8 Best Powered Subwoofers for Home Use

Expert: Evgeny Mikhailovich Obolensky

*Review of the best according to the editors of expertology.ru. About the selection criteria. This material is subjective in nature, does not constitute advertising and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before purchasing, consultation with a specialist is required.

A modern audio system and subwoofer will allow you to enjoy clear sound and rich bass while listening to your favorite songs. High-quality acoustics radically changes the music experience for the better, which is why many today pay attention to the choice of speakers and subwoofers for a home theater or music center. There is a wide range of different models on sale - for small and large rooms, concerts. All models differ in dimensions, technical characteristics, frequency range and other features.

Kinds

A home subwoofer can be of two types:

1. Active. This type of device has a built-in power amplifier and an active crossover that filters high frequencies. These systems are ideal for home theater applications because they are quite flexible and easy to install. A separate advantage is the relatively low cost of the devices.
2. Passive. This type of subwoofer does not have a built-in power amplifier, so it must be connected together with the main stereo speakers. The main disadvantage of a passive system is the additional load on the output amplifiers of stereo channels.

The most convenient and suitable subwoofer for home use is an active subwoofer. This is due to the built-in bass booster.

FAQ

How powerful should a subwoofer be for a home? Depends, of course, on the area of ​​the room and other factors, but in normal cases somewhere around 150-200 W of power is suitable. It is also necessary to take into account the case material, type of acoustics, etc. But it is best to focus on your taste. You need to turn on and try this or that subwoofer directly in the store.

What is the difference between a car subwoofer and a home subwoofer? As the names suggest: one is designed for a car, the other for home use. They differ in capacity, required volumes of premises, etc. In addition, a car subwoofer, unlike a household subwoofer, is powered by a car generator and battery.

Main characteristics

A subwoofer is a device that provides a high-quality presence effect, for example, while listening to music or watching a movie. Such equipment quickly gained popularity and became one of the most important parts of the speaker system. When choosing a home subwoofer, you should first of all pay attention to characteristics such as purpose and power.

The device reproduces low frequencies (approximately 20-160 Hz), which are difficult for humans to localize. One of the main problems of such a system is poor matching of the frequency response (amplitude-frequency characteristics) and phase-frequency characteristics (phase-frequency characteristics) of the subwoofer and satellite. For this reason, some devices for listening to low-frequency sounds have a function for adjusting the upper limit frequencies and phases.

The world's best subwoofer manufacturers

If you decide to choose a subwoofer for yourself, this means that you have specific requirements and want to achieve a specific result. The standard acoustics of a TV or music center do not suit you, so you are going to enhance it with subwoofers. In this regard, it is necessary to carefully approach the choice of equipment, because each model has its own features and characteristics.

Yamaha

The Japanese company Yamaha is a recognized world leader in the market of audio equipment and acoustic systems. This is one of the oldest corporations in the world, founded back in 1887. Then Torakushi Yamaha, the son of a samurai, contracted to repair a musical organ at a local school, and after that he decided to start making musical instruments himself. In 1971, the company launched the production of its own integrated circuits, which allowed it to master digital technologies. Today it offers a wide range of acoustic systems for home and professional use.

Pioneer

Pioneer is another well-known Japanese brand specializing in the production of various acoustics. It was founded in 1938, when Nozomu Tatsumoto opened a small radio and loudspeaker repair shop. Today the company is known primarily as a manufacturer of audio receivers and speaker systems for cars. But the range also includes acoustics for home use.

JBL

JBL is an American audio equipment manufacturer offering functional and practical subwoofer models. It was founded in 1946, and today it is part of a large association of various manufacturers of audio equipment for home use and professional audio equipment for studios and concert halls. The range includes both high-end systems and relatively budget models.

How to choose the right one

Before choosing a subwoofer for your home, you need to pay attention to the following points:

1. Frequency range (Hertz). The frequency range that the subwoofer is capable of reproducing is divided into three octaves: deep bass range (from 20 to 40 Hz), mid-bass range (from 40 to 80 Hz), high bass range (from 80 to 160 Hz). Basically, these devices operate in the range from 40 to 200 Hz. The best equipment can reproduce deep bass (if it is present in the audio recording).
2. Highest sound pressure. The highest volume level of the device.
3. Sensitivity (Decibels). The high decibel level makes it possible not to use the amplifier that is built into the device in extreme mode. Greater sensitivity makes it easier for the subwoofer to carry the load.
4. Diameter of the woofer.
5. Frequency of spectrum division by crossover. If this frequency is 80 Hz, then in the signal that is supplied to the device, all frequencies that exceed 80 Hz are attenuated.

Before choosing a device, you should conduct a subwoofer test, which will help in determining the best model. To do this, you need to pay attention to the direction of the device, which can be directed downwards or to the side.

If the device is directed downward, sound waves travel evenly, but their quality will depend on the floor covering. Direction to the side makes the sound cleaner and better quality.

In addition to the test, it is worth considering the top subwoofers located below to compare the characteristics and choose the best option.

The Best Subwoofers for Small Spaces – Up to 80 Watts

Yamaha YST-SW012

Rating: 4.9

The Yamaha YST-SW012 bass reflex subwoofer is characterized by its small size and laconic design. Its body is made of wood, which gives it an attractive appearance and provides good sound transmission. The power of the device itself is 100 W, and the physical size of the woofer is 20 cm.

It is capable of producing clear and rich dynamic bass that improves the overall sound experience. The universal subwoofer easily connects to a home theater, Hi-Fi music center or other equipment. If necessary, you can adjust the volume level of the subwoofer itself.

Advantages

• good value for money;
• versatility of application.
• deep and rich bass;

Flaws

• Suitable only for small rooms; with a strong increase in power, interference is heard.

YAMAHA YST-SW215

pros

• Good sound quality
• Sound control mechanisms are located at the front of the device
• Acceptable cost
• Compactness of the device
• The presence of switches for operating phases and sleep modes on the back of the subwoofer

Minuses

• Glossy finish attracts dust
• The radiator does not have a cooling system
• There is no composite cable included with the device.

From 11980 ₽

This subwoofer reproduces bass in high quality, which makes listening to music and watching movies a real pleasure. The system combines QD-Bass and Advanced YST. These technologies make the bass more powerful and deeper. The BASS switch allows you to select sound modes and set the crossover frequency. This device will improve the sound of any audio system.

Pioneer S-21W

pros

• Compactness of the device
• Acceptable cost
• Good bass
• Automatic switching of the device to standby mode
• Additional power regulation
• Convenient volume control mechanism
• Three-meter cable for connection

Minuses

• May not work well with certain audio systems
• Heavy weight of the device
• Blue LED too bright
• No crossover frequency control

From 6990 ₽

This is the best subwoofer for home theater sound enhancement. The device has a built-in amplifier for maximum sinusoidal power. In addition, it features a closed speaker system that supports speaker configurations from 2.1 to 5.1. The phase control mechanism controls the timing and phase characteristics of the loudspeaker, preventing audio delay often caused by filtering of multi-channel recordings.

Deciding on the design

The most basic: “caliber”, number and design of speakers

There are, of course, a lot of options, but if we take extreme values, then, say, a subwoofer with an 8-inch paper woofer is more suitable for some kind of desktop bookshelf speakers, and if we are talking about a cinema in a large hall, then we are obviously talking about carbon or metal diffusers with a minimum diameter of 10 - 12 inches.

REL 212/SE – special design for large rooms

Acoustic design

It determines the volume of air with which the subwoofer cone in its housing is in contact.

A bass reflex is the most trivial option: with its help you can make a relatively small speaker in a compact case bass, but you will have to come to terms with certain compromises in sound, primarily with “sniffling” - the sounds of the port when an air flow passes through it, as well as with a sharper drop Frequency response after the port tuning frequency, compared to, say, a closed AO. The result is perceived “as a buzz on one note.”

A passive radiator is an intermediate solution when another speaker plays the role of a bass reflex, but without a magnetic system. This will save us from sniffling.

The most musical subwoofer is the one with a closed acoustic design, but it is also the most bulky, difficult to calculate and manufacture, and, as a result, not cheap.

Closed enclosure for a subwoofer - the most “musical” solution

Amplifiers

Models are most often used as built-in subwoofer amplifiers. The first are traditional; this technology has been around for several decades, and perhaps its only drawback is the difficulty in providing extremely high output power values. Class D models (based on pulse width modulation) lack it, but traditional amplifiers operating on this principle are sometimes accused of lacking musicality.

Bowers & Wilkins CTSW12

pros

• Sound clarity
• Compactness of the device
• High power
• High-quality low-frequency emitter
• Closed design of the device
• Wide frequency range

Minuses

• High price

From 51350 ₽

The subwoofer has a closed cabinet made of durable fiberboard. Internal ties enhance the sound. The device is ideal for installation in a home theater. It's lightweight enough to make it easy to track even the smallest changes in low-frequency signals. The device can be connected to the SA1000 amplifier, which has a power of 1000 W.

Model comparison table

For a more clear comparison of the models presented above, we use a comparative table of characteristics.

Heco Victa Prime Sub 252 A

pros

• Plays absolutely all types of music well
• Exterior design
• Lack of bass reflex sound
• High power
• Availability of a cooling system
• Compactness of the device

Minuses

• High price
• Heavy weight of the device

From 25425 ₽

This subwoofer is designed to operate in tandem with a full range of Victa Prime series audio systems from the popular German company HECO. This brand is famous primarily for its realistic reproduction of the mid-frequency range, as well as the low-frequency spectrum. The device is ideal for both working in a home theater and for playing a wide variety of music.