully, allowing acoustic bass to bounce smoothly while physics bass and footwear drums shingle nan instauration of your home. For our money, this is nan champion subwoofer you tin buy, period.

Honorable mention goes to nan HSU ULS-15 MK 2 and nan Monoprice Monolith scope of subwoofers, 2 of nan best-sounding $1,000-plus subwoofers we've checked retired recently.

Klipsch

Klipsch Reference Series 12 (R-121SW)

The champion subwoofer for nan style conscious

Klipsch is perpetually reinventing its ain wheel, and erstwhile you see nan truth that location aren't galore problems to reside successful nan first place, it only goes to show conscionable really overmuch nan marque cares astir looks and performance. Thus, we get astatine nan Klipsch Reference Series 12 R-121SW.

We emotion nan truth that Klipsch went backmost to nan drafting committee to create an all-new woofer design. The sub's front-firing 12-inch cone is composed of what nan institution calls thermoform crystalline polymer, delivering a resounding low-end acquisition pinch minimal distortion, and pinch a overmuch lighter chassis. There's besides nan onboard integer amplifier, nan bosom and lungs of nan 121SW, supplying up to 400 watts of unequaled powerfulness pinch pinpoint accuracy.

If you're looking for a rock-solid woofer from a sanction that ensures reliability, nan Klipsch Reference Series 12 R-121SW is surely nan measurement to go.

Kanto

Kanto Sub8 Powered Subwoofer

A boutique woofer for a non-boutique price

Brands for illustration Kanto are tremendous astatine delivering nan types of speakers that shriek “boutique” without smacking you pinch master pricing. In nan lawsuit of nan all-powerful Kanto Sub8, nan institution has designed a woofer that tin beryllium easy integrated pinch beautiful overmuch immoderate speaker marque retired there.

Available successful Matte Black aliases Matte White finishes, nan Sub8 uses medium-density fiberboard lodging to support vibrations and distortion to a minimum. Rubber feet, a metallic grille, and a last furniture composed of vinyl are paired pinch Kanto’s sturdy cabinetry, making for a sub that tin respond to audio accusation successful a accelerated and elaborate manner. And astatine conscionable astir 11 inches (both successful width and height), nan Sub8 is easy capable to tuck away, though nan its quality is 1 we wouldn’t walk up seeing connected a regular basis.

Delivering up to 300 watts of highest power, nan Sub8 besides includes a high-pass select (adjustable from 40Hz to 120Hz) and a shape switch, ensuring you’ll beryllium capable to lucifer this formidable woofer pinch immoderate Kanto aliases non-Kanto situation setup.

KEF

KEF KC62 Subwoofer

The champion mini subwoofer

KEF is 1 of those speaker brands that is ever coming up pinch caller ways to rustle our minds, and nan KC62 Subwoofer (available successful achromatic and achromatic finishes) is simply a jaw-dropping sub that's nary bigger than a basketball. And nan craziest part? This hoops tin present up to 1,000 watts of smooth, thumping low-end. We're not kidding.

That's connected apical of 2 6.5-inch Uni-Core force-canceling drivers, an assortment of EQ options to genuinely dial successful nan sound, and a furniture tailor-made to trim unwanted distortion and vibrations. Yes, it's much costly than a mostly of nan woofers you'll find successful this roundup, but KEF is simply 1 of nan champion brands money tin buy, and conscionable look astatine it, for Pete's sake.

How tin thing truthful mini beryllium truthful powerful? Thank KEF for that.

Cambridge Audio

Cambridge Audio Minx X201

Great for smaller spaces

Not each surviving room tin beryllium nan size of a full-on movie theater. For each nan flat dwellers retired there, we wholly understand nan annoyance of trying to fresh a situation strategy into a room pinch square-footage limitations. This is why we’d for illustration to tie your attraction to nan Cambridge Audio Minx X201.

Whether you opt for nan Gloss Black aliases Gloss White finish, nan Minx X201 is nan cleanable powered sub for mini spaces and smaller speakers. At correct astir 8.5 inches successful height, width, and depth, you’ll beryllium capable to fresh nan X201 into conscionable astir immoderate location theatre — and it’s packed pinch incredibly useful audio features too. One of our favorites has sewage to beryllium nan “auto-on” mode, which automatically turns nan sub connected erstwhile an LFE awesome is detected.

You’ll besides beryllium capable to set nan crossover from 36Hz up to 200Hz, and tin take from zero, 90-degree, and 180-degree shape settings. There’s moreover a built-in integer awesome processor (DSP) that calibrates each audio root to guarantee nan champion low-end transportation for whichever movies, shows, and euphony you’re listening to.

Fluance

Fluance DB10W 10-inch Subwoofer

The champion subwoofer connected a budget

Fluance is an awesome AV company, friends. Whether you request a coagulated group of powered Bluetooth speakers, a afloat situation sound configuration, aliases you’re shopping for a sub (which is astir apt why you’re reference this article), Fluance has sewage you covered. In position of nan latter, we’re large fans of nan Fluance DB10W 10-inch woofer.

Available successful Natural Walnut and Black Ash finishes, nan DB10W uses MDF worldly and a front-facing, precision-tuned bass larboard to present clean, distortion-free sound. That’s connected apical of Fluance’s next-level integrated amp, which ensures you’ll person capable powerfulness astatine debased and precocious volumes.

One of our favourite DB10W features is nan car power-on function. Whenever nan DB10W detects an LFE signal, it automatically powers on, and shuts down erstwhile you toggle disconnected your AV receiver. You’ll besides beryllium capable to set nan sub’s maestro measurement and crossover scope (40Hz to 180Hz).

Fluance products are beautiful understated and classy-looking too, truthful moreover if you’re adding nan DB10W to a non-Fluance speaker setup, it should play nicely pinch immoderate cones and drivers you already own.

Polk

Polk Audio HTS 10 Subwoofer

The acheronian equine subwoofer

The Polk Audio HTS 10 is an unsung gem successful nan world of subwoofers, and we're gladsome to person unearthed it.

Utilizing Polk's awesome Dynamic Balance Technology, this 10-inch front-firing woofer is engineered to evenly administer sound passim your theatre space. That's connected apical of Polk's distortion-reducing tech that ensures each past decibel is arsenic articulate and profound arsenic tin be.

You'll besides get adjustments for volume, low-pass filtering, and shape toggle — and, remainder assured, wattage juggernauts. While nan HTS 10 won't scope nan highest heights of thing for illustration nan KEF62, you tin expect highest wattage to deed astir 200, which is plentifulness of thud for astir music, movies, and games.

Sonos

Sonos Sub (3rd Gen)

Best subwoofer for Sonos systems

If you're already been nan proud proprietor of immoderate Sonos Wi-Fi speakers and were funny astir adding a Sonos Sub to either amended nan oomph of your euphony aliases create a situation sound strategy for your location theater, past we're astir apt not nan first to show you that this is simply a awesome idea. While it's a spot connected nan costly broadside astatine $800, what you're getting is immoderate awesome heavy bass sound that not only adds well-blended room-filling debased extremity to your tunes but besides effect and chest-pounding extent to movies.

Make judge you pass your neighbors first because nan Sonos Sub tin get loud. Compatible pinch immoderate Sonos speaker (new aliases old), including Era, One, Move, and Roam, arsenic good arsenic nan Beam and Arc soundbars, adding a Sub (or aggregate Subs) to your setup is easy pinch nan Sonos app — and cable-free.

You tin past usage nan app to configure your sound, fine-tune nan EQ and blend level, and moreover tweak it to circumstantial rooms pinch nan Trueplay package that measures acoustics and sets nan sound accordingly. Music is clear, nan bass is tight and ne'er boomy, and you tin beautiful overmuch spot nan Sub wherever suits your decor aliases furnishings business — moreover nether media stands.

But wherever Sonos enthusiasts mightiness beryllium astir intrigued is really easy it is to create a situation sound setup by combining a Sub pinch different Sonos speakers — for example, nan Dolby Atmos-capable Sonos Beam (Gen 2) aliases Arc soundbars successful nan beforehand pinch a brace of stand-mounted Ones aliases Era 100s arsenic rears is simply a great-sounding configuration that's easy to do.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you've already made your choice, check our subwoofer setup guide to get everything put together correctly and our calibration guide to help maximize capacity successful immoderate listening space.